GUEST
Matt Walter, Managing Director of Communications and Political Affairs, Republican State Leadership Committee
BY MARIE ANDRUSEWICZ -- A conservative group is targeting Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller for failing to release records. The State Government Leadership Foundation is seeking information about Miller’s travel, cell phone and compensation information.
“It seems very clear to us that they are breaking Nevada state law,” says Matt Walter, a spokesperson for the organization.
Miller’s office originally said they would provide the records by April 1 st, but according to the lawsuit they have not met that deadline.
A spokesperson for the State Government Leadership Foundation says that not only is Miller slow to fulfill the group’s request, but that the cost of providing the records raises a red flag.
“We were given an estimate of the cost which is over $4,100, far in excess of records costs in other departments,” says Walter.
The irony? Miller’s office has been working to promote more transparency in the campaign process. The other irony? The groupseeking these records from Miller is a ‘dark money’ 401C4, which means they don’t have to disclose their donors.
“There are very specific laws that govern (401C4s),” says Walter. “Many of them upheld by the Supreme Court under the right to free speech.”
Ross Miller has responded to the lawsuit with a short statement. He said:
"Nevadans are smart enough to understand that it is no coincidence that on the eve of potential passage of landmark transparency and ethics reform, a shadowy out-of-state group has attempted to politically smear me with completely unfounded attacks in an effort to derail our legislation."