This week, Lake Tahoe provides an idyllic backdrop for a meeting of the Republican Attorneys General Association this association seems to exist to increase the ranks of GOP candidates in the states’ AG’s offices across the country.
State of Nevada contributor John L. Smith joins us with his perspective on the gathering, which hasn’t generated much press but has a potentially wide-ranging impact on politics at the state level.
DISCUSSION HIGHLIGHTS:
Tell us about the meeting:
It is one of series of quarterly meetings held in upscale areas away from the press by the Republican Attorneys General Association that focus on their moving papers, focusing on candidate recruitment, grooming. But it also gives interestingly enough, a chance for its members to mix and mingle and meet with donors. And the list of donors is pretty fascinating.
Who are the donors?
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a big donor. As is industries associated with the fossil fuel industry. Exxon Mobile is a big contributor. Koch Industries is another contributor. In fact, the association is a reflection of a new generation of not just candidate recruitment but of politics in our country. That kind of goes on often under the radar.
They are not there to talk about policy, but to meet with people that will help them get to a higher office?
That's part of it. Certainly, there are positions that are taken and there are developments that are discussed. But quite often what has emerged from the AG's association is a focus on the kind of latest legal issues that affect conservative politics in our country. I think you're seeing much more cohesiveness coming out of the RAGA when it comes to things like immigration reform. Things we sometimes hear on the news are talked about in Washington but very little gets accomplished. Some folks have just moved down the ticket quite a bit and are closer to boots on the ground in state after state.
It's been successful. It's been criticized, not just by Democratic groups but by nonpartisan groups. The National Association of Attorneys General has focused on that apparent co-mingling with donors, which looks suspicious, but apparently not illegal.
On Adam Laxalt:
Let's face it, Adam Laxalt has been collecting support for a run for higher office and I think that this is - if not the coming out party for him - this is certainly a great setting for him to emerge on that national stage.
These are public officials meeting in their capacity has public officials. One would think that there would be an argument for getting the press in?
That is the other interesting thing about this whole issue is really when you think about politics at the state and the national level, the attorney general is supposed to be above the fray. Like judges, they're supposed to be above the fray. This is a sign that all is politics and perhaps it was always that way. It's clearly a sign of the Republicans kicking it up a notch. They've managed to out fund raise the Democrats by quite a few million dollars. Because both parties have associations. One related to Democrats. The other related to Republicans.
They're there for similar purposes. It's just a matter of how effective and whether you are transparent and also of course whether you're palling around with donors who benefit - at least conceivably - from the decisions you make as an attorney general.
John L. Smith, contributor
