Tag: Fundraiser

Indiana Governor Raises Cash for West Virginia GOP Hopeful

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is raising cash for Republican Bill Cole’s campaign for West Virginia governor.

During Tuesday’s fundraiser in Charleston, Pence praised West Virginia’s passage of right-to-work legislation and legal reforms under Cole, the Senate president.

Cole faces Democratic billionaire businessman Jim Justice.

Pence is in another of the toughest governor’s races in the country against ex-Democratic Indiana House Speaker John Gregg.

Last year, Pence approved a religious objections bill that drew backlash from business. He later signed a bill scaling it back.

Tourism group Visit Indy said Indiana might have lost $60 million when a dozen groups decided against hosting conventions in Indianapolis because of the law.

West Virginia ultimately killed a similar bill this year.

Pence wouldn’t answer a reporter’s question Tuesday about whether West Virginia should reconsider it.

Ex-Texas Gov. Perry Raises Funds for West Virginia GOP

Republican Senate President Bill Cole is drawing Democratic scrutiny for bringing ex-Texas Gov. Rick Perry to West Virginia for a gubernatorial fundraiser during the budget session.

Before Tuesday’s fundraiser, Cole said he already rescheduled Perry’s planned visit last week amid the session.

Cole said it was planned before he knew about the session. Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin called the GOP-led Legislature into session May 16. He announced it a week earlier.

Without a budget, July 1 triggers a government shutdown. A $270 million gap remains. House lawmakers killed tobacco tax increases passed by the Senate.

Billionaire Democratic candidate and coal operator Jim Justice said Cole should use fundraiser checks to cover running special session costs, currently $385,000.

Cole’s campaign said Justice shouldn’t run TV ads until he pays millions in overdue mine safety fees and property taxes.

$100K Fundraiser Canceled by W.Va. Conservative Group

A conservative group that has boosted Republicans has nixed its $100,000 per person breakfast fundraiser.

  An invitation obtained by The Associated Press said the Go West Virginia Inc. breakfast would take place Tuesday in Charleston. It said donors wouldn’t be publicly disclosed.

Eric Lycan, an attorney for the group, said the event wasn’t held and none is currently scheduled. The Courtyard Marriott, where the event was supposed to take place, confirmed the fundraiser was canceled.

The politically active nonprofit bought advertisements bashing Democrats last election. The group is buying ads commending the newly minted Republican Legislature.

It worked alongside Grow West Virginia, a political committee that spent $1.4 million to help Republicans, but also discloses its bankrollers.

Go West Virginia held a $25,000-a-plate fundraiser in January.

Huckabee: Dems preventing state economy from growing

Former Arkansas governor and Fox News host Mike Huckabee made a stop in West Virginia to help energize the state Republican Party during a fundraiser Friday night.

An evening that started with state GOP Chairman Conrad Lucas poking fun at an array of federal indictments coming from Mingo County, all against Democratic leaders, transitioned to focus on what Huckabee called the true message of the Republican party—valuing every life based on inherent worth given by God and not status.

Much of Huckabee’s keynote address at the state GOP’s annual Fall Freedom Dinner had a religious undertone, calling for a spiritual and not political revival within the party.

Huckabee said he believes its time to begin to value and reward hard work, thus building a stronger national financial system and defeating a party who has “had their boots on the neck of West Virginia’s economy,” holding the state back.

He told Republican Party members to stop apologizing for who they are and stand for the dignity and worth of people across the country, spreading a message not of elephants or donkeys, but of value in human life.

Huckabee also touted a strong message of coal, saying God put the natural resource under the feet of West Virginians for the prosperity of future generations.

The dinner is one of the largest fundraiser of the year for the party, this year selling more than 500 tickets and raising about $1 million.

Also speaking at the dinner, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.

Huckabee reportedly said at the dinner his is interested in again running for President in 2016. The Republican won the state GOP caucus in 2008, but failed to receive more support nationwide than Arizona Senator John McCain.

On Saturday, Nov. 2, the Democratic Party hosts their annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Charleston featuring keynote speaker Vice President Joe Biden. Biden is scheduled to honor the career of long-time Senator Jay Rockefeller. The event is sold out.

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