Axios
Senate Republicans urge companies to cut Dems funding instead of trying to bring down the Iowa House dispute
Senate Republicans are warning companies that cut donations to the Republican Party after the attack on the US Capitol that their position on the Capitol could suffer if they don’t now talk about Democrats’ efforts to nullify a Republican victory in the Iowa House. Why it matters: Democrats are trying to expand their narrow margin in the House, a vital consideration towards mid-term elections, in which the ruling party has historically lost about two dozen seats. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Sign up for free Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell is leading a group that warns of the repercussions if some renowned companies don’t follow the precedent they set by cutting off relations with Republicans who voted to block the Electoral College’s victory certification of President Biden. What’s new: This veiled threat will be relayed in a letter co-authored by McConnell, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). voted against electoral certification. “We ask that you apply the same pattern to this attempt to overturn an election that you applied to Republicans who opposed the electoral votes of certain states,” write the senators. “If you decide not to talk about this blatant attempt to steal an election, some may question the sincerity of your previous statements and come to the conclusion that your actions were partisan rather than principled. “The backstory: Iowa officials certified by Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks She beat Democrat Rita Hart by just six votes after a recount. But Hart appealed to the House Management Committee, asking him to conduct his own investigation into the ballots that his campaign insists should have been counted. The process could trigger a vote across the House over who will represent the seat. Republicans say Democrats’ efforts to re-launch the election closely mirror the Republican Party’s objections to Biden in major states last year. What they are saying: “If the companies that condemned Republicans in January do not condemn the Democrats for doing the same, everyone will question whether these companies are really committed to free elections,” said Cotton in a statement in the letter. McConnell called the prospect of a House vote “absurd” and said Democrats ” they want to use raw political power to overturn a democratic outcome because they’ve lost. ” the lines: This week’s letter will be launched as an open appeal to corporate America. But a source close to Cotton said they plan to put pressure on the government relations team at 15 companies that were particularly energetic in their condemnations of opponents of the electoral college. The companies on the list include Fortune 100 companies with regular business before Congress, including Amazon, Verizon, Mastercard, Dow, Nike and Walt Disney. The message, a source close to Cotton said, “There will be consequences if you start acting like partisan democrats. … It would probably change the way members interact with these organizations in a variety of ways.” Be smart: the language of the letter in it was less threatening than that warning, offered only on the condition of anonymity. But the letter’s implication is quite clear: speak as you did in January or risk making permanent political enemies. line: McConnell’s decision to sign the letter will certainly get the attention of the companies that receive it. The source close to Cotton said Republican lobbyists for some of them. These companies said in particular that they “agree on the merits”, but declined to say anything publicly. Do you like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free.