Yes, what Greg Lavelle did is clearly illegal. In fact, he voted on the bill that specifically made it illegal back in 2012. WHYY provides journalistic context to the News-Journal stenography. From Mark Eichmann’s story:
While PACs are not allowed to coordinate “electioneering” messages with campaigns, before 2012 PACs were able to circumvent finance disclosures of their advocacy for candidates by avoiding phrases such as “vote for Smith” in their advertising.
But in 2012, then-Gov. Jack Markell signed legislation designed to close that loophole. The law now states that “third-party advertisements that refer to a clearly identified candidate and are publicly distributed within 30 days before a primary or special election, or 60 days before a general election” are subject to the state’s disclosure requirements.
That’s exactly what Lavelle’s mailers do. Oh, and I wonder if ‘ignorance of the law’ can be a defense when the person violating the law voted on it. But Lavelle apparently doesn’t even know what the law says:
Lavelle, who denied any impropriety, said it’s legal for him to coordinate with the PAC for these mailers because they’re a form of “issue advocacy.”
“They don’t say ‘vote for,’ they don’t say the election is on a particular day. It’s issue advocacy, which is permitted under law,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.”
No it’s not. Hasn’t been since 2012.
Then the Monsignor lapses into self-pity mode:
Lavelle said the PAC is a way for him to be able to compete against a much better funded Democratic Party. He called the complaint a way for the opposing party to generate news stories.
Ah, yes, that. The financial juggernaut that is the Democratic Party. First, that’s not a defense for illegality. Second, it isn’t true. Compare the Lavelle and Sturgeon campaign reports and get back to me. Lavelle’s war chest is bloated by tens of thousands in lobbyist $$’s. Sturgeon’s, um, isn’t. Not to mention all the lobbyist bucks Lavelle has accrued over his years in R leadership.
Like many Rethugs who are running scared this year, Lavelle has opted for all-out cheating, followed by all-out lying about his all-out cheating. He does not deserve reelection. Why not send some ‘Democratic juggernaut’ dollars to Laura Sturgeon and to Colleen Davis in order to get these oleaginous slimeballs out of elective office?!