​Correct The Record Thursday November 20, 2014 Morning Roundup

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*​**Correct The Record Thursday November 20, 2014 Morning Roundup:* *Headlines:* *The Hill opinion: Brent Budowsky: “Clinton by acclamation!” <http://thehill.com/opinion/brent-budowsky/224791-brent-budowsky-clinton-by-acclamation>* “As a populist, progressive, liberal, Kennedy and FDR Democrat, who is a long-term champion of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and a devout believer in the teachings of Pope Francis, I support Hillary Clinton for president and hope she is nominated in 2016 without a major primary challenge.” *New York Times: First Draft: “Warren Pushes Democrats to the Left, but Not Too Hard” <http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2014/11/19/?entry=6005&_php=true&_type=blogs&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=0>* "While the energy in the Democratic Party may be with the progressive wing right now, Ms. Warren, the left’s most popular voice, does not seem to want to lead a movement, let alone start a campaign." *The Hill: “A powwow for Hillary” <http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/224796-a-powwow-for-hillary>* “Correct the Record, which will continue to run its operation through 2016, has had a big role in handling Clinton’s rapid response, defending the former secretary of State’s record and putting out her views on a variety of topics.” *Memphis Business Journal: “Clinton to visit St. Jude tomorrow” <http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2014/11/19/clinton-to-visit-st-jude-tomorrow.html>* “Hillary Rodham Clinton will be in Memphis tomorrow for the dedication and opening of The Marlo Thomas Center for Global Education and Collaboration on the campus of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.” *New York Times: First Draft: “As One Clinton Super PAC Winds Down, Another Ramps Up” <http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2014/11/19/?entry=5933>* “Mr. Brock is expected to tell donors that Correct the Record, originally conceived as a way respond to criticism of the potential candidate until a campaign is officially underway, has decided to continue operating through the November 2016 general election. The group plans to push back on Republican attacks on Mrs. Clinton and serve as a counterweight to third party groups that have already started to dig up opposition research on Mrs. Clinton, her husband and the family’s philanthropic foundation. One person included in the meeting described the group’s mission as 'tamping down conservative media efforts to resurrect old scandals and gin up new ones.'" *Associated Press: “Clinton says Obama on firm ground on immigration” <http://bigstory.ap.org/article/19580941dfc843b39deb0d55d6f28256/clinton-says-obama-firm-ground-immigration>* “Former President Bill Clinton on Wednesday noted that previous U.S. presidents have issued some type of executive order on immigration, suggesting his Democratic successor was on ‘pretty firm legal ground.’” *Wall Street Journal: Washington Wire: “Governor Who? Many 2016 Hopefuls Still Relative Unknowns — WSJ/NBC Poll” <http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/11/19/governor-who-many-2016-hopefuls-still-relative-unknowns-wsjnbc-poll/>* “The lower profiles of some of the GOP contenders contrasts with the universal recognition afforded Democrat Hillary Clinton. The former first lady is viewed positively by 43% and negatively by 40%. That’s about the same reviews she received in December 2006, when she was preparing to announce her first White House campaign." *Associated Press: “Clinton Foundation reports jump in contributions” <http://bigstory.ap.org/article/f5bf37a2702f4337bfec39daa7ba5706/clinton-foundation-reports-jump-contributions>* “The Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation released its tax documents to The Associated Press on Wednesday, revealing $144.4 million in contributions and grants during 2013, up from $51.5 million in the previous year.” *CNN: “Contributions to Clinton Foundation jump threefold” <http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/20/politics/clinton-foundation-donations-2013/>* “The Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation brought in $144.4 million in 2013, a three-fold growth from the $51.5 million the foundation received in 2012, according to tax documents released on Wednesday.” *Politico: “Clinton Foundation reports spike in travel expenses” <http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/clinton-foundation-travel-expenses-113053.html?hp=l1_3>* “The foundation saw an increase in donations of more than $51 million in 2013 over the previous year." *Associated Press: “Webb forms exploratory committee for White House” <http://bigstory.ap.org/article/52055c4632174f009d7d71c3ee4cc923/webb-forms-exploratory-committee-white-house>* “Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb launched an exploratory committee to consider a Democratic presidential campaign in 2016, taking the first official step in what could become a challenge to Hillary Rodham Clinton.” *BuzzFeed: “Jim Webb Launches 2016 Exploratory Committee For President” <http://www.buzzfeed.com/rubycramer/jim-webb-launches-2016-exploratory-committee-for-president>* “Jim Webb, the former Democratic U.S. senator from Virginia, said he launched a committee to explore running for president in 2016, according to a 14-minute video he sent to supporters by email just before midnight on Wednesday.” *Politico: “Jim Webb launches 2016 committee” <http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/jim-webb-2016-committee-113055.html>* “Webb, who was Ronald Reagan’s Navy secretary and who has held centrist views on a number of issues, has been bolstered by progressive news outlet The Nation as a potential challenge from the left to Hillary Clinton, the dominant front-runner who hasn’t yet said if she will launch a second national campaign.” *Articles:* *The Hill opinion: Brent Budowsky: “Clinton by acclamation!” <http://thehill.com/opinion/brent-budowsky/224791-brent-budowsky-clinton-by-acclamation>* By Brent Budowsky November 19, 2014, 7:39 p.m. EST As a populist, progressive, liberal, Kennedy and FDR Democrat, who is a long-term champion of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and a devout believer in the teachings of Pope Francis, I support Hillary Clinton for president and hope she is nominated in 2016 without a major primary challenge. The suggestion that Clinton should be nominated by acclamation will be met by some with concerns, which I also share, but Democrats urgently need a strategy to win the presidency, regain control of the Senate and House, and achieve a liberal Supreme Court majority to advance equal justice for a generation. We live in an age of big challenges, small politics and trite media. Voters crave leaders with the experience to govern and a politics that offers high calls to action for the common good. Hillary Clinton stands four-square in this tradition of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Several Democrats are said to be considering a run for the presidency in 2016. They are superb leaders with great achievements and bright futures who have every right to run if they so choose. So why Hillary Clinton? Why by acclamation? Clinton brings to the table attributes of experience and electability that extend far beyond the important and exciting fact that she would be the first woman president. In the unlikely event Clinton chooses not to run, I would support Secretary of State John Kerry, a great man with vast experience, for the 2016 nomination. For the eight years in which Bill Clinton was a highly successful, and now fondly remembered, president, Hillary was his full partner, closest confidante and highly trusted adviser. She would begin a campaign proposing her vision for the future while benefiting from the power of nostalgia for a time when jobs were plentiful and Americans believed tomorrow would be better than today. No other candidate — in either party — can campaign with the eight years of proximity to the presidency and the experience, knowledge and personal relationships essential to governing that Clinton possesses after being first lady, senator and secretary of State. Because Clinton brings an extraordinary and unmatched readiness to be president, she is the only candidate — in either party — who enjoys the prospect of being competitive in virtually every state, and could potentially win in a landslide that would lift every Democrat running for office at every level. The political stakes in 2016 will be enormous and historic. From 2006 until 2014, every national election has left one party a big winner and the other a big loser. The presidential winner in 2016 could well determine which party controls the presidency, the Senate and the House, and whether there will be a liberal or conservative majority on the Supreme Court for a generation. 2016 will bring an epic political war of the worlds that progressives must be determined to win. In 2016, voters will witness a bloody GOP civil war with Republicans attacking Republicans, while Washington is embroiled in the gridlocked combat that makes politics so distasteful. If Democrats avoid a nomination imbroglio, they can offer voters a powerful contrast to a bitterly divided GOP and the repellant infighting in Washington. They can set the stage for a unified and coherent message and campaign for the presidency and Congress —which Democrats catastrophically failed to do in 2014 — to create a progressive majority in all three branches of government. Democratic workers, donors, intellectuals, officeholders and potential primary candidates should consider that Clinton provides, by far, the best prospect for the next great era of progressive Democratic leadership. With Warren playing a central role as a Senate Democratic leader, and Clinton poised to become the Democratic nominee for president, when the pope arrives in Philadelphia in September, his teachings about economic justice will take center stage in American political discourse as the 2016 campaign begins in earnest. The moment could be a launching pad for Democrats to tell the nation a powerful and inspiring story about full employment with fair wages in a just economy. This message will resonate across America while Republicans are throwing dirt against one another. *New York Times: First Draft: “Warren Pushes Democrats to the Left, but Not Too Hard” <http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2014/11/19/?entry=6005&_php=true&_type=blogs&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=0>* By Jonathan Martin November 19, 2014, 6:00 p.m. EST If ever there was a setting for Senator Elizabeth Warren to outline the contours of a presidential campaign, or push her party in a more liberal direction, it was Wednesday afternoon at a conference by the Center for American Progress. Her admirers from Ready for Warren, a grass-roots group nudging her to run for president, were signing up supporters and waving a banner on the sidewalk outside the Washington hotel where the conference was being held. Inside were an array of Democratic donors, including the billionaire Tom Steyer. But just two weeks after the party suffered deep losses, in part because they lacked a coherent message, Ms. Warren offered scant comment about what went wrong. “Our country is headed in the wrong direction,” Ms. Warren said. “The American dream is slipping out of reach.” It was certainly not a reprise of the Howard Dean approach. In the wake of Democratic setbacks in 2002, he attacked party centrists and pugnaciously declared himself a representative of “the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.” Instead, Ms. Warren ticked off polling data from contested Senate races to suggest that Democratic policies on the minimum wage, Social Security and education spending were popular. “There is a long way to go before Democrats can reclaim the right to say we’re fighting for America’s working people, that we’re fighting to build a future, not just for some of our children but for all of our children,” she said. “No, we’re not there yet. But don’t forget the good news: Our agenda is America’s agenda.” Then it was on to a well-honed recitation of her humble biography and the conclusion of her remarks, the first half of which were dedicated to recounting New Deal policies and the loosening of same during the 1980s. While the energy in the Democratic Party may be with the progressive wing right now, Ms. Warren, the left’s most popular voice, does not seem to want to lead a movement, let alone start a campaign. *The Hill: “A powwow for Hillary” <http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/224796-a-powwow-for-hillary>* By Amie Parnes November 20, 2014, 6:00 a.m. EST The wheels are in motion around a 2016 White House campaign for Hillary Clinton, even though she isn’t an official candidate yet. Influential Clintonites, top officials from pro-Clinton political action committees and even a few key players from the team that helped get President Obama elected in 2008 and 2012 will gather in New York on Friday to meet with several hundred donors affiliated with the Ready for Hillary super-PAC. The Hill has also learned that Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will speak to the group in one of the four panel discussions entitled, “Why I’m ready for Hillary.” The daylong session at a hotel in midtown Manhattan will feature a series of wide-ranging strategy sessions with top donors who have raised or contributed $5,000 for Ready for Hillary. They will also discuss lessons learned from the 2014 midterm elections that imposed a crushing defeat on Democrats, and how those lessons will affect the 2016 race for the White House. The idea behind the conference is to get ready for a Clinton candidacy, which most expect to be announced within the first few months of 2015. Top donors attending Friday’s event include Marc Stanley; a prominent Texas lawyer and chairman of the National Jewish Democratic Council; Amber and Steve Mostyn, two trial lawyers from Houston; investor Sandy Robertson; Barbara Lee, the president and founder of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation; and Ronald Feldman, who owns an art gallery in New York. The donors will hear from several Washington political players, including Guy Cecil, executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee; and Stephanie Schriock, the head of EMILY’s List. Both Cecil and Schriock have been mentioned as potential campaign managers for Clinton, should she run in 2016. Big names from Clinton World attending the event include strategists James Carville, Paul Begala and Harold Ickes, as well as Ace Smith, who is expected to play a crucial role in a 2016 campaign. Carville is a columnist for The Hill. Key Ready for Hillary officials including Adam Parkhomenko, and David Brock, who heads up the pro-Clinton super-PAC Correct the Record, will also be on hand, as will Mitch Stewart, Obama’s battleground states director in 2012. Stewart recently told Talking Points Memo that Clinton can expand Obama’s electoral map by making a play for Georgia and Arkansas, among other states. Though Clinton officially is still making a decision about whether she’ll run for president, the meeting sends strong signals to political observers that the operation around her is humming and all systems are go. The only thing they need is Clinton’s cue that she is in fact ready. “At the end of the day, only she could kick this off,” one organizer said. “We don’t have a candidate, but we want to make sure we’re ready to go if and when we do.” While Ready for Hillary struggled at the start a couple of years ago, it has proven to be a powerful force for Clinton. It has already raised more than $10 million and, more importantly, built a hefty database of supporters and donors. That data would be ready to hand off to Clinton should she buy or rent it from the super-PAC. At the same time, other political action committees, such as Correct the Record have emerged on the landscape. Correct the Record, which will continue to run its operation through 2016, has had a big role in handling Clinton’s rapid response, defending the former secretary of State’s record and putting out her views on a variety of topics. Priorities USA, a super-PAC that began as a pro-Obama committee, has shifted into a group that is raising big money for a Clinton effort, while EMILY’s List, which backs female candidates who are pro-abortion rights, has been focused on its Madam President initiative. While there’s been some tension among the groups, all four organizations “have worked well together to make sure that, in the absence of a candidate, we’re doing everything we can to put her in a position to win,” said one super-PAC official. Organizers for the meeting on Friday say there will be different discussions throughout the day for the donors and lots of time for question-and-answer sessions. “If she’s ready to start the engine, so are we,” one organizer said. *Memphis Business Journal: “Clinton to visit St. Jude tomorrow” <http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2014/11/19/clinton-to-visit-st-jude-tomorrow.html>* By Michael Sheffield November 19, 2014, 4:00 p.m. CST Hillary Rodham Clinton will be in Memphis tomorrow for the dedication and opening of The Marlo Thomas Center for Global Education and Collaboration on the campus of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The center, named for Marlo Thomas, will provide opportunities for doctors around the world to collaborate on projects that will help fight childhood cancer. It will also be the hub for the St. Jude International Outreach Program, which is working to improve childhood cancer survival rates worldwide through 25 partner sites in 17 countries. Clinton, a former U.S. Secretary of State, Senator and First Lady, first visited St. Jude in 1994. *New York Times: First Draft: “As One Clinton Super PAC Winds Down, Another Ramps Up” <http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2014/11/19/?entry=5933>* By Amy Chozick November 19, 2014, 10:25 a.m. EST As supporters of Ready for Hillary, a “super PAC” pushing a 2016 presidential run by Hillary Rodham Clinton, gather in New York on Friday to discuss how the group will wind down ahead of a likely campaign, another group will convene a private meeting to explain to major donors how it plans to ramp up in the coming months. About 40 donors are expected to attend an event hosted by Correct the Record, part of a Democratic super PAC that defends Mrs. Clinton against attacks, including Republican criticism of her handling of the assault on a U.S. mission in Benghazi. James Carville and David Brock, who founded Correct the Record and its parent group, American Bridge, have taken the lead on defending Mrs. Clinton’s record as secretary of state, are both expected to deliver remarks. Others expected to attend include Tom Lee, Bob Rudin, Doug Band and Michael Kempner, according to one person involved in the event who could not discuss the private meeting for attribution. Representatives of Correct the Record declined to comment. Mr. Brock is expected to tell donors that Correct the Record, originally conceived as a way respond to criticism of the potential candidate until a campaign is officially underway, has decided to continue operating through the November 2016 general election. The group plans to push back on Republican attacks on Mrs. Clinton and serve as a counterweight to third party groups that have already started to dig up opposition research on Mrs. Clinton, her husband and the family’s philanthropic foundation. One person included in the meeting described the group’s mission as “tamping down conservative media efforts to resurrect old scandals and gin up new ones.” *Associated Press: “Clinton says Obama on firm ground on immigration” <http://bigstory.ap.org/article/19580941dfc843b39deb0d55d6f28256/clinton-says-obama-firm-ground-immigration>* By Ken Thomas November 19, 2014, 10:43 p.m. EST WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton on Wednesday noted that previous U.S. presidents have issued some type of executive order on immigration, suggesting his Democratic successor was on "pretty firm legal ground." The former president spoke on the eve of President Barack Obama's scheduled announcement of executive actions to spare as many as 5 million immigrants from being deported from the U.S. Clinton said during an event honoring the magazine The New Republic that it was part of a larger debate about the nation's role around the globe. "As far as I can tell every president in the modern era has issued some executive action on immigration, so I imagine he'll be on pretty firm legal ground," Clinton said at a gala celebrating the publication's centennial. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush extended amnesty to family members who were not covered by the last major overhaul of immigration law in 1986. Clinton sought to frame the debate in a larger context, saying Americans should be optimistic about the nation's future. He said the next two decades could be positive for the country if the U.S. can develop inclusive economics and inclusive politics. "In a world where borders look more like nets than walls, we are becoming more interdependent whether we like it or not, so the only thing that remains is to define the terms of our interdependence," he said. Clinton joked that nobody cares what an ex-president says unless his wife might run for office. Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is considering a White House campaign in 2016. *Wall Street Journal: Washington Wire: “Governor Who? Many 2016 Hopefuls Still Relative Unknowns — WSJ/NBC Poll” <http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/11/19/governor-who-many-2016-hopefuls-still-relative-unknowns-wsjnbc-poll/>* By Beth Reinhard November 19, 2014, 6:59 p.m. EST Many Republican leaders predict their next presidential nominee will come from the party’s bumper crop of governors, who could parlay their state-level successes into spirited campaigns against Washington gridlock. If only anyone knew their names. Two of the frequently mentioned governors considering 2016 bids, John Kasich of Ohio and Scott Walker of Wisconsin, are unfamiliar to 61% and 54% of American adults, respectively, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. The survey offers an early preview of the challenges and opportunities facing the 2016 field. Fifty-eight percent don’t recognize Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon whose rousing speeches have made him a popular ticket at conservative gatherings. Two heroes of the tea party movement, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, are unfamiliar to 39% and 40%, respectively. In recent decades, the GOP has preferred to nominate candidates with higher national profiles or previous experience running for president. Most people, 56%, weren’t familiar with Mitt Romney in the Journal poll in December 2006, and he lost the nomination to second-time candidate John McCain in 2008. By December 2010, however, only 22% didn’t know Mr. Romney. He went on to win the nomination in 2012. The lower profiles of some of the GOP contenders contrasts with the universal recognition afforded Democrat Hillary Clinton. The former first lady is viewed positively by 43% and negatively by 40%. That’s about the same reviews she received in December 2006, when she was preparing to announce her first White House campaign. A freshman senator from Illinois named Barack Obama, lacking the baggage Ms. Clinton collected during more than a decade in Washington, was viewed positively by 35% and negatively by only 13%, at the time. Some Democrats are urging Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to challenge Ms. Clinton in 2016. Among those who know Ms. Warren and have an opinion about her, she is viewed positively by 23% and negatively by 17%. The best-known Republican weighing a presidential bid, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, is viewed positively by 26% and negatively by 33%. Some Republicans say sharing the surname of two past presidents may complicate efforts by Mr. Bush to be seen as a leader with a vision for the future, though that problem could be canceled out if he faced Mrs. Clinton in the general election. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey boasts a slightly better image, but it is still recovering from allegations that allies orchestrated a massive traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge last year to get back at a political foe. After the scandal broke in January, negative views of Mr. Christie outweighed positive views, 29 to 22%. Now, after months of barnstorming the country on behalf of GOP candidates as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, positive and negative views of Mr. Christie break evenly at 29 % in each category. Back in mid-2013, however, Mr. Christie was viewed positively by 41% and negatively by only 12%, an enviable difference of 29 points. Another governor who is fairly well known after running for president in 2012, Rick Perry of Texas, is viewed positively by 20% and negatively by 29%. That’s a 9-point deficit. Only Mr. Cruz, who helped instigate last year’s government shutdown, faces a bigger gap. He is viewed positively by 16% and negatively by 26%. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who competed against Mr. Perry in 2012, is viewed positively by 25% and negatively by 24%. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, whose father ran for president three times, is better known than his Senate colleagues eyeing 2016. Only 25% said they don’t know him or are not sure who he is. He is viewed positively by 26% and negatively by 23%. But despite his efforts to reach out to the minority voters and young people who traditional favor the Democratic Party, he is viewed more negatively than positively among those groups. *Associated Press: “Clinton Foundation reports jump in contributions” <http://bigstory.ap.org/article/f5bf37a2702f4337bfec39daa7ba5706/clinton-foundation-reports-jump-contributions>* By Kelly P. Kissel November 19, 2014, 8:25 p.m. EST LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Contributions and grants to the tax-exempt foundation that former President Bill Clinton operates with his family grew nearly threefold between 2012 and 2013, backed by its merger with another of his charities, the establishment of an endowment and large donations from nine unspecified donors, tax records show. The Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation released its tax documents to The Associated Press on Wednesday, revealing $144.4 million in contributions and grants during 2013, up from $51.5 million in the previous year. "In 2013 the Foundation reconsolidated the Clinton Global Initiative into its operations. As such, the ... tax document shows a corresponding increase in both revenue and expenses," the foundation's chief financial officer, Andrew Kessel, said in a statement. Kessel also said the foundation in 2013 began raising money for an endowment to benefit current programs and expand into new areas. "We are incredibly proud of our work helping people live their best life stories," he said. "With an even stronger financial situation in 2013, the Clinton Foundation is positioned to broaden its impact across the globe." A separate filing by the Clinton Health Access Initiative, which is supported by the foundation and dedicated to improving health care systems in developing countries, listed expenses of $106 million for the year. Of that amount, $53 million was spent in sub-Saharan Africa and $11 million in eastern Asia and the Pacific, all for health programs. The William J. Clinton Foundation changed its name during 2013 to the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation after the ex-president's wife stopped serving as secretary of state. While the merger of the Clinton Global Initiative resulted in additional revenue, plus $23.7 million in expenses, the bulk of the funding increase was tied to the endowment, the foundation said in an unsigned statement. Itemizations show that nine donors gave a total of $64 million — including four who each gave $9.9 million or more. One person donated $15 million. The names of all nine were blacked out on the IRS form; tax-exempt groups don't have to list their donors. The Clinton Foundation does reveal who gives it money but not by specific amounts. According to data from the foundation website, 12 of last year's donors were among groups and individuals who have given $5 million or more since 1997. The financial documents showed that $8.4 million spent on travel during 2013 totaled nearly 10 percent of the foundation's $84.6 million in expenses. A year earlier, travel made up 7.7 percent of the foundation's $58.7 million in expenses. The foundation said the total was not out of the ordinary. "The Clinton Foundation has a large global footprint — conducting operations in over 25 countries, and programs and commitments that reach over 180 countries," it said. *CNN: “Contributions to Clinton Foundation jump threefold” <http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/20/politics/clinton-foundation-donations-2013/>* By Dan Merica November 20, 2014 (CNN) -- The Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation brought in $144.4 million in 2013, a three-fold growth from the $51.5 million the foundation received in 2012, according to tax documents released on Wednesday. Though the group said in a statement the boost came from a consolidation with other charities under the foundation, the jump could also be seen as the foundation moving to up its endowment and put itself on better footing in case Hillary Clinton runs for president in 2016. "In 2013 the Foundation reconsolidated the Clinton Global Initiative into its operations," Andrew Kessel, the foundation's chief financial officer, wrote in a letter attached to the tax forms. "As such, the 990 tax document shows a corresponding increase in both revenue and expenses." According to the filing, nine donors collectively gave over $60 million. One donor gave $15 million, while three more gave around $10 million. The foundation does disclose a range of their donors online -- though they are not legally obligated to -- but the names of these donors are blacked out on the tax filing. "In 2013, the Foundation expanded our work, reinforced our financial footing, and became better positioned to maximize our impact for years to come," Kessel said. "Our tax statements reflect these improvements." While revenue went up, so did expenses. Nearly 10% -- or $8.1 million -- of the foundation's $84.6 million in expenses was spent on travel. The only categories with higher expenses were salaries and wages and "conferences, conventions and meetings." Early in 2013, just shortly after Hillary Clinton left her post as America's top diplomat, the foundation that was once simply known as the William J. Clinton Foundation was renamed to the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation. Hillary Clinton has been very visible at the foundation's events. She led a number of sessions at the group's annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York this year and just last week led a session at a foundation event in Little Rock. Since leaving the State Department, Clinton has stepped up her role in fundraising for the foundation, too. When Clinton served as secretary of state, the foundation pledged to disclose their donors and stopped holding events overseas in order to avoid conflict of interest claims between her role and the foundations. With Clinton eying another run at the presidency, a spokesman for the foundation said earlier this year that should Clinton run for president, the "precedent" of what the foundation did while she served as secretary of state would serve as a guide to how they would handle her run. *Politico: “Clinton Foundation reports spike in travel expenses” <http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/clinton-foundation-travel-expenses-113053.html?hp=l1_3>* By Maggie Haberman November 19, 2014, 10:08 p.m. EST Travel expenses for the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation for last year totaled more than $8 million last year, a greater amount than the nonprofit reported in previous years, according to IRS filings. The filings, provided to POLITICO by the Republican research arm America Rising, are the first look at the foundation’s expenditures since it changed its name last year and was joined by Hillary Clinton after she left the State Department. The travel costs were $8.448 million, according to the 990 forms the foundation filed with the IRS. America Rising obtained a copy at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Ark. That figure was about 5 percent of the more than $145 million raised last year, but 10 percent of the expenses. In notes in the filing, foundation officials referred to specific travel requirements for the three Clintons. “The Board recognizes that, due to extraordinary security and other requirements, William J. Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton may require the need to travel by charter or in first class, the determination of which will be made on a case-by-case basis,” it says. All three Clintons had not been members of the Board in previous years. The travel expenses were nearly double the total in previous years. The filing indicates that the increase was related to the Clinton Global Initiative, which was spun off as a separate entity during the four years Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State to avoid conflicts of interest, reincorporating into the Foundation. But the filings come at a time when both Clintons have been under scrutiny for their exclusive travel, particularly Hillary Clinton. The bill for campaigns to pay for the Clintons’ travel during the fall midterm season is likely to top $1 million. Critics at America Rising argued the Foundation officials should break out an itemized list of the travel to determine whether any of Clinton’s was related to politics. “At the Clinton Foundation its unclear the line between ‘charity’ and multi-million dollar political organization funneling money to subsidize the Clintons’ private political air travel and courting of prospective presidential campaign donors,” group official Tim Miller said. “Given the extravagant luxury travel and fundraising expenditures that could help a potential presidential campaign, the Clinton Foundation must be transparent about how these funds were spent detailing flight costs, itineraries, manifests and other relevant information.” Clinton’s only political travel in 2013 was related to Terry McAuliffe, the Clintons’ longtime friend who won the Virginia governorship last year. The rest of her travel public travel appeared to be for paid speeches, which were covered by the entity she was speaking to, according to contract terms. Based on her public schedules from last year, her foundation-related travel appears to have been minimal. Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill said in a statement responding to America Rising that “her foundation travel in 2013 did not intersect at all with any political travel. There was no overlap. Period. The accusation is patently, but not surprisingly given its source, false.” There is no apparent industry standard for non-governmental organizations and travel – 990 forms for other major groups show it runs the gamut. But the Clintons are in an unusual position – a former president and a potential future one, who is also a secretary of state and former first lady. The question of wealth and travel has dogged the Clintons much of this year. The filings show a surplus, with revenues of more than $60 million. Audited filings for 2012 on the foundation’s website show that the group had a surplus then of more than $7 million. The filings show nine new major donors, including one who gave $15 million. Their giving totaled more than $60 million. The donors’ names were redacted in the filings America Rising copied from the Clinton Presidential Center. The filings show the foundation’s chief executive Eric Braverman receiving more than $200,000 in salary since his July 2013 start. The foundation saw an increase in donations of more than $51 million in 2013 over the previous year. *Associated Press: “Webb forms exploratory committee for White House” <http://bigstory.ap.org/article/52055c4632174f009d7d71c3ee4cc923/webb-forms-exploratory-committee-white-house>* By Ken Thomas November 20, 2014, 1:36 a.m. EST WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb launched an exploratory committee to consider a Democratic presidential campaign in 2016, taking the first official step in what could become a challenge to Hillary Rodham Clinton. Webb announced the exploratory committee in a message posted from his Twitter account late Wednesday, making him the first candidate of either of the two major political parties to take the initial official step for the White House. "A strong majority of Americans agree that we are at a serious crossroads," Webb wrote in a message posted to a website for his committee along with a 14-minute video address. "In my view the solutions are not simply political, but those of leadership. I learned long ago on the battlefields of Vietnam that in a crisis, there is no substitute for clear-eyed leadership." The former Virginia senator has hinted at a possible presidential campaign for months and made campaign appearances this fall with Democrats in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire. But he would be considered a longshot against Clinton, who will be the leading Democratic candidate for president if she seeks the White House again. Webb's surprise announcement, released shortly before midnight, sets the possibility of a primary challenge to Clinton, a field that could also include Vice President Joe Biden, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who has said he would run in the Democratic primary. The message from Webb included appeals to Democrats who have struggled during the economic recovery and criticized political leaders for being too close to Wall Street. The former senator also makes the case for a shift in foreign policy that cautions against overseas entanglements. Webb said the nation faces major obstacles in governing and points to domestic and foreign policy items that need to be atop the agenda. "We need to put our American house in order, to provide educational and working opportunities that meet the needs of the future." He noted the stock market has nearly tripled during "this so-called 'recovery'" while income levels and loans to small business owners have decreased. He said the U.S. needs to "redefine and strengthen our national security obligations, while at the same time reducing ill-considered foreign ventures." Webb acknowledged he would face considerable challenges in a presidential bid, saying "early support will be crucial as I evaluate whether we might overcome what many commentators see as nearly impossible odds." The committee will allow Webb to raise money and travel the nation to test the waters for a potential campaign. The 68-year-old Vietnam War veteran served as Navy secretary under President Ronald Reagan. He defeated Republican Sen. George Allen in his 2006 Senate campaign, serving one term. In the message, he said he entered the race against Allen only nine months before the election and trailed by 30 percentage points before prevailing. Webb cast himself as an outsider, saying, "In politics nobody owns me and I don't owe anybody anything, except for the promise that I will work for the well-being of all Americans, especially those who otherwise would have no voice in the corridors of power." "All I ask is that you consider the record I am putting before you, and give me the opportunity to earn your trust," he said. *BuzzFeed: “Jim Webb Launches 2016 Exploratory Committee For President” <http://www.buzzfeed.com/rubycramer/jim-webb-launches-2016-exploratory-committee-for-president>* By Ruby Cramer November 20, 2014, 12:39 a.m. EST [Subtitle:] The former Virginia senator is the first candidate of either party to launch an exploratory committee and accept direct contributions for a 2016 bid. Jim Webb, the former Democratic U.S. senator from Virginia, said he launched a committee to explore running for president in 2016, according to a 14-minute video he sent to supporters by email just before midnight on Wednesday. Webb gave no notice he would announce the committee this week. He has only said in recent months that he is considering a presidential run. The video was sent in an email to subscribers of Webb’s website. The message linked to another website, headlined, the Webb 2016 Exploratory Committee. “I’d like to take a few minutes of your time to ask you to consider the most important question facing America today,” Webb said at the start of the announcement. “Is it possible that our next president could actually lay out a vision for the country, and create an environment where leaders from both parties and from all philosophies would feel compelled to work together for the good of the country, despite all of the money and political pressure that now demands they disagree?” Webb made the announcement in front of a gradient blue backdrop on what appears to be a simple, rudimentary set. There are no special effects or features, and there is no additional video footage — just a direct-to-camera shot of Webb. The 68-year-old served for one term in the U.S. Senate after his 2006 race. Webb did not seek reelection at the end of his six-year term. He is a decorated combat Marine veteran and a former journalist. During the George W. Bush administration, Webb gained notice as a veteran who opposed the war in Iraq. As of late Wednesday night, a search of the Federal Election Commission database did not show filings for the committee Webb said he has launched. Among the Democrats said to be considering a White House bid — including Hillary Clinton, Vice President Biden, Gov. Martin O’Malley, and Sen. Bernie Sanders — Webb is the first to open a federal campaign account to accept donations for a run. No candidate on the Republican side has launched a committee. An exploratory committee is considered a first, optional step to pursuing a presidential bid. The entity allows a possible candidate to raise money, hire staff, and build the beginnings of what could be a national campaign operation. Before he ran, President Obama launched an exploratory committee in Jan. 2007. It was only about a month later that he officially announced his candidacy. Should she decide to run, as supporters anticipate, Clinton is not expected to start a campaign — in any form — until after the beginning of next year. Early polling shows that Webb, like O’Malley and Sanders, registers in the low single digits in a hypothetical primary against Clinton. In his lengthy announcement video, Webb highlighted issues like economic fairness, redefining national security priorities, veterans benefits, and criminal justice. He also argued that Washington could “unparalyze the environment and reestablish a transparent” political system. “In that spirit I have decided to launch an exploratory committee to examine whether I should run for president in 2016,” Webb said in the video. “I made this decision after reflecting on numerous political commentaries and listening to many knowledgeable people. I look forward to listening and talking with more people in the coming months as I decide whether or not to run.” The 14-minute monologue suggests Webb’s message to Democratic voters could have a working-class, progressive bent. In the video, he described the Democratic Party as a group that used to be defined by a “vital, overriding belief that we’re all in this together and the system is not rigged.” The phrase — that the system, or game, is “rigged” — echoes a common tagline by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the popular progressive who has said repeatedly that she is not planning on running for president, despite appeals from the left. Webb made a direct ask to supporters in the video for donations to his exploratory committee. “With enough financial support to conduct a first-class campaign, I have no doubt that we can put these issues squarely before the American people and gain their support,” he said. “The 2016 election is two years away, but serious campaigning will begin very soon. The first primaries are about a year away.” Fundraising, particularly with Clinton in the race, would be an enormous hurdle for a lesser-known contender like Webb. “Your early support will be crucial as I evaluate whether we might overcome what many commentators see as nearly impossible odds,” he said. The announcement video concludes with a final line that could easily double as a campaign slogan: “Let’s fix our country together.” An email requesting comment sent to the address listed on Webb’s exploratory committee website was not immediately returned. *Politico: “Jim Webb launches 2016 committee” <http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/jim-webb-2016-committee-113055.html>* By Maggie Haberman November 20, 2014, 12:39 a.m. EST Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb became the first well-known Democrat to launch an exploratory committee to run for president on Wednesday night, saying the nation is at a “serious crossroads.” “I have decided to launch an Exploratory Committee to examine whether I should run for President in 2016,” Webb said in a four-page letter on his website, Webb2016. “I made this decision after reflecting on numerous political commentaries and listening to many knowledgeable people. I look forward to listening and talking with more people in the coming months as I decide whether or not to run.” The Vietnam veteran added, “A strong majority of Americans agree that we are at a serious crossroads. In my view the solutions are not simply political, but those of leadership. I learned long ago on the battlefields of Vietnam that in a crisis, there is no substitute for clear-eyed leadership.” Webb, who was Ronald Reagan’s Navy secretary and who has held centrist views on a number of issues, has been bolstered by progressive news outlet The Nation as a potential challenge from the left to Hillary Clinton, the dominant front-runner who hasn’t yet said if she will launch a second national campaign. “With enough financial support to conduct a first-class campaign, I have no doubt that we can put these issues squarely before the American people and gain their support,” said Webb, acknowledging his underdog status against a likely Clinton fundraising juggernaut. “The 2016 election is two years away, but serious campaigning will begin very soon. The first primaries are about a year away. Your early support will be crucial as I evaluate whether we might overcome what many commentators see as nearly impossible odds.” He did not mention Clinton’s name in the letter. *Calendar:* *Sec. Clinton's upcoming appearances as reported online. Not an official schedule.* · November 20 – Memphis, TN: Sec. Clinton attends the dedication of The Marlo Thomas Center for Global Education & Collaboration at St. Jude (WMC <http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/27188542/hillary-clinton-plans-trip-to-st-jude-former-president-bill-clinton-visits-arkansas> ) · November 21 – New York, NY: Sec. Clinton presides over meeting of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (Bloomberg <http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2014-11-02/clinton-aides-resist-calls-to-jump-early-into-2016-race> ) · November 21 – New York, NY: Sec. Clinton is honored by the New York Historical Society (Bloomberg <http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2014-11-02/clinton-aides-resist-calls-to-jump-early-into-2016-race> ) · December 1 – New York, NY: Sec. Clinton keynotes a League of Conservation Voters dinner (Politico <http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/hillary-clinton-green-groups-las-vegas-111430.html?hp=l11> ) · December 4 – Boston, MA: Sec. Clinton speaks at the Massachusetts Conference for Women (MCFW <http://www.maconferenceforwomen.org/speakers/>) · December 16 – New York, NY: Sec. Clinton honored by Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (Politico <http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/hillary-clinton-ripple-of-hope-award-112478.html> ) · February 24 – Santa Clara, CA: Sec. Clinton to Keynote Address at Inaugural Watermark Conference for Women (PR Newswire <http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hillary-rodham-clinton-to-deliver-keynote-address-at-inaugural-watermark-conference-for-women-283200361.html> )