The first ad highlights Cortez Masto’s record as Attorney General, when she took dozens of out-of-state trips paid for by special interests looking to buy influence. Records from the Nevada Attorney General’s office show Cortez Masto took nearly 40 privately funded trips to places like Mexico, Argentina, Switzerland, and Israel. In five years, Cortez Masto spent more than six full months traveling outside the state and even billed taxpayers for expenses at lavish resorts like the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua.
The English version of the ad can be seen here:
[youtube url = "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wURNVHuA9k"]
The Spanish language version of the ad can be seen here:
[youtube url = "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eeVjOW6fTM"]
A third ad highlighting Cortez Masto’s weak national security stances will also air this week, reminding voters of her statement that "we should be opening ourselves up" to possible terrorist attacks. Cortez Masto endorsed President Obama’s plan to accept refugees without tightening the screening process, creating a massive potential national security vulnerability.
That ad can be seen here:
[youtube url = "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1lgBOzAB8M"]
BACKGROUND ON "AROUND THE WORLD WITH CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO" AD
Trips Paid For By The Democratic Attorneys General Association And Conference Of Western Attorneys General Are Funded By Special Interests
DAGA And CWAG “Regularly Convene Attorneys General At Resort Hotels For Closed-Door Events With Lobbyists, Who Make Donations In Exchange For Greater Access.” “But that group is far less reliant on donations from corporations and other outside groups than the other three main associations of attorneys general: the Republican and Democratic Attorneys General Associations and the Conference of Western Attorneys General. Those groups regularly convene attorneys general at resort hotels for closed-door events with lobbyists, who make donations in exchange for greater access.” (Eric Lipton, “A Bipartisan Push To Limit Lobbyists’ Sway Over Attorneys General,” The New York Times, 12/26/14)
- The DAGA Offered Donors “A Unique Opportunity For Focused Conversation With Specific A.G.s In A Small Setting.” “Democrats have a similar, although somewhat lower-priced, arrangement that grants big donors ‘a unique opportunity for focused conversation with specific A.G.s in a small setting.’” (Eric Lipton, “A Bipartisan Push To Limit Lobbyists’ Sway Over Attorneys General,” The New York Times, 12/26/14)
The New York Times Reported These Trips Were To “Lavish Corporate-Sponsored Conferences.” “Attorneys general are now the object of aggressive pursuit by lobbyists and lawyers who use campaign contributions, personal appeals at lavish corporate-sponsored conferences and other means to push them to drop investigations, change policies, negotiate favorable settlements or pressure federal regulators, an investigation by The New York Times has found.” (Eric Lipton, “Lobbyists, Bearing Gifts, Pursue Attorneys General,” The New York Times, 10/28/14)
- The New York Times: “For The Attorneys General, There Is A Personal Benefit, Too: Their Airfare, Meals And Hotel Bills At These Elite Resorts Are Generally Covered, Either By The Corporate Sponsors Or State Taxpayers.” (Eric Lipton, “Lobbyists, Bearing Gifts, Pursue Attorneys General,” The New York Times, 10/28/14)
DOCUMENTS FROM THE NEVADA ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE AVAILABLE BY REQUEST