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Steve Scalise Leadership Fund (SLF)

Website:

www.scaliseleadershipfund.com
Location:

Washington, DC
Type:

Joint Fundraising Committee
Founded:

2014

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Steve Scalise Leadership Fund (SLF) is the joint fundraising committee for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA). 1 Established in September 2014, the fund has more than 100,000 donors nationally. Most of the money raised goes to the National Republican Congressional Committee and to Rep. Scalise’s other political funds. 2 3

Its largest donors are Richard Uihlein and Elizabeth Uihlein, owners of the Uline shipping company, who gave more than $1 million to the Scalise Leadership Fund in the 2022 election cycle. 4

Background

Steve Scalise Leadership Fund is the joint fundraising committee for Rep. Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican who serves as Majority Leader in the 118th House of Representatives. 5

Steve Scalise Leadership Fund was established in September 2014 and collected $230,000 in the last quarter of that year, all of which came from six donors who gave more than $50,000 each. 6

Joint fundraising committees are umbrellas for multiple affiliated political committees. 7 Scalise has four fundraising committees: Scalise for Congress, Team Scalise, Eye of the Tiger, and Scalise Leadership Fund. 8 By early 2022, Scalise said his four fundraising committees brought in more than $100 million. 9

SLF has more than 100,000 donors nationally. Most of the money it raises goes to the National Republican Congressional Committee and to his affiliated funds. 10

Staff

Benjamin Ottenhoff is the treasurer of the Scalise Leadership Fund. 11

Stephanie Belk is the principal at Scalise Leadership Fund. 12

Megan Becker is the finance director for the Scalise Leadership Fund. She previously worked for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. 13

Donors

Richard Uihlein and Elizabeth Uihlein, the co-founders of the Uline shipping company, have been major contributors to the fundraising committee. 14 People associated with Uline Inc. gave $1,053,600 given to the Scalise Leadership Fund in 2022. 15

People associated with Abe Supply gave $576,800 to the Scalise Leadership Fund, while people associated with Grosse Pointe News’s contributed $466,300. LHC Group’s political committee gave $2,900 while individuals associated with the company contributed $400,000. 16

After the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, 23 corporate PACs announced they would halt contributions to Scalise’ fundraising committees and to other Republicans who voted against certifying Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. 17

Donor Benefits

Scalise Leadership Fund has a menu of benefits for donors known as “Team Scalise Programs and Benefits.” The left-wing Center for Media and Democracy reported on the program in 2017, claiming that donating $100,000 to the Scalise Leadership Fund offered the benefit of a one-on-one coffee with Rep. Scalise, “exclusive access” to four quarterly retreats around the country, two private dinners, participation in a national finance committee annual fly-in, VIP access to National Republican Congressional Committee events, monthly conference calls with Rep. Scalise or members of his finance team, biannual briefings with members of Team Scalise or top strategists, invitations to all Scalise Leadership Fund events, and a commemorative gift. 18

Donors who gave $5,000 become a member of the “Crescent City Council” and got a private “opportunity” with Scalise, three coffees with Scalise and other House Republicans, one private “Crescent City Council” dinner, participation in the fly-in, invitation to a VIP House leadership reception, priority registration to two of the four quarterly retreats, plus other conference calls and briefings. 19

While campaign finance and government watchdog groups criticized the practice, most said it was standard for political fundraising. Scalise Leadership Fund argued it’s a matter of scheduling and convenience to lay out a year’s worth of fundraising events all at once. USA Today reported that the package of benefits was similar to how national political parties and presidential inaugural committees underwrite conventions and inaugurations, with tiered benefits for donors that including special access tickets to luncheons, balls, concerts, receptions, and the swearing-in. 20

References

  1. “Steve Scalise Leadership Fund.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/com_detail/C00568162
  2. Roberts, Gregory. “Steve Scalise raises big money with special PAC.” The Advocate. February 24, 2015. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/steve-scalise-raises-big-money-with-special-pac/article_ed6d8248-efe0-541a-a40e-cbbad25d5b5d.html
  3. Bridges, Tyler. “Scalise continues his close alliance with Trump as other Republicans break with the president.” Houma Today. January 19, 2021. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.houmatoday.com/story/news/2021/01/19/scalise-continues-his-close-alliance-trump-other-republicans-break-president/4204871001/
  4. “Scalise Leadership Fund.” Open Secrets. November 28, 2022. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/jfc/donors.php?id=C00568162&cycle=2022
  5.  “Steve Scalise Leadership Fund.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/com_detail/C00568162
  6.  Roberts, Gregory. “Steve Scalise raises big money with special PAC.” The Advocate. February 24, 2015. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/steve-scalise-raises-big-money-with-special-pac/article_ed6d8248-efe0-541a-a40e-cbbad25d5b5d.html
  7. Roberts, Gregory. “Steve Scalise raises big money with special PAC.” The Advocate. February 24, 2015. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/steve-scalise-raises-big-money-with-special-pac/article_ed6d8248-efe0-541a-a40e-cbbad25d5b5d.html
  8. Brufke, Juliegrace. “Steve Scalise ramps up fundraising ahead of midterm elections.” Washington Examiner. March 10, 2022. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/steve-scalise-ramps-up-fundraising-ahead-of-midterm-elections
  9. Brufke, Juliegrace. “Steve Scalise ramps up fundraising ahead of midterm elections.” Washington Examiner. March 10, 2022. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/steve-scalise-ramps-up-fundraising-ahead-of-midterm-elections
  10.  Bridges, Tyler. “Scalise continues his close alliance with Trump as other Republicans break with the president.” Houma Today. January 19, 2021. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.houmatoday.com/story/news/2021/01/19/scalise-continues-his-close-alliance-trump-other-republicans-break-president/4204871001/
  11. “Steve Scalise Leadership Fund.” Federal Election Commission. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/com_detail/C00568162
  12. “Scalise Leadership Fund.” Buzz File. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.buzzfile.com/business/Scalise-Leadership-Fund-225-241-6200
  13. “Megan Becker.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-becker-19250537/
  14. “Scalise Leadership Fund.” Little Sis. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://littlesis.org/org/244278-Scalise_Leadership_Fund
  15. “Scalise Leadership Fund.” Open Secrets. November 28, 2022. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/jfc/donors.php?id=C00568162&cycle=2022
  16. “Scalise Leadership Fund.” Open Secrets. November 28, 2022. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/jfc/donors.php?id=C00568162&cycle=2022
  17. Bridges, Tyler. “Scalise continues his close alliance with Trump as other Republicans break with the president.” Houma Today. January 19, 2021. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.houmatoday.com/story/news/2021/01/19/scalise-continues-his-close-alliance-trump-other-republicans-break-president/4204871001/
  18. Troyan, Mary. “House GOP leader has price list for donors.” January 11, 2017. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/11/house-gop-leader-has-price-list-donors/96454312/
  19. Troyan, Mary. “House GOP leader has price list for donors.” January 11, 2017. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/11/house-gop-leader-has-price-list-donors/96454312/
  20. Troyan, Mary. “House GOP leader has price list for donors.” January 11, 2017. Accessed December 22, 2022. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/11/house-gop-leader-has-price-list-donors/96454312/
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Steve Scalise Leadership Fund (SLF)


Washington, DC