Rep. Bob Dold (R.,Ill.), one of the Republican congressmen introducing a gun control bill on Friday, received millions of dollars in support from Michael Bloomberg’s gun control PAC.
Politico reports on the bill:
A bipartisan group of House members will gather in front of the Capitol later this morning to roll out their companion bill to Sen. Susan Collins’ gun control proposal. The move comes as her plan remains in limbo across the Capitol. GOP Reps. Carlos Curbelo, Bob Dold and Scott Rigell along with Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton will introduce the companion measure, which would allow DOJ to bar people on two federal terrorist lists from buying guns.
The Independence USA PAC, which was founded by Bloomberg in 2012, supports candidates who support stricter gun control laws. The PAC has been funded entirely by Bloomberg since its inception, according to Federal Election Commission records, and has supported just a handful of candidates who are mostly Democrats.
Rep. Dold, however, has received nearly $3 million in backing from Bloomberg’s Independence USA PAC.
Bloomberg’s PAC put $963,477 towards direct mail services, media buy and production, and internet advertising in support of Dold in 2012. He lost his seat to Democrat Brad Schneider.
During the 2014 election cycle, as Dold was attempting to recapture his old seat, Bloomberg’s PAC spent $1,925,410 on television and radio ads—the most the PAC gave in support of any candidate that cycle. His comeback attempt was successful.
Dold is in a tough reelection battle against Schneider yet again in the 2016 elections.
The Illinois congressman has been vocal in recent days from the House floor following the terrorist attack at Pulse nightclub in Orlando while breaking ranks from the GOP and calling for the passage of stricter gun control laws.