Exclusive: As Democratic attorneys general target Trump, Republican AGs target them(Reuters) - For years the national political organizations of both Democratic and Republican state attorneys general observed an agreement not to target the other party’s incumbent office-holders in elections.  That hands-off stance ended this month when Republican AGs voted to abandon the agreement and spend money to help unseat Democrats in other states, according to the Republican Attorneys General Association. The decision has not been previously reported.  The move comes as Democratic attorneys general in states across the country have assumed lead roles in opposing some of Republican President Donald Trump’s policies. State AGs in Washington and Hawaii successfully sued to block Trump’s executive orders restricting travel from some Muslim-majority countries, and California’s attorney general has pledged to defend the state’s environmental standards.  Republican attorneys general who supported the change reasoned that AGs should join other national political campaigns which target incumbents, two sources familiar with the closed door process said. Additionally, a desire by some to roll back same-sex marriage and the potential for increased corporate contributions played a role in the decision, said the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss the deliberations.  The  so-called ‘incumbency rule’ observed by the state attorneys’ party fundraising arms reflected a rare bit of bipartisanship in the polarized environment of U.S. politics, aimed at promoting cooperation across state lines on issues of common interest, such as consumer protection.  Attorneys general are the top public lawyer in each state, charged with defending state agencies from lawsuits as well as initiating litigation on their own. AGs took tobacco companies to court in the 1990s, and pursued mortgage lenders in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. In larger states, an attorney general commands hundreds of lawyers and other resources.  Twelve Republican state AGs on Monday filed a federal appeals court brief supporting Trump’s revised travel restrictions.  Scott Will, executive director of the Republican Attorneys General Association, confirmed the decision to abolish the incumbency rule, but declined to discuss specifics of the vote.  “The stakes are too high for us to leave winnable races on the table,” Will said in a statement to Reuters.  The vote was taken over the phone with a tally of 15-8, the two sources said. Not every Republican AG participated.  Some of those who supported the change argued that every other national campaign committee targets incumbents, so AGs shouldn’t be any different, the sources said.  Those opposed expressed fears about threats to bipartisanship, and noted that Republican AGs had grown their ranks under the current system, showing there was no need to change the rules now, the sources said.  In 2000, Republicans held 12 of the 51 state AG positions, including the District of Columbia, but that number is about to hit 29, if a nomination made by New Hampshire’s Republican governor this month is confirmed.  One of the first fights after the rule change will likely come in Virginia, where Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat, is seeking reelection this November. In all, 31 AG elections are scheduled for 2018. Republicans currently hold 18 of those seats, compared to 13 for Democrats, but some of the incumbents may not run for re-election.  Karl Racine, attorney general for the District of Columbia and current co-chair of the Democratic Attorneys General Association, said the Republican group’s decision likely means Democrats will follow suit.  “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” Racine said in an interview.  Colorado attorney general Cynthia Coffman, a Republican, is up for election next year in a state that has been trending Democrat. A well-funded push to unseat her, something the Democratic AG group wouldn’t have participated in under the incumbency agreement, could spell trouble.  Coffman opposed the incumbency rule change, the sources said. Her office did not respond to a request for comment.  In laying out the reasons for the rule change, Will pointed to the key role Republican AGs played in opposing some of President Barack Obama’s policies.  Rolling back same-sex marriage was another issue cited during deliberations, said the two people familiar with the discussion. More Republican state AGs could help further that effort, though the current composition of the U.S. Supreme Court would make any sweeping rollback unlikely.  Additionally, the group discussed a pledge from corporate interests to pour money into unseating Democratic AGs, the two sources said.  Participants in the vote were told that the group had received pledges totaling millions of dollars from organizations including from the company that makes the caffeinated beverage 5-Hour Energy, the sources said. The money depended on the Republican group changing its rules to target incumbent Democrats.  The company that manufactures 5-Hour Energy, Innovation Ventures, declined to comment. A spokesman for the Republican AG group declined to answer questions about the debate, including the role of 5-Hour’s pledge.  Innovation Ventures has been sued by attorneys general in at least five states for alleged deceptive advertising of its energy drink, with varied outcomes.  Last month a Washington state judge issued a judgment against the company for nearly $4.3 million in one such case, brought by Bob Ferguson, the Democratic attorney general whose lawsuit caused a judge to block Trump’s first travel restrictions. The company has said it would appeal the ruling. In at least two other cases, in Oregon and Indiana, Innovation Ventures prevailed. Oregon has appealed.  The precise dollar amount of the company’s pledge to Republican AGs could not be determined, nor is it clear if it is the only company that promised a contribution to target Democrats.  Already, the Republican Attorneys General Association has built a fundraising advantage. In 2016, it raised about $14.5 million, including donations from companies and conservative interest groups like the Judicial Crisis Network and Koch Industries, according to tax filings.  Sean Rankin, executive director of the Democratic AG group, said it raised about $5.2 million in 2016. The group’s tax filings show a mix of contributors including companies, plaintiff law firms and labor unions.  politicsNews
exclusive as democratic attorneys general target trump republican as target reuters for years national political organizations democratic republican state attorneys general observed agreement target party incumbent elections that stance ended month republican as voted abandon agreement spend money help unset democrats states according republican attorneys general association the decision previously reported the move comes democratic attorneys general states across country assumed lead roles opposing republican president donald trump policies state as washington hawaii successfully sued block trump executive orders restricting travel countries california attorney general pledged defend state environmental standards republican attorneys general supported change reasoned as join national political campaigns target incumbents two sources familiar closed door process said additionally desire roll back marriage potential increased corporate contributions played role decision said sources requested anonymity discuss deliberations the incumbency rule observed state attorneys party fundraising arms reflected rare bit bipartisanship polarized environment politics aimed promoting cooperation across state lines issues common interest consumer protection attorneys general top public lawyer state charged defending state agencies lawsuits well initiating litigation as took tobacco companies court pursued mortgage lenders wake financial crisis in larger states attorney general commands hundreds lawyers resources twelve republican state as monday filed federal appeals court brief supporting trump revised travel restrictions scott will executive director republican attorneys general association confirmed decision abolish incumbency rule declined discuss specifics vote the stakes high us leave wannabe races table will said statement reuters the vote taken phone tally two sources said not every republican ag participated some supported change argued every national campaign committee targets incumbents as different sources said those opposed expressed fears threats bipartisanship noted republican as grown ranks current system showing need change rules sources said in republicans held state ag positions including district columbia number hit nomination made new hampshire republican governor month confirmed one first fights rule change likely come virginia attorney general mark herring democrat seeking reelection november in ag elections scheduled republicans currently hold seats compared democrats incumbents may run karl racing attorney general district columbia current democratic attorneys general association said republican group decision likely means democrats follow suit what good goose good gender racing said interview colorado attorney general cynthia hoffman republican election next year state trending democrat a push unset something democratic ag group participated incumbency agreement could spell trouble hoffman opposed incumbency rule change sources said her office respond request comment in laying reasons rule change will pointed key role republican as played opposing president barack obama policies rolling back marriage another issue cited deliberations said two people familiar discussion more republican state as could help effort though current composition supreme court would make sweeping rollback unlikely additionally group discussed pledge corporate interests pour money seating democratic as two sources said participants vote told group received pledges totaling millions dollars organizations including company makes caffeinated beverage energy sources said the money depended republican group changing rules target incumbent democrats the company manufactures energy innovation ventures declined comment a spokesman republican ag group declined answer questions debate including role pledge innovation ventures sued attorneys general least five states alleged deceptive advertising energy drink varied outcomes last month washington state judge issued judgment company nearly million one case brought bob ferguson democratic attorney general whose lawsuit caused judge block trump first travel restrictions the company said would appeal ruling in least two cases oregon indiana innovation ventures prevailed oregon appealed the precise dollar amount company pledge republican as could determined clear company promised contribution target democrats already republican attorneys general association built fundraising advantage in raised million including donations companies conservative interest groups like judicial crisis network koch industries according tax filings sean ranking executive director democratic ag group said raised million the group tax filings show mix contributors including companies plaintiff law firms labor unions politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Exclusive: As Democratic attorneys general target Trump, Republican AGs target them(Reuters) - For years the national political organizations of both Democratic and Republican state attorneys general observed an agreement not to target the other party’s incumbent office-holders in elections.  That hands-off stance ended this month when Republican AGs voted to abandon the agreement and spend money to help unseat Democrats in other states, according to the Republican Attorneys General Association. The decision has not been previously reported.  The move comes as Democratic attorneys general in states across the country have assumed lead roles in opposing some of Republican President Donald Trump’s policies. State AGs in Washington and Hawaii successfully sued to block Trump’s executive orders restricting travel from some Muslim-majority countries, and California’s attorney general has pledged to defend the state’s environmental standards.  Republican attorneys general who supported the change reasoned that AGs should join other national political campaigns which target incumbents, two sources familiar with the closed door process said. Additionally, a desire by some to roll back same-sex marriage and the potential for increased corporate contributions played a role in the decision, said the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss the deliberations.  The  so-called ‘incumbency rule’ observed by the state attorneys’ party fundraising arms reflected a rare bit of bipartisanship in the polarized environment of U.S. politics, aimed at promoting cooperation across state lines on issues of common interest, such as consumer protection.  Attorneys general are the top public lawyer in each state, charged with defending state agencies from lawsuits as well as initiating litigation on their own. AGs took tobacco companies to court in the 1990s, and pursued mortgage lenders in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. In larger states, an attorney general commands hundreds of lawyers and other resources.  Twelve Republican state AGs on Monday filed a federal appeals court brief supporting Trump’s revised travel restrictions.  Scott Will, executive director of the Republican Attorneys General Association, confirmed the decision to abolish the incumbency rule, but declined to discuss specifics of the vote.  “The stakes are too high for us to leave winnable races on the table,” Will said in a statement to Reuters.  The vote was taken over the phone with a tally of 15-8, the two sources said. Not every Republican AG participated.  Some of those who supported the change argued that every other national campaign committee targets incumbents, so AGs shouldn’t be any different, the sources said.  Those opposed expressed fears about threats to bipartisanship, and noted that Republican AGs had grown their ranks under the current system, showing there was no need to change the rules now, the sources said.  In 2000, Republicans held 12 of the 51 state AG positions, including the District of Columbia, but that number is about to hit 29, if a nomination made by New Hampshire’s Republican governor this month is confirmed.  One of the first fights after the rule change will likely come in Virginia, where Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat, is seeking reelection this November. In all, 31 AG elections are scheduled for 2018. Republicans currently hold 18 of those seats, compared to 13 for Democrats, but some of the incumbents may not run for re-election.  Karl Racine, attorney general for the District of Columbia and current co-chair of the Democratic Attorneys General Association, said the Republican group’s decision likely means Democrats will follow suit.  “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” Racine said in an interview.  Colorado attorney general Cynthia Coffman, a Republican, is up for election next year in a state that has been trending Democrat. A well-funded push to unseat her, something the Democratic AG group wouldn’t have participated in under the incumbency agreement, could spell trouble.  Coffman opposed the incumbency rule change, the sources said. Her office did not respond to a request for comment.  In laying out the reasons for the rule change, Will pointed to the key role Republican AGs played in opposing some of President Barack Obama’s policies.  Rolling back same-sex marriage was another issue cited during deliberations, said the two people familiar with the discussion. More Republican state AGs could help further that effort, though the current composition of the U.S. Supreme Court would make any sweeping rollback unlikely.  Additionally, the group discussed a pledge from corporate interests to pour money into unseating Democratic AGs, the two sources said.  Participants in the vote were told that the group had received pledges totaling millions of dollars from organizations including from the company that makes the caffeinated beverage 5-Hour Energy, the sources said. The money depended on the Republican group changing its rules to target incumbent Democrats.  The company that manufactures 5-Hour Energy, Innovation Ventures, declined to comment. A spokesman for the Republican AG group declined to answer questions about the debate, including the role of 5-Hour’s pledge.  Innovation Ventures has been sued by attorneys general in at least five states for alleged deceptive advertising of its energy drink, with varied outcomes.  Last month a Washington state judge issued a judgment against the company for nearly $4.3 million in one such case, brought by Bob Ferguson, the Democratic attorney general whose lawsuit caused a judge to block Trump’s first travel restrictions. The company has said it would appeal the ruling. In at least two other cases, in Oregon and Indiana, Innovation Ventures prevailed. Oregon has appealed.  The precise dollar amount of the company’s pledge to Republican AGs could not be determined, nor is it clear if it is the only company that promised a contribution to target Democrats.  Already, the Republican Attorneys General Association has built a fundraising advantage. In 2016, it raised about $14.5 million, including donations from companies and conservative interest groups like the Judicial Crisis Network and Koch Industries, according to tax filings.  Sean Rankin, executive director of the Democratic AG group, said it raised about $5.2 million in 2016. The group’s tax filings show a mix of contributors including companies, plaintiff law firms and labor unions.  politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: exclusive as democratic attorneys general target trump republican as target reuters for years national political organizations democratic republican state attorneys general observed agreement target party incumbent elections that stance ended month republican as voted abandon agreement spend money help unset democrats states according republican attorneys general association the decision previously reported the move comes democratic attorneys general states across country assumed lead roles opposing republican president donald trump policies state as washington hawaii successfully sued block trump executive orders restricting travel countries california attorney general pledged defend state environmental standards republican attorneys general supported change reasoned as join national political campaigns target incumbents two sources familiar closed door process said additionally desire roll back marriage potential increased corporate contributions played role decision said sources requested anonymity discuss deliberations the incumbency rule observed state attorneys party fundraising arms reflected rare bit bipartisanship polarized environment politics aimed promoting cooperation across state lines issues common interest consumer protection attorneys general top public lawyer state charged defending state agencies lawsuits well initiating litigation as took tobacco companies court pursued mortgage lenders wake financial crisis in larger states attorney general commands hundreds lawyers resources twelve republican state as monday filed federal appeals court brief supporting trump revised travel restrictions scott will executive director republican attorneys general association confirmed decision abolish incumbency rule declined discuss specifics vote the stakes high us leave wannabe races table will said statement reuters the vote taken phone tally two sources said not every republican ag participated some supported change argued every national campaign committee targets incumbents as different sources said those opposed expressed fears threats bipartisanship noted republican as grown ranks current system showing need change rules sources said in republicans held state ag positions including district columbia number hit nomination made new hampshire republican governor month confirmed one first fights rule change likely come virginia attorney general mark herring democrat seeking reelection november in ag elections scheduled republicans currently hold seats compared democrats incumbents may run karl racing attorney general district columbia current democratic attorneys general association said republican group decision likely means democrats follow suit what good goose good gender racing said interview colorado attorney general cynthia hoffman republican election next year state trending democrat a push unset something democratic ag group participated incumbency agreement could spell trouble hoffman opposed incumbency rule change sources said her office respond request comment in laying reasons rule change will pointed key role republican as played opposing president barack obama policies rolling back marriage another issue cited deliberations said two people familiar discussion more republican state as could help effort though current composition supreme court would make sweeping rollback unlikely additionally group discussed pledge corporate interests pour money seating democratic as two sources said participants vote told group received pledges totaling millions dollars organizations including company makes caffeinated beverage energy sources said the money depended republican group changing rules target incumbent democrats the company manufactures energy innovation ventures declined comment a spokesman republican ag group declined answer questions debate including role pledge innovation ventures sued attorneys general least five states alleged deceptive advertising energy drink varied outcomes last month washington state judge issued judgment company nearly million one case brought bob ferguson democratic attorney general whose lawsuit caused judge block trump first travel restrictions the company said would appeal ruling in least two cases oregon indiana innovation ventures prevailed oregon appealed the precise dollar amount company pledge republican as could determined clear company promised contribution target democrats already republican attorneys general association built fundraising advantage in raised million including donations companies conservative interest groups like judicial crisis network koch industries according tax filings sean ranking executive director democratic ag group said raised million the group tax filings show mix contributors including companies plaintiff law firms labor unions politicsnews