Rex Sinquefield believes that the free market should reign and has contempt for urban public schools that fail their students. And he plans to do something about his beliefs.
Before the campaign finance limits were reinstated by the Supreme Court, he spread the long green liberally among both Republicans and Democrats:
The biggest single chunk – $100,000 – went to Republican Gov. Matt Blunt. Then came $40,000 each to Republican Sens. Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau and Luann Ridgeway of Smithville and Democratic Rep. Talibdin El-Amin of St. Louis.
Next came $30,000 for Democratic Rep. Rodney Hubbard’s campaign for the Senate. That was followed by $25,000 for Republican House Speaker Rod Jetton’s Leadership Committee, which acts as a bankroll that Jetton can spend on behalf of favored House members.
Rounding out the five-figure recipients were Rep. Jonas Hughes, a Kansas City Democrat, with $20,000; Rep. Ted Hoskins, a St. Louis County Democrat, with $10,000; and House Majority Leader Tom Dempsey, a St. Charles Republican, with $10,000 for his campaign for Senate.
But that’s old news. Most of that money will likely have to be returned, and Sinqufield has moved on, setting up a system for contributing all the moolah he wants–legally. As I’ve mentioned before, no limit exists to the number of political PACs that may be formed in this state. In late September, SINQUEFIELD FORMED 100 OF THEM. EXACTLY 100. In other words, he can give 100 times the limit. So, let’s see, if the legal limit for a contribution to a state senate campaign is $650, Sinquefield can, as of now, give any senate candidate $65,000.
The treasurer of all 100 PACs is Robert W. Schnur, who formerly worked for Carl Bearden (R-St. Charles). And indeed, Bearden is right in the middle of Sinquefield’s bid to buy elections and harm public schools in Missouri, since his firm is helping Sinquefield lobby and offering him political expertise.
As you can see by examining the list of the PACs below, some will focus on economics rather than on the voucher issue. Sinquefield’s Show-Me Institute has advocated for a lower tax structure in Missouri.
Notice also that 28 of the PACs are called “My Job My Wage Ward ___” and each has a different number from 1 to 28. The city of St. Louis has 28 wards, and Sinquefield has shown an interest in having the city earnings tax repealed. (That tax provides about a third of the city government’s revenue.)
Last, but not least unsettling, is that Sinquefield has said he wants to form a farm team of future political candidates–people who will run for state rep or senate on whatever platform he supports.
Missouri is up for sale, and Sinquefield may have enough money to buy it.
You can search for the PACs at the Missouri Ethics Commission.
MISSOURIANS FOR TAX REFORM (MTR PAC SOUTH)
MISSOURIANS FOR TAX REFORM (MTR PAC NORTH)
MISSOURIANS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH (MEG PAC NORTH)
MISSOURIANS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH (MEG PAC NORTHEAST)
MISSOURIANS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH (MEG PAC BOOTHEEL)
MISSOURIANS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH (MEG PAC SOUTHWEST)
MISSOURIANS SUPPORTING TEACHING EXCELLENCE (MSTE PAC CENTRAL)
MERIT PAY FOR MISSOURI TEACHERS (MPMT PAC SOUTH)
MERIT PAY FOR MISSOURI TEACHERS (MPMT PAC NORTH)
MERIT PAY FOR MISSOURI TEACHERS (MPMT PAC KC)
MERIT PAY FOR MISSOURI TEACHERS (MPMT PAC WEST)
MERIT PAY FOR MISSOURI TEACHERS (MPMT PAC EAST)
MERIT PAY FOR MISSOURI TEACHERS (MPMT PAC ST. L)
MISSOURIANS NEEDING EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES (MNEA PAC NORTHEAST)
MISSOURIANS NEEDING EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES (MNEA PAC NORTHWEST)
MISSOURIANS NEEDING EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES (MNEA PAC HEARTLAND)
MISSOURIANS NEEDING EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES (MNEA PAC BOOTHEEL)
MISSOURIANS NEEDING EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES (MNEA PAC CENTRAL)
MISSOURIANS NEEDING EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES (MNEA PAC NORTH)
MISSOURIANS NEEDING EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES (MNEA PAC SOUTH)
MISSOURIANS NEEDING EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES (MNEA PAC WEST)
MISSOURIANS NEEDING EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES (MNEA PAC EAST)
MISSOURIANS NEEDING EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES (MNEA PAC SOUTHWEST)
MISSOURIANS NEEDING EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES (MNEA PAC SOUTHEAST)
MISSOURIANS NEEDING EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES (MNEA PAC STATEWIDE)
MISSOURIANS SUPPORTING TEACHING EXCELLENCE (MSTE PAC EAST)
MISSOURIANS SUPPORTING TEACHING EXCELLENCE (MSTE PAC WEST)
MISSOURIANS SUPPORTING TEACHING EXCELLENCE (MSTE PAC SOUTH)
MISSOURIANS SUPPORTING TEACHING EXCELLENCE (MSTE PAC BOOTHEEL)
MISSOURIANS SUPPORTING TEACHING EXCELLENCE (MSTE PAC NORTH)
MISSOURIANS SUPPORTING TEACHING EXCELLENCE (MSTE PAC NORTHEAST)
MISSOURIANS SUPPORTING TEACHING EXCELLENCE (MSTE PAC NORTHWEST)
MISSOURIANS SUPPORTING TEACHING EXCELLENCE (MSTE PAC HEARTLAND)
MISSOURIANS SUPPORTING TEACHING EXCELLENCE (MSTE PAC STATEWIDE)
MISSOURIANS SUPPORTING TEACHING EXCELLENCE (MSTE PAC SOUTHWEST)
MISSOURIANS SUPPORTING TEACHING EXCELLENCE (MSTE PAC SOUTHEAST)
YOUR SCHOOL YOUR CHOICE (YSYC PAC STATEWIDE)
YOUR SCHOOL YOUR CHOICE (YSYC PAC CENTRAL)
YOUR SCHOOL YOUR CHOICE (YSYC PAC SOUTHEAST)
YOUR SCHOOL YOUR CHOICE (YSYC PAC NORTHEAST)
YOUR SCHOOL YOUR CHOICE (YSYC PAC SOUTHWEST)
YOUR SCHOOL YOUR CHOICE (YSYC PAC NORTHWEST)
YOUR SCHOOL YOUR CHOICE (YSYC PAC WEST)
YOUR SCHOOL YOUR CHOICE (YSYC PAC EAST)
YOUR SCHOOL YOUR CHOICE (YSYC PAC SOUTH)
YOUR SCHOOL YOUR CHOICE (YSYC PAC NORTH)
PARENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS (PPS PAC STATEWIDE)
PARENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS (PPS PAC CENTRAL)
PARENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS (PPS PAC SOUTHEAST)
PARENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS (PPS PAC SOUTHWEST)
PARENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS (PPS PAC NORTHEAST)
PARENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS (PPS PAC NORTHWEST)
PARENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS (PPS PAC WEST)
PARENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS (PPS PAC EAST)
PARENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS (PPS PAC SOUTH)
PARENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS (PPS PAC NORTH)
MISSOURIANS FOR TAX REFORM (MTR PAC STATEWIDE)
MISSOURIANS FOR TAX REFORM (MTR PAC CENTRAL)
MISSOURIANS FOR TAX REFORM (MTR PAC SOUTHWEST)
MISSOURIANS FOR TAX REFORM (MTR PAC SOUTHEAST)
MISSOURIANS FOR TAX REFORM (MTR PAC NORTHWEST)
MISSOURIANS FOR TAX REFORM (MTR PAC NORTHEAST)
MISSOURIANS FOR TAX REFORM (MTR PAC WEST)
MISSOURIANS FOR TAX REFORM (MTR PAC EAST)
MY JOB MY WAGE PRESIDENTS WARD (MJMW PAC PRESIDENTS WARD)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD TWENTY-EIGHT (MJMW PAC WARD TWENTY-EIGHT)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD TWENTY-SEVEN (MJMW PAC WARD TWENTY-SEVEN)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD TWENTY-SIX (MJMW PAC WARD TWENTY-SIX)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD TWENTY-FIVE (MJMW PAC WARD TWENTY-FIVE)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD TWENTY-FOUR (MJMW PAC WARD TWENTY-FOUR)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD TWENTY-THREE (MJMW PAC WARD TWENTY-THREE)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD TWENTY-TWO (MJMW PAC WARD TWENTY-TWO)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD TWENTY-ONE (MJMW PAC WARD TWENTY-ONE)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD TWENTY (MJMW PAC WARD TWENTY)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD NINETEEN (MJMW PAC WARD NINETEEN)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD EIGHTEEN (MJMW PAC WARD EIGHTEEN)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD SEVENTEEN (MJMW PAC WARD SEVENTEEN)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD SIXTEEN (MJMW PAC WARD SIXTEEN)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD FIFTEEN (MJMW PAC WARD FIFTEEN)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD FOURTEEN (MJMW PAC WARD FOURTEEN)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD THIRTEEN (MJMW PAC WARD THIRTEEN)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD TWELVE (MJMW PAC WARD TWELVE)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD ELEVEN (MJMW PAC WARD ELEVEN)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD TEN (MJMW PAC WARD TEN)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD NINE (MJMW PAC WARD NINE)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD EIGHT (MJMW PAC WARD EIGHT)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD SEVEN (MJMW PAC WARD SEVEN)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD SIX (MJMW PAC WARD SIX)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD FIVE (MJMW PAC WARD FIVE)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD FOUR (MJMW PAC WARD FOUR)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD THREE (MJMW PAC WARD THREE)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD TWO (MJMW PAC WARD TWO)
MY JOB MY WAGE WARD ONE (MJMW PAC WARD ONE)
MISSOURIANS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH (MEG PAC SOUTHEAST)
MISSOURIANS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH (MEG PAC NORTHWEST)
MISSOURIANS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH (MEG PAC CENTRAL)
MISSOURIANS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH (MEG PAC WEST)
MISSOURIANS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH (MEG PAC SOUTH)
MISSOURIANS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH (MEG PAC EAST)
MISSOURIANS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH (MEG PAC STATEWIDE)
Let’s keep the spotlight on this character.
What a paperwork nightmare. Still, it could be interesting looking at those quarterly reports.
For the rest of us mortals:
just … wow.
I’ve never heard of this guy before. He’s pro voucher?
and he is a real right-wing free market, destroy the government, repeal the income tax, privatizer. Pro-voucher as a label does not begin cover his views about public education. And as long as speech is equated with money and we cannot mandate public financing of elections, he and his ilk will have a real advantage.
I agree with the comments of previous posters.
You know most of these PAC’s gave money to Koster. I would say that this is a new low even for Koster. This guy is trying to buy an attorney general. We shouldn’t fight like hell to stop it from happening.
Why does it matter that one person found a way to get around some limits? It is all legal! And he is giving to issues that he finds important.
The comment on yourchildyourchoice.com is good.