Follow the money.
Kenny Hulshof, republican U.S. Representative in Missouri’s 9th district, has been described in the media as a potential candidate for governor now that Matt “baby” Blunt has dropped the ball.
Missouri Surprise: Governor Not Running for Re-Election
…One potential Republican candidate is six-term Rep. Kenny Hulshof, who represents the state’s 9th District in northeastern Missouri. Hulshof seriously considered a run for governor in 2004 but declined to run…
[emphasis added]
It’s always interesting to go through the campaign finance filings at the Federal Election Commission.
It is also interesting to go through the list of various committees which have contributed to his campaigns over time. I’ll pick a few:
HULSHOF FOR CONGRESS
PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE OF THE CANDIDATEAMERICA’S HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS PAC (AHIP PAC) 09/26/2003 1000.00 24990321583
AMERICA’S HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS PAC (AHIP PAC) 06/29/2004 1000.00 24961843633
AMERICA’S HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS PAC (AHIP PAC) 05/12/2005 1000.00 25980608031
AMERICA’S HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS PAC (AHIP PAC) 03/28/2006 1000.00 26940076675
AMERICA’S HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS PAC (AHIP PAC) 05/29/2007 1000.00 27990428248
[emphasis added – the number following the amount is the image number in the FEC database]
Just who is America’s Health Insurance Plans? Also from the FEC:
Committee ID: C00106740
AMERICA’S HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS PAC (AHIP PAC)
601 Penn. Avenue NW
#500 South Bldg.
WASHINGTON, DC 20004Treasurer Name: Borchardt, Robert
Committee Designation: U (UNAUTHORIZED)
Committee Type: QUALIFIED NON-PARTY
And who are they?
…America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the voice of America’s health insurers. AHIP is the national association representing nearly 1,300 member companies providing health insurance coverage to more than 200 million Americans. Our member companies offer medical expense insurance, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, dental insurance, supplemental insurance, stop-loss insurance and reinsurance to consumers, employers, and public purchasers.
Our goal is to provide a unified voice for the health care financing industry, to expand access to high quality, cost effective health care to all Americans, and to ensure Americans’ financial security through robust insurance markets, product flexibility and innovation, and an abundance of consumer choice.
Wow. I feel healthier already…
Well, I’m certain we’ll know who’s voice would get extra consideration by a Hulshof administration when it comes to access to affordable health insurance for Missouri’s uninsured.
Well, okay, let’s see what all this gets you…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2007
Contact:
Mohit Ghose
(202) 778-8494AHIP Praises Bipartisan Senate Vote on SCHIP
Washington, D.C. – Millions of children will receive health care coverage through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) under the bipartisan legislation passed by the U.S. Senate today. The legislation would raise tobacco taxes to fund the reauthorization of SCHIP.“The Senate has acted to ensure the health security of millions of low-income children,” said Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). “The Senate also took a strong stand for public health by putting in place a funding mechanism that will discourage children from starting smoking.”
AHIP also noted that the Senate came together in a bipartisan fashion to reauthorize SCHIP without putting at risk the health security of the more than eight million seniors who depend on Medicare Advantage.
###
Providing Health Benefits for Over 200 Million Americans.
I think I’d do well at a job where I could write rhyming titles for press releases.
…oopsie. Evidently they weren’t on the same page:
FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 982 [pdf]
H R 976 2/3 YEA-AND-NAY 18-Oct-2007 1:17 PM
QUESTION: Passage, Objections of the President Notwithstanding
BILL TITLE: Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act
—- NAYS 156 —
Hulshof
[emphasis added]
“…Guy’s a clod. Promises were made…”
Let’s take a look at another group of contributions (via the FEC):
Committee ID: C00004275
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC)
1120 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036Treasurer Name: Gary Fields
Committee Designation: U (UNAUTHORIZED)
Committee Type: QUALIFIED NON-PARTY
And what did they give Kenny?
HULSHOF FOR CONGRESS
PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE OF THE CANDIDATEAMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 10/06/1997 500.00 97032493321
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 12/08/1997 1000.00 98032593421
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 03/03/1998 500.00 98032962993
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 09/29/1998 500.00 98033773674
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 10/14/1998 2500.00 98033832503
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 03/18/1999 1000.00 99034452286
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 06/22/1999 500.00 99034594856
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 10/07/1999 1000.00 99034911144
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 03/06/2000 1000.00 20035523346
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 07/20/2000 1500.00 20990184747
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 09/07/2000 2000.00 20990229453
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 10/15/2001 2000.00 21990596266
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 01/18/2002 1000.00 22990415571
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 03/13/2002 1000.00 22990734270
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 03/14/2002 1000.00 22990734270
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 07/24/2002 4000.00 22991573844
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 03/31/2003 1000.00 23990685158
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 04/08/2003 1000.00 23990937210
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 03/03/2004 1000.00 24990985908
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 06/01/2004 1000.00 24971341163
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 06/24/2004 1000.00 24971341164
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 07/22/2004 2000.00 24962081812
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 03/11/2005 1000.00 25980471605
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 04/18/2005 1000.00 25990883122
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 06/06/2005 2000.00 25980588765
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 06/17/2005 1000.00 25980588765
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 11/02/2005 1000.00 25971607071
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 03/23/2006 2000.00 26940092327
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 09/11/2006 2000.00 26930472542
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 04/20/2007 2000.00 27990070327
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 05/14/2007 1000.00 27990162676
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 07/31/2007 1000.00 27990483199
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) 10/12/2007 1000.00 27990940044
[emphasis added]
Okay, now we’re talkin’ serious money.
…The American Bankers Association brings together banks of all sizes and charters into one association. ABA works to enhance the competitiveness of the nation’s banking industry and strengthen America’s economy and communities. Its members – the majority of which are banks with less than $125 million in assets – represent over 95 percent of the industry’s $12.7 trillion in assets……BankPac, the industry’s largest political action committee, collects personal contributions from individual bankers, bank-sponsored PACS, affiliated state bankers association PACS, state association executives, and ABA staff. These contributions support candidates seeking election or reelection to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives…
[emphasis added]
The list goes on and on.
Then there’s the individual contributions (just a small sample):
BRANUM, MILT SULLIVAN MO 63080 10/13/2005 600.00 BANK OF SULLIVAN/PRESIDENT 26950152773
BRANUM, MILT SULLIVAN MO 63080 02/26/2006 500.00 BANK OF SULLIVAN/PRESIDENT 26960062585…
…ECKELKAMP, L B WASHINGTON MO 63090 02/20/1998 500.00 BANK OF WASHINGTON 98033000519
ECKELKAMP, L B WASHINGTON MO 63090 12/10/1999 250.00 BANK OF WASHINGTON 20035220054
ECKELKAMP, L. B JR. WASHINGTON MO 63090 05/18/2006 1000.00 BANK OF WASHINGTON/BANKER 26940253898
ECKELKAMP, L.B. WASHINGTON MO 63090 06/30/2005 1000.00 BANK OF WASHINGTON/BANKER 25980578712
ECKELKAMP, L.B. WASHINGTON MO 63090 10/21/2003 2000.00 BANK OF WASHINGTON/BANKER 24990356569
ECKELKAMP, L.B. WASHINGTON MO 63090 09/21/2001 1000.00 BANK OF WASHINGTON/BANKER 22990173172
ECKELKAMP, L.B. III WASHINGTON MO 63090 10/21/2003 500.00 BANK OF WASHINGTON/BANKER 24990356569
[emphasis added]
Years ago I remember a Democratic Party publicity campaign following Hulshof around and passing out “Sugar Daddies” candy to the media…
Whenever I look at these campaign finance filings at the FEC I’m reminded of that scene in the original Indiana Jones movie where the ark is wheeled into a vast warehouse full of treasures stored in nondescript crates which go on as far as the eye can see…
I can see it now. Kenny Hulshof’s campaign for governor sets all kinds of records for small grassroots contributions. Not.
Follow the money.
The following donations were made and recorded on Newsmeat.com
$576 to Missouri Right to Life Federal PAC (Nov. 1998)
$2000 to Washington US Senate candidate Mike McGavick (June 2006)
Donor #1 who gave to MO RTL FedPac: Kenny Hulshof
Donor #2 who gave to McGavick: Peter Kinder
No.. I don’t know why McGavick got a check from Peter Kinder. That seems like a really stupid investment.