Representatives Jason Kander (D-44) and Tim Flook (r-34) held a press conference late this morning in the House Lounge at the capitol after filing an ethics reform bill. There were approximately ten media representatives and five other individuals in attendance.

Representatives Jason Kander (D)(left) and Tim Flook (r)(right) at their press conference in the House Lounge at the capitol in Jefferson City.

The press release which was distributed at the press conference:

For Immediate Release

Dec. 14, 2009

[….]

Reps. Flook and Kander announce bipartisan ethics bill

New criminal provisions would fundamentally change Missouri politics

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Reps Tim Flook and Jason kander today filed bipartisan ethics reform legislation to strengthen Missouri law to meet or exceed federal standards and empower state investigators and prosecutors to better pursue public corruption cases.

The bill would outlaw several practices that have become commonplace in Missouri politics. Flook, R-Liberty, and Kander, D-Kansas City, identified the potential for misdeeds as a major concern and cited the practice of laundering contributions through various political action committees as a vehicle for corruption. They argue that a mix of strong criminal penalties and greater transparency is needed…

…Both representatives emphasized the bipartisan nature of the legislation. “Corruption is a historically bipartisan problem so it’s long past time for a serious bipartisan solution,” Kander said.

“We recognize that this is an election year and that this issue can be politicized,” Flook said. “But we are committed to moving this forward in a bipartisan manner.”

Specific proposals within the bill include:

* Allowing only candidate committees to receive donations from other committees.

* Making it a felony to transfer funds through political committees with the intent of masking the original source of the money.

* Requiring all committees to file disclosure reports electronically and be subject to online searching.

* Clarifying existing law so that “pay to play” prohibitions include the exchange of campaign contributions for legislative action.

* Requiring all official staff who also are involved in political activities to file personal financial disclosures.

* Creating a “de facto lobbyist” category for consultants who are not currently covered by state lobbying disclosure laws and require registration.

* Creating the felony crime of “obstructing a Missouri Ethics Commission investigation.”

* Prohibiting individuals from serving as a treasurer or deputy treasurer of multiple committees.

* Applying new and existing ethics laws to all political subdivisions in the state.

“I’m tired of hearing legislators speculate about whether the FBI will clean up Jefferson City,” Flook said. “I believe Missouri’s law enforcement is up to the job as well.”

Rep. Kander argued that current laws are ineffective. “Everyone seems to feel that there are virtually no consequences for corrupt behavior, but we can pass this law and change that perception immediately,” Kander said.

###

We’ll have transcripts of the representatives’ statements and the question and answer session with the media in subsequent posts.

* Homegirl: A fellow female gang member

Now that Joe Lieberman is on track to kill meaningful health care reform, it might behoove us to consider the folks who have enabled this Benedict Arnold – such as our own Claire McCaskill. Remember when McCaskill voted to retain Joe Lieberman as chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs? According to a member of her staff, she did so, in spite of his support of John McCain, because it was necessary to begin “moving past the election and working together because there are a lot of challenges.”  Right on Claire! Leiberman is responsible for a lot of unnecessary challenges.

But this is not all – McCaskill has continued to, as Sarah Palin would put it, pal around with Lieberman. Remember when McCaskill joined Lieberman in a bipartisan “gang” of six senators to look for a Republican-lite health care reform soluton? Or when she, together with Lieberman and a small group of obstructionist Democrats, fell all over themselves to  publicly praise Max Bauchus’ weak-tea bill?

When one examines Lieberman’s shifting positions – first he was for a Medicare buy-in, now he is against it – it is hard to believe that he is influenced by anything more substantial than spite and and a desire to earn the $448,066 in campaign contributions he has received from the insturance industry. (It is now being reported that insurance stocks are soaring on the strength of Lieberman’s flip-flop.) If this is what it means to be a “moderate,” perhaps McCaskill should reconsider her alliances and change her rhetoric accordingly; instead of pointing out how tough she will be if the Senate bill does not bring down costs, she could start emphasizing that so far, all proposals do just that. Of course, then she wouldn’t be mentioned as a kindred spirit in all the Lieberman reportage.

One assumes, or at least hopes, that McCaskill, unlike her buddy Lieberman, is not out-and-out corrupt, but rather wishes to mollify the purplish constituents that she consistently privileges. Here again, though, she should be careful. Polls are showing that willingness to equivocate and temporize in the face of progressive change may create an unwelcome blowback in upcoming elections. Nasty little pols like Lieberman are hurting the Democratic brand – and that can’t be too good for McCaskill in the long run.

Nov. 14, 4:48 pm: Slightly corrected – missing link added.

The word from Dave Catanese suggests a disappointing or interesting turn of events in the Cynthia Davis saga:

“I plan on being a candidate in 2010, but not for Missouri State Auditor,” Davis said.

Now, let’s see. Cynthia Davis could run for the State Senate against Scott Rupp, (edit: she could run for Congress against Todd Akin, which would be hilarious), she could run for a St. Charles county or municipal office in O’Fallon, or she could run for the U. S. Senate against Roy Blunt and provide us hours of entertainment. As a Kansas City sports fan, I always bet on disappointment, so I’m sure Cynthia is prepping her race for Director of Elections or Collector of Revenue.

Cynthia Davis also bashed Tom Schweich for donating to Claire McCaskill and praising the composition of Obama’s cabinet. Because blind party loyalty is what you want in an auditor.

Meanwhile, Chuck Purgason moves onwards, hitting Roy Blunt on earmarks. No word on when Blunt will just start voting against budgets or not voting, before claiming credit for the earmarks. It’s what Kit Bond would do.

From the Center for Constitutional Rights via They gave us a republic…

December 11, 2009. New York, NY – Today, U.S. District Judge Nina Gershon granted a preliminary injunction against the United States for unconstitutionally withholding funds from ACORN. In its decision, the court found that there is a likelihood the plaintiffs will be able to show that Congress’ targeted defunding of ACORN violates the Constitution’s prohibition against Bills of Attainder, legislative acts which single out a specific person or group for punishment….

What did we say (almost at the same instant) back in September?:

Too clever by half (Blue Girl)

ACORN’s revenge (Michael Bersin)

United States v. Lovett, 328 U.S. 303 (1946)

…[L]egislative acts, no matter what their form, that apply either to named individuals or to easily ascertainable members of a group in such a way as to inflict punishment on them without a judicial trial are bills of attainder prohibited by the Constitution…

You know, is it too much to ask of members of Congress that they actually read the Constitution and understand what precedent and stare decisis mean before they trample all over everything and themselves in order to pass a bill to suck up to the talking heads on the Faux News Channel?

When the opening arises and/or when it is obvious, I am willing to admit making a mistake in judgment, prediction, or insight. It is with that preface that I will admit that I was probably a bit too snarky towards former State Rep. Brian Yates after his sudden resignation. I say this after reading his remarks in Prime Buzz about the Republican General Assembly (which you can also find quoted just down the page). Sure, Yates’ own ties don’t make him out to be perfect. But the intraparty clashes of the Republicans entertain me, until I realize that these guys run a huge chunk of the state government.

But don’t worry about ethics, Republican Leader Steve “Air” Tilley is proposing an ethics package. Which would be a great joke, if it’s not going to be taken seriously by Republicans and newspaper writers as being reform.

At least Five questions worth asking about a Tilley ethics bill in order to figure out if it’s going to be reform or synthetic reform.

1) Will lobbyists and special interests write the Tilley bill or just provide an outline of acceptable limitations?

2) How far will gift bans really go? and how blatant will the loopholes be? Will Lobbyists be able to co-own valuable items with legislators to stretch a gift ban?

3) How long will former legislators be barred from lobbying? a year? two years? longer?

4) Will a bar on political consulting while in office really mean much other than the person doing the consulting not directly earning money for his efforts? (In other words, will it be a symbolic ban where the majority pats themselves on their backs at the end)

5) How much of this bill will ultimately get scrapped or fused onto the Shields bill?

But any ethics bill that fails to address the Texas-style campaign contribution laws we have on the books is not complete. Any bill that thinks you can clean up politics in the Missouri General Assembly while allowing prominent legislators to keep receiving six-digit long checks from power brokers and special interests is a bill built on a surplus of optimism, hope, and delusion.

Campaign finance limits are more likely come about as a result of proposition circulated by voters. If there’s one thing that Missouri voters consistently approve of in amendments and propositions, it’s limiting politicians. The 1994 proposition limiting contributions passed 1,186,113 to 418,630. A percentage margin of 74%-26%. A similar proposition would pass in 2010, 2012, or any other year. Just waiting for someone else to get arrested or convicted to actually inspire campaign finance limits is not quite enough.

5 checks of $100,000 or more for candidates or House/Senate campaign committees have been reported in 2009. Two went to Steven Tilley (from the Missouri Leadership Committee and Rex Sinquefield). Two went from Steven Tilley to the House Republican Campaign Committee. One went from David Humphreys to the HRCC. Six other six-figure checks were written, Three went to “Vote Yes to Stop Double Taxation” from Realtor groups. The others went to the Life Sciences Fund, Healthpac, and the Civic Progress Action Committee.

The reality is that the only ways that giant checks would get any newspaper/television media coverage is if someone involved got in trouble. Much like how legislators repealing a state law supported by such a wide percentage of voters didn’t backfire on those legislators, because it wasn’t big news to the newspaper/television media and wasn’t shocking news to the masses of disconnected voters who rightly don’t trust elected officials.

Fortunately someone will touch upon this topic. Blogs exist because reading information for free from your lap is easier than reading a newspaper for a fee in your chair and because founding your own newspaper is expensive.

I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!

The stenographer writes in today’s Kansas City Star:

Posted on Sat, Dec. 12, 2009 10:18 PM

ON POLITICS

Ex-lawmaker calls Missouri General Assembly a ‘scam’

By STEVE KRASKE

Former Missouri lawmaker Brian Yates couldn’t hold back.

Having resigned his seat Dec. 1, midway through his final term, the Lee’s Summit Republican let loose last week with a no-holds-barred assessment of the state of Jefferson City….

….Serving in the General Assembly, he said, had become a “scam….”

….The 34-year-old lawyer ticked them off: the passage of legislation in exchange for campaign donations, the underhanded dealings of former House speaker Rod Jetton, price tags placed on committee chairmanships, wealthy folks getting all the attention, all that political money sloshing around the Capitol….

The stenographer fails to mention what our good friends at Fired Up point out:

Brian Yates (R-Payday Loans)

Submitted by .Sean on November 30, 2009 – 5:43pm

Rep. Brian Yates (R-Lee’s Summitt) is officially resigning at noon tomorrow to work full time for QC Holdings.  It’s a payday loan company, with stores operating mostly as Quik Cash or National Quik Cash.

H’ray usury!

We did a search at the Missouri Ethics Commission for campaign contributions by QC Holdings during 2008 and this is what we came up with:

[Note: duplicate listings for the same single contribution will show up due to ammended campaign finance reports]

C000223 CUNNINGHAM CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings, Inc. 12/19/2007 $625.00 Yes — JANUARY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C071143 CITIZENS TO ELECT SUE ALLEN — QC Holdings 10/05/2007 $325.00 Yes — JANUARY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C071365 SPEAKER JETTON LEADERSHIP FUND — QC Holdings INC 12/29/2007 $2,500.00 Yes — AMENDED JANUARY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000801 MO SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings, Inc. 11/29/2007 $1,000.00 Yes — JANUARY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C031227 REPUBLICAN 18TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT COMMITTEE — QC Holdings Inc 10/17/2007 $500.00 Yes — JANUARY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C051222 CITIZENS TO ELECT JAMILAH NASHEED — QC Holdings Companies 11/01/2007 $325.00 Yes — JANUARY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C071365 SPEAKER JETTON LEADERSHIP FUND — QC Holdings INC QC Holdings INC 12/29/2007 $2,500.00 Yes — JANUARY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000745 HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings INC QC Holdings INC 11/14/2007 $2,500.00 Yes — JANUARY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C071094 MAJORITY FUND INC — QC Holdings, Inc. 12/05/2007 $3,750.00 Yes — JANUARY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C010289 PEOPLE FOR MICHAEL SPRENG — QC Holdings , inc 10/24/2007 $325.00 Yes — JANUARY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000801 MO SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings, Inc. 11/29/2007 $1,000.00 Yes — AMENDED – JANUARY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000953 MO REPUBLICAN PARTY — QC Holdings, Inc.   01/11/2008 $18,000.00 Yes — 24 HOUR EXPENDITURE REPORT – SPECIAL ELECTION

C010402 ZWEIFEL FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE — QC Holdings 02/21/2008 $325.00 Yes — APRIL – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C001096 FRIENDS OF DELBERT SCOTT — QC Holdings 01/02/2008 $650.00 Yes — APRIL – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C031160 FRIENDS OF TILLEY — QC HOLDINGS INC 01/02/2008 $325.00 Yes — APRIL – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C071094 MAJORITY FUND INC — QC Holdings, Inc. 02/28/2008 $1,000.00 Yes — APRIL – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000223 CUNNINGHAM CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings, Inc.   12/19/2007 $625.00 Yes — AMENDED – JANUARY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000656 MO HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings 2/26/2008 $1,000.00 Yes — APRIL – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C071094 MAJORITY FUND INC — QC Holdings, Inc. 02/28/2008 $1,000.00 Yes — AMENDED – APRIL – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C051104 MISSOURIANS FOR STEVE HOBBS — QC Holdings 06/30/2008 $325.00 Yes — JULY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C051104 MISSOURIANS FOR STEVE HOBBS — QC Holdings 06/30/2008 $325.00 Yes — JULY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000745 HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings INC QC Holdings INC 04/24/2008 $5,000.00 Yes — JULY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000745 HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings INC QC Holdings INC 06/30/2008 $5,300.00 Yes — JULY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C041065 FRIENDS OF WARD FRANZ — QC Holdings, Inc. 06/27/2008 $325.00 Yes — JULY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C010503 CITIZENS FOR JAY WASSON — QC HOLDINGS, INC. 06/26/2008 $325.00 Yes — JULY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C051087 CITIZENS FOR TIMOTHY W JONES — QC Holdings, Inc. 06/05/2008 $325.00 Yes — JULY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C031212 BRUNS FOR REP — QC Holdings Inc –   06/29/2008 $325.00 Yes — JULY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C061248 FRIENDS OF RICK STREAM Yes QC Holdings, Inc 06/05/2008 $325.00 Yes — JULY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C081056 GINA LOUDON FOR SENATE — QC Holdings Inc   04/10/2008 $650.00 Yes — JULY – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C041135 CITIZENS FOR BOB NANCE — QC Holdings 07/11/2008 $325.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE PRIMARY ELECTION

C061401 MO LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE — QC HOLDINGS, INC. 07/01/2008 $2,500.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE PRIMARY ELECTION

C051286 CITIZENS FOR MIKE TALBOY — QC Holdings, Inc.   07/01/2008 $325.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE PRIMARY ELECTION

C010334 FRIENDS OF CHARLIE DENISON — QC Holdings, INC 07/11/2008 $325.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE PRIMARY ELECTION

C061291 LEADERSHIP FOR TOMORROW — QC Holdings, Inc 07/24/2008 $500.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE PRIMARY ELECTION

C051232 CITIZENS FOR RYAN SILVEY — QC Holdings, Inc. 07/02/2008 $325.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE PRIMARY ELECTION

C051161 CITIZENS FOR A BETTER GOVERNMENT — QC Holdings Inc. 07/01/2008 $500.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE PRIMARY ELECTION

C051286 CITIZENS FOR MIKE TALBOY — QC Holdings, Inc. 07/01/2008 $325.00 Yes — AMENDED – 8 DAY BEFORE PRIMARY ELECTION

C010193 RON RICHARD 2010 — QC Holdings 09/03/2008 $1,000.00 Yes — OCTOBER – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000745 HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings INC QC Holdings INC   09/04/2008 $2,500.00 Yes — OCTOBER – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000745 HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings INC QC Holdings INC 09/10/2008 $1,000.00 Yes — OCTOBER – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C071368 STEVENSON PAC — QC Holdings Inc – 07/14/2008 $1,000.00 Yes — OCTOBER – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000762 GREATER KC WOMENS POLITICAL CAUCUS PAC — QC Holdings 09/29/2008 $1,250.00 Yes — OCTOBER – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C071384 ECONOMIC GROWTH COUNCIL — QC Holdings 07/28/2008 $12,500.00 Yes — OCTOBER – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000801 MO SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings, Inc. 7/11/2008 $1,000.00 Yes — OCTOBER – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000801 MO SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings, Inc. 7/11/2008 $1,000.00 Yes — AMENDED – OCTOBER – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C041584 0011TH SENATORIAL LEADERSHIP COMM — QC Holdings Inc. 10/16/2008 $1,000.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C041050 COMMITTEE TO ELECT KENNY JONES — QC Holdings Inc. 10/20/2008 $400.00
Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C010293 MISSOURIANS FOR GOODMAN — QC Holdings 10/10/2008 $675.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C071320 SCHMITT FOR SENATE — QC Holdings Inc 10/17/2008 $675.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C001285 COMMITTEE TO ELECT JOAN BARRY — QC Holdings Inc   10/20/2008 $675.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C061646 STAN COX FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE — QC Holdings, Inc 10/20/2008 $400.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C071094 MAJORITY FUND INC — QC Holdings, Inc.   10/21/2008 $5,000.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C031110 MISSOURIANS FOR CROWELL — QC Holdings INC QC Holdings INC 10/20/2008 $675.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C041628 ENGLER 08 — QC Holdings Inc –   10/10/2008 $675.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C000960 MO DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE — QC Holdings, Inc. 10/15/2008 $10,000.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C051320 COMMITTEE FOR EL-AMIN 57TH Yes QC Holdings, INC 10/10/2008 $400.00 Yes — 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C081082 CITIZENS TO ELECT GRAY Yes QC FINANCIAL/QC HOLDINGS, INC. 10/23/2008 $400.00 Yes — AMENDED – 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C081082 CITIZENS TO ELECT GRAY Yes QC FINANCIAL/QC HOLDINGS, INC. 10/23/2008 $400.00 Yes — AMENDED – 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C000223 CUNNINGHAM CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings 10/28/2008 $500.00 Yes — 30 DAY AFTER GENERAL ELECTION

C081082 CITIZENS TO ELECT GRAY Yes QC FINANCIAL/QC HOLDINGS, INC. 10/23/2008 $400.00 Yes — AMENDED – 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C001285 COMMITTEE TO ELECT JOAN BARRY — QC Holdings Inc 10/20/2008 $675.00 Yes — AMENDED – 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C041628 ENGLER 08 — QC Holdings Inc – 10/10/2008 $675.00 Yes — AMENDED – 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION

C000223 CUNNINGHAM CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings 10/28/2008 $500.00 Yes — AMENDED – 30 DAY AFTER GENERAL ELECTION

C000960 MO DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE — QC Holdings, Inc.   10/27/2008 $1,000.00 Yes — 30 DAY AFTER GENERAL ELECTION

C000960 MO DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE — QC Holdings, Inc. 10/27/2008 $5,000.00 Yes — 30 DAY AFTER GENERAL ELECTION

C051108 CITIZENS FOR RIDGEWAY — QC Holdings INC QC Holdings INC   10/24/2008 $1,000.00 Yes — 30 DAY AFTER GENERAL ELECTION

C000656 MO HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings 10/27/2008 $2,650.00 Yes — 30 DAY AFTER GENERAL ELECTION

C000953 MO REPUBLICAN PARTY — QC Holdings, Inc. 10/27/2008 $10,000.00 Yes — 30 DAY AFTER GENERAL ELECTION

C000656 MO HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings 10/27/2008 $2,650.00 Yes — AMENDED – 30 DAY AFTER GENERAL ELECTION

C000801 MO SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings, Inc. 7/11/2008 $1,000.00 Yes — AMENDED – OCTOBER – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000656 MO HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings 2/26/2008 $1,000.00 Yes — AMENDED – APRIL – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000656 MO HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE — QC Holdings 10/27/2008 $2,650.00 Yes — AMENDED – 30 DAY AFTER GENERAL ELECTION

C071384 ECONOMIC GROWTH COUNCIL — QC Holdings 07/28/2008 $12,500.00 Yes — AMENDED – OCTOBER – COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT

C000953 MO REPUBLICAN PARTY — QC Holdings, Inc. 01/11/2008 $18,000.00 Yes — AMENDED 30 DAY AFTER SPECIAL ELECTION

C000953 MO REPUBLICAN PARTY — QC Holdings, Inc. 10/27/2008 $10,000.00 Yes — AMENDED 30 DAY AFTER GENERAL ELECTION

[emphasis added]

There are a number of relatively small contributions and, of course, we also note contributions to candidates and committees of both major political parties.

What’s interesting is that old media fails to point out the irony of a critic of the system and the culture of the previous Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives quitting the House and going to work for an entity that made a significant amount of political contributions.

Ultimately the voters get the campaign finance world they deserve. If they want to change it for the better individual voters can get of their duffs, decide on the individual candidates they want to support, and send them each a check for ten dollars. If enough people get it and start doing such there wouldn’t be a culture that exploits the need for large contributions from other entities.

Weekly Address: Learning from History to Reform Wall Street

Posted by Jesse Lee on December 12, 2009 at 12:00 AM EST

The President explains that while he continues to focus on jobs, it is also profoundly important to address the problems that created this economic mess in the first place. He commends the House of Representatives for passing reforms to our financial system, including a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency, and blasts Republican Leaders and financial industry lobbyists for their joint “pep rally” to defeat it.

Let’s take a look at how members of the House from Missouri voted on the bill:

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 968

(Democrats in roman; Republicans in italic; Independents underlined)

     H R 4173      RECORDED VOTE      11-Dec-2009      2:28 PM

     QUESTION:  On Passage

     BILL TITLE: The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009

—- AYES    223 —

Carnahan

Clay

Cleaver

—- NOES    202 —

Akin

Blunt

Emerson

Graves

Luetkemeyer

Skelton

[emphasis added]

Okay, what’s with that?

The bill summary (as introduced}:

H.R.4173

Title: To provide for financial regulatory reform, to protect consumers and investors, to enhance Federal understanding of insurance issues, to regulate the over-the-counter derivatives markets, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] (introduced 12/2/2009)      Cosponsors (None)

Related Bills: H.RES.956, H.RES.964, H.R.3126, H.R.3818

Latest Major Action: 12/11/2009 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 223 – 202 (Roll no. 968).SUMMARY AS OF:

12/2/2009–Introduced.

The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009 – Financial Stability Improvement Act of 2009 – Directs the Comptroller General to audit and report to Congress on all actions taken by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve Board) and the Federal Reserve Banks during the current economic crisis pursuant to specified authority granted under the Federal Reserve Act.

Establishes a Financial Services Oversight Council, consisting of the heads of specified federal financial regulatory bodies and chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury, to: (1) resolve a dispute among two or more federal financial regulatory agencies in specified circumstances; (2) subject a financial company to stricter prudential standards; and (3) require a financial holding company to undertake one or more mitigatory actions to address any grave threat its activities pose to the financial stability or economy of the United States.

Directs the Federal Reserve Board to impose stricter prudential standards on a financial holding company in certain circumstances.

Authorizes the Council to subject a financial activity or practice to stricter prudential standards for financial stability purposes.

Amends the Home Owners’ Loan Act to establish a Division of Thrift Supervision within the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Abolishes the Office of Thrift Supervision, and transfers its functions and personnel to the Division.

Amends the Revised Statutes of the United States to direct the Secretary to appoint up to five Deputy Comptrollers of the Currency, including a Senior Deputy Comptroller for National Banks and a Senior Deputy Comptroller for Thrift Supervision.

Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) to place the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board on the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in lieu of the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision.

Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to prescribe requirements for the treatment of industrial loan companies, savings associations, special purpose holding companies, and certain other companies.

Prohibits certain conversions of troubled banks and thrifts.

Amends the FDIA to revise requirements for calculating a depository institution’s assessment.

Credit Risk Retention Act of 2009 – Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to direct the appropriate federal financial regulatory agencies to prescribe regulations to require any creditor to retain an economic interest in a material portion of the credit risk of any loan the creditor transfers, sells, or conveys to a third party, including for the purpose of including such loan in a pool of loans backing an issuance of asset-backed securities.

Dissolution Authority for Large, Interconnected Financial Companies Act of 2009 – Prescribes a procedure under which the Secretary shall appoint the FDIC as receiver for one year to resolve, liquidate, or take other specified emergency stabilization actions with respect to a financial company whose imminent or actual default would have serious adverse effects on financial stability or economic conditions in the United States.

Requires the FDIC Inspector General, if the Secretary appoints the FDIC as receiver for a financial company, to establish an Office of Resolution to audit and investigate the activities of the FDIC in its capacity as receiver for that company.

Amends the Federal Reserve Act to prescribe requirements for financial crisis management actions by the Federal Reserve Board in the event of a liquidity event that could destabilize the U.S. financial system.

Establishes a Council of Inspectors General on Financial Oversight.

Amends the International Banking Act of 1978 to authorize the Federal Reserve Board to terminate the activities of the U.S. branch, agency, or subsidiary of a foreign bank that presents a systemic risk to the United States.

Corporate and Financial Institution Compensation Fairness Act of 2009 – Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require a separate, non-binding shareholder vote to approve the compensation, including golden parachute compensation, of corporate and financial institution executives. Requires each member of the compensation committee of the board of directors of an issuer of securities to be independent.

Over-the-Counter Derivatives Markets Act of 2009 – Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to require joint regulation of swap markets by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Requires swap repositories, swap dealers, major swap participants, and swap execution facilities to register with the CFTC.

Repeals the exemption from CFTC regulation of derivatives transaction execution facilities and boards of trade.

Revises requirements for foreign boards of trade.

Authorizes the CFTC and the SEC to ban: (1) abusive swaps; and (2) access to the U.S. financial system of any entity domiciled in a foreign country whose regulation of swaps or security-based swaps markets in that country undermines the stability of the U.S. financial system.

Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to repeal the prohibition on regulation of security-based swaps and applies specified requirements to such swaps.

Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act of 2009 – Establishes the Co
nsumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) as an independent agency to regulate the provision of consumer financial products or services.

Prescribes related requirements for examination and enforcement for small insured depository institutions (with total assets of $10 billion or less) by the FDIC and credit unions (with total assets of $1.5 billion or less) by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

Directs the CFPA to develop risk-based programs to supervise nondepository covered persons.

Authorizes the CFPA to take actions to prohibit unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices in connection with any transaction with a consumer for, or any offering of, a consumer financial product or service.

Specifies prohibited acts.

Requires the CFPA Director to lead a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee to promulgate appraisal independence requirements for residential loan purposes.

Specifies the preservation of the civil enforcement powers of state attorneys general.

Prescribes standards for federal preemption of state law regarding national banks and subsidiaries and federal savings associations.

Specifies CFPA enforcement powers.

Transfers to the CFPA the consumer financial protection functions of the Federal Reserve Board, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the FDIC, the Federal Trade Commission, the NCUA, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Prescribes requirements for the collection and use by the CFPA of deposit account and small business data.

Requires the CFPA Director to conduct an annual financial autopsy regarding bankruptcies and foreclosures, including any specific financial products or services that have caused substantial numbers of them.

Private Fund Investment Advisers Registration Act of 2009 – Amends the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to require private fund investment advisers to register with the SEC and maintain records and make reports on systemic risk data. Exempts venture capital fund advisers from the registration requirements. Directs the SEC to exempt from registration requirements any investment adviser of a private fund with assets under management in the United States of less than $150 million.

Accountability and Transparency in Rating Agencies Act of 2009 – Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to revise requirements for regulation of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs). Requires the SEC to examine NRSRO credit ratings to review whether an NRSRO has established a system of internal controls and adhered to it.

Directs the SEC to: (1) establish an office to administer SEC rules with respect to NRSRO practices; and (2) eliminate the exemption of NRSROs from the Fair Disclosure Rule.

Directs the SEC to establish a Credit Ratings Agency Advisory Board.

Investor Protection Act of 2009 – Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to establish an Investor Advisory Committee to the SEC. Authorizes the SEC to engage in consumer testing.

Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to direct the SEC to promulgate rules to prescribe a fiduciary standard of conduct for a broker or dealer when providing personalized investment advice about securities to a retail customer.

Authorizes the SEC to prohibit or limit agreements that require customers or clients of any broker, dealer, or municipal securities dealer to engage in pre-dispute arbitration.

Establishes within the SEC a Capital Markets Safety Board.

Directs the SEC to report to specified congressional committees on the implementation of SEC reforms in the wake of the discovery of fraud by Bernie Madoff.

Authorizes the SEC and the CFTC to form and operate a joint advisory committee.

Prescribes or revises prohibitions and requirements relating to: (1) securities lending; (2) lost and stolen securities; and (3) fingerprinting of personnel of registered securities information processors, national securities exchanges, and national securities associations.

Declares that any condition, stipulation, or provision binding any person to waive compliance with any rule of a self-regulatory organization shall be void.

Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the SEC revolving door.

Establishes a Financial Reporting Forum to discuss immediate and long-term issues critical to financial reporting.

Directs the SEC Chairman to appoint an SEC Ombudsman.

Amends the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970 with respect to, among other specified items, an increased: (1) assessment paid by Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) members; (2) borrowing limit on Treasury loans; and (3) cash limit of protection.

Amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 with respect to: (1) the Public Company Accounting Oversight (PCAO) Board oversight of auditors of brokers and dealers; and (2) foreign regulatory information sharing, and related matters.

Directs the PCAO Board to appoint an ombudsman.

Directs the SEC to establish a program of grants to states for enhanced protection of seniors from misleading and fraudulent marketing of financial products.

Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require municipal financial advisers to register with the SEC.

Federal Insurance Office Act of 2009 – Establishes in the Treasury the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) to: (1) monitor the insurance industry; (2) recommend to the Financial Services Oversight Council that it designate an insurer as one subject to stricter standards; (3) assist in administering the Terrorism Insurance Program; and (4) perform other related duties.

Preempts a state insurance measure only to the extent it: (1) directly results in less favorable treatment of a non-U.S. insurer domiciled in a foreign jurisdiction that is subject to a covered agreement than a U.S. insurer domiciled, licensed, admitted, or otherwise authorized in that state; and (2) is inconsistent with such a covered agreement.

Requires the FIO Director to study and report to specified congressional committees on: (1) the global reinsurance market; and (2) how to modernize and improve the system of insurance regulation in the United States.

There’s lots of stuff in there, some of which has to do with, you know, regulating people and entities which have shown a powerful need for regulation.

The text of President Obama’s weekly radio address (as delivered):

…Over the past two years more than seven million Americans have lost their jobs. Factories and businesses across our country have been shuttered. In one way or another, we’ve all been touched by the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

The difficult steps we’ve taken since January have helped to break our fall and begin to get us back on our feet. The economy’s growing again. The flood of job losses we saw at the beginning of this year slowed to a relative trickle last month. These are good signs for the future, but they’re little comfort to all our neighbors who remain out of a job. And my solemn commitment is to work every day, in every way that I can, to push this recovery forward and build a new foundation for our lasting growth and prosperity.

That’s why I announced some additional steps this week to spur private sector hiring. We’ll give an added boost to small businesses across our nation through additional tax cuts and access to lending they desperately need to grow. We’ll rebuild more of our vital infrastructure and promote advanced manufacturing in clean energy to put Americans to work doing the work we need done. And I called for the extension of unemployment insurance and health benefits to help those who have lost their jobs weather these storms until we reach that brighter day.

But even as we dig our way out of this deep hole, it’s important that we address the irresponsibility and recklessness that got us into this mess in the first place.

Some of it was the result of an era of easy credit, when millions of Americans borrowed beyond their means, bought homes they couldn’t afford, and as
sumed that housing prices would always rise and the day of reckoning would never come.

But much of it was due to the irresponsibility of large financial institutions on Wall Street that gambled on risky loans and complex financial products, seeking short-term profits and big bonuses with little regard for long-term consequences. It was, as some put it, risk management without the management. And their actions, in the absence of strong oversight, intensified the cycle of bubble and bust and led to a financial crisis that threatened to bring down the entire economy. It was a disaster that could have been avoided if we’d had clearer rules of the road for Wall Street and actually enforced them.

We can’t change that history. But we have an absolute responsibility to learn from it, and take steps to prevent a repeat of the crisis from which we’re still recovering. And that’s why I’ve proposed a series of financial reforms that would target the abuses we’ve seen and leave us less exposed to the kind of breakdown we just experienced. They would bring new transparency and accountability to the financial markets, so that the kind of risky dealings that sparked the crisis would be fully disclosed and properly regulated. They would give us the tools to ensure that the failure of one large bank or financial institution won’t spread like a virus throughout the entire financial system. Because we should never again find ourselves in the position in which our only choices are bailing out banks or letting our economy collapse. And they would consolidate the consumer protection functions currently spread across half a dozen agencies and vest them in a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency. This agency would have the authority to put an end to misleading and dishonest practices by banks and institutions that market financial products like credit cards and debit cards, mortgage and auto and payday loans. These are all common sense reforms that respond to the obvious problems exposed by the financial crisis.

But, as we’ve learned so many times before common sense doesn’t always prevail in Washington. Just this week Republican leaders in the House summoned more than a hundred key lobbyists for the financial industry to a pep rally and urged them to redouble their efforts to block meaningful financial reform, not that they needed the encouragement. The industry has already spent more than three hundred million dollars on lobbying to influence the debate this year.

The special interests and their agents in Congress claim that reforms like the Consumer Financial Protection Agency will stifle consumer choice and that updated rules and oversight will frustrate innovation in the financial markets.  But Americans don’t choose to be victimized by mysterious fees, changing terms, and pages and pages of fine print. And while innovation should be encouraged, risky schemes that threaten our entire economy should not. We can’t afford to let the same phony arguments and bad habits of Washington kill financial reform and leave American consumers and our economy vulnerable to another melt down.

Yesterday the House passed comprehensive reform legislation that incorporates many of the essential changes we need and the Senate Banking Committee is working on its own package of reforms. I urge both houses to act as quickly as possible to pass real reform that restores free and fair markets in which recklessness and greed are thwarted, and hard work, responsibility, and competition are rewarded – reforms that works for businesses, investors, and consumers alike. That’s how we’ll keep our economy and our institutions strong.  hat’s how we’ll restore a sense of responsibility and accountability to both Wall Street and Washington. And that’s how we’ll safeguard everything the American people are working so hard to build – a broad-based recovery, lasting prosperity, and renewed American Dream. Thanks.

Congressman Ike Skelton’s office issued the following press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, December 11, 2009

[….]

Skelton Defends Home Town Banks and Their Customers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) submitted the following statement in the U.S. House of Representatives during debate of H.R. 4173, The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  Discussing his vote against the measure, Congressman Skelton stated:

“While the House bill is well-intentioned and I support much of it, the measure falls short in my goal to target Wall Street without disrupting Main Street banks and bank customers.”

On December 11, 2009, the House approved the measure by a vote of 223 to 202.  Congressman Skelton’s full remarks are set forth below:

______________________________

December 11, 2009

This week, the House has debated legislation that would put in place the most sweeping financial regulations since the Great Depression.  I feel strongly that Congress should enact tough new regulations on Wall Street.  Many big banks and financial institutions, in addition to irresponsible mortgage agents and borrowers, in this country helped cause the financial crisis last year. They did not play by the rules and operated with a “get rich quick” mentality that served their own interests but that had little regard for the interests of the American people.  Federal regulators must be given greater authority to monitor complex financial products and to ensure American taxpayers are never again on the hook for corporate misdeeds that threaten the nation’s entire economy.

But, as important as these new regulations are to our country, Congress must be careful in writing them.  We must focus tough regulations like a laser beam on Wall Street and other bad actors while not wrapping our home town banks into costly and complex sets of new rules. Community banks and credit unions have been playing by the rules for years. They are conservative with their money and did not cause last year’s economic mess. They and their customers ought not pay the price for Wall Street’s misdeeds any more than they, like all Americans, have already been asked to do.

While the House bill is well-intentioned and I support much of it, the measure falls short in my goal to target Wall Street without disrupting Main Street banks and bank customers. In particular, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, which is created under the legislation, would create a cumbersome set of new requirements for home town banks. These new rules are not fair to community banks and their small town customers, and the legislation could have been written to exclude them.

As the House and Senate continue debating financial regulatory reform, the interests of community banks and credit unions must be given utmost attention. These financial institutions are the heart of family, small business, and farm lending in rural America and will be key to our nation’s economic recovery. Congress ought not punish them for the misdeeds of Wall Street tycoons and irresponsible mortgage lenders. I look forward to working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to find common ground on this important legislation for America.

– 30 –

You think he’ll vote for the bill that comes out of conference? Maybe so, but I don’t think any of the Congressman’s republican colleagues will join him.

“…Just this week Republican leaders in the House summoned more than a hundred key lobbyists for the financial industry to a pep rally and urged them to redouble their efforts to block meaningful financial reform…”