Campaign Finance: Well, there are two…

… and they’re both from Missouri.

Astroturfing – A professional political campaign disguised as a ‘grassroots’ uprising (astroturf is artificial grass)….

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C121488 07/02/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 retired 6/30/2014 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

In the past:

C121488 12/24/2013 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 none retired 12/23/2013 $25,000.00

2013 must have been an off year.

C121488 12/21/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 Retired 12/20/2012 $275,000.00

[emphasis added]

And who have been recipients of this largesse?

In 2012:

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT January Quarterly Report Schmitt for Missouri

Po Box 220722 Kirkwood MO 63122 12/29/2012 $25,000.00 Monetary Yes

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT January Quarterly Report Citizens To Elect Jamilah Nasheed

4710 Lee Apt 1 St Louis MO 63115 12/29/2012 $25,000.00 Monetary Yes

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT January Quarterly Report Slay For Mayor

6559 Itaska St Louis MO 63109 12/31/2012 $50,000.00 Monetary Yes

[emphasis added]

In 2013:

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT 8 Day Before Special Charter Election-3/5/2013 Joe Keaveny for Senate 6219 Westminster St Louis MO 63130 01/02/2013 $2,500.00 Monetary Yes

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT 8 Day Before Special Charter Election-3/5/2013 Slay For Mayor

6559 Itaska St Louis MO 63109 01/19/2013 $50,000.00 Monetary Yes

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT 8 Day Before Special Charter Election-3/5/2013 Slay For Mayor

6559 Itaska St Louis MO 63109 02/02/2013 $50,000.00 Monetary Yes

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT April Quarterly Report Slay for Mayor

6559 Itaska St Louis MO 63109 03/02/2013 $50,000.00 Monetary Yes

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT AMENDED October Quarterly Report Friends of Steve Webb

3829 Kentucky Derby Drive Florissant MO 63034 09/12/2013 $1,500.00 Monetary Yes

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT January Quarterly Report Missouri Senate Campaign Committee

PO Box 754 Jefferson City MO 65102 12/31/2013 $5,000.00 Monetary Yes

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT January Quarterly Report House Republican Campaign Committee

PO Box 1313 Jefferson City MO 65102 12/31/2013 $5,000.00 Monetary Yes

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT January Quarterly Report Dempsey for Missouri

2 Westbury Drive St Charles MO 63301 12/31/2013 $5,000.00 Monetary Yes

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT January Quarterly Report Citizens for Torpey

821 East Manor Rd Independence MO 64055 12/31/2013 $2,000.00 Monetary Yes

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT January Quarterly Report Committee to Elect Rebecca Roeber

603 NE Clubhouse Drive Lees Summit MO 64086 12/31/2013 $2,000.00 Monetary Yes

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT January Quarterly Report Friends of Robert Cornejo

PO Box 346 St Peters MO 63376 12/31/2013 $1,000.00 Monetary Yes

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT January Quarterly Report Redmon for State Representative

PO Box 43 Monticello MO 63457 12/31/2013 $1,000.00 Monetary Yes

C121488 MISSOURIANS FOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT January Quarterly Report Kevin Austin for State Representative

2648 Corona Circle Springfield MO 65804 12/31/2013 $500.00 Monetary Yes

[emphasis added]

No contributions yet for 2014. We’ll see. Astroturf in politics is always interesting.

Wouldn’t it be easier just to write the checks directly to the candidate’s campaigns? Just asking.