A campaign finance reform bill, pre-filed in the Senate by Jill Schupp (D):

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

SENATE BILL NO. 123 [pdf]

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY SENATOR SCHUPP.

Pre-filed December 3, 2014, and ordered printed.

[….]

AN ACT

[….]

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:

Section A. Section 130.044 as enacted by senate bill no. 844, ninety-fifth general assembly, second regular session, and section 130.044 as enacted by senate bill no. 1038, ninety-fourth general assembly, second regular session, are repealed and three new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 21.431, 130.032, and 130.044, to read as follows:

21.431. No member elected to either chamber of the general assembly who vacates the office, whether by resignation, expulsion, term limitation under Section 8, Article III, Constitution of Missouri, or otherwise, shall act, serve, or register as a lobbyist as defined in section 105.470 until one full regular session of the general assembly has both convened and adjourned as provided in Sections 20 and 20(a), Article III, Constitution of Missouri, after such member vacates the office.

130.032. 1. In addition to the limitations imposed under section 130.031, the amount of contributions made by or accepted from any person other than the candidate in any one election shall not exceed the following:

(1) To elect an individual to the office of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, or attorney general, five thousand dollars;

(2) To elect an individual to the office of state senator, one thousand five hundred dollars;

(3) To elect an individual to the office of state representative, seven hundred fifty dollars;

(4) To elect an individual to any other office, including judicial office, if the population of the electoral district, ward, or other unit according to the latest decennial census does not exceed fifty thousand, seven hundred fifty dollars;

(5) To elect an individual to any other office, including judicial office, if the population of the electoral district, ward, or other unit according to the latest decennial census is more than fifty thousand but does not exceed one hundred fifty thousand, one thousand five hundred dollars; and

(6) To elect an individual to any other office, including judicial office, if the population of the electoral district, ward, or other unit according to the latest decennial census is greater than one hundred fifty thousand, five thousand dollars.

2. The amount of aggregate contributions made by any single contributor in a calendar year to any political party committee shall not exceed thirty-two thousand four hundred dollars.

3. For purposes of this subsection, “base year amount” shall be the contribution limits prescribed in this section on January 1, 2016. Such limits shall be increased on the first day of January in each odd-numbered year by multiplying the base year amount by the cumulative consumer price index, as defined in section 104.010 and rounded to the nearest twenty-five dollar amount, for all years since January 1, 2016.

4. Every committee established under this chapter shall be subject to the limits prescribed in subsection 1 of this section. The provisions of this subsection shall not limit the amount of contributions that may be accumulated by a candidate committee and used for expenditures to further the nomination or election of the candidate who controls such candidate committee.

5. Contributions from persons under fourteen years of age shall be considered made by the parents or guardians of such person and shall be attributed toward any contribution limits prescribed in this

chapter. Where the contributor under fourteen years of age has two custodial parents or guardians, fifty percent of the contribution shall be attributed to each parent or guardian, and where such contributor has one custodial parent or guardian, all such contributions shall be attributed to the custodial parent or guardian.

6. Contributions received and expenditures made before January 1, 2016, shall be reported as a separate account and under the laws in effect at the time such contributions are received or expenditures made. Contributions received and expenditures made after January 1, 2016, shall be reported under the provisions of this chapter as a separate account from the other separate account described in this subsection. The account reported under the prior law shall be retained as a separate account and any remaining funds in such account may be used under this chapter.

7. Any committee that accepts or gives contributions other than those allowed shall be subject to a surcharge of one thousand dollars plus an amount equal to the contribution per nonallowable contribution, to be paid to the ethics commission and which shall be transferred to the director of revenue, upon notification of such nonallowable contribution by the ethics commission, and after the candidate has had ten business days after receipt of notice to return the contribution to the contributor. The candidate and the candidate committee treasurer or deputy treasurer owing a surcharge shall be personally liable for the payment of the surcharge or may pay such surcharge only from campaign funds existing on the date of the receipt of notice. Such surcharge shall constitute a debt to the state enforceable under, but not limited to, the provisions of chapter 143.

[….]

[emphasis in original]

In addition, the amount for reporting a single contribution within forty-eight hours is reduced in the bill from $5,000.00 to $2,000.00. During the legislative session or while awaiting gubernatorial action contributions to members of the General Assembly, candidates for the General Assembly, statewide state office holders, or candidates for statewide state offices would be required to report contributions of $500.00 or higher within forty-eight hours.

It’s a start.

What are the chances?  

A picket sign from 2002.

Nothing much has changed, eh?

Cheney blasts Senate interrogation report

David Jackson, USA TODAY 9:19 p.m. EST December 10, 2014

Former Vice President Dick Cheney ripped a new Senate report on harsh interrogation techniques Wednesday as a “terrible piece of work” that throws CIA officials “under the bus” for political reasons.

“The report is full of crap, excuse me,” Cheney said during an interview on Fox News….

….Cheney, the highest-ranking official from the George W. Bush administration to comment publicly since the Senate released its report on Tuesday, also said Bush was “fully informed” about the interrogation program….

[….]

Principles of International Law Recognized in the Charter of the Nüremberg Tribunal and in the Judgment of the Tribunal, 1950.

[….]

Principle III

The fact that a person who committed an act which constitutes a crime under international law acted as Head of State or responsible Government official does not relieve him from responsibility under international law.

[….]

[emphasis added]

Excuse him? Never. And that’s what really chafes his ass.

“…the lesson that this long course in human wickedness had taught us-the lesson of the fearsome, word-and-thought-defying banality of evil…” – Hannah Arendt, Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil

Nothing has changed.

Previously:

A Small Clique Of Legal Extremists… (February 24, 2008)

We have already determined what we are… (December 9, 2014)

“…to otherwise commit moral and national suicide by euphemism.” (December 10, 2014)

At the White House petition site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Prosecute, to the full extent of the law, all of the parties responsible for the use of torture outlined in CIA report

Torture is a war crime. There is no statute of limitations on war crimes. Those that have committed this crime should be tried and punished to set us right with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We need justice before there can be redemption. The time is now to set our moral compass in the proper direction by holding those responsible for the horrific acts done in our countries name. There needs to be accountability – there needs to be justice – there needs to be a trial for war crimes now that we know just what was done in our name.

Published Date: Dec 09, 2014

Issues: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement

Signatures needed by January 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,404

Total signatures on this petition 596

[emphasis added]

A few good people.

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Arrest Dick Cheney and George W. Bush for crimes against Humanity

We The People demand the immediate arrest of war criminals Dick Cheney and George Bush for committing crimes against humanity. These 2 men are an affront to American morality and values. They have been deemed war criminals across the globe yet remain free at home. America is supposed to be a nation of freedom, truth and justice. However the CIA torture report demonstrates that these 2 leaders place no value on human life and as a result we call for their arrest, a fair trial, and justice to be meted out accordingly (a luxury their victims were not permitted to receive)

Published Date: Dec 09, 2014

Issues: Foreign Policy, Government Reform, Homeland Security and Disaster Relief

Signatures needed by January 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,800

Total signatures on this petition 200

[emphasis added]

It’s possible their travel agents will have interesting challenges routing their international travel in the future.

That was Charles P. Pierce yesterday.

Dead tree media on newsstands this morning:

This morning’s headlines from (left to right) the Kansas City Star (“Brutal Tactics Detailed”),

The New York Times (“Senate Panel Faults C.I.A. Over Brutality And Deceit In Terrorism Interrogations”),

and USA Today (“An Ugly Truth: CIA torture was broad, ineffective, report says”).

Interestingly, only USA Today has the stomach to use the “T” word. And that’s under the main headline.

Previously:

A Small Clique Of Legal Extremists… (February 24, 2008)

We have already determined what we are… (December 9, 2014)

…now we just need to haggle over the price.

Charles P. Pierce, part the first:

….I no longer take seriously anyone, in or out of government, who talks about “the debate” over whether the United States tortured people. The only debate left is the debate over whether or not it will remain the policy of this nation to torture people, or to outsource the job of torturing people, or to otherwise commit moral and national suicide by euphemism.

Anyone who still believes there’s a “debate” over whether or not the United States, using techniques previously used by the Japanese Imperial Army, the Gestapo, the North Korean People’s Army, and the KGB, tortured people is an idiot and a coward and I have no time for them. Not any more. Debate’s over. We became what they think we are. And worse. This is not debatable and, alas, it is anything but a surprise.

Charles P. Pierce, part the second:

….This is what the Senate report really means. We lost more than our phony “innocence” in what we allowed to happen in the country in the years following the attacks on September 11, 2001. We lost more than the scales from our eyes. We gave away our right to judge, anyone, anywhere, for the crimes that we committed out of rage and fear and deception. We betrayed the principles enunciated at Nuremberg. We sold out Robert Jackson for John Yoo.

In 1948:

In the judgment of the tribunal, International Military Tribunal for the Far East – Proceedings, p. 48,442.

Changi Prison, October 1943

… The Japanese were trying to establish that there was a spy organization in Changi Prison which received and transmitted by radio telephony, which had established contacts in the town for the purpose of sabotage and [12937] stirring up of  anti-Japanese feeling, and which collected money from outside for this purpose. In fact, there was no organization, no radio transmission and no attempt to promote anti-Japanese activities outside the Camp…[12939]

…Usually interrogations started quietly and would continue as long as the inquisitors got the expected answers. If, for any reason, such answers were not forthcoming, physical violence was immediately…

…[12940] employed. The methods used were:

(1) Water Torture. There were two forms of water torture. In the first, the victim was tied or held down on his back and a cloth placed over his nose and mouth. Water was then poured on the cloth…

International Military Tribunal for the Far East – Proceedings, p. 12,936.

In 2007, a letter to the editor:

Kansas City Star

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Letters

Limited use of torture

…Instead of prohibiting torture, we should regulate how and when it can be used. It should only be used on people we are sure have important information and should be restricted to methods that don’t inflict permanent damage…

We have already determined what we are, now we just need to haggle over the price.

Previously:

A Small Clique Of Legal Extremists… (February 24, 2008)

Just asking.

We should set our alarms by it. Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, Rex Sinquefield makes yet another weekly $10,000.00 campaign contribution to his (apparently) favorite 2016 republican gubernatorial candidate:

C141055 12/09/2014 HANAWAY FOR GOVERNOR Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 None Retired 12/9/2014 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

You, too, can write a $10,000.00 check, or for $750,000.00, or for a million, if you wish.

The Red Lily, Anatole France

…For the poor it consists in sustaining and preserving the wealthy in their power and their laziness. The poor must work for this, in presence of the majestic quality of the law which prohibits the wealthy as well as the poor from sleeping under the bridges, from begging in the streets, and from stealing bread…

Is this a great plutocracy, or what?

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Every Tuesday (December 2, 2014)

Campaign Finance: through rain, through snow, through gloom of night… (November 25, 2014)

Campaign Finance: weekly retainer (November 18, 2014)

Campaign Finance: keeping up appearances (November 11, 2014)

Every time Rex Sinquefield signs a check a campaign consultant gets their wings… – part 2 (October 28, 2014)

Every time Rex Sinquefield signs a check a twenty-something campaign consultant gets their wings… (October 22, 2014)

Campaign Finance: making a choice (October 15, 2014)

Campaign Finance: a choice (October 1, 2014)

Campaign Finance: wachet auf (September 17, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Which side are you on? (June 30, 2014)

Campaign Finance: waking up at the end of the quarter (June 25, 2014)

Campaign Finance: different friends (June 14, 2014)

Campaign Finance: This probably qualifies as an oxymoron… (May 22, 2014)

Today at  the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C141581 12/08/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR RANDLES Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 Self Retired 12/8/2014 $1,000,000.00

[emphasis added]

Who?

Oh.

Via the Twitterverse it appears this is all about Bev Randles. We’ll find out soon enough.

C141581: Missourians For Randles

5823 North Cypress Ave Committee Type: Exploratory

Kansas City Mo64119

[….] Established Date: 12/08/2014

  Termination Date:

Treasurer

Bill Randles

[….]

[emphasis added]

Brand spanking new. And a million dollars on the first day. It can only go downhill from there.

Our friends at Progress Missouri sponsored a progressive summit in Columbia, Missouri on December 5th and 6th. On Saturday morning we participated in a panel on new media titled “Evolution of the Interwebs and Social Media” moderated by Pamela Merritt Progress Missouri’s Communication Director with AFSCME’s Alexandra Townsend, Courtney Cole, and the ACLU’s Mustafa Abdullah.

Our moderator started the session by asking the audience to raise their hands if their primary source of news was online, then Twitter, then Facebook, and finally, “dropped off at the front of your house.” Only one person in the audience raised their hand at the mention of old print media.  

Our most awesome, excellent, and humorous panel moderator, Pamela Merritt.

We were asked our preferred platform for alternative media. The panel’s individual responses varied based on the needs of their audience. My response was blogging, for the long form content. The quotes which follow are mine.

“…There’s so many big stories and so many important things to do I think that the, the most important thing is that we continue to tell stories, and we give people information.”

AFSCME’s Alexandra Townsend.

“…I’m always appalled at old media when they say that there’s, there’s vague things about what’s on the record or off the record. The reality is, it’s on the record all the time unless you say it’s off the record. And I identify myself all the time. When I’m doing the blog stuff I have this [photo ID on a lanyard]. Any body talks to me, it’s on the record unless you go, I don’t want this to be on the record and then we agree. Or, you know, don’t talk to me…”

Courtney Cole.

In response to a question about voice:

“…You have to be, believe in something and generally, if you believe in something, we’re pretty angry that things are the way they are…”

“…We should punch up, not down. And, and we constantly try to punch up. But, I, I put it this way….we should comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable…”

ACLU Program Associate Mustafa Abdullah.

“…One of the things that I, I find is that, that people, ordinary people are, are taking to the social media sites of public people and really letting loose. And, I mean, it’s not, it doesn’t appear to me to be organized. It’s just people saying, I see this, and they’re going, that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard…and I’ve seen it all across the political spectrum…”

We were asked for a closing comment:

“…Whatever you use…information is power. That’s it.”

Previously:

I <3 Columbia (December 6, 2014)

I <3 Columbia – part 2 (December 6, 2014)

Progressive Summit in Columbia, Missouri – December 6, 2014 (December 7, 2014)

“…. Struggles to coerce uniformity of sentiment in support of some end thought essential to their time and country have been waged by many good as well as by evil men. Nationalism is a relatively recent phenomenon but at other times and places the ends have been racial or territorial security, support of a dynasty or regime, and particular plans for saving souls. As first and moderate methods to attain unity have failed, those bent on its accomplishment must resort to an ever-increasing severity. As governmental pressure toward unity becomes greater, so strife becomes more bitter as to whose unity it shall be. Probably no deeper division of our people could proceed from any provocation than from finding it necessary to choose what doctrine and whose program public educational officials shall compel youth to unite in embracing. Ultimate futility of such attempts to compel coherence is the lesson of every such effort from the Roman drive to stamp out Christianity as a disturber of its pagan unity, the Inquisition, as a means to religious and dynastic unity, the Siberian exiles as a means to Russian unity, down to the fast failing efforts of our present totalitarian enemies. Those who begin coercive elimination of dissent soon find themselves exterminating dissenters. Compulsory unification of opinion achieves only the unanimity of the graveyard….”

“….If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us….”

– Justice Robert Jackson, WEST VIRGINIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ET AL. v. BARNETTE ET AL., 319 U.S. 624 (1943).

Last night:

Oregon Ducks hoopers hold hands up during national anthem before game against Ole Miss

December 07, 2014 at 5:28 PM, updated December 07, 2014 at 6:10 PM

Two Oregon Ducks men’s basketball players held their hands up during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner before a game against Ole Miss….

[….]

The actions are thought to be demonstrations linked to recent federal grand juries decisions to not indict police officers who had slain two African-American men, Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York….

[….]

The self-righteous indignation in some of the comments under the news story are priceless.

Previously:

Barack Obama and “The Star Spangled Banner” (October 24, 2007)

Those who ignore history are, well….stupid (October 25, 2007)

And you shall know them by their deafening silence (July 1, 2009)

Back home again in Indiana: a modest solution to our universal school funding crisis (January 1, 2012)