Monthly Archives: May 2018

State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D): about that dark money

31 Thursday May 2018

Posted by in campaign finance, Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

#FollowTheMoney

State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D) [2018 file photo].

Today State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D) sent a letter addressed to the leadership of both Houses of the General Assembly and the membership, urging their continued examination of the coordination of “dark money” in influencing public policy.

The letter [pdf]:

Nicole R. Galloway, CPA
Missouri State Auditor

May 31, 2018

The Honorable Ron Richard, President Pro Tem
Missouri State Senate
State Capitol Building, Room 326
Jefferson City, MO 65101

The Honorable Todd Richardson, Speaker of the House
Missouri House of Representatives
State Capitol Building, Room 308
Jefferson City, MO 65101

To the members of the Missouri General Assembly:

I write today to praise the professionalism and work of the Missouri House of Representatives’ Special Investigative Committee on Oversight, and ask that the driving principle of their work – seeking truth for Missourians – continue.

On May 29, a judge ordered compliance with a subpoena from the Missouri House of Representatives to reveal details of the Governor’s dark money operation. Mere hours after the deadline to turn over this information, the Governor of the State of Missouri plans to resign, possibly depriving Missourians of the right to know how dark money and special interests are secretly influencing their government. This is too important to the future of our state and to the integrity of public service to be swept under the rug.

In order to restore the public trust, the legislature must continue its work into the investigation of coordination between dark-money organizations and state entities.

The same special interests that sought to influence the Governor will remain. They will seek opportunities to operate in the shadows and outside scrutiny, all while working to influence your decisions. But, there are ways for the legislature to combat this corruption.

In 2012 legislation was introduced to require disclosure of contributions to 501(c)(4) political nonprofits. That was great legislation then, and now more than ever, it should be a priority for the general Assembly. I urge it passage, whether it be taken up during special session or next session.

Additionally, the General Assembly should ensure that the Missouri Ethics Commission has the full authority under law to enforce Advisory Opinion No. 2018.05.CF.004 by codifying that not-for-profit corporations that receive donations for the purpose of influencing or attempting to influence the actions of voters are required to file disclosures with the Commission.

Missourians deserve a full accounting of the truth and full disclosure of the extent of dark money’s influence on state government. The General Assembly should take action to address this corrupting influence and continue, as it did with the Special Committee, to wisely exercise its oversight.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
/s
Nicole Galloway, CPA
State Auditor

We’ll see what happens.

Previously:

Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – Michael Hafner (May 29, 2018)

Missouri House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – Michael Hafner – afternoon (May 29, 2018)

Following the money (May 31, 2018)

Public Service Announcement

31 Thursday May 2018

Posted by in meta

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

…Gaslighting is a tactic in which a person or entity, in order to gain more power, makes a victim question their reality. It works much better than you may think. Anyone is susceptible to gaslighting, and it is a common technique of abusers, dictators, narcissists, and cult leaders. It is done slowly, so the victim doesn’t realize how much they’ve been brainwashed…

That is all. Carry on.

Campaign Finance: Why are we not surprised?

31 Thursday May 2018

Posted by in campaign finance

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

You really think anything is going to change on Friday, June 1st at 5:00 p.m.?

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission in support of “right to get paid less”:

C180291 05/31/2018 Missourians For Freedom To Work Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry PO Box 149 Jefferson City MO 65102 5/31/2018 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

Business must be good.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: they left off the last part (May 19, 2018)

Following the money

31 Thursday May 2018

Posted by in campaign finance, Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

#FollowTheMoney

It probably isn’t going to happen now.

Eric Greitens (r) [2016 file photo].

Looking again at the last Eric Greitens’ (r) gubernatorial campaign report to the Missouri Ethics Commission, to the end of the first quarter:

C151053: Greitens For Missouri
Committee Type: Candidate
Po Box 144
Jefferson City Mo 65102
Party Affiliation: Republican
Established Date: 02/24/2015
[….]
Termination Date:

Information Reported On: 2018 – April Quarterly Report
Beginning Money on Hand $2,774,583.78
Monetary Receipts + $31,777.55
Monetary Expenditures – $261,590.97
Contributions Made – $1,000.00
Other Disbursements – $31,348.21
Subtotal ($262,161.63)
Ending Money On Hand $2,512,422.15

[emphasis added]

That’s a lot of money.

What’s going to happen to it now? Just asking

Some of the expenditures, after the State of the State:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM
4/16/2018 Greitens For Missouri [pdf]

Bask Digital Media 225 Broadway Suite 420 San Diego CA 92101 2/1/2018 Digital media services $36,000.00
Jimmy Soni 301 Hicks St #3 Brooklyn NY 11201 2/16/2018 Communications Consultant $2,000.00
Jimmy Soni 301 Hicks St #3 Brooklyn NY 11201 2/23/2018 Communications Consultant $2,000.00
The Tarrance Group 201 North Union St Suite 410 Alexandria VA 22314 2/23/2018 Research $35,207.00
Bask Digital Media 225 Broadway Suite 420 San Diego CA 92101 2/26/2018 Digital media services $25,000.00
Bask Digital Media 225 Broadway Suite 420 San Diego CA 92101 3/5/2018 Digital media services $8,500.00
Bask Digital Media 225 Broadway Suite 420 San Diego CA 92101 3/16/2018 Digital media services $15,000.00
BK Strategies LLC 320 23rd St S#1003 Arlington VA 22202 3/16/2018 Research $20,083.00

[emphasis added]

Well, that’s transparent enough.

It’d be really interesting to get a look at all that research. Was that post State of the State damage control? Just asking

And then there’s this, via the Missouri Secretary of State:

Name A New Missouri, Inc.
[….]
Type Nonprofit Corporation
Charter No. N000704138
Domesticity Domestic
Registered Agent simpson, Robin
105 East High Street
Suite 100
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Status Good Standing
Date Formed 2/5/2017
Duration Perpetual

It’s not particularly transparent, either. What happens now? We might have come so close to finding out, too.

At their web site:

A New Missouri is a section 501(c)(4) issue advocacy organization established to promote policies to create more jobs, higher pay, safer streets, better schools, and more, for all Missourians.

[….]

A New Missouri was formed by senior Eric Greitens 2016 campaign advisers, who seek to harness the energy of everyday Missourians to support such policies. We support aggressive legislative action on labor reform, tort reform, regulatory reform, and tax reform. We also need strong ethics reform to ensure our legislature is working for the people and education reform that puts children and parents first.

Ironically, the web site has a few blurbs on ethics reform. Really.

Two days ago:

Judge orders Greitens’ secretive nonprofit to turn over documents to House committee
JEFFERSON CITY

Gov. Eric Greitens’ political nonprofit has until Friday to turn over documents to the Missouri House committee investigating allegations of misconduct against the governor as a precursor to possible impeachment.

Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem issued a ruling Tuesday ordering the organization, A New Missouri Inc., to turn over communications and documents showing potential coordination among the nonprofit, the governor and the governor’s campaign committee, as well as expenditures related to advertising.
[….]

On that same day Eric Greitens (r) announced that he was resigning effective Friday, June 1st at 5:00 p.m.

It appears that the Special Session and the House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight will be shutting down. Big mistake. Big. Huge.

Here we are.

Lt. Gov. Mike Parson (R) – the week is just getting started

30 Wednesday May 2018

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

On Friday, June 1st, after 5:00 p.m. and upon the effective resignation of Eric Greitens as governor, Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson (R) will be sworn in as the next Governor of Misouri.

Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson (R) [2016 file photo].

Yesterday:

Missouri State Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson statement on the resignation of Governor Greitens
(JEFFERSON CITY, MO) Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson released the following statement today regarding Governor Greitens’ resignation:
Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson states, “With Governor Greitens’ decision to resign from office, he has put the best interests of our state and all Missourians at the forefront where they belong. This is a decision that will allow our state to heal and move forward from what has been a difficult time. This is an enormous responsibility serving as our state’s next governor, and I am ready to fulfill the duties of the office with honor and integrity, and with a steadfast commitment to making our great state even greater for the people we are entrusted to serve.”

Today:

Lt. Gov. Mike Parson Readies for Friday’s Transition
(JEFFERSON CITY) – Lt. Gov. Mike Parson spent today preparing for Friday’s transition with a non-stop series of meetings and phone calls. Parson will become Missouri’s next governor on Friday, June 1 at 5:00 pm.
“We are taking every step and working around the clock to ensure Missouri state government does not miss a beat throughout this transition. My commitment to all Missourians is to listen to them and work together to advance the interests of our great state,” Lt. Gov. Parson said.
Earlier today, Lt. Gov. Parson met with House Speaker Todd Richardson, Senate President Pro Tem Sen. Ron Richard, and legislators from both parties.
In addition to meeting with these leaders, Parson reached out to all cabinet members. Parson is planning to hold a meeting with the cabinet early next week.
On Thursday, Parson will receive a briefing from the Missouri Department of Public Safety’s State Emergency Management Agency and finalize the details of the swearing-in ceremony.

Previously:

Eric Greitens (r) resigns as Governor of Missouri (May 29, 2018)

State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D) on the resignation of Eric Greitens (r) as Governor of Missouri (May 29, 2018)

Senator Jill Schupp (D) on the resignation of Eric Greitens (r) as Governor of Missouri (May 29, 2018)

Statement by Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker on the resignation of Eric Greitens (r) as Governor of Missouri (May 29, 2018)

Representative Stacey Newman (D) on the resignation of Eric Greitens (r) as Governor of Missouri (May 29, 2018)

Campaign Finance: 8 day reports in the 17th Senate District special election

30 Wednesday May 2018

Posted by in campaign finance, Missouri Senate

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

There is a special election in the 17th Senate District on June 5th to fill the vacancy due to Ryan Silvey’s (R) gubernatorial appointment to the Missouri Public Service Commission. The candidates are Representative Lauren Arthur (D) and Representative Kevin Corlew (R).

The republican Missouri Senate Campaign Committee is running nasty attack ads (a mix of fear and dehumanizing immigrants) in the Kansas City media market.

C071094: Missouri Senate Campaign Committee
Committee Type: Political Action
Po Box 754
Jefferson City Mo 65102-0754
Established Date: 04/10/2007
[….]
Information Reported On: 2018 – 8 Day Before Special Election-6/5/2018
Beginning Money on Hand $104,257.44
Monetary Receipts + $205,001.00
Monetary Expenditures – $236,049.89
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $5,000.00
Subtotal ($36,048.89)
Ending Money On Hand $68,208.55

We know who gave them the money for that. And there are these entities, under the $5,000.00 forty-eight hour reporting limit:

FORM CD-1 SUPPLEMENTAL
MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL
5/29/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE [pdf]

T-Mobile USA Inc. 12920 SE 38th Street Bellevue WA 98006 4/6/2018 $3,000.00
BNSF Rail PAC PO Box 961039 Fort Worth TX 76161 4/12/2018 $2,500.00
Centurytel Inc. PO Box 4065 Monroe LA 71211 5/14/2018 $3,500.00

[emphasis added]

You get what you pay for.

Some of the committee’s spending:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM
5/29/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

American Viewpoint Inc. 1199 North Fairfax St Suite 808 Alexandria VA 22314 5/10/2018 Research $18,800.00
Capitol City Research 135 Jupiter St. Holts Summit MO 65043 5/10/2018 Research & Copies $5,076.80
Capitol Consulting LLC PO BOX 931 Jefferson City MO 65102 5/10/2018 Fundraising Fee & Reim. Exp $9,250.59
Husch Blackwell LLP PO Box 790379 Saint Louis MO 63179 5/10/2018 Legal Fees $5,000.00
Williams-Keepers LLC 3220 W. Edgewood Jefferson City MO 65109 5/10/2018 Accounting Fees $2,160.00
Vanguard Field Strategies 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy Suite 85 Kansas City MO 64116 5/15/2018 Field Operations $25,000.00
Axiom Strategies 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy Ste 85 Kansas City MO 64116 5/18/2018 Direct Mail $30,637.00
Patrick Media PO Box 317 Marshfield MO 65703 5/18/2018 Media Placement $61,001.25
Patrick Media PO Box 317 Marshfield MO 65703 5/21/2018 Media Placement $79,124.25
Axiom Strategies 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy Ste 85 Kansas City MO 64116 5/21/2018 Direct Mail $77,554.00
Axiom Strategies 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy Ste 85 Kansas City MO 64116 5/24/2018 Direct Mail $26,641.00

[emphasis added]

Yep, they’re paying for those television ads (among other things). The “direct expenditure” portion of the report shows substantial pending in opposition to Lauren Arthur (D) and in support of Kevin Corlew (r).

Representative Lauren Arthur (D) [2016 file photo].

For Lauren Arthur (D):

C131138: Committee To Elect Lauren Arthur
Committee Type: Candidate
4135 Nw Willow Drive
Kansas City Mo 64116
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Established Date: 09/26/2013
[….]
Information Reported On: 2018 – 8 Day Before Special Election-6/5/2018
Beginning Money on Hand $281,607.87
Monetary Receipts + $93,368.62
Monetary Expenditures – $343,304.19
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal ($249,935.57)
Ending Money On Hand $31,672.30

Some candidates do their own work.

Some of the expenditures:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM
5/29/2018 Committee To Elect Lauren Arthur [pdf]

AKPD Message & Media 730 N Franklin St Ste 404 Chicago IL 60654-7205 5/23/2018 Tv buy $130,000.00
Facebook 1 Hacker Way Menlo Park CA 94025-1456 5/24/2018 Digital advertising $685.44
Facebook 1 Hacker Way Menlo Park CA 94025-1456 5/16/2018 Digital advertising $725.15
AKPD Message & Media 730 N Franklin St Ste 404 Chicago IL 60654-7205 4/26/2018 Media $7,274.23
Facebook 1 Hacker Way Menlo Park CA 94025-1456 5/8/2018 Digital advertising $725.11
Facebook 1 Hacker Way Menlo Park CA 94025-1456 4/28/2018 Digital advertising $734.71
AKPD Message & Media 730 N Franklin St Ste 404 Chicago IL 60654-7205 5/18/2018 Tv buy $82,500.00
AKPD Message & Media 730 N Franklin St Ste 404 Chicago IL 60654-7205 5/8/2018 Tv buy $112,500.00

That’s a lot of television.

For Kevin Corlew (r):

C141105: Citizens For Kevin Corlew
Committee Type: Candidate
Po Box 28443
Kansas City Mo 64188
Party Affiliation: Republican
Established Date: 03/11/2014
[….]Information Reported On: 2018 – 8 Day Before Special Election-6/5/2018
Beginning Money on Hand $70,032.41
Monetary Receipts + $72,615.00
Monetary Expenditures – $99,784.62
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal ($27,169.62)
Ending Money On Hand $42,862.79

Some of the expenditures:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM
5/29/2018 Citizens For Kevin Corlew [pdf]

Thompson Communications 200 W. Jefferson St Marshfield MO 65706 5/15/2018 advertising 62,000.00
Thompson Communications 200 W Jefferson St Marshfield MO 65706 5/22/2018 advertising 30,000.00
Damar Printing 1230 Swift St Kansas City MO 64116 5/22/2018 advertising 991.70

Gee, those Missouri Senate Campaign Committee expenditures “insulate” Kevin Corlew (r) from any responsibility for the content of those attack ads, don’t you think?

We’ll see what happens on Tuesday.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: About that June 5th special election? (May 28, 2018)

Lauren Arthur (D): in the 17th Senate District special election (May 29, 2018)

Representative Stacey Newman (D) on the resignation of Eric Greitens (r) as Governor of Missouri

29 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Representative Stacey Newman (D) [2016 file photo].

A statement from Representative Stacey Newman (D):

As Missouri’s first Jewish governor, Eric Greitens blatantly failed to embody Jewish values.

Sexual assault, stealing from a veterans non-profit, hiding dark money and evading ethics laws are criminal. As governor he fervently attacked women and public education and turned a blind eye to Missouri’s astronomical gun violence.

I consistently called for his resignation and continue to insist he be held accountable for his criminal behavior.

It’s not over.

Previously:

Eric Greitens (r) resigns as Governor of Missouri (May 29, 2018)

State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D) on the resignation of Eric Greitens (r) as Governor of Missouri (May 29, 2018)

Senator Jill Schupp (D) on the resignation of Eric Greitens (r) as Governor of Missouri (May 29, 2018)

Statement by Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker on the resignation of Eric Greitens (r) as Governor of Missouri (May 29, 2018)

Statement by Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker on the resignation of Eric Greitens (r) as Governor of Missouri

29 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by in Missouri Governor

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Jean Peters Baker has also been appointed as a special prosecutor in one of the criminal cases involving Eric Greitens.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker – May 20, 2017.

A press release this evening:

JCPAO Press Releases
Posted on: May 29, 2018
Media Advisory: Statement issued by Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker on Greitens case
For Immediate Release
May 29, 2018

From Jean Peters Baker, Jackson County Prosecutor:

In an earlier statement, I said that my office will not comment about the case involving Governor Greitens or its review until our Office’s work had been completed. Given today’s events, however, we believe that a brief statement is needed.

In short, our investigation continues. In the interest of pursing justice to its fullest lengths, we will continue until our work on the case is completed.

Specifically regarding any deals we made with Governor Greitens’ attorneys, no deals were made by my office. Our review of this case, as I have stated before, will be pursued without fear or favor.

My office will not make any further comments on this case.

It’s not over.

Previously:

Eric Greitens (r) resigns as Governor of Missouri (May 29, 2018)

State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D) on the resignation of Eric Greitens (r) as Governor of Missouri (May 29, 2018)

Senator Jill Schupp (D) on the resignation of Eric Greitens (r) as Governor of Missouri (May 29, 2018)

Senator Jill Schupp (D) on the resignation of Eric Greitens (r) as Governor of Missouri

29 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate, social media

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Senator Jill Schupp (D) [2016 file photo].

Senator Jill Schupp (D), via Twitter:

We might never know the full extent of Eric Greitens’ unethical actions. What we do know is that there is only one person to blame for them- and it’s not the political operatives, nor those prosecuting and investigating his actions, nor those who simply don’t agree with him.

Eric Greitens thought he could hide from public scrutiny and avoid the truth. Thankfully, that’s not how the truth plays out.

We will begin to restore trust in government because the people of Missouri deserve leaders they can believe in and count on.

Previously:

Eric Greitens (r) resigns as Governor of Missouri (May 29, 2018)

State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D) on the resignation of Eric Greitens (r) as Governor of Missouri (May 29, 2018)