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Monthly Archives: April 2019

Campaign Finance: You think that was in paper clips?

30 Tuesday Apr 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

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Tags

campaign finance, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PAC, Uniting Missouri PAC

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the PAC created to prop up Governor Mike Parson (r):

C180490 04/30/2019 Uniting Missouri PAC BRANSON AIRCRAFT LLC 11132 S TOWNE SQ SUITE 105 ST LOUIS MO 63123 4/29/2019 $15,120.00

[emphasis added]

In kind? You bet:

If not paper clips, you think the were flying someone(s) to and fro? Just asking.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Even more happiness! (April 9, 2019)

My, oh my…

30 Tuesday Apr 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Tags

investigation, missouri, St. Louis County, St. Louis County Executive, Steve Stenger, U.S. Attorney

The press release from the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri:

Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Eastern District of Missouri

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, April 29, 2019

St. Louis County Executive Indicted for Pay to Play Scheme

St. Louis, MO – Steven V. Stenger, of Clayton, was indicted last Thursday on three counts of honest services bribery/mail fraud.
The Indictment alleges that beginning in October 2014 and continuing through December 31, 2018, Stenger and various individuals and companies schemed to defraud and deprive the citizens of St. Louis County of their right to his honest and faithful services, and the honest and faithful services of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership’s Chief Executive Officer, through bribery and the concealment of material information. The purpose of the scheme was for Stenger to secretly use his official position to enrich himself through soliciting and accepting campaign contributions from individuals and their companies in exchange for favorable official action, and for individuals and their companies to enrich themselves and their companies by secretly obtaining favorable action for themselves and for their companies, through corrupt means.
Specifically, the Indictment alleges that Stenger, in exchange for campaign donations and several fundraising events, took official action to insure that John Rallo and his company, Cardinal Insurance, obtained insurance contracts through St. Louis County during 2015 and 2016. Further, the Indictment alleges that Stenger took official action to insure that John Rallo and his company, Cardinal Creative Consulting, obtained a 2016 consulting contract through the St. Louis County Port Authority. Additionally, Stenger took official action to insure that John Rallo and his company, Wellston Holdings, LLC, obtained options to purchase two properties in Wellston, Missouri which were held by the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of St. Louis County during 2016 and 2017. The Indictment also alleges that Stenger, in exchange for campaign donations and fundraising activities, took official action to insure that “Company One,” as set forth in the Indictment, obtained a 2019 – 2021 state lobbying contract from the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. The Indictment alleges that Stenger took steps to hide, conceal and cover up his illegal conduct and actions, including making false public statements.
Stenger is scheduled to appear at 1:00 p.m. for his initial appearance and arraignment on his Indictment before U.S. Magistrate Noelle Collins, Courtroom 15 North, Thomas F. Eagleton Courthouse, 111 S. 10th Street, St. Louis, Missouri.
If convicted, each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Restitution is also mandatory. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Are the [n] degrees of separation next?

Previously:

And there goes the investment… (April 29, 2019)

A sure sign of Spring

29 Monday Apr 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

free speech, higher education

The annual migration north through college malls and quads has begun. This afternoon in west central Missouri:

Interestingly, he’s wearing a body camera.

Go ahead and plant your annuals, there’s no chance of a hard freeze or snow this far north.

And there goes the investment…

29 Monday Apr 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

indictment, resignation, St. Louis County, St. Louis County Executive, Steve Stenger

Today:

Jason Rosenbaum @jrosenbaum
Former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger enters a not guilty plea on honest services bribery and mail fraud charges.
1:16 PM – 29 Apr 2019 from St Louis, MO

Steve Stenger resigned as St. Louis County Executive today.

At the Missouri Ethics Commission over those first few years:

C071362 CITIZENS FOR STEVE STENGER 48 Hour Report of Contribution Received Over $5000 Steve Stenger 9322 Rambler Dr. St Louis MO 63123 CPA/Attorney/St. Louis County Councilman 07/13/2013 $100,000.00 Monetary No

C071362 CITIZENS FOR STEVE STENGER 48 Hour Report of Contribution Received Over $5000 Steve Stenger 9322 Rambler Dr. St Louis MO 63123 CPA/Attorney/St. Louis County Councilman 07/28/2014 $100,000.00 Monetary No

C071362 CITIZENS FOR STEVE STENGER 48 Hour Report of Contribution Received Over $5000 Steve Stenger 9322 Rambler Dr. St Louis MO 63123 CPA/Attorney/St. Louis County Councilman 10/24/2014 $100,000.00 Monetary No

Gymnast

28 Sunday Apr 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Agelaius phoeniceus, bird, missouri, Red-winged Blackbird

This morning in west central Missouri:

Red-winged Blackbird (juvenile). Agelaius phoeniceus.
Canon 5D III, 2.8 70-200 mm, 2x III.
F 6.3. 1/640, ISO 1600, 400 mm.

Gov. Mike Parson (r): Sunshine Law? What?

26 Friday Apr 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri Governor

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

governor, Mike Parson, missouri, Missouri Sunshine Law, RSMo 610

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

The Missouri “Sunshine Law”:

610.011. Liberal construction of law to be public policy.
1. It is the public policy of this state that meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law. Sections 610.010 to 610.200 shall be liberally construed and their exceptions strictly construed to promote this public policy.
2. Except as otherwise provided by law, all public meetings of public governmental bodies shall be open to the public as set forth in section 610.020, all public records of public governmental bodies shall be open to the public for inspection and copying as set forth in sections 610.023 to 610.026, and all public votes of public governmental bodies shall be recorded as set forth in section 610.015.

Today, in the Kansas City Star:

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson uses First Amendment to redact info from public records
By Jason Hancock April 26, 2019 12:00 AM

….”I do a lot of public records work and talk with people all over the country. I’ve never seen this,” said Adam Marshall, an attorney with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. “It’s silly. It’s really quite silly. It sounds frankly like someone trying to be cute and cite the First Amendment back to a reporter….”

Someone should write a letter:

It must depend on what your definition of “transparency” is.

Rep. Jason Smith (r): your awl stoopit

25 Thursday Apr 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Tags

8th Congressional District, Congress, corruption, Donald Trump, emoluments, Jason Smith, missouri, oversight, tax returns

“No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.” – United States Constitution, Article I, Section 9, Clause 8

“…(f)Disclosure to Committees of Congress
(1)Committee on Ways and Means, Committee on Finance, and Joint Committee on Taxation
Upon written request from the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the chairman of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, or the chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Secretary shall furnish such committee with any return or return information specified in such request, except that any return or return information which can be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or indirectly, a particular taxpayer shall be furnished to such committee only when sitting in closed executive session unless such taxpayer otherwise consents in writing to such disclosure…”
– 26 U.S. Code § 6103.

From Representative Jason Smith (r):

…For the first time in history, the new Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee is using the oversight power of the IRS to target the President of the United States and his tax returns. The Chairman has ordered the IRS to turn over six years of President Trump’s tax returns, allegedly so he can review how the IRS enforces tax laws against a president. Clearly he is going after President Trump for political purposes, as he didn’t request President Obama’s tax returns or individual returns from President Bush, President Clinton, or any other president…

What a hack.

“…he didn’t request President Obama’s tax returns or individual returns from President Bush, President Clinton, or any other president…”

The new Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee wouldn’t have to request the tax returns for Presidents Obama, Bush (both) and Clinton.

Jason Smith (r) thinks your awl stoopit. Presidents Obama, Bush (both), and Clinton, up to Gerald Ford (in 1976) released their tax returns to the public.

Is somebody going to tell him?

24 Wednesday Apr 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

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Tags

Constitution, Donald Trump, ignoranimus, impeachment, maroon, social media, Twitter

“…If the partisan Dems ever tried to Impeach, I would first head to the U.S. Supreme Court…”

Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

This morning, via Twitter:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
The Mueller Report, despite being written by Angry Democrats and Trump Haters, and with unlimited money behind it ($35,000,000), didn’t lay a glove on me. I DID NOTHING WRONG. If the partisan Dems ever tried to Impeach, I would first head to the U.S. Supreme Court. Not only……
7:10 AM – 24 Apr 2019

He doesn’t have a clue, does he? What a maroon.

United States Constitution, Article I, Section 2.
The House of Representatives [….] shall have the sole power of impeachment.

United States Constitution, Article I, Section 3.
…The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present.
Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States: but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law…

It might help to actually read what’s in the United States Constitution.

“…political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Prize…”

24 Wednesday Apr 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in media criticism, Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House, Missouri Senate

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Dean Dohrman, General Assembly, HB 573, Jane Dueker, missouri, SB 259, social media, Title IX, Twitter

-Tom Lehrer

And it’s all been downhill since.

Yesterday, in the Kansas City Star:

Lobbyist’s crusade to change Title IX in Missouri stems from his son’s expulsion

That would be about HB 573 and SB 259.

Late yesterday, on Twitter:

Jane Dueker @JaneDueker
[….]
Outing a college kid is disgusting. If he has to defend himself they will out the girl. Funny how “victim” advocates are pushing for and glorifying that. Proving even more why the legislation is necessary. It was a hit piece for so many reasons.
11:16 PM – 23 Apr 2019

Uh, who is “they”?

At the Missouri Ethics Commission:

Kingdom Principles, Inc. – Active
612 E. Capitol Avenue
Jefferson City, MO 65101
[….]
Lobbyist From To
Alsager, Matthew Dennis 02/27/2018 Present
Altmann, Jeffrey 03/13/2019 Present
Bernskoetter, Brian 03/12/2019 Present
Berry, Dave 03/08/2019 Present
Brown, Travis Howard 03/08/2019 Present
Brunnert, Zachary ‘Zach’ 03/07/2019 Present
Clarkston, Heath 03/05/2019 Present
Dempsey, Tom 03/08/2019 Present
Dozier, Cheryl Lynne 03/07/2019 Present
Dueker, Jane E 03/13/2019 Present
Flotron, Francis ‘Franc’ E. 03/07/2019 Present
Harness, Kathryn 03/07/2019 Present
Harris, James 03/07/2019 Present
Hawk, Shanon M 03/13/2019 Present
Hemphill, Deanna Lynn 03/08/2019 Present
Hirschman, Janet 03/07/2019 Present
Hubbard, Rodney R 03/14/2019 Present
King, Tracy 03/08/2019 Present
Lakin, Joe 03/10/2019 Present
Licklider, Samuel G. 03/13/2019 Present
McCracken, David 03/07/2019 Present
McIntosh, Richard 02/27/2019 Present
Nelson, Doug 03/05/2019 Present
Robbins, Thomas 03/12/2019 Present
Schaefer, Kurt 03/05/2019 Present
Schlosser, Lynne 03/08/2019 Present
Stouffer, Bill 03/07/2019 Present
Swain, W ‘Wes’ Scott 03/12/2019 Present
Zamkus, Jason Matthew 03/07/2019 Present

[emphasis added]

Who’s paying for what? Their web site:

Kingdom Principles.

Dean Dohrman (r), the sponsor of HB 573:

Representative Dean Dohrman (r) [2016 file photo].

Previously:

HB 573: Why? Who? (March 9, 2019)

SB 259: Really? For what purpose? (March 11, 2019)

HB 573 and SB 259: Let the army of lobbyists go forth… (March 12, 2019)

State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick (r): April Campaign Finance Report – 2019

24 Wednesday Apr 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

campaign finance, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, Scott Fitzpatrick, state treasurer

The April quarterly campaign finance reports are due at the Missouri Ethics Commission.

C121051: Fitzpatrick For Missouri
Committee Type: Candidate
Po Box 701
Shell Knob Mo 65747
Party Affiliation: Republican
Established Date: 02/01/2012
[….]
Information Reported On: 2019 – April Quarterly Report
Beginning Money on Hand $130,927.71
Monetary Receipts + $9,550.00
Monetary Expenditures – $13,851.11
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal ($4,301.11)
Ending Money On Hand $126,626.60

[emphasis added]

Meh.

The contributions:

Okay, so no “grassroots” supporters are snowing the campaign accountant under with $10.00 checks.

All of the itemized contributions:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION
CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL
Fitzpatrick for Missouri 4/15/2019

Dan Amsden 1415 Thomas Mason Place Manchester MO 63011 Retired 3/29/2019 $100.00
John Rowe 700 West 31st Street, Unit 1602 Kansas City MO 64108 Speedy’s Convenience Store — Owner 3/29/2019 $250.00
New Monarch Realty LLC 120 North Main Street St Charles MO 63301 3/29/2019 $250.00
Mark Milton 440 Medina Drive St Louis MO 63122 Self-Employed — Attorney 3/29/2019 $250.00
Birch Mullins 201 South Warson Road St Louis MO 63124 Baur Properties — Executive 3/29/2019 $500.00
Commerce Bancshares Inc PAC P.O. Box 419248 Kansas City MO 64141 3/29/2019 $500.00
Chuck Singleton P.O. Box 3166 Englewood CO 80155 Executive — Republic Financial 3/29/2019 $2,500.00
Rudolph Farber 100 North Wood Street Neosho MO 64850 Community Bank and Trust 3/29/2019 $2,600.00
Enterprise Holding Inc PAC 600 Corporate Park Drive St Louis MO 63105 3/29/2019 $2,600.00

March 29, 2019 was a nice day. Apparently it was the only fundraising day of the quarter. Seriously?

Some of the expenditures:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION
ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM
Fitzpatrick For Missouri 4/15/2019

Victory Enterprises 5200 30th Street SW Davenport IA 52802 1/11/2019 Consulting $2,745.00
Victory Enterprises 5200 30th Street SW Davenport IA 52802 1/25/2019 Consulting $2,250.00

TAC Air P.O. Box 1481 Texarkana TX 75504 2/21/2019 Fuel $140.16
Creve Coeur Airport 3127 Creve Coeur Mill Road St Louis MO 63146 3/1/2019 Fuel $163.21
Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport 2751 Northeast Douglas Street Lees Summit MO 64064 3/10/2019 Fuel $148.18
Springfield Flying Service 2546 East Division Springfield MO 65803 3/22/2019 Fuel $153.04
Springfield Flying Service 2546 East Division Springfield MO 65803 3/23/2019 Fuel $245.47

Consultants and aviation fuel. What, no t-shirts?

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