Monthly Archives: August 2024

Campaign Finance: for the November wave

22 Thursday Aug 2024

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Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the PAC which gathered signatures for the initiative on women’s reproductive rights, women’s health care, and access to abortion now on the November ballot:

C232407 08/21/2024 Missourians for Constitutional Freedom Cynthia Metcalfe 150 Carondelet Plaza St Louis MO 63105 Retired 8/21/2024 $20,000.00

C232407 08/21/2024 Missourians for Constitutional Freedom Annette Cumming 148 Redmond Street Jackson WY 83001 Cumming Foundation Board Member 8/21/2024 $15,000.00

[emphasis added]

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C232407 08/22/2024 Missourians for Constitutional Freedom Michelle Trulaske 9625 Ladue Road Ladue MO 63124 Homemaker 8/21/2024 $150,000.00

[emphasis added]

Building for the November wave.

“There’s nothing scary about choice, scary is when you don’t have a choice”

Previously:

Chutzpah (Kansas) (August 4, 2022)

Campaign Finance: Not too sure about that (January 16, 2024)

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – women’s rights initiative petition for 2024 ballot (January 18, 2024)

Campaign Finance: Remember Kansas? Missouri is next. (January 19, 2024)

Campaign Finance: own it (January 19, 2024)

Campaign Finance: We’re not in Kansas anymore (January 19, 2024)

Mark Alford (r) – failure to read the womb, again (January 21, 2024)

Campaign Finance: More (January 22, 2024)

Campaign Finance: and more (January 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: It does, but not in the way you think. (January 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: and even more (January 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: “No one expects the anti-choice imposition” (January 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: this is the beginning, not the end (February 1, 2024)

Campaign Finance: keep it coming (February 4, 2024)

Campaign Finance: philanthropy (February 6, 2024)

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – volunteer training, petition signing, rally – Kansas City, Missouri – February 6, 2024 (February 6, 2024)

Rev. Holly McKissick – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 7, 2024)

Rabbi Doug Alpert – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 7, 2024)

Dr. Iman Alsaden – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 8, 2024)

Hartzell Gray – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 8, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the world in which they want you to exist (February 9, 2024)

Signing, Everywhere, All at Once (February 10, 2024)

Campaign Finance: definitely a global impact (February 16, 2024)

Campaign Finance: forward (February 21, 2024)

Campaign Finance: still more (February 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: more forward (February 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: keep it coming in (March 5, 2024)

Signing the Petition – Sedalia, Missouri – March 17, 2024 (March 17, 2024)

Campaign Finance: there’ll be more (March 20, 2024)

Signing the Petition – Warrensburg, Missouri – April 5, 2024 (April 5, 20204)

Campaign Finance: sign the petition (April 10, 2024)

Sign the Petition (April 15, 2024)

Signing the petition in Lexington, Missouri (April 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: on several levels (April 27, 2024)

Signing the Petition in Raymore, Missouri (April 28, 2024)

Campaign Finance: guess what’s next (April 29, 2024)

This morning in Jefferson City, Missouri – delivering the signed petitions (May 3, 2024)

This morning in Jefferson City, Missouri – delivering the signed petitions – part 2 (May 3, 2024)

Abortion Rights Rally in Jefferson City – May 3, 2024 – Press Gaggle (May 4, 2024)

Campaign Finance: coming up on the agenda (August 6, 2024)

Reproductive Freedom and Health Care will be on the November Ballot (August 13, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the tide (August 14, 2024)

Wait, isn’t it only supposed to be an affront to right wingnut orthodoxy if litter boxes are involved?

21 Wednesday Aug 2024

Posted by in Josh Hawley, social media, US Senate

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“The most dangerous place to stand in Washington D.C. is any place between Senator Josh Hawley and a live microphone” – Charles P. Pierce

What a maroon.

Some people never get out of junior high school.

Josh Hawley (r) [2024 file photo].

Yesterday from Josh Hawley (r):

Josh Hawley @HawleyMO
Of course. The Dems want to erase women👇

Susan Ferrechio @susanferrechio
[….]
In the press filing center at the DNC, organizers took away the ladies room.

9:13 AM · Aug 20, 2024

It’s an arena. There are restrooms everywhere.

So far, there haven’t been any reports of credentialed media peeing on the floor in significant numbers.

Previously:

A debate about debates – Josh Hawley (r) and Lucas Kunce (D) at the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast – August 15, 2024 (August 15, 2024)

Campaign Finance: it’s only fair

20 Tuesday Aug 2024

Posted by in campaign finance

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the PAC promoting the initiative on the November ballot for worker sick leave and an increase in the minimum wage:

232421 08/20/2024 Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages The Fairness Project P.O. Box 21337 Washington DC 20009 8/19/2024 $125,000.00

[emphasis added]

Missouri Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Time
Fairness Project is working with the Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages campaign to pass a ballot measure that would raise the minimum wage and guarantee access to paid sick time for working Missourians.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Healthy Families and Fair Wages (August 19, 2024)

Campaign Finance: Healthy Families and Fair Wages

19 Monday Aug 2024

Posted by in campaign finance

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the PAC promoting the initiative on the November ballot for worker sick leave and an increase in the minimum wage:

C232421 08/19/2024 Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages Sixteen Thirty Fund 1201 Connecticut Ave NW Washington DC 20036 8/19/2024 $1,225,000.00

[emphasis added]

That’s serious support.


[….]
Allows workers to earn paid sick time off.

This measure allows workers to earn paid sick time off, at a rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, or around 7 days a year for a full time worker at a larger company and 5 days a year at a smaller company. Working parents deserve to take time off to take care of themselves and their children just as much as wealthy executives that already get sick leave and other benefits.

Raises the minimum wage to $15 an hour

A full time minimum wage worker currently makes less than $25,000 a year. This measure would help over 137,000 parents as well as 338,000 kids who live with a parent who earns minimum wage by gradually raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2026. This is an adjustment that small businesses can get behind that allows parents to get their feet underneath them, pay the bills, and work toward better opportunities.
[….]

And:

[….]

The Sixteen Thirty Fund believes in the power of new ideas, creative partnerships, and emerging leaders to achieve meaningful and lasting solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time. We help changemakers maximize their impact by providing operational support that allows them to focus on advancing their core missions.

[….]

Our Approach

The Sixteen Thirty Fund is an independent 501(c)(4) organization that uses a fiscal sponsorship model to maximize our impact and create lasting change. Sixteen Thirty Fund and the projects we support are fighting for economic equity, affordable health care, climate solutions, racial justice, voter access, and other essential social-change goals.

[….]

Focus Areas

From advancing equity and racial justice, to promoting access to affordable health care, to confronting climate change, to strengthening our democracy, we are proud to support leaders and causes that share our progressive values and aspirations for a fair, just America.

[….]

Fairness. Justice. Change. Looking to the future. How novel…

Campaign Finance: the company they keep

17 Saturday Aug 2024

Posted by in campaign finance

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the HRCC:

C091068 08/17/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc Missouri Law Enforcement for Good Government PAC 715 Jefferson St. Jefferson City MO 65101 8/15/2024 $50,000.00

C091068 08/17/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc Missouri Soybean Association 734 S Country Club Dr Jefferson City MO 65109 8/15/2024 $30,000.00

C091068 08/17/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc Centene Management Company LLC Centene Corporation St Louis MO 63105 8/15/2024 $25,000.00

C091068 08/17/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc HealthPAC PO Box 60 Jefferson City MO 65102 8/15/2024 $25,000.00

C091068 08/17/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc Kansas City Airport Parking LLC 12200 N Ambassador Dr Ste 100 Kansas City MO 64163 8/15/2024 $20,000.00

C091068 08/17/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc Ameren Missouri Company PO Box 66892 St Louis MO 63166 8/15/2024 $15,000.00

C091068 08/17/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc MO Optometric PAC 305 Jefferson St Jefferson City MO 65101 8/15/2024 $15,000.00

C091068 08/17/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc Xcaliber International Ltd LLC One Tobacco Road 4747 NE 1st St Pryor OK 47161 8/15/2024 $15,000.00

C091068 08/17/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc Dealers Interested in Government PO Box 245 Jefferson City MO 65102 8/15/2024 $15,000.00

C091068 08/17/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc Breakthru Beverage Missouri LLC PAC 6701 Southwest Ave St Louis MO 63143 8/15/2024 $10,000.00

C091068 08/17/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc Jennifer Monheiser 2580 SE Ranson Rd Lees Summit MO 64082 KC Recycle & Waste Solutions Owner 8/15/2024 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

They’ve been in control for over 20 years. What has that gotten anyone? Just asking.

Here’s one they passed this session (and the Governor signed):

SS#2 HCS HB 2634 — HEALTH CARE

This bill specifies that no public funds will be expended to any
abortion facility, or affiliate thereof, including for MO HealthNet
reimbursement.

Any taxpayer, as well as the Attorney General, will have standing to bring a cause of action in any court or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction to enforce these provisions, as specified in the bill.

The bill modifies existing statute permitting any MO HealthNet participant to obtain MO HealthNet services from any provider of services in a MO HealthNet provider agreement with the State by requiring the provider to not be disqualified or excluded from serving as a MO HealthNet provider.

The bill requires the Department of Social Services to suspend, revoke, or cancel any contract or provider agreement or refuse to enter into a new contract or provider agreement with any provider when it has been determined that the provider is not qualified to perform the required services because the provider has committed certain offenses specified in the bill, has been found guilty of a pattern of intentional discrimination in the delivery or non-delivery of health care services, or if the provider is an abortion facility or affiliate thereof.

The bill prohibits reimbursement to abortion facilities, or affiliates thereof, under the “Uninsured Women’s Health Program”.

“Abortion is health care”

Also, this past session:

HB 2057 — MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE FEES FOR VIDEO SERVICE PROVIDERS

This bill modifies the definition of “video service” for provisions of law relating to video service providers to now include streaming content.

And another:

HB 2111 — POWERS OF THE STATE AUDITOR

This bill defines “improper governmental activity”, as official misconduct, fraud, misappropriation, mismanagement, waste of resources, or a violation of State or Federal law, rule, or regulation.

The bill specifies that the Auditor or his or her authorized representative may audit all or part of any political subdivision or government entity if, after an investigation, the Auditor believes improper governmental activity has occurred, or when requested to by a prosecuting attorney, circuit attorney, or law enforcement agency as part of an investigation.

This bill specifies that testimony and records obtained through subpoenas issued by the Auditor are subject to the same confidentiality and disclosure requirements for audit workpapers and related supportive material.

Currently, each fiscal year, the State Auditor must audit, adjust and settle all receipts and disbursements in the Insurance Dedicated Fund and the Insurance Examiners’ Fund, and taxes certified and collected on foreign and domestic insurance premiums, surplus line premiums, and county taxes on property owned by insurance companies. This bill repeals the requirement to audit taxes certified and collected on foreign and domestic insurance premiums, surplus line premiums, and county taxes on property owned by insurance companies and requires that the results of audits of the Insurance Dedicated Fund and the Insurance Examiners’ Fund be reported as part of the annual audit of the State’s financial statements.

The bill adds records relating to reports of allegations of improper governmental activities to the list of records exempt from public disclosure under the Sunshine Law.

Transparency used to be a thing.

Campaign Finance: early voting, with their checkbooks

17 Saturday Aug 2024

Posted by in campaign finance, Missouri Governor

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Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the PAC propping up Mike Kehoe’s (r) gubernatorial campaign:

C180684 08/16/2024 American Dream PAC David Steward 2200 West Port Plaza Drive Suite 203 Saint Louis MO 63146 World Wide Technology Chairman 8/16/2024 $100,000.00

C180684 08/16/2024 American Dream PAC August Busch III 18152 Edison Ave Suite 200 Chesterfield MO 63005 NA Retired 8/16/2024 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

Mike Kehoe (r) [2024 file photo].

Previously:

Campaign Finance: apparently, an unending supply (July 29, 2024)

Campaign Finance: dreaming on (August 1, 2024)

Campaign Finance: to infinity and beyond (August 10, 2024)

Governor’s Ham Breakfast – Missouri State Fair – August 15, 2024

16 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by in Uncategorized

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The Governor’s Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair took place yesterday morning in Sedalia. This annual event is usually a “must attend” function for Missouri legislators, statewide office holders, members of Congress, and candidates. Usually.

Whatever your view of corporate agriculture, the event does have a reputation of sorts for the ideological political tendencies of those attending. It would be unfair to describe it as monolithic.

There are always displays of yard signs and a gauntlet of t-shirt bedecked volunteers passing out campaign stickers at the entrance to the morning’s festivities. There is the annual “Shrine to Fascism”.

It’s an opportunity for us to replenish our “b roll” of file photos of Missouri politicians with newer images. The problem is that the members of the General Assembly come by so thick and fast we can’t keep up. But we do get a few photos.

Some of the “b roll” images:

The annual “Shrine to Fascism”.

That image of the former guy looks to have been edited.

Jason Smith (r).

Mark Alford (r).

Eric Schmitt (r).

It rained.

And, of course, Josh Hawley’s (r) contrived debate on debating slap fight with Lucas Kunce (r).

Note Josh Hawley’s lavalier microphone. Just in case there’d be sound bites.

Denny Hoskins (r).

The current Lieutenant Governor and republican nominee for Governor:

Mike Kehoe (r).

The current State Treasurer:

Vivek Malek (r).

Previously:

A debate about debates – Josh Hawley (r) and Lucas Kunce (D) at the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast – August 15, 2024 (August 15, 2024)

The ridiculous hat is back (August 15, 2024)

Campaign Finance: somehow, we don’t think so

16 Friday Aug 2024

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the PAC pushing the sports betting initiative on the November ballot:

C242679 08/16/2024 Winning for Missouri Education DK Crown Holdings Inc 222 Berkeley Street 5th Floor Boston MA 02116 8/15/2024 $3,525,000.00

[emphasis added]

That’s a lot of money.

They’d probably accomplish more if they just gave the money directly to public schools. But that’s not the point.

Campaign Finance: What are the odds? (January 11, 2024)

Campaign Finance: it’s gambling (January 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: bet on it (March 5, 2024)

Campaign Finance: just another large bet (March 16, 2024)

Campaign Finance: altruism (April 7, 2024)

The ridiculous hat is back

15 Thursday Aug 2024

Posted by in Congress, Mark Alford

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Mark Alford (r).

Today, from Mark Alford (r):

[….]
Congressman Mark Alford
[August 15, 2024]
Great to sit down with the Missouri Times to talk the Missouri State Fair, Kamala Harris’s countless failures, and the problems with our biased media.

Heal thyself.

Previously:

Is someone going to tell him? (August 12, 2024)

A debate about debates – Josh Hawley (r) and Lucas Kunce (D) at the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast – August 15, 2024

15 Thursday Aug 2024

Posted by in Josh Hawley, US Senate

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The U.S. Senate race between incumbent Josh Hawley (r) and Lucas Kunce (D) will be anything but boring.

This morning in Sedalia:

Lucas Kunce (D).

Josh Hawley (r).

After a late arrival, Josh Hawley (r), trailing credentialed media, sought out Lucas Kunce (D) in the middle of the venue at the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast. Whereupon Josh Hawley engaged Lucas Kunce in a debate about debating. The two candidates were surrounded by a circle of media trying to get microphones and cameras on the exchanges. Security hovered outside that circle. The noise of the crowd attending the venue made it next to impossible to hear much of the lengthy conversation.

Note the lavelier microphone on Josh Hawley (r). It’s as if he were expecting to recite a few sound bites.

After the debate about debates ended both of the candidates spoke with media.

Lucas Kunce (D).

Lucas Kunce (D) later spoke with folks attending the breakfast.