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Monthly Archives: June 2026

Campaign Finance: keep it coming

12 Friday Jun 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Amendment 4, campaign finance, General Assembly, governor, HJR 3, initiative petition, Mike Kehoe, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, Missourians for Fair Governance

At the Missouri Ethics Commission for the opposition to the restrictive requirements on initiative petitions required by Amendment 4 (HJR 3) on the August ballot:

C232522 06/12/2026 Missourians for Fair Governance Protect Majority Rule Missouri PO Box 2187 St Louis MO 63158 6/12/2026 $343,000.00

[emphasis added]

Governor Mike Kehoe (r) and the right wingnut republican controlled Missouri General Assembly have a plan.

It’s not a good one.

No on Amendment 4.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: but wait, there’s even more (June 5, 2026)

About that ‘inconvenient’ redress of grievances thing… (June 5, 2026)

Campaign Finance: they ain’t playing around (June 8, 2026)

Campaign Finance: “Welcome to the party, pal”

12 Friday Jun 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Amendment 3, Amendment 4, Amendment 5, campaign finance, General Assembly, gerrymandering, HB 1, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, Protect Freedom and Democracy, Redistricting, referendum

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for a campaign committee opposing Amendment 3, Amendment 4, Amendment 5 and redistricting/gerrymandering:

C264301 06/12/2026 Protect Freedom and Democracy Missouri Organizing and Voter Engagement Action 438 N Skinker Saint Louis MO 63130 6/12/2026 $150,000.00

[emphasis added]

Protect Freedom and Democracy – Active
MECID: C264301
620 E Armour Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64109
[….]
Supported/Opposed Ballot Measure
Measure Election Date Subject Political Subdivision Support/Oppose
Amendment 3 11/3/2026 Anti-Abortion Amendment Statewide Oppose
Amendment 4 8/4/2026 Anti-Majority Rule Statewide Oppose
Amendment 5 8/4/2026 Everything Tax Statewide Oppose
HB1 Veto Referendum 11/3/2026 Repeal the congressional redistricting map passed in HB 1 Statewide Oppose

[….]

It’s a new committee:

Welcome to the party.

Joined at the hip

11 Thursday Jun 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

54th Legislative District, American Federation for Children, Brandon Phelps, defunding public education, Grifters, missouri, PAC, right wingnuts, school privatization, Trump cult

It’s kind of difficult to distance yourself from an increasing unpopular and disengaged cult leader when his dark money people keep dumping mailers in your district joining the two of you at the hip.

Brandon Phelps (r) [2025 file photo].

Still no complaints from Brandon Phelps (r) about these PAC expenditures.

In today’s mail:

“President Trump’s school choice agenda is a grand slam!….”

Privatizing K-12 education and defunding Warrensburg R-VI Schools is not going to go over very well in this legislative district.

“….Representative Brandon Phelps
Stood up for President Trump and our families when we needed it most….”

What, no mention of affordable housing, access to affordable health care, nor grocery and gas prices? Go figure.

“…Education Freedom Agenda…”

If you’re sitting at a table with grifters and you’re wondering who the mark is, it’s you.

Paid for by American Federation for Children, Inc.
[….]

Who?

[….] The American Federation for Children (AFC) is a conservative 501(c)(4) dark money group that promotes the school privatization agenda via the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and other avenues. It is the 501(c)(4) arm of the 501(c)(3) non-profit group the Alliance for School Choice.[1] The group was organized and is funded by the billionaire DeVos family, who are the heirs to the Amway fortune. [….]

American Federation for Children
November 30, 2016
Bill Oberndorf will succeed Betsy DeVos as chairman of the American Federation for Children. Bill brings more than 25 years of experience in helping to advance the cause of parental choice and education freedom. Read more about him!
[….]

About AFC

THE CAUSE
When funding for education follows students to the school of their choice, families win. We believe all parents should have a wide range of high-quality educational options to choose from, regardless of income.
[….]

What could possibly go wrong?

“…When funding for education follows students to the school of their choice…” Defunding local public schools.

Nope.

Follow the money. It’s always the money.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: dismantle the public good, privatize everything (July 28, 2018)

Campaign Finance: Public education, eh? (September 15, 2019)

Campaign Finance: oxymoron (July 14, 2020)

Campaign Finance: of, by, and for the children (July 24, 2020)

Campaign Finance: in a name, sort of (October 6, 2020)

Campaign Finance: Who profits? (July 12, 2022)

Campaign Finance: Why not just name it ‘The Committee to Defund Public Education in Missouri’? (July 11, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the money behind the “school choice” voucher scam designed to defund public education (July 30, 2024)

What a friend we have in Donald (r), and Betsy, and…June 10, 2026)

What a friend we have in Donald (r), and Betsy, and…

10 Wednesday Jun 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

54th Legislative District, American Federation for Children, Brandon Phelps, defunding public education, missouri, PAC, right wingnuts, school privatization, Trump cult

It’s kind of difficult to distance yourself from an increasing unpopular and disengaged cult leader when his dark money people dump a mailing in your district joining the two of you at the hip.

Brandon Phelps (r) [2025 file photo].

And, so far, no complaints from Brandon Phelps (r).

In the mail this week:

Representative Brandon Phelps
Stood up for President Trump and our families when we needed it most
Call & thank him for fighting for Missouri parents and kids!
[….]
Voted to fully fund public schools
Championed school choice for families
Expanded parental rights
Raised pay for Missouri teachers

“…Championed school choice for families…” Uh, we’re certain the patrons of and teachers and professionals serving Warrensburg R-VI Schools would like to know about this.

Thank you!
Representative Brandon Phelps
For standing with President Trump & his education freedom agenda

Donald Trump (r) is calling the shots for our local public schools? Yeah, no.

Paid for by American Federation for Children, Inc.
[….]

Who?

[….] The American Federation for Children (AFC) is a conservative 501(c)(4) dark money group that promotes the school privatization agenda via the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and other avenues. It is the 501(c)(4) arm of the 501(c)(3) non-profit group the Alliance for School Choice.[1] The group was organized and is funded by the billionaire DeVos family, who are the heirs to the Amway fortune. [….]

American Federation for Children
November 30, 2016
Bill Oberndorf will succeed Betsy DeVos as chairman of the American Federation for Children. Bill brings more than 25 years of experience in helping to advance the cause of parental choice and education freedom. Read more about him!
[….]

About AFC

THE CAUSE
When funding for education follows students to the school of their choice, families win. We believe all parents should have a wide range of high-quality educational options to choose from, regardless of income.
[….]

What could possibly go wrong?

“…When funding for education follows students to the school of their choice…” Defunding local public schools. Yeah, that’ll go over really well in the 54th Legislative District.

Follow the money. It’s always the money.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: dismantle the public good, privatize everything (July 28, 2018)

Campaign Finance: Public education, eh? (September 15, 2019)

Campaign Finance: oxymoron (July 14, 2020)

Campaign Finance: of, by, and for the children (July 24, 2020)

Campaign Finance: in a name, sort of (October 6, 2020)

Campaign Finance: Who profits? (July 12, 2022)

Campaign Finance: Why not just name it ‘The Committee to Defund Public Education in Missouri’? (July 11, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the money behind the “school choice” voucher scam designed to defund public education (July 30, 2024)

Campaign Finance: they ain’t playing around

08 Monday Jun 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Amendment 4, campaign finance, General Assembly, governor, HJR 3, initiative petition, Mike Kehoe, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, Missourians for Fair Governance

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C232522 06/08/2026 Missourians for Fair Governance Missouri Association of REALTORS 2801 Woodard Dr Ste 101 Columbia MO 65202 6/8/2026 $2,000,000.00

[emphasis added]

Pretty soon you’re talking about some serious money….

Missourians for Fair Governance – Active
MECID: C232522
Committee Type: Campaign
100 E High St Floor 1
Jefferson City, MO 65101
[….]
Supported/Opposed Ballot Measure
Measure Election Date Subject Political Subdivision Support/Oppose
Unknown at this time 8/6/2024 To protect Missourians’ power of the petition for citizen governance Statewide Support
– Oppose HJR3 11/3/2026 Initiative from the legislature to make constitutional changes to the initiative petition process. Statewide Oppose
[….]

[emphasis added]

Because:

Governor Kehoe Places Four Constitutional Amendments on August Primary Election Ballot
May 22, 2026

[….]

….Amendment 4 – if approved by voters, modifies current requirements that a simple statewide majority of voters may approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution, requires a majority of voters in each congressional district to approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution….

No on Amendment 4.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: but wait, there’s even more (June 5, 2026)

About that ‘inconvenient’ redress of grievances thing… (June 5, 2026)

Can play with AI, can’t be bothered to certify petition signatures

07 Sunday Jun 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Chamber of Commerce, Denny Hoskins, gerrymander, gerrymandering, HB 1, initiative, missouri, Petitions, Redistricting, right wingnut, Secretary of State, sycophant, Trump sycophant, Warrensburg

“….If the Secretary [of State – Denny Hoskins] continues to delay certification while moving forward with implementation of HB1, he will be proceeding under a map that will be shown to have been legally suspended as of December 9, 2025. Because a sufficient referendum means HB1 was never in effect, any attempt to treat the HB1 maps as operative would silence the voices of more than 300,000 Missourians and risk conducting an illegal election….”

“Gerrymander This”

“….despite the Secretary of State’s own data showing the referendum met the required thresholds as of March 23….”

Denny Hoskins (r).

Denny Hoskins (r) [2022 file photo].

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, CPA @DLHoskins
Thank you to the @BurgChamberMO for the opportunity to give an update at the annual Legislative Luncheon! I enjoyed visiting with folks about election integrity and the great things my Securities Division is doing to combat investment fraud. Scammers are using AI to prey on innocent investors. Case in point, I used AI to “update” 😉 the signs and photos of my personal protestors/fan club outside of the Chamber luncheon yesterday.
[….]
9:27 AM · Jun 6, 2026

Go figure.

Do your job.

Denny Hoskins (r) was at a luncheon.

There was a demonstration outside the Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Warrensburg on Friday against Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskin’s (r) refusal to certify, in a fair, timely manner, the initiative referendum which would allow Missouri voters to weigh in on the right wingnut Missouri General Assembly’s mid-term gerrymander of congressional districts. Over 300,000 voters signed the petition.

“Help Wanted: Nonpartisan Public Servants
For all the people of Missouri”

“Denny,
You work for all Missourians
We pay you to do your job!
Certify the signatures”

Apparently the subject of the referendum certification wasn’t mentioned at the luncheon. The reminders where outside the venue. Go figure.

BREAKING: Missouri Supreme Court Issues Ruling in Fair Map Case as Secretary of State’s Own Data Shows Referendum Is Sufficient
Press Release / May 12, 2026
Today, People Not Politicians Missouri called on the Secretary of State to immediately declare the HB1 referendum sufficient, after the Secretary’s own data showed the referendum has easily surpassed the required threshold statewide and in the necessary congressional districts.

If the Secretary continues to delay certification while moving forward with implementation of HB1, he will be proceeding under a map that will be shown to have been legally suspended as of December 9, 2025. Because a sufficient referendum means HB1 was never in effect, any attempt to treat the HB1 maps as operative would silence the voices of more than 300,000 Missourians and risk conducting an illegal election.

“The Secretary of State’s own data confirms what more than 305,000 Missourians already made clear: this referendum is sufficient, and the people have a right to vote,” said Richard von Glahn, Executive Director of People Not Politicians Missouri. “Today’s ruling from the Supreme Court confirms this fact. A sufficient petition suspends the law the day it is turned in. Unnecessary delays by politicians do not change this fact. If he continues to delay then he is moving forward under a map that has been suspended by the people.”

Officials have suggested the review process could continue until July, despite the Secretary of State’s own data showing the referendum met the required thresholds as of March 23. The threshold has been met even without counting a single of the approximately 100,000 signatures arbitrarily dismissed by Secretary Hoskins and subject to ongoing litigation. People Not Politicians Missouri said that delay only adds to the tactics of obstruction politicians have used all along to silence the voice of the people.

The referendum effort, backed by more than 305,000 Missourians, continues moving toward final certification and placement on the November ballot.

December 9, 2025 to June 7, 2026 (so far). Do the math.

“….Case in point, I used AI to “update” 😉 the signs and photos of my personal protestors/fan club outside of the Chamber luncheon yesterday….”

Someone never got out of junior high school.

We could have had nice things…

07 Sunday Jun 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in Hillary Clinton, social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

ballroom, cage match, Donald Trump, East Wing, Hillary Clinton, social media, White House

Hillary Clinton [2014 file photo].

Hillary Rodham Clinton ‪@hillaryclinton.bsky.social‬

This is what Trump’s done to the people’s house:

A third of it is rubble. Another third is a cage match.

What a metaphor.
[….]
10:51 AM · May 29, 2026

Yes, we could have had nice things.

Some of the responses:

bread and circus but no bread- all circus

Welcome to Pottersville…

I was going to say “deplorable”

“I am a deplorable” [2017 file photo].

Everything that man touches turns to trash and ruin.

I laughed at “Idiocracy.” I never in my worst nightmares or wildest dreams thought we’d actually be living it.

It was not supposed to be a documentary.

Trump is debasing White House as worldwide symbol of dignity of Democracy and also cheapen the 250 year celebration of the American Revolution overthrowing monarchal tyranny. Proclaiming to the world that a two-bit wanabe King, Trump, succeeded in trashing the greatest democracy in modern history.

And the remaining 1/3rd inside has been plastered with gold-painted TEMU tchotchkes and other Louis XIV meets Ceaușescu.

We are witnessing the modern equivalent of the Roman Coliseum, where a detached ruling class weaponized “panem et circenses” (bread and circuses) to distract a tormented populace.
The parallels are clear: civic norms erased for pay-per-view reality TV & American Oligarchs in the emperor’s suite.

Like having raccoons in your attic

80 million voted for this. That basket of deplorables.

…the last third is where dementia resides.

It is. Unfortunately though, he’d have no idea. He’s not capable of appreciating irony or seeing hypocrisy. He has no clue what a “metaphor” is either, and nobody in his entire inept administration would they have the courage or integrity to call it out if they did.

You warned us, Madame Secretary. You warned us all.

It’s so sad to watch America crumble before our eyes.

Fascism is grotesque.

Remember when Obama wore a tan suit and the Rs lost their tiny little minds? Those were the days.

Campaign Finance: but wait, there’s even more

05 Friday Jun 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Amendment 4, campaign finance, General Assembly, governor, HJR 3, initiative petition, Mike Kehoe, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, Protect Majority Rule Missouri

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission, in opposition to the restrictive requirements on initiative petitions required by Amendment 4 (HJR 3) on the August ballot:

C253757 06/05/2026 Protect Majority Rule Missouri Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action 2725 Clifton St Louis MO 63139 6/4/2026 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

Okay.

[….]
What Is Amendment 4?
Amendment 4 is a measure on Missouri’s August 4, 2026 ballot that would change the rules for citizen-led initiative petitions — the process Missourians have used since 1908 to put laws and constitutional amendments directly on the ballot. Today, those measures pass with a simple statewide majority. Amendment 4 would require a statewide majority plus a majority in EVERY Missouri congressional district.

The catch: politicians exempted themselves. Measures the legislature refers to the ballot still pass with a simple majority. Only initiatives that come from citizens face the higher bar.
[….]

No on Amendment 4.

Previously:

About that ‘inconvenient’ redress of grievances thing… (June 5, 2026)

For the company…

05 Friday Jun 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

billboard, I-80, Iowa

It’s Iowa. Definitely not for the climate.

Iowa, I-80

05 Friday Jun 2026

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

anti-abortion, anti-choice, I-80, Iowa, sign

“SMILE! Your parents chose LIFE!”

But they voted for Donald Trump (r). Three times. So, it’s a wash.

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