Author Archives: Michael Bersin

Campaign Finance: teaching your children well

20 Monday Aug 2018

Posted by in campaign finance, Missouri General Assembly

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission from educators in support of the initiative (Amendment 1) for campaign finance, lobbying, legislative open records, and redistricting reform:

C161298 08/20/2018 CLEAN Missouri Missouri National Education Association Ballot Issue Crisis Fund 1810 E. Elm st Jefferson city MO 65107 8/18/2018 $250,000.00

[emphasis added]

If teachers are for it you can bet a lot of money that right wingnut republicans are against it.

Josh Hawley (r): uh, you forgot that we’re called “The Show Me State”

19 Sunday Aug 2018

Posted by in Claire McCaskill, social media, US Senate

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“I come from a state that raises corn and cotton, cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I’m from Missouri, and you have got to show me.” – Congressman Willard Vandiver (1899)

Josh Hawley (r), the republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Missouri, continues to exhibit difficulty mastering the social media thing for his campaign. Early this evening:

Josh Hawley @HawleyMO
As a U.S. Senator, I will fight for MO’s middle class. You work hard, pay your share, & yet you’re mocked by every liberal from D.C. to Hollywood. Your wages are too low, health care costs are too high. It’s time someone stood up for you & that’s exactly what I will do. #MOSen
5:11 PM – 19 Aug 2018

Much hilarity ensues in the responses:

Hasn’t that been your job for the last 19 or so months? All you’ve done is fight for your corporate sponsors AGAINST us.

You’ve not done any of that as AG, why believe you now, esp in re your lawsuit to remove pre-existing condition protection in healthcare?
You lob false allegations against Claure while she’s actually on the job and you’re standing all alone on a trailer at the state fair.
Liar.

You are currently co-signed on a lawsuit to allow insurance companies to revoke insurance due to pre-existing conditions. If it succeeds it will be devastating to the middle class. People shouldn’t be punished for getting sick.

As you fight to make it so insurance companies can discriminate against folks with preexisting conditions. You will not be a senator

There are bills in the US Senate to address min wage & healthcare cost, none of them get any traction because of Mitch McConnell. But you may know McConnell as Senate Leadership Fund, one of the main PACs funding your campaign. #MOSen

I’m a middle class Union worker, I didn’t see you opposing Proposition A.

About that:

State of Missouri – Primary Election, August 07, 2018
Unofficial Results
as of 8/19/2018 6:52:21 PM

Proposition A
3228 of 3228 Precincts Reported
YES 452,075 32.539%
NO 937,241 67.461%
Total Votes: 1,389,316

[emphasis added]

If wages are too low, why do you support right to work? It’s wrong for Missouri.

Unless you have a pre-existing condition, right Josh? Exactly how are you going to bring my health care costs down? I vote on specifics, not platitudes.

No you won’t

You say this, but your actions send precisely the opposite message. I believe your actions.

What have you done to raise wages? Seems to me you were in Jeff City failing low wage workers while their minimum wage increase was taken away. I didn’t hear you advocating for minimum wage earners in St. Louis.

Sure…take away pre existing healthcare…that’s NOT fighting for the middle class. Sit down with a family that is middle class and willing to outline their medical needs. Its not what you think. At all.

As a Missourian in the middle class, who will you help those of us with pre-existing conditions still get healthcare? What is your position on the trade war that is costing hard working Missourians a lot of money and some their jobs?

Hollywood & liberals aren’t mocking anyone. We’re too busy ADVOCATING and FIGHTING FOR the middle & working class. It’s called No RTW. It’s called fair minimum wages. It’s called affordable healthcare with no pre-existing conditions. It’s called the Democratic platform.

Good lord, you’re full of shit, Hairgel

Did we happen to mention that Missourians are also very outspoken?

Where were you when Missouri overwhelmingly rejected Right To Work? Not on the side of unions and wage earners. You seek to undo progress that is hard fought and won in this state. You hold back the average worker, and embrace those who ignore the will of most Missourians.

You will sell out every resident of MO to the insurance company who will line your pockets. Who are you kidding hollow words.

As a senator you and Trump will destroy Missouri healthcare,SS,work to lower wages roll back minimum wage,Medicare and Medicaid destroyed…Missouri does not need to go backward …by a little boy that is wet behind the ears

Hawley really thinks he’ll get by this campaign without explaining one single thing he will do for Missouri (except take away healthcare from millions of Missourians, and vote AGAINST unions).

“Your wages are too low, health care costs are too high.” And you’re a republican who won’t do anything to fix it. You can lie to yourself and you can lie to your sycophants Josh. But the rest of us know a ladder climber when we see one.

How will you fight for us? What’s your plan? You can’t just say you will fight. Why should I vote for you?

Keep stepping on that rake, Josh.

Previously:

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – town hall in Warrensburg – Press Q and A – August 17, 2017 (August 17, 2017)

Claire McCaskill (D) clubs a baby harp seal… (August 8, 2018)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): opening day at the Missouri State Fair (August 9, 2018)

What passes for a flatbed truck at “…Yale, I think, or Harvard, one of those, one of those fancy ones…” (August 16, 2018)

Josh Hawley: Not as smart as they thought? (August 16, 2018)

Keri Ingle (D) – 35th Legislative District – retail politics

19 Sunday Aug 2018

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

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Keri Ingle (D) is the Democratic Party candidate in the 35th Legislative District, which includes part of Lee’s Summit in Eastern Jackson County.

This rainy afternoon, in one of those traditions of Missouri politics, Keri Ingle and her campaign held a meet and greet ice cream social with voters in her legislative district in Lee’s Summit.

Keri Ingle (D), the Democratic Party candidate in the 35th Legislative District.

It was a good crowd on a Sunday afternoon, with the candidate taking the time to greet and talk with everyone in the room.

This is just a small part of the person to person voter outreach. On Saturday Keri Ingle knocked two hundred doors. That’s retail politics.

The primary results in the 35th Legislative District, via the Missouri Secretary of State web site:

State of Missouri – Primary Election, August 07, 2018
Unofficial Results
as of 8/19/2018 4:45:03 PM
State Representative – District 35
20 of 20 Precincts Reported

Tom Lovell Republican 1,848 51.036%
Sean Smith Republican 1,773 48.964%
Party Total: 3,621

Keri Ingle Democratic 3,946 100.000%
Party Total: 3,946

Total Votes: 7,567

[emphasis added]

Campaign finance, via the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C171130: Committee To Elect Keri Ingle
Committee Type: Candidate
2016 Sw 2Nd Street
Lees Summit Mo 64081
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Established Date: 04/28/2017
[….]
Information Reported On: 2018 – 8 Day Before Primary Election-8/7/2018
Beginning Money on Hand $25,390.68
Monetary Receipts + $9,479.21
Monetary Expenditures – $2,419.60
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal $7,059.61
Ending Money On Hand $32,450.29

[emphasis added]

For the republican candidate:

C171385: Tom Lovell For House Of Representatives
Committee Type: Candidate
26 Se 3Rd Street Suite 200
Party Affiliation: Republican
Established Date: 12/05/2017
[….]
Information Reported On: 2018 – 8 Day Before Primary Election-8/7/2018
Beginning Money on Hand $13,871.73
Monetary Receipts + $4,805.00
Monetary Expenditures – $1,484.16
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $657.15
Subtotal $2,663.69
Ending Money On Hand $16,535.42

[emphasis added]

He’ll get all the money he needs.

After everyone had a chance to get some ice cream, Keri Ingle (D) addressed those in attendance, speaking about what she has heard from district voters as she has campaigned door to door and expressing her priorities in supporting public education and public safety, making actual progress in the maintenance of public infrastructure, and promoting job growth locally.

The district is currently represented by Gary Cross (r) who is term limited out after this election cycle.

About that State Auditor race

18 Saturday Aug 2018

Posted by in campaign finance

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

This happened in the primaries for State Auditor, via the Missouri Secretary of State web site:

State of Missouri – Primary Election, August 07, 2018
Unofficial Results
as of 8/18/2018 8:57:31 PM
State Auditor
3228 of 3228 Precincts Reported

Kevin M. Roach Republican 143,745 24.294%
David Wasinger Republican 158,071 26.715%
Paul Curtman Republican 97,055 16.403%
Saundra McDowell Republican 192,814 32.587%
Party Total: 591,685

Nicole Galloway Democratic 515,398 100.000%
Party Total: 515,398

[emphasis added]

Saundra McDowell (r)? Who? Oh…

One question GOP candidate for Missouri auditor faces: Is she even eligible to run?

…McDowell faces questions about whether she’s even eligible to run. She’s also the subject of behind-the-scenes grumblings by Republicans, who worry that red flags in her past weren’t vetted during the primary and could undercut the party’s chances of ousting Galloway this fall.
[….]
…Galloway unleashed a blistering attack targeting a series of legal judgments against McDowell related to unpaid debt. McDowell has dismissed Galloway’s criticisms, saying the race “should be about the issues, not personal attacks.”
[….]

Alrighty then.

Legal judgements on unpaid debt? For a candidate for State Auditor. Think about that for just a second.

Then, there’s the matter of campaign fundraising, via the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C171374: Saundramcdowellformissouri.Com
Committee Type: Candidate
3854 South Ave
Springfield Mo 65807
Party Affiliation: Republican
Established Date: 12/06/2017
[….]
Information Reported On: 2018 – 8 Day Before Primary Election-8/7/2018
Beginning Money on Hand $1,522.31
Monetary Receipts + $3,003.00
Monetary Expenditures – $1,356.60
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal $1,646.40
Ending Money On Hand $3,168.71

Well, that can probably be explained somehow.

Compared to:

C111091: Nicole Galloway For Missouri
Committee Type: Candidate
Po Box 11723
St Louis Mo 63105
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Established Date: 04/20/2011
[….]
Information Reported On: 2018 – 8 Day Before Primary Election-8/7/2018
Beginning Money on Hand $1,084,778.35
Monetary Receipts + $45,280.00
Monetary Expenditures – $47,701.98
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $950.00
Subtotal ($3,371.98)
Ending Money On Hand $1,081,406.37

There certainly is a big difference.

Step away from the football, Donald…

18 Saturday Aug 2018

Posted by in Resist, social media

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This morning:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
Social Media is totally discriminating against Republican/Conservative voices. Speaking loudly and clearly for the Trump Administration, we won’t let that happen. They are closing down the opinions of many people on the RIGHT, while at the same time doing nothing to others…….
6:23 AM – 18 Aug 2018

Fascist asshole.

Campaign Finance: all one of them

17 Friday Aug 2018

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C180478 08/17/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 8/16/2018 $14,858.00

C180478 08/17/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 8/17/2018 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

And more before that, since June:

C180478 06/28/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 6/26/2018 $200,000.00

C180478 07/27/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 7/26/2018 $200,000.00

[emphasis added]

They’re a Continuing Political Action Committee and they’re fairly new:

C180478: Citizens To Protect Tax Revenues And Jobs
Committee Type: Political Action
Po Box 156
Jefferson City Mo 65102
Established Date: 06/25/2018
[….]
Treasurer
Cynthia Carrie Morgan
Po Box 156
Jefferson City Mo 65102
[….]

And they do have resources:

C180478: Citizens To Protect Tax Revenues And Jobs
[….]
Information Reported On: 2018 – July Quarterly Report
Beginning Money on Hand $0.00
Monetary Receipts + $200,000.00
Monetary Expenditures – $100,000.00
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal $100,000.00
Ending Money On Hand $100,000.00

Some of the details:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION
CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOANS RECEIVED
7/16/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs [pdf]

Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 6/26/2018 $200,000.00
[….]
11. TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED AT FUND-RAISERS AS REPORTED INLINE 8 ON FORM CD1A $0.00
12. TOTAL ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSON GIVING $25 OR LESS $0.00
13. TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSONS GIVING $100 OR LESS $0.00
[….]

[emphasis added]

And the expenditures:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION
EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs 7/16/2018
[….]
National Petition Management 1609B Cindy Circle Roseville CA 95661 6/28/2018 Deposit for signature gathering $100,000.00
[….]

Not particularly grassrootsie so far.

Actually, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) didn’t vote to confirm Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court

17 Friday Aug 2018

Posted by in Claire McCaskill, US Senate

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…One of the statements on the website was that “Claire McCaskill voted for 100 percent of President Obama’s judicial nominees…”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (r) and the republican majority in the United States Senate made certain that President Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, wouldn’t be confirmed by refusing to meet with the nominee, refusing to hold hearings, and by refusing to hold a vote. For 293 days.

Yesterday, at the Missouri State Fair:

Concerned Women for America Brett Kavanaugh (r) U.S. Supreme Court tour at the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast – August 16, 2018.

Red-State Democrats’ Fears Over Kavanaugh Vote May Be Overblown
By Jane Mayer July 14, 2018
…The Democratic senators facing tough reëlections in red states have been noncommittal as well. On Thursday, McCaskill, for instance, told a reporter, “If you’re going to ask me questions about the Supreme Court nominee, I have absolutely nothing to say.” Political experts in Missouri whom I spoke to were split over the political ramifications if she votes against Kavanaugh. Jay Felton, a well-connected Republican lawyer and farmer in the state, told me that he thinks the Supreme Court fight “creates a nice, clean issue” on which her likely opponent, Josh Hawley, “can differentiate himself.” Felton also thinks Hawley “can use it to motivate his base.” But Adam Sachs, a lawyer and lobbyist in Kansas City who has worked as a Democratic congressional aide in the past, thinks the peril is overblown. “I think it matters, but I’m not sure how much,” he argues. “It’s not determinative. Voters already know she voted against Gorsuch, so it wouldn’t be a surprise…”

Those red “Fire Claire” stickers were passed out to republicans like candy yesterday outside the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast. They dutifully and proudly slapped them on their clothing.

They ain’t gonna vote for Claire no matter how she votes on Donald Trump’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Bank on it.

Previously:

For right wingnuts “The Handmaid’s Tale” is not dystopian fiction, it’s aspirational (August 16, 2018)

What passes for a flatbed truck at “…Yale, I think, or Harvard, one of those, one of those fancy ones…”

16 Thursday Aug 2018

Posted by in Claire McCaskill, US Senate

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Josh Hawley’s (r) campaign “flatbed truck” outside the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast in Sedalia this morning:

The Ivy League vision of a flatbed truck.

And, guess who else was there?:

Our old friend, Eli!

Eli Yokley @eyokley
.@HawleyMO brought his debate trailer to the state fair: “Where is @clairecmc? She’s hiding out in Washington, D.C.”
[….]
9:43 AM – 16 Aug 2018 from Governor’s Ham Breakfast

Much hilarity ensued. Some of the responses:

Senate is in session. Hawley wants MO to elect the first senatorial candidate who doesn’t even have the mental capacity to read a calendar.

Well, the Republican platform is ‘Government is broken. If it isn’t, we’ll make sure it is.” So he’d fit right in.

I see the Mitch McConnell election strategy is being used…keep Senate Dem candidates working & doing their jobs so Rs can use it against them.

She’s in DC because working for Missouri and he’s using it against her?

Enough of that nonsense.

Yeah… pretty sure she is Washington DC doing her job since the Senate is in session. Need a tutorial on how government works?

At work, Josh. Unlike you, when you’re working out at Wilson’s in Columbia, MO, 25 miles from your office, in the middle of the day, during the work week

This second? Yelling at an HHS official at a Senate hearing about not caring for unaccompanied minor children after they leave government care.

Isn’t he supposed to be running the AG’s office on a weekday? That thing he was elected to do?

In Washington DC doing what her constituents pay her to do – legislate.

@HawleyMO – I would hope voters would want a candidate to know the job they are campaigning for, and understand the work schedule. Or at least be able to hire staff to help you understand?

Claire’s in DC working. Remember @SenMajLdr forced everyone to work this month so Dems cannot campaign…er sorry, to affirm Trump’s judge picks. Anyway, it’s nice to see Josh took time away from the gym to launch a campaign to debate Claire.

Um…dude…she’s in D.C. because the Senate is in session, she’s a Senator, and it’s her JOB.

Maybe you could do YOUR job for a change, @HawleyMO? Or are you working out at Wilson’s this morning?

Uh, that’s where she works representing the people of MO. Kind of embarrassing for you if you don’t understand how this works.

Idiot.

That was probably addressed to Josh Hawley (r).

Hahahaha…she’s doing her JOB! [….]

Do not vote for @HawleyMO

He’s made a fool of himself … again

Voters found Senator @ClairecMc at work & doing an exemplary job

As a former prosecutor & a Senator since 2006, she knows the details, she has the strategy to roll up her sleeves, ask questions & find solutions

I found her. She’s doing her job

Duh, McConnell killed the August recess, to prevent the Dem’s from campaigning. But thanks for reminding all of us of the GOP’s cheating ways.

At least Claire was able to teach him the difference between a trailer and a flatbed, LOL.

That assumed he’s educable…

She’s WORKING!!! Turn on CSPAN.

Is @HawleyMO unclear as to what a senator’s job is? Does he know that Congress is in Washington? Very worrying if he doesn’t know these very simple facts.

Maybe if Hawley had McCaskill’s work ethic, he would have had time to investigate Greitens’ illegal coordination with A New Missouri.

Ouch. That’s gonna leave a mark.

I want him to hold a town hall so he can explain to me why he’s trying to take preexisting conditions protection away from millions of Missourians. I really want him to explain that one! #NeverHawley #VoteForClaire

Clearly that is a flatbed truck

Ouch. Again.

The people of the Show-Me State know what’s up.

Wow. He really sucks at this campaign stuff.

Um, I think she’s at work.

He does understand the job he’s seeking will require him to be in D.C. a lot of the time, right?

Claire is in Washington DC. She works there. That’s where the Senate is.
Go get some funnel cake and a corn dog.
Have fun at the fair.

Don’t you people have jobs? Claire is at work not hauling a “flatbed” around the state like @HawleyMO trying to make us believe he’s a regular Missourian.

Take a leap. Hawley didn’t debate a single one of his primary opponents. #HawleyDidntEarnIt

Wow!! Just wow!! You know senate is in session right?!? She’s. Doing. Her. Job!! Do you need a lesson in government?

She’s doing her job as a US Senator today, dealing w/ reunification of families. That’s where she is. I’m sure you could check her website & get the long list of all the Missouri towns & events she has been visiting.

I think @HawleyMO forgot that he still has a job to do in MO. We know he never really wanted it, since he almost immediately started campaigning for the next one. He’d probably be equally useless as Senator…let’s not find out.

a ham-handed publicity stunt.

We see what they did there.

We found her. But don’t waste a good search party. See if you can find an honest Republican.

Dude, just stop.

This is embarrassing.

Wow, this really backfired on you!

Senate meeting today. She has a job to do, remember?

Not hiding, working. She’s in a hearing on unaccompanied immigrant youth. It’s an actual job as opposed to eating bacon

Uh, she’s working. She’s doing what she was elected to do. What are you doing besides putting on a sideshow?

Debate trailer? Do something meaningful with your time instead of creating political theater

Ah, someone else knows what it is.

Uh. Did you see her response? You owned yourself. Never ask a question you don’t want the answer to.

Wait, Claire responded? Yes, she did!:

Claire McCaskill @clairecmc
CSPAN. Right now. Important hearing on unaccompanied children. Doing my job.
[….]
10:02 AM – 16 Aug 2018

And some of those responses:

Ain’t no clapback like a McCaskill clapback!!

Local man steps on rake; repeats.

Haha. Tell em, Claire.

Read all McCaskill tweets with a Samuel Jackson “…motherf*cker” added to the end.

Heh.

Previously:

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – town hall in Warrensburg – Press Q and A – August 17, 2017 (August 17, 2017)

Claire McCaskill (D) clubs a baby harp seal… (August 8, 2018)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): opening day at the Missouri State Fair (August 9, 2018)