Category Archives: Missouri Senate

Campaign Finance: restocking republican committee coffers

30 Friday Nov 2018

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The past few days at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C091068 11/28/2018 HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, INC Gold Rush Amusements Inc 5277 Trillium Blvd Hoffman Estates IL 60192 11/27/2018 $10,000.00

C091068 11/28/2018 HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, INC Timothy Drury 15 Squires Lane Huntleigh MO 63131 Drury Development Corporation Executive 11/27/2018 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

C071094 11/30/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CFM Insurance PO Box 968 Concordia MO 64020 11/30/2018 $10,000.00

C071094 11/30/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE The Doe Run Company 1801 Park 270 Drive St Louis MO 63146 11/30/2018 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

They’ll always have all the money they’ll ever need. In nice, round numbers.

The result:

The distribution of votes (statewide) by party for the Missouri House of Representatives – November 2018

The distribution of seats by party in the Missouri House of Representatives – 2019 Session

Previously:

Gerrymander (November 16, 2018)

Gerrymander – illustrated (November 17, 2018)

Campaign Finance: restocking the shelves (November 28, 2018)

Campaign Finance: maybe they ran out of right wingnut candidates in Kansas

25 Thursday Oct 2018

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission, two right wingnut Missouri PACs get some of that Johnson County, Kansas silk stocking money:

C171211 10/25/2018 Citizens for a Prosperous 34th Senate District Ketchmark & McCreight, P.C. 11161 Overbrook Rd. Ste. 210 Leawood KS 66211 10/24/2018 $50,000.00

C180456 10/25/2018 Senate Conservatives Fund Ketchmark & McCreight, P.C. 11161 Overbrook Rd. Ste. 210 Leawood KS 66211 10/24/2018 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

What’s the matter with Kansas?

Previously:

Campaign Finance: No contest is too small… (October 22, 2018)

Campaign Finance: infinite loop (October 23, 2018)

Campaign Finance: infinite loop

23 Tuesday Oct 2018

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for a PAC:

C180455 10/23/2018 Missouri Senate Conservatives Fund Herzog Contracting Corp 600 South Riverside Dr. Saint Joseph MO 64507 10/22/2018 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

C180455: Missouri Senate Conservatives Fund
Committee Type: Political Action
7509 Nw Tiffany Springs Parkway Suite 300
Kansas City Mo 64153
Established Date:
06/08/2018
[….]
Information Reported On: 2018 – October Quarterly Report
Beginning Money on Hand $33,647.98
Monetary Receipts + $0.00
Monetary Expenditures – $6,336.50
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $200.00
Subtotal ($6,536.50)
Ending Money On Hand $27,111.48

Now they have some real money.

You think they answer their phones with: “Department of Redundancy Department”?

Campaign Finance: No contest is too small…

22 Monday Oct 2018

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…for a big check from Rex Sinquefield.

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for a PAC involved in the 34th Senate District:

C171211 10/22/2018 Citizens for a Prosperous 34th Senate District Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westpahalia MO 5085 Retired Retired 10/22/2018 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

Why would he be so interested in a state senate contest on this side of the state?

The republican in the 34th Senate District, Tony Luetkemeyer:

C171131: Luetkemeyer For Senate
Committee Type: Candidate
Po Box 14360
Parkville Mo 64152
Party Affiliation: Republican
Established Date: 05/12/2017
[….]
Information Reported On: 2018 – October Quarterly Report
Beginning Money on Hand $116,558.11
Monetary Receipts + $155,515.00
Monetary Expenditures – $42,337.31
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal $113,177.69
Ending Money On Hand $229,735.80

[emphasis added]

He’s not lacking for resources.

The Democratic Party candidate in the 34th Senate District, Martin Rucker:

C171000: Rucker For Missouri
Committee Type: Candidate
Po Box 681313
Riverside Mo 64168
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Established Date: 01/04/2017
[….]
Information Reported On: 2018 – October Quarterly Report
Beginning Money on Hand $88,155.51
Monetary Receipts + $48,988.00
Monetary Expenditures – $14,902.02
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $2,000.00
Subtotal $32,085.98
Ending Money On Hand $120,241.49

[emphasis added]

Okay, that’s respectable. And over $100,000.00 less than the republican candidate.

Are the republicans getting nervous? Just asking.

What would happen if Rex Sinquefield couldn’t write big checks like that anymore? Oh, yeah…

Previously:

Campaign Finance: we’re not surprised (November 9, 2018)

Getting schooled on legislative redistricting reform

03 Monday Sep 2018

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

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State Senator Denny Hoskins (r) had a thing or two to say about gerrymandering on social media yesterday.

Because it worked out so well last time?:

Missouri – 21st Senate District

Denny Hoskins (r) [2017 file photo].

Senator Denny Hoskins, CPA @DLHoskins
If “Clean Missouri” passes in November, my new state senate legislative district would not have to be adjacent. So it could include “islands” of Warrensburg, downtown Kansas City, Saint Louis and Hannibal…and nothing in between. That doesn’t sound fair and clean to me. #moleg
10:24 AM – 2 Sep 2018

Some of the replies:

This is bullshit and you know it.

Sounds like you are nervous about Clean Missouri passing.

And then, getting schooled by Sean Nicholson from CLEAN Missouri:

Sean Soendker Nicholson @ssnich

Just false.

“Subject to the requirements of subdivisions (1)(a) and (1)(b) [prohibitions on gerrymandering], Districts shall be composed of contiguous territory. Areas which meet only at the points of adjoining corners are not contiguous.”

**shall**

[….]
9:35 PM – 2 Sep 2018

That was much nicer than the direct responses.

Campaign Finance: recharging

11 Monday Jun 2018

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At the Missouri Ethics Commission for the republican senate campaign committee:

C071094 06/07/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Friends of Wayne Wallingford 217 NW End Blvd Cape Girardeau MO 63701 6/6/2018 $12,500.00

C071094 06/11/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Leggett & Platt Inc PO Box 757 Carthage MO 64836 6/10/2018 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

Well, they did spend a lot of money. It didn’t quite work out the way they wanted.

Lauren Arthur (D) wins in 17th Senate District special election

05 Tuesday Jun 2018

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It wasn’t even close. By over nineteen points.

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

The republican Missouri Senate Campaign Committee spent a significant amount of money running a contant deluge of nasty fear/immigrant televison ads in the Kansas City media market. Those ads obviously didn’t work in the manner they were intended.

Lauren Arthur (D) [2018 file photo].

The results from the Clay County Board of Election Commisioners:

Clay County – 17th Senate District Special Election – 100% reporting
Corlew – 9,917 40.28%
Arthur – 14,674 59.61%
Write In – 27 0.11%

From Senator Claire McCaskill (D), via Twitter:

Claire McCaskill @clairecmc
Congratulations Senator Arthur! It’s a flip…red to blue. Thanks to all the hard work of Lauren and many volunteers we have won a state senate seat that Trump won and was held by a Republican. By a lot!! Not even close….
8:37 PM – 5 Jun 2018

Well, yes. In the 2016 General Election:

County Results [Clay]
State of Missouri – State of Missouri – General Election, November 08, 2016
U.S. President and Vice President

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Timothy Michael Kaine Democratic 45,304 41.120%
Donald J. Trump, Michael R. Pence Republican 57,476 52.167%
[….]
Governor
Chris Koster Democratic 52,429 47.652%
Eric Greitens Republican 53,883 48.974%
[….]

My, oh my.

2018. There’s trouble brewing.

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)

Campaign Finance: 8 day reports in the 17th Senate District special election (May 30, 2018)

Campaign Finance: they’re paying for it (June 2, 2018)

Campaign Finance: at the last minute (June 5, 2018)

Campaign Finance: at the last minute

05 Tuesday Jun 2018

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There is a special election in the 17th Senate District today 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).

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission, for the republican state senate campaign committee:

C071094 06/05/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Eigel For Missouri PO Box 28 St Peters MO 63376 6/4/2018 $5,001.00

C071094 06/05/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Citizens for Hoskins PO Box 118 Warrensburg MO 64093 6/4/2018 $5,001.00

C071094 06/05/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Citizens for Ed Emery PO Box 123 Lamar MO 64759 6/4/2018
$18,000.00

And, they also filed a 24 hour expenditure report today:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
6/5/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE [pdf]

American Viewpoint Inc 1199 North Fairfax St Suite 808 Alexandria VA 22314 6/4/2018 Survey $9,300.00

[emphasis added]

For who?:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION DIRECT EXPENDITURE REPORT
6/5/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

Kevin Corlew PO Box 28443 Kansas City MO 64188 State Senate [support] 6/4/2018 $9,300.00

[emphasis added]

We’ll see tonight if all those nasty fear/immigrant attack ads worked.

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)

Campaign Finance: 8 day reports in the 17th Senate District special election (May 30, 2018)

Campaign Finance: they’re paying for it (June 2, 2018)

Campaign Finance: they’re paying for it

02 Saturday Jun 2018

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The republican Missouri Senate Campaign Committee is paying for a run of fear/immigrant attack ads in the Kansas City media market with formulaic sinister voiceovers, dreary music, and dark images of the Democratic Party candidate in the 17th Senate District, Lauren Arthur. The republican candidate, and the beneficiary of the ads, is Kevin Corlew. The special election will take place on Tuesday, June 5th.

Who is helping pay for all that? Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C071094 06/01/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Friends of Sandy Crawford PO Box 332 Buffalo MO 65622 5/31/2018 $5,001.00

C071094 06/01/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Kansas City Missouri Republican Senate PAC PO Box 144 Jefferson City MO 65102 5/31/2018 $70,000.00

C071094 06/01/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Eastern Missouri Senate PAC 3220 West Edgewood Ste E Jefferson City MO 65109 5/31/2018 $95,000.00

C071094 06/01/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Friends of Mike Cunningham 515 Landslide Rd Rogersville MO 65742 6/1/2018 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

More on what they’re paying for, in a series of 24 hour expenditure reports from the republican Missouri Senate Campaign Committee:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM
5/30/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE [pdf]

Patrick Media PO Box 317 Marshfield MO 65703 5/29/2018 Media Placement $154,915.25
Axiom Strategies 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy Ste 85 Kansas City MO 64116 5/29/2018 Media Buy $25,000.00
Patrick Media PO Box 317 Marshfield MO 65703 5/29/2018 Media Placement $32,612.65
Remington Research Group 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy Suite 85 Kansas City MO 64116 5/29/2018 Survey $3,000.00

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
5/31/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE [pdf]

Patrick Media PO Box 317 Marshfield MO 65703 5/30/2018 Media Placement $37,649.25
Remington Research Group 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy Suite 85 Kansas City MO 64116 5/30/2018 Polling $7,200.00

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
6/1/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE [pdf]

Patrick Media PO Box 317 Marshfield MO 65703 5/31/2018 Media Placement $42,345.25
Patrick Media PO Box 317 Marshfield MO 65703 6/1/2018 Media Placement $91,990.00
Axiom Strategies 1251 NW Briarcliff Parkway Suite 85 Kansas City MO 64116 6/1/2018 Digital Advertising $6,120.00

Almost magically, these republican campaign committees seem to always have all the money they’ll ever need.

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)

Campaign Finance: 8 day reports in the 17th Senate District special election (May 30, 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

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#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)