At the White House petition site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Tax Churches

Churches are currently exempt from taxes since they’re listed as non-profit organizations, in spite of separation of church and state.

However, most if not all churches influence the way American citizens vote. Also, a megachurch profits(on average) about $6.5 million per year. An estimated $71 billion per year is lost in US tax revenue because of religious tax exemption. If taxed, the national debt would be paid off.

Church institutions are politically affiliated, as well as businesses. They should not be tax exempt.

Created: Jul 23, 2014

Issues: Budget and Taxes

Signatures needed by August 22, 2014 to reach goal of 100,000 94,727

Total signatures on this petition 5,273

[emphasis added]

Among the forest of petitions started on the site this one is actually generating more interest than most.

It doesn’t end. The past two days, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, for the folks promoting a regressive tax on the ballot:

C131133 07/22/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC International Union of Operating Engineers 1125 Seventeenth Street Northwest Washington DC 20038 7/22/2014 $75,000.00

C131133 07/23/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Laborers International Union of North America Laborers Local No 110 4532 S Lindbergh Blvd Sunset Hills MO 63127 7/23/2014 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

C131133 07/22/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC American Bridge 1000 American Bridge Way Coraopolis PA 15108 7/22/2014 $20,000.00

C131133 07/22/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC St. Louis Regional Chamber One Metropolitan Square Suite 1300 St Louis MO 63102 7/22/2014 $10,000.00

C131133 07/23/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Norris Asphalt Paving Co PO Box 695 Ottumwa IA 52501 7/23/2014 $10,000.00

C131133 07/23/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Missouri Asphalt Pavement Assn PO Box 104855 Jefferson City MO 65110 7/23/2014 $7,500.00

C131133 07/23/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Polsinelli 900 W 48th Place Suite 900 Kansas City MO 64112 7/23/2014 $7,500.00

C131133 07/23/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Witte Bros. Exchange Inc. 575 Witte Industrial Ct Troy MO 63379 7/23/2014 $15,000.00

[emphasis added]

You know, if we lived in a Libertarian paradise we wouldn’t have to bother funding any socialist public infrastructure by any means.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 5 (July 21, 2014)

Campaign Finance: there is no end (July 18, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Goliath and David (July 18, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 4 (July 10, 2014)

Campaign Finance: there is no end (July 7, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 3 (July 4, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 2 (July 2, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: “Your majesty, the special interests are regressive…” (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Prepare yourself for the ads… (June 24, 2014)

Campaign Finance: the dough keeps rolling in (June 22, 2014)

Campaign Finance: escalation (June 17, 2014)

Campaign Finance: What’s an increase in regressive taxes among friends anyway? (June 10, 2014)

Nix the sales tax: A question of fairness – and progessive identity (June 9, 2014)

Gov. Jay Nixon: “…This tax hike is neither a fair nor fiscally responsible solution…” (June 2, 2014)  

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, for the folks promoting a regressive tax on the ballot:

C131133 07/21/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC International Union of Operating Engineers Local #101 6601 Winchester Ave Ste 280 Kansas City MO 64133 7/21/2014 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

C131133 07/21/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Kissick Construction Co Inc. 8131 Indiana Kansas City MO 64132 7/21/2014 $10,000.00

C131133 07/21/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Civic Progress Action Committee 800 Market St Ste 1900 Saint Louis MO 63101 7/21/2014 $15,000.00

[emphasis added]

$10,000.00 here, $25,000.00, pretty soon you’re talking about some serious money…

Previously:

Campaign Finance: there is no end (July 18, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Goliath and David (July 18, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 4 (July 10, 2014)

Campaign Finance: there is no end (July 7, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 3 (July 4, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 2 (July 2, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: “Your majesty, the special interests are regressive…” (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Prepare yourself for the ads… (June 24, 2014)

Campaign Finance: the dough keeps rolling in (June 22, 2014)

Campaign Finance: escalation (June 17, 2014)

Campaign Finance: What’s an increase in regressive taxes among friends anyway? (June 10, 2014)

Nix the sales tax: A question of fairness – and progessive identity (June 9, 2014)

Gov. Jay Nixon: “…This tax hike is neither a fair nor fiscally responsible solution…” (June 2, 2014)  

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, for the folks promoting a regressive tax on the ballot:

C131133 07/18/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Missouri Chamber PAC PO Box 149 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/18/2014 $10,000.00

C131133 07/18/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Heavy Constructors Assoc of the greater Kansas City Area 3101 Broadway, Suite 780 Kansas City MO 64111 7/18/2014 $50,000.00

C131133 07/18/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Capital Quarries Co., Inc. PO Box 105050 Jefferson City MO 65110 7/18/2014 $20,000.00

C131133 07/18/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Chester Bross Construction Company PO Box 430 Hannibal MO 63401 7/18/2014 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

Keeping up with this is like trying to take a sip from a firehose.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Goliath and David (July 18, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 4 (July 10, 2014)

Campaign Finance: there is no end (July 7, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 3 (July 4, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 2 (July 2, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: “Your majesty, the special interests are regressive…” (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Prepare yourself for the ads… (June 24, 2014)

Campaign Finance: the dough keeps rolling in (June 22, 2014)

Campaign Finance: escalation (June 17, 2014)

Campaign Finance: What’s an increase in regressive taxes among friends anyway? (June 10, 2014)

Nix the sales tax: A question of fairness – and progessive identity (June 9, 2014)

Gov. Jay Nixon: “…This tax hike is neither a fair nor fiscally responsible solution…” (June 2, 2014)

Yesterday, via the Missouri Ethics Commission, there’s even more money for the folks promoting a regressive tax on the ballot:

C131133 07/09/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Western MO & KS Laborers District Council 8500 Ward Parkway Suite 300 Kansas City MO 64114 7/8/2014 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

C131133 07/09/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Missouri Automobile Dealers Association PO Box 1158 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/8/2014 $10,000.00

C131133 07/09/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Civic Progress Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce PO Box 776 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/8/2014 $10,000.00

C131133 07/09/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Opies Transport Inc. PO Box 89 Eldon MO 65026 7/9/2014 $8,000.00

C131133 07/09/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC MO Truck PAC PO Box 89 Eldon MO 65026 7/9/2014 $27,500.00

C131133 07/09/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Fred Weber Inc. 2320 Creve Coeur Mill Road Maryland Heights MO 63043 7/9/2014 $25,000.00

C131133 07/09/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Trailiner Corp PO Box 5270 Springfield MO 65801 7/9/2014 $25,000.00

C131133 07/09/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Rudolph Farber 100 North Wood St Neosho MO 64850 Community Bank & Trust Chairman 7/9/2014 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

The political consultant industrial complex and advertising sales people must be ecstatic…

Previously:

Campaign Finance: there is no end (July 7, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 3 (July 4, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 2 (July 2, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: “Your majesty, the special interests are regressive…” (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Prepare yourself for the ads… (June 24, 2014)

Campaign Finance: the dough keeps rolling in (June 22, 2014)

Campaign Finance: escalation (June 17, 2014)

Campaign Finance: What’s an increase in regressive taxes among friends anyway? (June 10, 2014)

Nix the sales tax: A question of fairness – and progessive identity (June 9, 2014)

Gov. Jay Nixon: “…This tax hike is neither a fair nor fiscally responsible solution…” (June 2, 2014)

Unlimited resources equals unlimited ads, mail, and robocalls.

Today, via the Missouri Ethics Commission, the money for the folks promoting a regressive tax on the ballot continues to flood in:

C131133 07/07/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Millstone Weber LLC 601 Fountain Lakes Blvd St Charles MO 63301 7/7/2014 $50,000.00

C131133 07/07/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Site Advancement Foundation (SAF) 2705 Dougherty Ferry Road Suite 203 St Louis MO 63122 7/7/2014 $50,000.00

C131133 07/07/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC APAC – Kansas Inc PO Box 23910 Overland Park KS 66283 7/7/2014 $50,000.00

C131133 07/07/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Journagan Construction & Quarries 3003 E Chestnut Expressway Suite #1200 Springfield MO 65802 7/7/2014 $20,000.00

C131133 07/07/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Black & McDonald 6001 E Front St Kansas City MO 64120 7/7/2014 $15,000.00

C131133 07/07/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Koss Construction Company 5830 SW Drury Lane Topeka KS 66604 7/7/2014 $15,000.00

C131133 07/07/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co Inc. 5375 N Deere Road Park City KS 67219 7/7/2014 $25,000.00

C131133 07/07/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Hayes Drilling Inc 15525 S Mahaffie St Olathe KS 66062 7/7/2014 $15,000.00

C131133 07/07/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Industry Advancement Fund Heavy Constructors Association 3101 Broadway Suite 780 Kansas City MO 64111 7/7/2014 $170,000.00

C131133 07/07/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC HR Quadri Contractors LLC 73039 Highway 21 Van Buren MO 63965 7/7/2014 $7,500.00

That’s $417,500.00 in one day. And it ain’t coming from retired folks writing $20.00 checks for the cause.

There appears to be a subset of “Missourians for Safe Transportation” – “Kansas Corporations Who Want to Promote Regressive Taxes in Missouri”. Fancy that.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 3 (July 4, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 2 (July 2, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: “Your majesty, the special interests are regressive…” (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Prepare yourself for the ads… (June 24, 2014)

Campaign Finance: the dough keeps rolling in (June 22, 2014)

Campaign Finance: escalation (June 17, 2014)

Campaign Finance: What’s an increase in regressive taxes among friends anyway? (June 10, 2014)

Nix the sales tax: A question of fairness – and progessive identity (June 9, 2014)

Gov. Jay Nixon: “…This tax hike is neither a fair nor fiscally responsible solution…” (June 2, 2014)

Yesterday, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, the money continues to roll in for the folks promoting a regressive tax on the ballot:

C131133 07/03/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC International Union of Operating Engineers Local 513 3449 Hollenberg Drive St Louis MO 63044 7/3/2014 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

C131133 07/03/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC D & S Fencing Co In.c 2800 Sunnyside Rd Festus MO 63028 7/3/2014 $12,500.00

C131133 07/03/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC HNTB Corporation 715 Kirk Drive Kansas City MO 64105 7/3/2014 $25,000.00

C131133 07/03/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC The AGC MO PAC PO Box 94 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/3/2014 $40,000.00

C131133 07/03/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Missouri Construction Industry Advancement Fund PO Box 94 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/3/2014 $10,000.00

C131133 07/03/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Con-Agg of MO LLC 2604 N Stadium Blvd Columbia MO 65202 7/3/2014 $7,500.00

C131133 07/03/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC John Fabick Tractor Co One Fabick Drive Fenton MO 63026 7/3/2014 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Prepare to be inundated with mailings, ads, and phone calls from folks with a lot of money whose self interest dictates that they convince you it’s in your own self interest to serve their self interest at your expense. If you got that you understand modern American politics.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: bedfellows – part 2 (July 2, 2014)

Campaign Finance: bedfellows (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: “Your majesty, the special interests are regressive…” (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Prepare yourself for the ads… (June 24, 2014)

Campaign Finance: the dough keeps rolling in (June 22, 2014)

Campaign Finance: escalation (June 17, 2014)

Campaign Finance: What’s an increase in regressive taxes among friends anyway? (June 10, 2014)

Nix the sales tax: A question of fairness – and progessive identity (June 9, 2014)

Gov. Jay Nixon: “…This tax hike is neither a fair nor fiscally responsible solution…” (June 2, 2014)

The past few days, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, the money continues to roll in for the folks promoting a regressive tax on the ballot:

C131133 07/02/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC International Union of Operating Engineers 6601 Winchester Ave Ste 280 Kansas City MO 64133 7/2/2014 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

C131133 06/30/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC HNTB Corporation 715 Kirk Drive Kansas City MO 64105 6/30/2014 $25,000.00

C131133 06/30/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC CDM Smith 50 Hampshire Street Cambridge MA 02139 6/30/2014 $20,000.00

C131133 06/30/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Associated General Contractors of St. Louis 6330 Knox Industrial Dr St Louis MO 63139 6/30/2014 $30,000.00

C131133 06/30/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Ideker Inc. PO Box 7140 St Joseph MO 64507 6/30/2014 $50,000.00

C131133 06/30/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Jensen Construction Company PO Box 3345 Des Moines IA 50316 6/30/2014 $20,000.00

C131133 07/02/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Missouri Transportation PAC 3220 West Edgewood Ste E Jefferson City MO 65109 7/1/2014 $25,000.00

C131133 07/02/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Foley Industries Inc. 1700 SW 42nd St Topeka KS 66609 7/1/2014 $25,000.00

C131133 07/02/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Missouri Asphalt Pavement Assn Political Action Committee PO Box 104855 Jefferson City MO 65109 7/2/2014 $20,000.00

C131133 07/02/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Conco Companies PO Box 50685 Springfield MO 65805 7/2/2014 $10,000.00

C131133 07/02/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC HDR Engineering Inc. 8404 Indian Hills Dr Omaha NE 68114 7/2/2014 $35,000.00

[emphasis added]

Strange, and yet, not strange given our present political environment.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: bedfellows (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: “Your majesty, the special interests are regressive…” (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Prepare yourself for the ads… (June 24, 2014)

Campaign Finance: the dough keeps rolling in (June 22, 2014)

Campaign Finance: escalation (June 17, 2014)

Campaign Finance: What’s an increase in regressive taxes among friends anyway? (June 10, 2014)

Nix the sales tax: A question of fairness – and progessive identity (June 9, 2014)

Gov. Jay Nixon: “…This tax hike is neither a fair nor fiscally responsible solution…” (June 2, 2014)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, it’s rolling in, fast and furious, for the folks promoting a regressive tax on the ballot:

C131133 06/27/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC International Union of Operating Engineers 1125 Seventeenth Street Northwest Washington DC 20036 6/27/2014 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

C131133 06/27/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC APAC – Kansas, Inc. PO Box 23910 Overland Park KS 66283 6/27/2014 $50,000.00

C131133 06/27/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC APAC – Kansas, Inc. PO Box 23910 Overland Park KS 66283 6/27/2014 $25,000.00

C131133 06/27/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Herzog Contracting Corp. PO Box 1089 St Joseph MO 64502 6/27/2014 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

On any other issue would they be strange? Just asking.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: “Your majesty, the special interests are regressive…” (June 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Prepare yourself for the ads… (June 24, 2014)

Campaign Finance: the dough keeps rolling in (June 22, 2014)

Campaign Finance: escalation (June 17, 2014)

Campaign Finance: What’s an increase in regressive taxes among friends anyway? (June 10, 2014)

Nix the sales tax: A question of fairness – and progessive identity (June 9, 2014)

Gov. Jay Nixon: “…This tax hike is neither a fair nor fiscally responsible solution…” (June 2, 2014)

Count de Monet: It is said that the people are revolting.

King Louis XVI: You said it! They stink on ice!

The folks promoting a regressive tax on the ballot continue raising the cash – at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C131133 06/26/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC The Monarch Cement Company PO Box 1000 Humboldt KS 66748 6/25/2014 $10,000.00

C131133 06/26/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Central Plains Cement LLC 2200 North Courtney Road Sugar Creek MO 64050 6/25/2014 $25,000.00

C131133 06/26/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Ash Grove Cement Company PO Box 25900 Overland Park KS 66225 6/25/2014 $10,000.00

C131133 06/26/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Continental Cement Co LLC 10107 Highway 79 Hannibal MO 63401 6/25/2014 $20,000.00

C131133 06/26/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Pace Construction Company 1620 Woodson Road St Louis MO 63114 6/25/2014 $17,500.00

C131133 06/26/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION & NEW JOBS INC Massman Construction Co PO Box 8458 Kansas City MO 64114 6/25/2014 $50,000.00

It’s a seemingly endless supply.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Prepare yourself for the ads… (June 24, 2014)

Campaign Finance: the dough keeps rolling in (June 22, 2014)

Campaign Finance: escalation (June 17, 2014)

Campaign Finance: What’s an increase in regressive taxes among friends anyway? (June 10, 2014)

Nix the sales tax: A question of fairness – and progessive identity (June 9, 2014)

Gov. Jay Nixon: “…This tax hike is neither a fair nor fiscally responsible solution…” (June 2, 2014)