Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C111150 01/14/2014 FRIENDS OF TOM SCHWEICH Sam Fox 7701 Forsyth Blvd Suite 600 St Louis MO 63105 Harbour Group Owner 1/14/2014 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

Well, well, well, is this a new standard? Just asking

The past few days, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C111150 09/24/2013 FRIENDS OF TOM SCHWEICH August A Busch III One Midrivers Mall Dr. Ste 210 St Peters MO 63376 Retired 9/23/2013 $10,000.00

C031159 09/21/2013 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Anheuser-Busch Companies One Busch Place Saint Louis MO 63118 9/20/2013 $10,000.00

Who is bringing the beer?

State Auditor Tom Schweich (r) spoke in Warrensburg at Missouri Boys State on the campus of the University of Central Missouri last night.

State Auditor Tom Schweich (r) speaking at Missouri Boys State in Hendricks Hall on the

campus of the University of Central Missouri on Thursday evening.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Previously:

Missouri Boys State – 2013 (June 16, 2013)

Kansas City Mayor Sly James – Missouri Boys State – June 16, 2013 (June 17, 2013)

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) – Missouri Boys State – June 17, 2013 – one word (June 17, 2013)

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) – Missouri Boys State – June 17, 2013 (June 18, 2013)

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) – Missouri Boys State – June 17, 2013 – Q and A (June 18, 2013)

Bob Woodward – Missouri Boys State – June 18, 2013 (June 19, 2013)

Bob Woodward – Missouri Boys State – June 18, 2013 – Q and A, parts 1, 2 & 3 (June 20, 2013)

Bob Woodward – Missouri Boys State – June 18, 2013 – Q and A, parts 4 & 5 (June 20, 2013)

Secretary of State Jason Kander (D) – Missouri Boys State – June 20, 2013 (June 20, 2013)

Or, if one job doesn’t quite work out, there’ll be another.

Official Election Returns

State of Missouri Primary Election  – 2010 Primary Election

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

As announced by the Board of State Canvassers

on Tuesday, August 24, 2010

State Senator – District 6 – Summary

Precincts Reporting 111 of 111

Otto, Harry REP 3,282 10.6%

Deeken, Bill REP 5,133 16.6%

Jones, Kenny REP 10,201 33.0%

Kehoe, Mike REP 12,250 39.7%

Total Votes   30,866

[emphasis added]

Ouch, fourth out of four.

But, this being republican politics in the State of Missouri, something will work out:

New Deputy State Auditor brings 40+ years experience

by Ryan Famuliner on January 18, 2011

New State Auditor Tom Schweich says he made a concentrated effort to bring some people on his staff with some extensive private and public work experience.

Harry Otto worked for the Department of Revenue before moving into the private sector early in his 40-year career. He eventually became the president of the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants….

[emphasis added]

Oh, the irony!:

A $10,000 campaign contribution and irony impairment in the 6th Senate District (June 25, 2010)

….The irony impairment? From a September 22, 2009 article in the Jefferson City News Tribune, reproduced at Harry Otto’s campaign web site:

“….I do expect to be outspent in this campaign,” Otto said, “but I don’t expect to be outworked.

“I don’t think this office ought to be purchased.  I think it ought to be earned.”  He said he’s not afraid of a fiveman primary race….

….

[emphasis added]

Uh, Harry, you might want to check with your new boss about that. Though it appears that you both get the $10,000.00 increment thing.

What is it with rock star republican candidates and their big bucks donors? Tom Schweich (r) keeps racking up those $10,000.00 and $20,000.00 contributions. In the last two days, via the Missouri Ethics Commission:

CONTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN $5,000.00 RECEIVED BY ANY COMMITTEE FROM ANY SINGLE DONOR – TO BE FILED WITHIN 48 HOURS OF RECEIVING THE CONTRIBUTION

C091153 SCHWEICH FOR AUDITOR [pdf] 9/29/2010

Kevin Beckmann

Town & Country, MO

Trident Steel

9/29/2010

$20,000.00

Roy Pfautch

St. Louis, MO

Civic Progress

9/29/2010

$20,000.00

Sam Fox

St. Louis, MO

Harbour Group

9/29/2010

$10,000.00

[emphasis added]

CONTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN $5,000.00 RECEIVED BY ANY COMMITTEE FROM ANY SINGLE DONOR – TO BE FILED WITHIN 48 HOURS OF RECEIVING THE CONTRIBUTION

C091153 SCHWEICH FOR AUDITOR [pdf] 9/30/2010

Robert Topping

St. Charles, MO

Western Aerospace

9/30/2010

$10,000.00

Centene Management Company LLC

Centene Corporation

St. Louis, MO

9/30/2010

$10,000.00

TSI Holding Company

St. Louis, MO

9/30/2010

$10,000.00

Blair Financial Services, Inc.

Clayton, MO

9/30/2010

$10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Can’t you just feel the grassroots energy oozing out of that campaign?

Via the Turner Report:

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Joe the Plumber supports state auditor candidate Icet in latest ad

Why it should matter to anyone, I have a hard time understanding, but in the latest commercial from the Allen Icet for state auditor campaign, Joe the Plumber, who has taken his 15 minutes of fame and stretched it beyond all reason, declares his support for Icet and compares him to a glass of “iced tea…

[Allen Icet, Auditor, Protecting Our Tax Dollars!]

Sam Wurzelbacher: To get our nation back we must elect honest leaders that will hold our government and themselves accountable. That is why I am proud to support Allen Icet for Missouri Auditor. I know Allen and he’s an honest man that you can trust to protect your tax dollars. But don’t just take my word for it, do your own research and I think that a little ice tea is exactly what you need.

[Allen Icet, Auditor, Protecting Our Tax Dollars!]

Ice T. Icet. Now I get it. I should have gone into political communications when I was fourteen.

Meanwhile, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION

CONTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN $5,000.00 RECEIVED BY ANY COMMITTEE FROM ANY SINGLE DONOR – TO BE FILED WITHIN 48 HOURS OF RECEIVING THE CONTRIBUTION

C091153 SCHWEICH FOR AUDITOR [pdf] 6/30/2010

David Humphreys

Joplin, MO

Tamko Building Products

6/30/2010

$10,000.00

[emphasis added]

I’m waiting for a replacement rock video.

Previously: Tom Schweich (r) for Auditor: apparently people give big bucks to rock stars {April 14, 2010)

Since then Tom Schweich (r) has continued to rack up those big contributions:

MECID:C091153

SCHWEICH FOR AUDITOR

8283   Other(Report of Contribution Received Over $5000) 05/27/2010

7617 Other(Report of Contribution Received Over $5000) 05/03/2010

7569 Other(Report of Contribution Received Over $5000) 04/30/2010

7412 Other(Report of Contribution Received Over $5000) 04/26/2010

7210 Other(Report of Contribution Received Over $5000) 04/22/2010

7125 Other(Report of Contribution Received Over $5000) 04/20/2010

6707 Other(Report of Contribution Received Over $5000) 04/15/2010

C091153 SCHWEICH FOR AUDITOR [pdf] 4/15/2010

John B. Mahaffey

Springfield, MO

Mahaffey Enterprises, Inc.

4/15/2010

$10,000.00

Access Health Solutions

Sunrise, FL

4/15/2010

$10,000.00

[emphasis added]

C091153 SCHWEICH FOR AUDITOR [pdf] 4/20/2010

Maritz, Inc.

Fenton, MO

4/20/2010

$10,000.00

[emphasis added]

C091153 SCHWEICH FOR AUDITOR [pdf] 4/22/2010

Mark Burkhart

St. Louis, MO

Cassidy Turley

4/22/2010

$10,000.00

Don Musick, III

St. Louis, MO

Musick Construction

4/22/2010

$10,000.00

[emphasis added]

C091153 SCHWEICH FOR AUDITOR [pdf] 4/26/2010

Peabody Investments Corp.

St. Louis, MO

4/26/2010

$10,000.00

[emphasis added]

C091153 SCHWEICH FOR AUDITOR [pdf] 4/30/2010

Emerson’s Missouri Responsible Government Fund

St. Louis, MO

4/30/2010

$10,000.00

Harbour Group Industries, Inc.

St. Louis, MO

4/29/2010

$10,000.00

[emphasis added]

C091153 SCHWEICH FOR AUDITOR [pdf] 5/3/2010

Steven L. Trulaske, Sr.

O’Fallon, MO

True Manufacturing Company

5/1/2010

$10,000.00

[emphasis added]

C091153 SCHWEICH FOR AUDITOR [pdf] 5/27/2010

Marilyn Fox

St. Louis, MO

Homemaker

5/27/2010

$18,000.00

[emphasis added]

Okay, they did that last one just to see if we were paying close enough attention.

Because nothing says republican establishment candidate like a seemingly endless series of $10,000.00 campaign contributions. Doesn’t that just give you grass rootsie chills all over?

They’ll definitely be able to hire a more expensive band.

Our friends at Fired Up report further on the rock star escapades of Tom Schweich (r):

EXCLUSIVE: Schweich Camp Contacted The Dandy Warhols Weeks Before Denying Connection To Their Song

Previously:

Don’t quit your day job (April 7, 2010)

Tom Schweich (r) for Auditor: apparently people give big bucks to rock stars (April 14, 2010)

State Auditor: April 2010 campaign finance reports (April 18, 2010)

From Jo Mannies at the St. Louis Beacon:

Schweich denies plagiarism, admits contact with rock band to inquire about ‘parody’

…I have been an amateur musician for 30 years. In an April 9th interview on KMOX radio, I made it clear that I had intended to do a parody of ‘Bohemian Like You’ by the Dandy Warhols. I first heard that song a few months ago as part of the soundtrack to the movie ‘Delirious.’ I liked it because it sounded very much like the Rolling Stones’ song ‘Brown Sugar’ — and the Rolling Stones are my biggest musical influence…

Dude, we know the Stones, and you ain’t them. Maybe you should ask for your money back.

…The accusations of copyright infringement by bloggers opposed to my political views are, in my opinion, contrary to the law and are nothing more than an unwarranted political attack. Notwithstanding their efforts, I will continue to fight for smaller government, less debt, and more personal freedoms.

Uh, we mocked your rock video because we think it sucks.

And what do The Dandy Warhols think (via Twitter)?:

@buddyhead SCANDAL! http://bit.ly/a3scLm     about 5 hours ago  via TweetDeck

Too funny.

The race for Missouri Auditor is typically low-key enough that it can be overlooked. The primary for Missouri Auditor has that same problem, only worse.

For those of you who haven’t heard, the Republican Primary for Auditor is between Allen Icet (Architect of the House Republican Budget) and Tom Schweich (Who flirted with running with the Senate last year). Tom Schweich has a bit of a problem, he donated money to Claire McCaskill. Not in 2006 when she was running for the Senate, but 2001 when she was about to run for re-election as Auditor (McCaskill won re-election in 2002 by one of the larger margins ever, because her Republican opponent was an ex-felon who was ignored by the Republican establishment).

Dave Catanese of Politico has an idea for how Tom Schweich can make Republicans overlook the donation and like him again:

“Schweich should devote a speech to his $500 contrib. to @clairecmc. Say if the GOP wants to b party that excludes indys, it won’t prevail.”

Earlier that night, Catanese passed this on and this about Schweich:

“Bad buzz about Schweich from even those who support him. He’s steamed he has a primary when he cut a deal. Ala Crist, welcome to the NFL.”

“GOPer says Schweich needs to learn from @RoyBlunt in approach. Roy takes his licks, but smiles, brushes off like Jay-Z. Schweich gets mad.”

Now, lets say that the “Schweich handling rejection” (or “Schweich mad that he wasn’t annointed”) thing is true. Then a speech about the Republicans not prevailing without independents could have negligible impact or backfire. You could argue that angry sermons to Republicans only work when the person preaching is not criticizing the Republicans.

Not to mention that the story of a 2001 donation can’t be condensed into a favorable way. Tom Schweich was a Republican when he donated money to McCaskill in 2001 and it’d be a stretch to say that rejecting him would be akin to casting Independents aside. Oh yeah, Schweich’s website features endorsements by Peter Kinder and John Bolton, and notes that Mitt Romney will be headlining a Schweich fundraiser. So that double pivot and twirl from dining with prominent Republicans to claiming appeal to Independents is a tough move to pull in political figure skating.

Sure, if John McCain can claim to be a maverick in 2008, Tom Schweich can claim to be anything in 2010. But there are other problems with the donation.

The Auditors primary is going to be low visibility. The people who are going to be avidly paying attention to this primary are Conservative Republican Activists, Political Nerds, and every once and awhile, the media is going to mention something. The race for Auditor will never get the same enthusiasm as Roy Blunt v. Chuck Purgason v. the 7 Others.

The Republicans who are paying attention to an auditor primary can be tilted by an Icet one-two punch where Icet talks about how he was “fiscally conservative” as a Budget committee chair and he could find ways to make himself seem more authentically Republican than Schweich.

Authenticity. Dave Catanese says that Republicans seek it. But could they be seeking someone who can make them think that he’s an authentic Conservative over someone who has lots of candor?

Dave Catanese also mentioned that Republicans like Claire McCaskill more than they would ever admit. As to how much that’d bounce Claire McCaskill’s approval ratings is unknown. But in the scheme of things Diehard Republicans typically don’t like Democrats enough to vote for them or like them. Social Conservatives and Tea Partiers can find their reasons to claim a dislike of Claire McCaskill, and reminding them that you gave money to Claire McCaskill nine years ago will probably not help your Republican primary bid.

Spurning independent voters is a good way to lose elections. Republicans appear to have their eyes set on winning Independent voters through complete coincidence instead of any special effort. Take the Specter situation, the Charlie Crist situation, and that fact that almost every Republican in DC has an identical voting record on the big issues. If you’re a voter who only dislikes Obama on an issue or two, Republicans hope that you’ll vote for a candidate who dislikes Obama on every major issue.

Could Susan Montee lose re-election? Maybe. If Martha Coakley could lose to Scott Brown, anything is possible. Will Susan Montee run ahead of the average Democrat? Probably. Will Susan Montee run ahead of Robin Carnahan? Maybe. Do Republicans have such a need to win back the Auditor’s office that they’d do something other than picking the candidate more like them ideologically to carry that torch? Nope.

If you forced me to start gambling on elections, i’d put my money on Allen Icet right now. The donation isn’t the only reason. Allen Icet also has a more obvious geographic stronghold (West County). He should have statewide connections. He can make the case that he’s really fiscally conservative (so much so that his budget committee passed a budget cutting meals on wheels). Allen Icet is a good bet, even if Tom Schweich had never made a donation to Claire McCaskill.

But somethings are hard to get over, no matter much candor you show. Sometimes candor can help you out. Sometimes candor is like running towards the Bulls in Pamplona.

I’ll keep my eyes on the Auditor primary. We might see some actual news coming out of this one.

State auditor Susan Montee explained the function of her office at the November 23rd Franklin County Democratic Central Committee meeting.  In addition to auditing all the state departments and agencies, her office is tasked with auditing the judicial circuits, school districts and all the counties that don’t have their own auditor.  She mentioned the City of St. Louis, the City of Springfield and its City Utilities Company as being especially time consuming.

Her office also has to review and register all general obligation bonds, certify all tax rates as changes are made by local entities, monitor the money coming into the state from the federal government which includes the $4.5 billion in stimulus funds, and analyze all ballot initiatives for their financial impact.

Montee commented on how the number of ballot initiatives has exploded in recent years and how partisan they have become.  In 2007, her office reviewed 20 different ballot initiatives.  In 2008 and 2009, that number jumped to 52 and 57 respectively.  What is ideally a mechanism for citizens to inform and improve their state government has now become “a partisan wedge issue factory,” according to Montee.

 

Another aspect of the politically charged environment in state politics is the number of lawsuits being filed against the auditor’s office.  Of course, all those lawsuits drain resources from the actual work being done and cost the taxpayers additional money.  Montee was asked if her department has added staff to handle the additional work, and the answer was no surprise given current constraints on the state budget.  So, essentially, she is being asked to do more work with no additional resources.  Eventually, as the federal stimulus money comes in, she will be able to charge the expense of managing that fund back to the federal government.

In response to a question about that federal stimulus money. Montee said only about $1 billion of the $4.5 billion allocated for Missouri has come in so far, and that has been used to shore up the Medicaid fund and to support MODOT’s “shovel ready” projects.  

Asked about her 2010 campaign for re-election, Montee admitted that Democrats will never be able to raise the amount of money that Republicans can raise but that she is hoping her record during her first term will count for something in the eyes of the voters.  Being both a CPA and attorney gives her a leg up on her opponents who will have to face each other in a Republican primary next August.   Given that we have a Democratic governor, the opposition would love to control the auditor’s office and use it to attack and discredit the governor.

Montee stressed the importance of Democratic gains in the Missouri House and how she and U.S. Senate candidate Robin Carnahan are helping to build support around the state for local races.   She believes that by next summer the “parade of horribles” that the right wing is predicting about health care reform will not have happened and that the economy will continue to improve.  With some good news finally, voters should be less vulnerable to fear mongering by the right wing.