Let Voters Decide, the right wingnut functionary welfare and full employment social club and industrial complex facilitated by billionaires dropping millions for lunatic fringe initiative spamming, filed their January 2012 quarterly campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on January 17th.

In their amended Statement of Committee Organization [pdf] filed on October 20, 2011 they state they’re supporting a “Constitutional Amendment to Article X, Relating to Income, Earnings, and Sales Taxes, Versions 10, 11, 12, & 13” for the November 6, 2012 general election. Rough translation: We want to gut the budget of the State of Missouri.

Forty-three individual contributions were made to the committee. There were two $10 contributions, one $20 contribution, fourteen $25 contributions, one $28 contribution, nine $29 contributions, seven $48 contributions, five $50 contributions, one $75 contribution, two $100 contributions, one $10,000 contribution, and one $1,300,000 contribution.    

Why, that’s a mighty big piece of pie you got there.

That thin line is $1,465 from forty-one contributors, the thin wedge is $10,000 from a Mark Matson in Ohio,

and the rest is $1.3 million from Rex Sinquefield.

REPORT SUMMARY

LET VOTERS DECIDE [pdf] 1/17/2012

1. Total Receipts For This Election Previously Reported $12,041.80

2. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $1,311,465.00

4. Miscellaneous Receipts This Period $119,091.99

10. Expenditures made by cash or check this period $1,141,903.25

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $341,042.94

[emphasis added]

Well, they’re certainly burning through the cash.

Let’s look at the the contributions in a little more detail:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

LET VOTERS DECIDE 1/17/2012

Jean Davis 735 Auber Ridge Ct Ballwin MO 63011 FM Global — Receptionist 11/2/2011 $25.00

Frieda Keough 411 S Sappington Rd Saint Louis MO 63122 Information Requested 11/3/2011 $25.00

Harry Hammer 2120 Oak Crest Manor Lane Wildwood MO 63011 HA Hammer Inc 11/2/2011 $50.00

Allan Begany 8 Ashgate Court Fenton MO 63026 Retired 11/2/2011 $25.00

Mike McGrath 1433 Hawthorne Richmond Heights MO 63117 Access — Driver 11/2/2011 $25.00

Beverly Martin 5299 County Road 343 Fulton MO 65251 Hillcreek Fiber Studio — Stock Clerk 11/2/2011 $25.00

Frieda Keough 411 S Sappington Rd Saint Louis MO 63122 Information Requested 11/2/2011 $25.00

Mary Lynne Harmon 2637 Wynncrest Ridge Dr Wildwood MO 63005 Information Requested 11/5/2011 $29.00

Joan Keith 11700 Benedetta Dr Bridgeton MO 63044 Retired 11/7/2011 $25.00

Susan McNary 3 Watch Hill Rd Saint Louis MO 63124 Information Requested 11/5/2011 $100.00

Frank Kekeisen 12028 Weshill Ct Maryland Heights MO 63043 Retired 11/5/2011 $48.00

Carl Eklund 123 East Essex Kirkwood MO 63122 Retired 11/6/2011 $50.00

JM Saye 121 Chesterfield Bluffs Dr Chesterfield MO 63005 Retired 11/15/2011 $20.00

William Worsham 283 Sassafrass Rd Rogerville MO 65742 Worsham Law Firm — Lawyer 11/20/2011 $25.00

Obie Jordan 3503 S Fort Springfield MO 65807 Retired 11/19/2011 $29.00

Rick Muenks 2172 E Richmond Springfield MO 65804 Information Requested 11/18/2011 $48.00

Larry Calton 3750 E Ebony Springfield MO 65809 RPCS- Price Cutter Supermarket — Maintenance 11/19/2011 $48.00

B Louise Lunn 2014 E Edgewood Springfield MO 65804 Retired 11/18/2011 $29.00

Lloyd Nevill 7708 State Hwy CC Exeter MO 65647 Retired 11/19/2011 $28.00

Roy Evans Jr 21129 Old Route 66 Ash Grove MO 65604 Retired 11/18/2011 $10.00

Robert Keith Davidson 9181 E Farm Rd 112 Strafford MO 65676 Information Requested 11/18/2011 $29.00

David Prigel 8213 W Farm Road 164 Republic MO 65738 Self Employed — Veterinarian 11/19/2011 $25.00

Max E Roper 4654 S West Ave Springfield MO 65810 Retired 11/21/2011 $29.00

Joseph M Zirbel 1718 Ridgewood Circle Neosho MO 63850 Unemployed 11/21/2011 $48.00

Mark Matson 5604 Winding Cape Way Mason OH 45040 Information Requested 11/10/2011 $10,000.00

Monte B Cable 3323 S Highland Ave Joplin MO 64804 Information Requested 11/23/2011 $48.00

Smith W Brookhart III 114 Silver Oak Way Reeds Spring MO 65737 Retired 11/21/2011 $100.00

Paul McGehee 711 Ogle Dr Richland MO 65556 Retired 11/18/2011 $25.00

J Plowman Properties Po Box 50083 Springfield MO 65805 11/23/2011 $29.00

Duane Grigg HC 4 Box 41 Gainesville MO 65655 Information Requested 11/22/2011 $48.00

James P Ferguson 911 Saint Andrews Circle Springfield MO 65807 SWD Operating Co — Beer Wholesaler 11/29/2011 $50.00

Buford R Urban Po Box 398 Houston MO 65483 Retired 11/25/2011 $29.00

Gerald M Toler 7118 Hwy 95 Mtn Grove MO 65711 Information Requested 11/24/2011 $25.00

Russell M Dean 3817 W Brook Ct Springfield MO 65807 Retired 11/30/2011 $25.00

Nancy J Thomas HC 3 Box 661 Gainesville MO 65655 Information Requested 12/1/2011 $10.00

Jerry L Codutti 543 S Dove Valley Springfield MO 65802 Paul Mueller — Director of Operations 11/30/2011 $48.00

Daniel S Kohn 5014 S Red Oak Street Battlefield MO 65619 Information Requested 12/7/2011 $29.00

Thia A Bryant 925 Lost Tree Dr Branson MO 65616 Information Requested 12/12/2011 $29.00

William Worsham 283 Sassafrass Rd Rogerville MO 65742 Worsham Law Firm — Lawyer 12/20/2011 $25.00

Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Lane Westphalia MO 65085 Retired 10/3/2011 $1,300,000.0[0]

John McMillen 810 Glenn Dr Sikeston MO 63801 Steward Steel Inc. — Marketing Mgr 12/5/2011 $50.00

William Worsham 283 Sassafrass Rd Rogerville MO 65742 Worsham Law Firm — Lawyer 10/20/2011 $25.00

Nancy Rice 6175 Westminster Saint Louis MO 63112 Pelopidas — Consultant 10/5/2011 $50.00

[emphasis added]

Okay.

Let’s look at what they spent all that money on:

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

LET VOTERS DECIDE 1/17/2012

Target Enterprises 16501 Ventura Blvd. Ste. 515 Encino CA 91436 10/3/2011 Media Purchase $600,000.00

Pelopidas 5297 Washington Place St Louis MO 63108 10/12/2011 Campaign Services $36,801.64

The Wilkinson Group LLC 4516 Pershing Place St. Louis MO 63108 10/14/2011 Fundraising Services $4,000.00

J. Harris Company PO Box 74 Jefferson City MO 65102 10/14/2011 Campaign Services $5,000.00

Blitz Bardgett & Deutsch 308 East High Street Suite 301 Jefferson City MO 65101 10/14/2011 Legal Services $13,606.14

The Wilkinson Group LLC 4516 Pershing Place St. Louis MO 63108 10/18/2011 Fundraising Services $4,000.00

National Petition Management Inc 5281 River Bridge Drive Brighton MI 48116 10/18/2011 Petition Signature Gathering $25,000.00

Pelopidas 5297 Washington Place St Louis MO 63108 10/24/2011 Campaign Services and Polling $53,500.00

Rice Strategy Corporation 6175 Westminster St. Louis MO 63112 11/9/2011 Voter Outreach $55,957.78

John Temporiti 101 S. Hanley Ste 1700 St. Louis MO 63105 11/9/2011 Campaign Services $7,500.00

J. Harris Company PO Box 74 Jefferson City MO 65102 11/9/2011 Campaign Services $5,000.00

National Petition Management Inc 5281 River Bridge Drive Brigh
ton MI 48116 11/9/2011 Petition Signature Gathering $27,934.06

The Wilkinson Group LLC 4516 Pershing Place St. Louis MO 63108 11/22/2011 Fundraising Services $4,000.00

National Petition Management Inc 5281 River Bridge Drive Brighton MI 48116 11/22/2011 Petition Signature Gathering $45,166.90

Blitz Bardgett & Deutsch 308 East High Street Suite 301 Jefferson City MO 65101 11/22/2011 Legal Services $35,106.53

Rice Strategy Corporation 6175 Westminster St. Louis MO 63112 11/22/2011 Voter Outreach $4,507.50

John Temporiti 101 S. Hanley Ste 1700 St. Louis MO 63105 11/30/2011 Campaign Services $7,500.00

National Petition Management Inc 5281 River Bridge Drive Brighton MI 48116 11/30/2011 Petition Signature Gathering $62,111.79

J. Harris Company PO Box 74 Jefferson City MO 65102 11/30/2011 Campaign Services $5,000.00

John Temporiti 101 S. Hanley Ste 1700 St. Louis MO 63105 12/13/2011 Campaign Services $7,500.00

The Wilkinson Group LLC 4516 Pershing Place St. Louis MO 63108 12/20/2011 Fundraising Services $4,000.00

Pelopidas 5297 Washington Place St Louis MO 63108 12/21/2011 Campaign Services Printing Marketing Event Reimb. $101,651.68

Blitz Bardgett & Deutsch 308 E High St Suite 301 Jefferson City MO 65101 12/21/2011 Legal Services $23,669.36

My, that volunteer petition signature gathering is certainly quite expensive. Oh, wait…

All that fundraising expense for forty-three contributors. Anyone think they used gold plated contribution envelopes? Just asking.

$600,000.00 buys an awful lot of radio and television.

That John Temporiti?

Again, the entity promoting the repeal of earnings taxes in Kansas City and St. Louis got another massive economic boost from their supporter.

What is this, some kind of welfare program for the right wingnut initiative industrial complex? Just asking.

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

C101013 LET VOTERS DECIDE [pdf] 10/1/2010

Rex Sinquefield

Westphalia, MO

Retired

9/30/2010

$3,900,000.0[0]

Travis H. Brown

St. Louis, MO

Self-Employed

9/30/2010

$5,001.00

That’s no typo. That’s three million, nine hundred thousand dollars. Funny, it appears the Missouri Ethics Commission system can’t handle that many digits.

And Travis H. Brown? There’s gotta be a connection in there somewhere:

LOBID:L000946

Lobbyist’s Name Travis Brown

Principal(s) listed by Lobbyist

PELOPIDAS, LLC

COLUMBIA MO A 7/12/2007

REX AND JEANNE SINQUEFIELD

ST. LOUIS MO A 7/12/2007

This being right wingnut politics in Missouri there’s gotta be something about a plane in there somewhere, too. Oh, yes, there is!

And even more connections:

Campaign Finance: a sample of those $5000.00 and up 48 hour reports (September 29, 2010)

….It’s always an interesting enterprise when one peruses the information on contributions over $5000.00 which are required to be reported within forty-eight hours of receipt to 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

C031160 FRIENDS OF TILLEY [pdf] 9/24/2010

REX AND JEANNE SINQUEFIELD

WESTPHALIA MO

RETIRED

9/24/2010

$100,000.00

[emphasis added]

Really, for Air Tilley?

Somehow, the line in the film Inception (2010) comes to mind:

“I bought the airline…It seemed neater.”

Let’s rephrase that…”I bought the state…it seemed easier.”

Previously:

Let’s tell you ’bout their best friends (June 23, 2010)

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder (r): the base reaches out and opens up their wallets (June 22, 2010)

Even more millions here and even more millions there… (June 21, 2010)

A million here and a million there… (June 4, 2010)

…and pretty soon you’re really talkin’ serious money.

The folks promoting the repeal of earnings taxes in Kansas City and St. Louis got another huge economic boost from their supporter last week.

$2,534,000.00? Again? Via the Missouri Ethics Commission [pdf]:

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

MEC ID: C101013

LET VOTERS DECIDE 6/18/2010

Rex A. Sinquefield Westphalia, MO 6/16/2010 $2,534,000.00

[emphasis added]

Why $2,534,000.00? Why that amount twice? Why not just write one check for $5,068,000.00 and save the money on postage? (Okay, bad question, if you can drop that kind of cash on a right wingnuttia initiative to defund government you’re not particularly worried about the cost of postage or even a lack of public services for yourself because you don’t need to.) What’s with the $68,000.00? Is five million some kind of unlucky number? Just asking.

Previously: A million here and a million there…

…and pretty soon you’re talking serious money.

The folks promoting the repeal of earnings taxes in Kansas City and St. Louis got another economic boost from their supporter. Their web site states:

Welcome to the official website of the Let Voters Decide Coalition. Our group was formed to support the initiative proposed for the November 2010 state ballot…

[emphasis added]

Reported today at the Missouri Ethics Commission [pdf]:

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

LET VOTERS DECIDE 6/4/2010

C101013

Rex A. Sinquefield

Westphalia, 6/3/2010

$2,534,000.00

[emphasis added]

Let’s take a look at the “Let Voters Decide” first quarter campaign finance report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 15th:

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committe: LET VOTERS DECIDE

ReportDate: 4/15/2010

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $0.00

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $1,000,545.00

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $1,000,545.00

15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $889,541.68

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $111,003.32

Okay, let’s take a look at where all that money came from. That’s got to be a serious grass roots fundraising effort. Wrong:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: LET VOTERS DECIDE

Report Date: 4/15/2010

A. ITEMIZED CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM COMMITTEES REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT, OR FROM PERSONS GIVING MORE THAN $100 TO A COMMITTEE.

Rex Sinquefield Westphalia MO Retired 01/19/2010 $500,000.00

Robert F. Poli St. Louis MO Washington University Education 01/13/2010 $200.00

Rex Sinquefield Westphalia MO Retired 01/19/2010 $500,000.00

13. TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSONS GIVING $100 OR LESS $345.00

That’s all of it. You’ve got wonder why Mr. Poli even bothered.

Now when one contributor funds $3,534,000.00 and a few others toss in a couple hundred bucks it’s beyond irony to call the promoter of the ballot initiative a “coalition” or the person funding it a “group.”

The expenditures:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committe: LET VOTERS DECIDE

ReportDate: 4/15/2010

Advertisers Printing Company Dept. Number 22925 St. Louis MO 02/23/2010 Printing $1,136.54

National Petition Management Roseville CA 01/21/2010 Petition Signature Gathering $120,000.00

Brown Printing Jefferson City MO 02/01/2010 Printing $2,615.13

Winner and Mandabach Campaigns Santa Monica CA 02/01/2010 Campaign Management $40,000.00

Charton Communications Columbia MO 02/01/2010 Communications $2,500.00

Johnston & Company Sarasota FL 02/01/2010 Communications $2,500.00

Peri Hall & Associates Inc Williamsburg MA 02/01/2010 Internet Outreach $2,500.00

Peri Hall & Associates Inc Williamsburg MA 02/01/2010 Internet Outreach $12,550.00

Initative Law Group St. Louis MO 02/01/2010 Legal Services $2,500.00

CommonGround Public Relations Chesterfield MO 02/01/2010 Media Support $2,500.00

National Petition Management Roseville CA 02/01/2010 Petition Signature Gathering $48,764.48

Blitz Bardgett & Deutsch Jefferson City MO 02/01/2010 Legal Services $17,500.00

Winner and Mandabach Campaigns Santa Monica CA 02/23/2010 Campaign Management $25,000.00

Charton Communications Columbia MO 02/23/2010 Communications $2,500.00

Peri Hall & Associates Inc Williamsburg MA 02/23/2010 Internet Outreach $5,550.38

Johnston & Company Sarasota FL 02/23/2010 Campaign Operations $12,196.68

Winner and Mandabach Campaigns Santa Monica CA 02/23/2010 Campaign Management $7,500.00

Brown Printing Jefferson City MO 02/23/2010 Printing $2,615.13

National Petition Management Roseville CA 02/23/2010 Petition Signature Gathering $103,042.76

Blitz Bardgett & Deutsch Jefferson City MO 02/23/2010 Legal Services $30.20

Winner and Mandabach Campaigns Santa Monica CA 02/23/2010 Campaign Management $2,500.00

Winner and Mandabach Campaigns Santa Monica CA 02/23/2010 Campaign Management $2,500.00

Post Master St. Louis MO 03/05/2010 Postage $185.00

Post Master St. Louis MO 03/05/2010 Rental Fee $585.00

Blitz Bardgett & Deutsch Jefferson City MO 03/09/2010 Legal Services $17,500.00

National Petition Management Roseville CA 03/09/2010 Petition Signature Gathering $229,439.59

Advertisers Printing Company Dept. Number 22925 St. Louis MO 03/09/2010 Printing $1,293.48

Winner and Mandabach Campaigns Santa Monica CA 03/09/2010 Campaign Management $5,000.00

Winner and Mandabach Campaigns Santa Monica CA 03/09/2010 Campaign Management $47,900.00

SalientPoint LLC Boston MA 03/09/2010 Media Services $9,825.56

Brown Printing Jefferson City MO 03/18/2010 Printing $2,615.13

Johnston & Company Sarasota FL 03/18/2010 Campaign Operations $10,762.50

CommonGround Public Relations Chesterfield MO 03/18/2010 Media Support $7,514.41

Laura Barlow Winter St. Louis MO 03/18/2010 Campaign Outreach $6,200.00

Charton Communications Columbia MO 03/18/2010 Communications $2,500.00

Winner and Mandabach Campaigns Santa Monica CA 03/18/2010 Campaign Management $25,209.30

National Petition Management Roseville CA 03/18/2010 Petition Signature Gathering $74,510.41

Pelopidas St. Louis MO 03/29/2010 Campaign Services $30,000.00

[emphasis added]

Ah, the usual suspects.

This is the golden rules of politics. He who has the gold apparently “decides”.