…for candidates. Those end of the quarter big dollar contributions are coming in. Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C111205 12/29/2011 SPENCE FOR GOVERNOR Gary Seeman 935 Morrison Ave. St Louis MO 63104 Alpha Packaging CFO 12/29/2011 $10,000.00

C111205 12/29/2011 SPENCE FOR GOVERNOR Carol McLerran 2904 W. 124th Street Leawood KS 66209 Alpha Packaging Executive 12/29/2011 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

It’s a good gig, if you can keep it.

And even Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder’s (r) campaign managed to garner a mercy contribution:

C091145 12/29/2011 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER James McDonnell III 40 Glen Eagles Dr. St Louis MO 63124 Retired Retired 12/28/2011 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

That doesn’t make Brad Lager (r) too sad. Perspective.

The campaign of Dave Spence (r) via the Twitterverse:

@spenceformo Dave Spence

Should prisoners receive unemployment benefits? Have your voice be heard: take our poll today! bit.ly/s3HGtV 19 Dec

A press release twelve days ago from the Missouri Department of Labor:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 09, 2011

State continues to crack down on unemployment fraud

Cross-match ousts offender off unemployment

Jefferson City, Mo – Less than a month after implementing a new cross-matching process with the Department of Corrections, the Missouri Department of Labor has already prevented one inmate from trying to obtain unemployment benefits and caught 11 others who have tried in the past. The Department of Labor began cross-matching its list of claimants receiving unemployment benefits to the state inmate list in mid-November of this year after implementing a new computer system capable of querying the complex information.

“People in prison are not eligible to collect unemployment benefits. Period,” said Department of Labor Director Larry Rebman. “This new initiative illustrates that by joining forces with other agencies, we can make it harder for those who try to cheat the system.”

“The Department of Corrections is pleased to be working with the Department of Labor on this important project.  We are committed to rehabilitating individuals and this cannot be completed if they continue to violate the laws while in prison,” says Department of Corrections Director George Lombardi.

The Department of Labor also recently form a Fraud Taskforce, comprised of veteran staff who have years of experience in stopping fraudulent activity. The Department and its taskforce continue to cross-check benefit records with the National Directory of New Hires as well as conduct a verification check with the databases of the Social Security Administration and the Missouri Department of Revenue’s Drivers License system.

So far in 2011, the Department has caught more than 14,800 acts of fraud, and recovered more than $1.5 million in penalties and more than $18.9 million in restitution. In addition, the Department has a mechanism in place to intercept personal income state tax refunds and lottery winnings to pay back improper payments and penalties.

“A report by the Wall Street Journal found that Missouri’s improper payment rate was much lower than the majority of other states,” says Rebman. “We will continue to improve our processes and protect taxpayer dollars.”

For more information on unemployment or to report unemployment fraud, visit http://www.labor.mo.gov/DES/report_fraud.asp.

###

“…Less than a month after implementing a new cross-matching process with the Department of Corrections, the Missouri Department of Labor has already prevented one inmate from trying to obtain unemployment benefits and caught 11 others who have tried in the past…”

Uh, using a new system they caught twelve people. The system worked. Did anyone in Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) administration state that prisoners should receive unemployment?

“…’People in prison are not eligible to collect unemployment benefits. Period,’ said Department of Labor Director Larry Rebman…”

Okay, that’s settled.

In FY 2010 the total (male and female) incarcerated population reported [pdf] by the Missouri Department of Corrections was 30,418.

Twelve out of 30,418.

Then why the Twitter post from Dave Spence’s (r) campaign touting a “poll” for a non-issue? Seems like an awful waste of $2 million.

Amateurs. It’s enough to make us miss Peter Kinder (r).

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C001135 12/16/2011 JAY NIXON FOR MISSOURI Ken McClain 308 W. Maple Avenue Independence MO 64050 Humphrey, Farrington & McClain, PC Attorney 12/16/2011 $25,000.00

C001135 12/16/2011 JAY NIXON FOR MISSOURI Larus Corporation 12444 Powerscourt Drive Suite 170 Saint Louis MO 63131 12/15/2011 $10,000.00

C001135 12/16/2011 JAY NIXON FOR MISSOURI Peabody Investments Corporation 5995 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Saint Louis MO 63134 12/16/2011 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

And the republican?:

Cadre of local businesspeople help Spence raise money fast

By Jo Mannies, Beacon political reporter  

Updated 5:33 pm Fri., 12.16.11

A handful of area businessmen have helped one of their own, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Dave Spence, outpace Gov. Jay Nixon in big donations for the first part of this month….

….Spence’s early large donations came from seven area businessmen, two of whom — Bill Koman and Robert O’Brien — gave $100,000 apiece.

In addition, Spence donated $2 million of his own money to his campaign.

With exceptions of O’Brien and Koman, Spence’s donors have not been major campaign contributors to other candidates….

Any guesses on who’s the favorite of the 1%?

Previously:

Campaign Finance: from St. Louis and beyond, sort of (December 15, 2011)

Campaign Finance: Kansas City, St. Louis, and beyond (December 15, 2011)

We all know that the GOP primary candidates for Claire McCaskill’s senatorial seat are what can only be charitably described charitably as a bunch of hot messes. Even members of the GOP seem to realize this fact, as witness the recent disparaging remarks from the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Nor, if I am not mistaken, have the GOP gubernatorial possibilities been especially promising. Think Peter “Pantless” Kinder, poor, out-of-his-depth Tom Schweich, or, God forbid, Ed Martin with his scandal-laden past, who has been signaling that he would like to complete his trifecta and run for Governor as well as the other offices he is or was seeking.  

Which brings us to the candidacy of wealthy St. Louis businessman, Dave Spence. I, naive creature that I am, assumed that he entered the race in response to the perceived weakness of the GOP gubernatorial field. Spence, a relative unknown, seemed to offer the Missouri GOP a chance to escape the miasma of absurdity that adheres to the other, better-known, potential contenders.

But we live and learn. The more I read about Spence. the easier it is to conclude that there’s nobody left in the GOP who isn’t a total fool and/or charlatan. Consider FiredUp!‘s report on Spence’s tweets about the importance of getting “gov’t off the back of the private sector to create jobs.” This comes from a man who, as FiredUp’s Parker explains:

… completely forgot about the $40 million bailout that his bank received while he served on the board and has subsequently refused to pay back.  Let’s not forget that when pressed on the issue, Spence has repeatedly refused to give a straight answer why his bank hasn’t repaid the taxpayer dollars, even after pouring $2 million into his own campaign fund.

Words like “dishonest” and “hypocrite” come to mind,” although I suspect phrases like “cognitively impaired” might actually be more descriptive. Perhaps Spence isn’t really so different from the other Missouri GOP governor wannabes after all – almost all of whom, to be honest, would fit in very well with the merry band of loonies performing so hilariously in the GOP presidential primary debates. These folks might really, sadly, be the actual face of the contemporary GOP.  

Apparently so. And here we thought we were just being funny.

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C111205 12/13/2011 SPENCE FOR GOVERNOR John Tlapek 15 S. Dexter St. Denver CO 80246 Summit Equity Group Principal 12/13/2011 $25,000.00

Previously:

Campaign Finance: after you write that first $2 million check the rest is just gravy, part 2 (December 9, 2011)

Campaign Finance: after you write that first $2 million check the rest is just gravy (December 5, 2011)

Campaign Finance: a candidate for the little people… (December 1, 2011)

Campaign Finance: Okay, write a $2 million check to your campaign anyway… (November 30, 2011)

Campaign Finance: Why write a check for $2 million when you know your friends will come through? (November 30, 2011)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, your Friday afternoon contribution dump:

C111205 12/09/2011 SPENCE FOR GOVERNOR Kevin Maher 27 Upper Ladue Road St Louis MO 63124 St. Charles Automotive President 12/9/2011 $10,000.00

Previously:

Campaign Finance: after you write that first $2 million check the rest is just gravy (December 5, 2011)

Campaign Finance: a candidate for the little people… (December 1, 2011)

Campaign Finance: Okay, write a $2 million check to your campaign anyway… (November 30, 2011)

Campaign Finance: Why write a check for $2 million when you know your friends will come through? (November 30, 2011)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C111205 12/05/2011 SPENCE FOR GOVERNOR Keith Strope 16702 Wills Trace Ct. Wildwood MO 63005 TricorBraun CEO 12/5/2011 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Gee, by comparison that doesn’t seem like all that much.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: a candidate for the little people… (December 1, 2011)

Campaign Finance: Okay, write a $2 million check to your campaign anyway… (November 30, 2011)

Campaign Finance: Why write a check for $2 million when you know your friends will come through? (November 30, 2011)

Maybe not.

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C111205 12/01/2011 SPENCE FOR GOVERNOR Robert OBrien 121 Linden Ave St Louis MO 63105 OB Capital Executive 12/1/2011 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Okay, write a $2 million check to your campaign anyway… (November 30, 2011)

Campaign Finance: Why write a check for $2 million when you know your friends will come through? (November 30, 2011)

Heh.

Today, at 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

C111205 SPENCE FOR GOVERNOR [pdf] 11/30/2011

David Spence

2021 S. Warson Road

Ladue, MO 63124

Alpha Packaging Executive

11/30/2011

$2,000,000.0[0 (digit added)]

[emphasis added]

Okay, this would be really funny if the missing zero at the end wasn’t a typo and was because the MEC form wasn’t designed to handle that large a number.

He does still only get one vote, right? If he wins does he only have to answer to himself? Just asking.

Previously:

Is Dave Spence a new GOP contender for governor? (October 23, 2011)

Campaign Finance: what’s this? (October 24, 2011)

A three way gop gubernatorial primary? (November 4, 2011)

Finally, the republican gubernatorial candidate we’ve all been waiting for… (November 16, 2011)

Peter Kinder not running for Governor, running for re-election (November 18, 2011)

Campaign Finance: well, somebody is raising money in the gubernatorial race (November 21, 2011)

Campaign Finance: yep, Dave Spence (r) is definitely running for governor (November 24, 2011)

Dave Spence (r): you’ve just got to love social media (November 29, 2011)

Campaign Finance: Why write a check for $2 million when you know your friends will come through? (November 30, 2011)

The latest iteration of the republican search for a 2012 gubernatorial candidate in Missouri, Dave Spence, just launched his campaign web site. It has pictures. And a link to a Facebook page announcement:

My name is Dave Spence, and I am a Republican running for the office of Governor…

The fun part is that people make comments:

…Just what we need…someone from the pharmaceutical industry. Why don’t you find a Lieutenant Governor from the Oil industry while you’re at it! Why don’t you just stay out of it and keep raising the prices of pharmaceuticals for senior citizens like you’ve been doing. We don’t need businessmen in charge of Missouri…it’s time we find someone who REALLY represents the average Missourian and not another Millionaire!

What, no one has posted anything about a bank bailout yet? In three, two, one….