16 Friday Aug 2019
Posted in campaign finance
“Every time Rex Sinquefield signs a check a twenty-something campaign consultant gets their wings…”
Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission:
C101046 08/15/2019 Missouri Club for Growth Political Action Committee Rex Sinquefield 224 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 Retired 8/14/2019 $150,000.00
[emphasis added]
In the old days that would have been enough money for a blimp.
11 Thursday Jul 2019
Posted in campaign finance
Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:
C190777 07/11/2019 Unite STL Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 Retired 7/9/2019 $180,366.34
C190777 07/11/2019 Unite STL Pelopidas, LLC 1034 South Brentwood Blvd. Saint Louis MO 63117 7/11/2019 $66,265.07
[emphasis added]
Doesn’t anyone just give $250,000.00 anymore?
19 Wednesday Jun 2019
Posted in campaign finance
So far.
GNDN – “Goes nowhere, does nothing” – the label on access panels and Jefferies Tubes (access passageways, named after the set designer) on the set of the 1960s science fiction television series Star Trek.
Yesterday, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:
C190784 06/18/2019 Believe in Life and Liberty – BILL PAC David Steward PO BOX 1724 Maryland Heights MO 63043 World Wide Technology, Inc Executive 6/18/2019 $75,000.00
[emphasis added]
Other contributions reported in the PAC’s April quarterly report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission:
FORM CD-1 SUPPLEMENTAL
MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION
CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL
4/15/2019 Believe in Life and Liberty – BILL PACCommittee for Economic Liberty PO BOX 1661 St Charles MO 63302 1/27/2019 $150.00
Carey & Danis LLC 8235 Forsyth Blvd, 11th Flr St Louis MO 63105 2/22/2019 $4,000.00
Weitz & Luxenberg PC 700 Broadway New York NY 10003 2/22/2019 $2,500.00
Onder Law 110 E Lockwood St Louis MO 63119 2/1/2019 $4,500.00
Schlichter Bogard & Denton LLP 100 South 4th Ste, Ste 1200 St Louis MO 63102 2/22/2019 $4,000.00
Holland Law Firm LLC 300 North Tucker, Ste 801 St Louis MO 63101 2/22/2019 $4,999.00
Gori, Julian & Associates, P.C. 156 North Main Street Edwardsville IL 62025 2/22/2019 $4,500.00
[emphasis added]
Law firms. St. Louis. Edwardsville, Illinois. New York City?
No expenditures were listed in the April quarterly report. The PAC was established on January 29, 2019. A search for committee contributions via the MEC database came up blank.
And, before:
C190784 02/04/2019 Believe in Life and Liberty – BILL PAC David Steward PO BOX 1724 Maryland Heights MO 63043 World Wide Technology, Inc Executive 2/4/2019 $75,000.00
C190784 03/13/2019 Believe in Life and Liberty – BILL PAC Rex Sinquefield 9 Hortense Place 9 Hortense Place St Louis MO 63108 retired retired 3/13/2019 $75,000.00
[emphasis added]
This PAC is sitting on around a quarter of a million dollars. It’ll be interesting to see who and what they eventually spend it on. Given their big dollar contributors we could probably make a good guess. For now the PAC goes nowhere and does nothing.
Previously:
Campaign Finance: Because no one else does? (February 4, 2019)
Campaign Finance: millionaires need not apply (March 14, 2019)
23 Saturday Feb 2019
Posted in campaign finance
Welcome to Missouri.
An addendum [pdf] filed with a Statement of Committee Organization for the “MO Opportunity PAC” on July 5, 2018 with the Missouri Ethics Commission:
MO Opportunity PAC is a Missouri nonprofit corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Missouri Nonprofit Corporation Act, and is an independent expenditures only political action committee created primarily for the purpose of influencing the selection, nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates to Missouri public office.
At the Missouri Secretary of State web site:
Name MO Opportunity PAC
[….]
Type Nonprofit Corporation
Charter No. N000708926
Domesticity Domestic
Registered Agent REGISTERED AGENT, LTD. 2345 GRAND BLVD., STE. 2800 KANSAS CITY, MO 64108
Status Good Standing
Date Formed 7/2/2018
Duration Perpetual
[….]
How nice.
The PAC filed an amended [pdf] Statement of Committee Organization with the Missouri Ethics Commission on January 14, 2019.
Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission:
C180492 02/22/2019 MO Opportunity PAC Rex A Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 Retired Retired 2/22/2019 $250,000.00
[emphasis added]
We noticed.
Also in February at the Missouri Ethics Commission:
C180492 02/04/2019 MO Opportunity PAC Daniel J Ludeman 15 Pine Valley Drive Saint Louis MO 63124 Retired Retired 2/4/2019 $10,000.00
C180492 02/11/2019 MO Opportunity PAC Xcaliber International LTD., LLC One Tobacco Road Pryor OK 74361 2/11/2019 $15,000.00
C180492 02/18/2019 MO Opportunity PAC Rudolph E Farber 100 North Wood Street Neosho MO 64850 Community Bank and Trust Banker 2/18/2019 $15,000.00
[emphasis added]
Interesting company.
In 2018 at the Missouri Ethics Commission:
C180492 07/27/2018 MO Opportunity PAC GJ Grewe Inc 639 Gravois Bluffs Boulevard St Louis MO 63026 7/25/2018 $10,000.00
C180492 09/05/2018 MO Opportunity PAC Anheuser-Busch Companies One Busch Place St Louis MO 63118 9/4/2018 $10,000.00
C180492 09/17/2018 MO Opportunity PAC McBride & Son Management LLC 16091 Swingley Ridge Road Chesterfield MO 63017 9/17/2018 $10,000.00
C180492 09/17/2018 MO Opportunity PAC Kevin K Knasel 1 Claychester Drive St Louis MO 63123 PMA Holdings, LLC Executive 9/17/2018 $10,000.00
C180492 09/25/2018 MO Opportunity PAC Cheyenne International, LLC 701 S Battleground Ave Grover NC 28073
9/25/2018 $10,000.00C180492 09/28/2018 MO Opportunity PAC Timothy Drury 15 Squires Lane St Louis MO 63131 Drury Development Corporation President 9/28/2018 $10,000.00
C180492 09/28/2018 MO Opportunity PAC KBA Investments LLC 2808 Thole Plocher Road Highland IL 62249 9/28/2018 $25,000.00
C180492 10/01/2018 MO Opportunity PAC David L Steward P.O. Box 1724 Maryland Heights MO 63043 World Wide Technology Chairman and Founder 10/1/2018 $25,000.00
$25,000.00 C180492 10/22/2018 MO Opportunity PAC Roy Pfautch 52 Portland Place Saint Louis MO 63108 Civic Service Inc. Consultant 10/22/2018 $15,000.00
C180492 11/07/2018 MO Opportunity PAC David L Steward P.O. Box 1724 Maryland Heights MO 63043 World Wide Technology Chairman and Founder 11/7/2018 $25,000.00
[emphasis added]
And how has the “MO Opportunity PAC” spent some of its resources?:
MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION
EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
MO Opportunity PAC 9/6/2018
[….]
B. Itemized Expenditures All Over $100
[….]
Meredith Gibbons d/b/a MGS Consulting LLC [….] Saint Louis MO 63122 8/8/2018 Consulting Fee $3,000.00
[emphasis added]
MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION
EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
MO Opportunity PAC 10/25/2018 [amended – original 10/11/2019]
[….]
B. Itemized Expenditures All Over $100
[….]
Meredith Gibbons d/b/a MGS Consulting LLC [….] Saint Louis MO 63122 9/11/2018 Consulting Fee $5,000.00
[emphasis added]
MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION
EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
MO Opportunity PAC 10/25/2018
[….]
B. Itemized Expenditures All Over $100
[….]
Meredith Gibbons d/b/a MGS Consulting LLC [….] Saint Louis MO 63122 10/2/2018 Consulting Fee $10,000.00
[emphasis added]
MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION
EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
MO Opportunity PAC 12/3/2018
[….]
B. Itemized Expenditures All Over $100
[….]
Meredith Gibbons d/b/a MGS Consulting LLC [….] Saint Louis MO 63122 10/31/2018 Consulting Fee $11,000.00
[emphasis added]
MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION
EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
MO Opportunity PAC 1/14/2019
[….]
B. Itemized Expenditures All Over $100
[….]
Meredith Gibbons d/b/a MGS Consulting LLC [….] Saint Louis MO 63122 12/6/2018 Fundraising Services $11,000.00
[emphasis added]
That’s a total of $40,000.00 through December 2018.
Wait, what?
The PAC’s latest summary:
C180492: Mo Opportunity Pac
Committee Type: Political Action
2345 Grand Blvd Ste 2200
Kansas City Mo 64108
Established Date: 07/02/2018
[….]
Information Reported On: 2019 – January Quarterly Report
Beginning Money on Hand $132,480.89
Monetary Receipts + $1,500.00
Monetary Expenditures – $11,146.00
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal ($9,646.00)
Ending Money On Hand $122,834.89
Also at the Missouri Ethics Commission:
MECID Committee Name Report Expenditure Name/Address Purpose Expenditure Date Expenditure Amount Paid/Incurred
C151053 Greitens For Missouri April Quarterly Report Meredith Gibbons [….] Kirkwood MO 63122 Campaign Worker Compensation 01/31/2018 $917.50 Paid
C151053 Greitens For Missouri April Quarterly Report Meredith Gibbons [….] Kirkwood MO 63122 Campaign Worker Compensation 03/02/2018 $917.50 Paid
C151053 Greitens For Missouri April Quarterly Report Meredith Gibbons [….] Kirkwood MO 63122 Travel Reimbursement 03/05/2018 $562.98 Paid
[emphasis added]
I know something kind of important happened on May 29, 2018, I just can’t exactly recall…
26 Wednesday Dec 2018
Posted in campaign finance, Missouri Governor
Tags
campaign finance, governor, Mike Parson, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PAC, Rex Sinquefield
Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].
On the first full day of Winter, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, for the PAC created to prop up Governor Mike Parson (r):
C180490 12/26/2018 Uniting Missouri PAC REX SINQUEFIELD 244 BENT WALNUT WESTPHALIA MO 65085 RETIRED 12/22/2018 $850,000.00
[emphasis added]
But, wait, there were also stocking stuffers:
C180490 12/26/2018 Uniting Missouri PAC RQC PAC 412 COUNTY ROAD 398 NEW BLOOMFIELD MO 65063 12/26/2018 $7,500.00
C180490 12/26/2018 Uniting Missouri PAC MO DSV PAC 412 COUNTY ROAD 398 NEW BLOOMFIELD MO 65063 12/26/2018 $10,000.00
C180490 12/26/2018 Uniting Missouri PAC HSI BENEFIT SYSTEMS LLC PO BOX 1710 OSAGE MO 65065 12/26/2018 $10,000.00
C180490 12/26/2018 Uniting Missouri PAC BRAD BEDELL 1535 N MAIN SIKESTON MO 63801 CIRCLE B ENTERPRISES 2/26/2018 $7,500.00
[emphasis added]
Virginia, that wasn’t Santa Claus.
Previously:
Campaign Finance: “Ash nazg durbatulûk…” (December 13, 2018)
Campaign Finance: “…Ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul” (December 14, 2018)
14 Friday Dec 2018
Posted in campaign finance, Missouri Governor
Tags
campaign finance, governor, John Hancock, Mike Parson, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PACs, Rex Sinquefield
“One Ring Money to rule them all, One Ring Money to find them, One Ring Money to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.”
Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the PAC created to prop up governor Mike Parson (r):
C180490 12/14/2018 Uniting Missouri PAC DAVID L STEWARD PO BOX 1724 MARYLAND HEIGHTS MO 63043 WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY INC 12/14/2018 $100,000.00
C180490 12/14/2018 Uniting Missouri PAC REX SINQUEFIELD 244 BENT WALNUT WESTPHALIA MO 65085 RETIRED 12/14/2018 $150,000.00
C180490 12/14/2018 Uniting Missouri PAC KEVIN KNASEL ONE CLAYCHESTER DRIVE ST LOUIS MO 63131 PMA HOLDINGS LLC 12/14/2018 $19,800.00
C180490 12/14/2018 Uniting Missouri PAC AMEREN MISSOURI PO BOX 66892 ST LOUIS MO 63166 12/14/2018 $25,000.00
C180490 12/14/2018 Uniting Missouri PAC SPIRE MISSOURI INC 700 MARKET ST ST LOUIS MO 63101 12/14/2018 $10,000.00
C180490 12/14/2018 Uniting Missouri PAC THE RENCO GROUP INC ONE ROCKEFELLER PLAZA NEW YORK NY 10020 12/14/2018 $25,000.00
C180490 12/14/2018 Uniting Missouri PAC MISSOURI MINING INVESTMENTS LLC 1530 S 2ND STREET ST LOUIS MO 63104 12/14/2018 $25,000.00
C180490 12/14/2018 Uniting Missouri PAC SUPPORTERS OF HEALTH RESEARCH & TREATMENTS PO BOX 11591 ST LOUIS MO 63105 12/14/2018 $22,400.00
Oh gee, while you’re at it why don’t you all just pile on?
Previously:
Campaign Finance: “Ash nazg durbatulûk…” (December 13, 2018)
27 Saturday Oct 2018
Posted in campaign finance
Tags
Amendment 1, campaign finance, campaign finance reform, CLEAN Missouri, code, Ethics Reform, flyer, lobbying reform, parade, redistricting reform, Rex Sinquefield
“…the classic “legal” definition of chutzpah…a person who kills his parents and pleads for the court’s mercy on the ground of being an orphan…”
The Rex Sinquefield funded right wingnut Missourians First PAC opposed to the CLEAN Missouri ethics initiative on the November ballot must really think peepul frum Misooree our stoopit.
From a Missourians First flyer distributed at this morning’s parade in Warrensburg:
Who is behind Amendment 1
Clean Missouri is an organization that is funded by out of state billionaires; including hundreds of thousands of dollars from San Francisco billionaire George Soros, who bankrolls liberal politicians like Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton, and former Enron billionaire John Arnold.
They are funneling millions of dollars in secret dark money through the most extreme special interest groups in the country to change our Missouri Constitution for partisan gain.
Uh, what’s “San Francisco” code for? Just asking.
Maybe the George Soros text could have been done in a Yiddish font, just for the enhanced effect.
Who paid for the flyer?
Uh, last time anyone checked Rex Sinquefield was a billionaire.
And what does the CLEAN Missouri initiative intend?:
Require that legislative records be open to the public by ensuring that the legislature operate under the same open records law as other public entities in Missouri
Require politicians to wait two years before becoming lobbyists after the conclusion of their final legislative session
Eliminate almost all lobbyist gifts in the General Assembly by banning any single gift worth more than $5 — that means no more steak dinners, expensive booze, junkets or sports tickets. This rule would eliminate more than 99% of the lobbyist gift giving happening in Missouri.
Lower campaign contribution limits for state legislative candidates to limit the influence of big money and lobbyists in state government.
Establish new campaign contribution limits for General Assembly candidates— $2,500 for state senate, and $2,000 for state house.
Limit the ability of individuals and organizations to circumvent caps by counting money from single-source committees towards totals for original, actual donors.
Stop legislative fundraising on state property.
Ensure that neither political party is given an unfair advantage when new maps are drawn after the next census by asking a nonpartisan expert to draw fair legislative district maps, which would then be reviewed by a citizen commission.
Add fairness and competitiveness as required criteria for new district maps
Protect the political power of minority communities against vote dilution
Ask an independent state demographer to lead on technical work in creating district maps, instead of entrusting political appointees to do all of that work
22 Monday Oct 2018
Posted in campaign finance, Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate
Tags
34th Senate District, campaign finance, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PAC, Rex Sinquefield
…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)
19 Friday Oct 2018
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags
Amendment 1, campaign finance reform, CLEAN Misouri, Ethics Reform, initiative, lobbying reform, missouri, Missouri First, redistricting reform, Rex Sinquefield, signs
War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.
Clean is dirty.
The right wingnut funded Missourians First has signs opposed to Amendment 1 springing up all over like mushrooms. And mushrooms grow in…
And bullshit is always bullshit.
Does anyone think the people who put these signs up on their property really know who paid for them?
Missourians First is the pop up committee (established on August 10, 2018) funded with $200,000.00 from Rex Sinquefield which is opposed to the CLEAN Missouri intiative (Amendment 1) for ethics, campaign finance, lobbying, and redistricting reform on the November ballot.
On October 11, 2018 Missourians First filed a Limited Activity (under $500.00 for the period) quarterly campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Let’s see, Missourians First (really, Rex Sinquefield at this point) is adamantly opposed to a constitutional amendment that will:
Require that legislative records be open to the public by ensuring that the legislature operate under the same open records law as other public entities in Missouri
Require politicians to wait two years before becoming lobbyists after the conclusion of their final legislative session
Eliminate almost all lobbyist gifts in the General Assembly by banning any single gift worth more than $5 — that means no more steak dinners, expensive booze, junkets or sports tickets. This rule would eliminate more than 99% of the lobbyist gift giving happening in Missouri.
Lower campaign contribution limits for state legislative candidates to limit the influence of big money and lobbyists in state government.
Establish new campaign contribution limits for General Assembly candidates— $2,500 for state senate, and $2,000 for state house.
Limit the ability of individuals and organizations to circumvent caps by counting money from single-source committees towards totals for original, actual donors.
Stop legislative fundraising on state property.Ensure that neither political party is given an unfair advantage when new maps are drawn after the next census by asking a nonpartisan expert to draw fair legislative district maps, which would then be reviewed by a citizen commission.
Add fairness and competitiveness as required criteria for new district maps
Protect the political power of minority communities against vote dilution
Ask an independent state demographer to lead on technical work in creating district maps, instead of entrusting political appointees to do all of that work
That would explain a lot.
Previously:
Campaign Finance: we’re not surprised (October 9, 2018)
09 Tuesday Oct 2018
Posted in campaign finance
Tags
Amendment 1, campaign finance, campaign finance reform, CLEAN Missouri, Ethics Reform, lobbying reform, Missori Ethics Commission, redistricting reform, Rex Sinquefield
Self interest.
Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the entity opposed to the CLEAN Missouri ethics reforms on the November ballot:
C180581 10/09/2018 Missourians First Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Lane Westphalia MO 65085 The Show Me Institute President 10/9/2018 $200,000.00
[emphasis added]
You’d think he’d spend $10,000,000.00, but then, that would be really ironic.
C180581: Missourians First
Committee Type: Campaign
Po Box 7971
Columbia Mo 65205
Established Date: 08/10/2018Ballot Measure History
Ballot Measures Election Date Subject Support/OpposeAmendment 1 11/06/2018
Ballot Title: Shall The Missouri Constitution Be Amended To: •Change Process And Criteria For Redrawing State Legislative Districts During Reapportionment; •Change Limits On Campaign Contributions That Candidates For State Legislature Can Accept From Individuals Or Entities; •Establish A Limit On Gifts That State Legislators, And Their Employees, Can Accept From Paid Lobbyists; •Prohibit State Legislators, And Their Employees, From Serving As Paid Lobbyists For A Period Of Time; •Prohibit Political Fundraising By Candidates For Or Members Of The State Legislature On State Property; And •Require Legislative Records And Proceedings To Be Open To The Public?
Oppose
[emphasis added]
They’re opposed to ethics reforms. Fancy that.
