A little over five years ago:

Chris Koster in Independence, MO (March 30, 2008)

…In 2001 general revenue to higher education in the state of Missouri was nine hundred and sixty million dollars. 2001. In 2008. We’re now in the 2008 budget cycle, general revenue to higher education in the state of Missouri is nine hundred and thirty six million dollars. A reduction of twenty four million dollars despite the fact that we’ve gone forward by seven years. We fell back in nominal terms, nominal dollar terms by twenty four million dollars. In real dollar terms, which mean you put, you pump a higher ed inflator through there which is about, I dunno, say eight percent, um, we are seven hundred and twenty five million dollars behind where we were in 2001 in higher education.

The reality is, I mean, we can pretend it’s otherwise, but Missouri is the 46th lowest taxing state in the country. We are never going to catch up to the high water mark that Bob Holden hit in 2001. It’s just never gonna happen. We can try. And we should try. But it’s never gonna happen. I mean, it’s, once you fall behind by a billion dollars in a twenty billion dollar budget, we can all pretend it can happen, but it can’t happen.

Let me give you one other statistic. Because this is so fascinating, hardly anybody really recognizes this about the state budget. We take in two hundred seventy million dollars more each year then we did the last year. So, know you start to understand the consequences of falling a billion dollars behind. We only take in two hundred seventy million dollars more this year then we did last year. Of that two hundred and seventy million dollars, two hundred and forty million is immediately taken up by mandates. That means inflation in pharmaceuticals, inflation in Medicaid, the heating costs that it keeps, that it takes to warm the Capitol during the winter. Two hundred and forty of the two hundred and seventy is immediately gone. That means in any given year we’ve got about thirty million dollars in discretionary money to change the course of history with. Now you understand the consequences of falling a billion dollars behind in just the higher education budget, much less the k-12 budget. When you’ve only got thirty million dollars how can we ever catch up in higher education? Of the thirty million dollars we only, this year in tax credits to wealthy corporations we will give away something like sixty million dollars. So every single penny that did not go to inflation went to big business. Every single penny of it….

The republican way is perpetual austerity for the 99%. God forbid that corporations and the top 1% ever have to think about the public good and invest in, you know, civilization. Revenue is always out for republicans. Because why should Mississippi be last when Missouri could occupy that space? Just asking.

Senator David Pearce (r-21) at the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors meeting on campus in Warrensburg on April 19, 2013.

On Friday morning Senator David Pearce (r-21) spoke on SB 437, a bill which he sponsored, at the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors meeting on campus in Warrensburg. The bill, in its present form, reallocates the fixed funding pie toward community colleges and (as near as we can tell) the University of Missouri system and away from the remaining four year institutions in the state. The 21st Senate District includes the University of Central Missouri, one of the four year institutions adversely affected by this bill.

Senator David Pearce (r-21): [….]

And, uh, first up, Senate Bill 437. And that’s a bill that, that I’m sponsoring. Um, it’s one that has, uh, received quite a bit of discussion and I will say, some controversy. Senate Bill 437, uh, basically creates a distribution model for higher education funding. It’s taken the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Education and tried to come up with a long range funding formula for higher education. Um, it’s, this bill is number two on the Senate calendar, on the perfection calendar. And, hope to get to it on Tuesday or Wednesday and have a, a good discussion on that.

Um, I was just on the radio and I, and I said that, uh, in higher education we have limped along for decades because when it comes to funding it’s across the board increase or across the board decrease, regardless of how well your university is doing. We have thirteen unique institutions and we can do better. And, uh, Senate Bill 437 tries to create a, a model for that. Let me just give you one example of something that happened in our appropriations committee this week, which I did not like, which, I think, explains why we need a formula. We were going through the appropriations process and a, a senator, a colleague, a friend of mine, uh, put an amendment for one point three million dollars for Missouri State. Out of the blue. And, um, we had somewhat agreed among ourselves that we would just take the recommendations and, and move from there. And so, that’s the way funding has been in higher ed for decades. It’s who’s got the political strength, who’s at the table, universities fighting against each other. And that’s the wrong way to fund higher education. So that was a perfect example of why we need a formula. Because I don’t want to be put in the unenviable position of being chairman of the Senate Education Committee and have to fight against Missouri State on the floor. That doesn’t do anybody any good. And so, if we can come up with a found, uh, uh, funding formula that, uh, treats all the universities the same based on performance I think that’s the way to go.

Uh, right now we have, uh, complete support from the community colleges, uh, but we’re having some trouble from the four years. And, uh, I have tasked the, the presidents of the university to give me some language by the end of today, amendments that they can live with, the ways that they want to see the bill change as it goes through the process so we’ll be ready to discuss it next week.

So that’s, that’s a tough bill. Um, but yet we’re gonna go forward and we’re gonna get [inaudible] and I’d love to see it pass the Senate this, this week and head on over to the House.

[….]

Um, obviously, uh, if you’ve been in my office you’ve seen my shrine to UCM. Uh, so it’s UCM and others, but it’s also important, in my capacity that, that  I look at statewide implications as well. Because, uh, higher education is important for the entire state. So, with that I’d be glad to take any questions you might have.

University of Central Missouri Board of Governors President Marvin Wright.

University of Central Missouri Board President Marvin Wright: Senator, we, uh, you know, as a board, appreciate everything that you do and attempt to do for the University of Central Missouri. It, uh, is in your district and, and, uh, I know we lean on you from time to time for assistance and help. And we appreciate, uh, the assistance that we do get, and also from Denny in the House.

Uh, the current status, I was glad to hear you say that you’ve requested some amendments.

Senator Pearce (r): Um, hm.

Marvin Wright: And I have no idea what those amendments are going to be.  Uh, I, I do know that, that the, the board is, is concerned. Uh, and the unknown always bothers everybody, you know. And we’re no different, no matter how old we are. We never get used to it, unknown. But, the, the one, one of the points in the, in the legislation, uh, is with respect to the, the percentages of the monies that are going to community colleges as opposed to four year institutions. And as I understand it, uh, the community colleges, uh, stand to gain some fourteen percent, uh, in appropriations. And that obviously means there has to be reduction. That reduction is in four year institutions. And that four year institutions would include the University of Central Missouri. And, you know, I, I would like to know how, how do you view this as being of assistance to the University of Central Missouri? Because, obviously, we’re part of the State of Missouri and part of the higher education,  and, uh, being going through a process, our faculty, staff and everybody else of budget reductions, that type of thing. And, uh, this bothers us, uh, this reduction. And, and I, I’d like to know what about that is something that, that, that we as a board could feel comfortable with?

Senator Pearce (r): It’s a work in progress. And, um, when we first proposed the bill we put in language to deduct half of the local contribution for community colleges. So, we basically were reducing their local effort. Obviously, their, their operating levies for the community colleges. I mean, community colleges do have another funding source that four years don’t. And so, what we tried to do was to, uh, cut that in half so there wouldn’t be a, a wide swing in overall contributions from community colleges to four years.

Um, I’ll be honest, uh, community colleges have probably more political input and more grassroots support in the legislature than four years do. Um, and that was something that community colleges felt that they could not live with, not necessarily because it gave them more money, but because they felt that if we deducted half the local match that they could never, ever have another operating levy increase. Because the local folks would feel that the state was penalizing them for not, um, supporting it and not, uh, taking advantage of the entire local match. And so, that decision was made, uh, in committee, uh, by seven to three vote to, uh, basically not deduct half their match. What that does, it, uh, goes from fifteen percent of the overall pie for community colleges up to twenty percent. Now if I was sitting in front of the State Fair Community College Board of Governors right now they would, they would be thrilled. Because, um, their main talking point is that, uh, they educate forty-two percent of higher education students but yet only get fifteen percent. And so these are very, very tough decisions that we had to, to talk about when it comes to overall funding for higher education.

Marvin Wright: I think you can understand what our concern is.

Senator Pearce (r): Right.

Marvin Wright: Uh, I think this institution and it’s faculty and staff do a tremendous job of educating people.

Senator Pearce (r): And, and.

Marvin Wright: And those who’ve graduated from here, I assume you would agree that it does a fine job of, [Senator Pearce: [laugh]] of educating people.

Senator Pearce (r): Right.

Marvin Wright: And it’s, it’s one that, that frankly, it’s disturbing to us that, uh, these people are tightening their belts around here and yet we’re faced with the fact that, that, uh, there’s going to be a reduction, basically, based on the percentages. And we’re, we’re just at a loss. I understand politics.

Senator Pearce (r): Um, hm.

Marvin Wright: I, that’s a misnomer. I, I’m sorry. I don’t, I don’t understand it. I from time to time pick up a glimpse of what happens in it. And, and this is one of those things that, that obviously I, I think that we would, we would love to see, if you want to give us a chance to smile like the State Fair board is smiling now, uh, for that part of this legislation to some way be modified so that we as an institution realize some benefit from what we’ve been trying to do and what these people have tried to do.

Senator Pearce (r) : Well, there are many benefits for performance funding and there are a lot of disadvantages with the status quo. Um, I don’t feel that that is in the long term best interest of UCM and so, I think going this route is the best route. Uh, and if you’re a university that is excelling and, uh, uh, accomplishing the things that you as a board had set out I don’t think you have a thing to worry about. Uh, and, certainly, I, I, any amendments and things like that that you want to, to have, uh, brought forward we’ll certainly take a look at those. Uh, but we are gonna, uh, debate the bill on the floor next week.

Marvin Wright: Okay. Now you have people you say that are gonna be submitting amendments to you today?

Senator Pearce (r):  Well, um, I’ve had, I visited with, uh, Dr. Troy Paino [president of Truman State University] and he was representing all three universities. And I made it very clear to him that I would like to have amendments, uh, brought to our office by the end of today, uh, on, uh, on how they could make the bill better. You know, to me, it’s very easy to just sit back and say, no, we don’t like it. And, uh, I think we can do better than that. And so, if there are ways that we can do that I’d like to hear that.

Marvin Wright: Well, good. I, I, I do hope that there’s some way that some change can be made which will, you know, acknowledge this institution and, and not put us at a disadvantage.

Senator Pearce (r):  We can see that performance funding, uh, currently in the budget is, is a good thing. I mean, because, obviously, by performance funding the university will be getting more money than if they did just an across the board increase.

Marvin Wright: Anybody else on the board got any questions or observations about? Yes.

University of Central Missouri Board of Governors member Gus Wetzel.

Gus Wetzel: Senator, on this performance funding [inaudible] to me it’s a great idea, it’s a productive idea, it’s a healthy idea. And, of course, we, on this, uh, board and the faculty and, and all the representatives here, we’re committed to it. But, it seems to me you made a statement earlier that, uh, the political, uh, environment pushed the two year schools to be considered on this, and another statement we talk about the political environment of, of another institution that asks for x amount of money to come into the formula for their funding for this year, and that was added. It seems to me that if, if the bill passes that each year the, the non performing schools will go, or the lesser performing schools, or those that are performing that have special needs that are not living up to the criteria of other institutions will have that same political clout that can you come before you and, and the, uh, state, and, uh, you know, if, if their voice is loud enough, it’ll be modified, it’ll go that way.

Senator Pearce (r): Um, hmm. You’re exactly right. Um, currently there are three universities that, um, according to the model are over funded. Um, some of my colleagues think that we should just indiscriminately close two colleges right now. But the political implications won’t allow that to happen. Um, and so, right now, in the bill there is something called a stop loss provision that a university could never receive, um, anything less than ninety-eight percent of their current budget. So, they could, it would never be, uh, like a ten or fifteen or twenty percent decrease in that. But you’re right. I mean, you can never divorce the politics from this process. But I think a, a performance funding helps in that direction.

[….]

Ah, instead of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, it’s reallocating the deck chairs.  

“…I mean, community colleges do have another funding source that four years don’t. And so, what we tried to do was to, uh, cut that in half so there wouldn’t be a, a wide swing in overall contributions from community colleges to four years…”

Ah, originally, austerity for everyone.

The four year institutions have two revenue sources – state support, which has dropped significantly in the past decade, and student tuition. The General Assembly, in it’s infinite wisdom, created an unsustainable funding stream – they cut state appropriations and effectively removed tuition increases (by statute) as a way to make up for those lost state appropriations. What a great scam! There’s no political pressure on the General Assembly from parents and students to increase state appropriations because tuition increases are taken out of the mix. Problem solved!  

“…Um, and that was something that community colleges felt that they could not live with, not necessarily because it gave them more money, but because they felt that if we deducted half the local match that they could never, ever have another operating levy increase. Because the local folks would feel that the state was penalizing them for not, um, supporting it and not, uh, taking advantage of the entire local match…”

But, republicans have made any possibility of increasing revenue so toxic as a standard of public policy that austerity is the only answer. Problem solved!

“…Because, um, their [community college] main talking point is that, uh, they educate forty-two percent of higher education students but yet only get fifteen percent. And so these are very, very tough decisions that we had to, to talk about when it comes to overall funding for higher education…”

Uh, community colleges provide unaccredited two year degrees, four year institutions provide much more than that. Let’s compare, I dunno, training versus education. There’s a value proposition in there somewhere, right? My God, do these people have enough brains to remember how to breathe? Just asking.

Here’s something really rich in the bill language (Senate Committee Substitute) [pdf] – the “peer state” calculation will be based on per capita personal income:

….the group of ten states comprised of the five states next higher than Missouri and the five states next lower than Missouri, based on rank-ordering of all states according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis based on the 2011 midyear population estimates of the census data for the per capita personal income….

Uh, what happens when Missouri finally arrives at last place? Just asking.

Also in the same version of the bill:

….The joint committee shall submit a written report, with any recommendations for legislative action or action by the coordinating board for higher education, the department of higher education, or the institutions, to the secretary of the senate, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, and the coordinating board for higher education.

Yeah, good luck with that.

“…Because I don’t want to be put in the unenviable position of being chairman of the Senate Education Committee and have to fight against Missouri State on the floor. That doesn’t do anybody any good…”

We thought elections were supposed to have consequences. Evidently not in the 21st Senate District.

“…Um, I’ll be honest, uh, community colleges have probably more political input and more grassroots support in the legislature than four years do…”

Missouri State and community colleges are allowed political influence. Is anyone else?

On a billboard along U.S. 50 near Pittsville, Missouri.

Vicky Hartzler (r) and David Pearce (r) along with a few of their close personal friends.

Just “Vote Republican.” What does that mean?

This is what you get:

Teresa Hensley (D) in the 4th Congressional District: endorsement by the Kansas City Star (October 19, 2012)

….Voters should evict Hartzler, who in her first term showed no interest in compromise or moderate views….

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): “No answer given.” (October 19, 2012)

….Hartzler’s campaign declined to participate in answering the survey….

Teresa Hensley (D) in the 4th Congressional District: endorsement by the Columbia Daily Tribune (October 12, 2012)

….On almost any issue, you can find Hartzler is on the extreme right….

And David Pearce (r)?:

Campaign Finance: after all that republican primary noise, there is no difference (August 13, 2012)

Previously:

Campaign Finance: a microcosm of the struggle in the republican universe – 21st Senate District (August 1, 2012)

Campaign Finance: global thermonuclear war – republican primary – 31st Senate District (August 2, 2012)

They’re recharging the republican campaign accounts. This past weekend, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C121090 08/11/2012 CITIZENS FOR ED EMERY Dempsey For Senate Two Westbury Dr Saint Charles MO 63301 8/11/2012 $5,025.00

C010192 08/12/2012 PEARCE FOR SENATE Dempsey For Senate Two Westbury Drive St Charles MO 63301 8/11/2012 $5,025.00

[emphasis added]

Right wingnut or “establishment” republican, they get the same amount.

Remember this?:

An attack piece directed at Senator David Pearce (r) who faced (and won) an August primary with Mike McGhee (r) in the 21st Senate District.

Now, they’re all one and the same.

Apparently all is forgiven to the tune of $5,025.00.

The unofficial primary results in the 21st Senate District from Tuesday, as reported at the Missouri Secretary of State web site:

State Senator – District 21 – Summary

(106 of 106 Precincts Reported)

ElGene Ver Dught DEM 6,407 100%

Party Total 6,407

David Pearce REP 12,452 65.2%

Mike McGhee REP 6,653 34.8%

Party Total 19,105

Steven Hedrick LIB 111 100%

Party Total 111

Total Votes 25,623

So, we thought we’d take out a calculator.

Mike McGhee (r) reported the following in his last campaign finance filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission:

REPORT SUMMARY

MCGHEE FOR SENATE [pdf]7/30/2012

6. In-kind Contributions Received This Period [$] 69,990.42

8. Total All Receipts This Election $344,470.86

27. Money On Hand at the close of this

reporting period $68,741.17

[emphasis added]

We’ll assume that the candidate spent most of their remaining cash on hand since that money won’t do any good after you lose an election. And, given the free spending support he received from big money in the past we’ll assume he wasn’t too concerned about an inability to raise more funds for the general election.

$344,470.86 cash raised divided by 6,653 votes = $51.78 (rounded up) per vote. Mike McGhee probably would have done better for less money if he had taken everyone out for dinner.

And for David Pearce (r), the republican primary victor?

REPORT SUMMARY

PEARCE FOR SENATE [pdf] 7/30/2012

8. Total All Receipts This Election $312,297.15

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $152,082.72

[emphasis added]

We’ll make the same assumptions (okay, we’ll also acknowledge that a confident campaign that spent $17,000.00 on a poll would probably not spend everything in the primary).

$312,297.15 cash raised divided by 12,452 votes = $25.08 per vote. Still enough for a good dinner. But he did win. There is this gem in the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal:

8/8/2012 12:37:00 AM

PEARCE WINS PRIMARY BID [subscription required]

….Pearce said Tuesday that working closely with people in each county within the district made the difference in the race. He said he would rather have grass roots support from voters than tens of thousands of dollars from people who do not live in the district….

Oh, really? This, a sampling of contributions, from a single 8 Day Before Primary Election report filed right before the primary:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

PEARCE FOR SENATE [pdf] 7/30/2012

Missouri Forest Products PAC 611 E. Capitol Ave. Suite 1 Jefferson City MO 65101 7/2/2012 $500.00

MLPA Legislative Fund P.O. Box 1725 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/6/2012 $500.00

Hallmark Cards Inc. P.O. Box 419580 Kansas City MO 64141 7/9/2012 $1,000.00

Missouri Public School Advocates 704 Wildwood Dr. Columbia MO 65203 7/9/2012 $2,000.00

JE Dunn Construction 1001 Locust St. Kansas City MO 64106 7/9/2012 $500.00

Terrence Dunn 1001 Locust St. Kansas City MO 64106 JE DUNN — President 7/9/2012 $1,000.00

Missouri Republican Leadership Council P.O. Box 16737 St. Louis MO 63105 7/9/2012 $10,000.00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of KC PAC P.O. Box 419169 Kansas City MO 64141 7/10/2012 $1,000.00

Missouri ACTE PAC P.O. Box 1865 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/11/2012 $500.00

Consumer Lending Alliance 92 Royster Dr. Crawfordville FL 32327 7/11/2012 $500.00

St. Louis Teachers COPE Fund 2710 Hampton Ave. St. Louis MO 63139 7/12/2012 $1,000.00

Smithfield Foods Inc. P.O. Box 9004 Smithfield VA 23431 7/16/2012 $500.00

Missouri Freedom P.O. Box 1792 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/16/2012 $2,500.00

Ameren UE PAC P.O. Box 780 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/17/2012 $2,500.00

Missouri Association of Municipal Utilities 1808 I-70 Dr. SW Columbia MO 65203 7/17/2012 $500.00

Coventry Health Care 8320 Ward Pkwy. Kansas City MO 64114 7/17/2012 $750.00

Anheuser Busch Companies One Busch Place 202-8 St. Louis MO 63118 7/17/2012 $1,000.00

MO Optometric PAC 100 E. High St. Suite 301 Jefferson City MO 65101 7/17/2012 $1,000.00

Fred Dreiling LLC 7325 Summit Kansas City MO 64114 7/17/2012 $250.00

HCA Missouri Good Government Fund P.O. Box 305 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/17/2012 $1,000.00

MO Criminal Defense Lawyers PAC P.O. Box 1543 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/17/2012 $500.00

CenturyLink 220 Madison St. Jefferson City MO 65101 7/18/2012 $2,500.00

American Traffic Solutions 2737 Hereford Ave. St. Louis MO 63139 7/18/2012 $500.00

LeadingAge Missouri 3412 Knipp Dr. Suite 102 Jefferson City MO 65109 7/18/2012 $500.00

W.E. Shoehigh LLC P.O Box 104232 Jefferson City MO 65110 7/20/2012 $500.00

Credit Union PAC 223 Madison St. Jefferson City MO 65101 7/20/2012 $200.00

Missouri CPA PAC 540 Maryville Centre Dr. Suite 200 St. Louis MO 63141 7/21/2012 $500.00

MO Bev PAC P.O. Box 1865 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/21/2012 $500.00

Engler for Missouri 108 W. Columbia Farmington MO 63640 7/24/2012 $1,000.00

Community Health Access Committee P.O. Box 6621 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/24/2012 $250.00

Xcaliber MO PAC 215 E. Capitol Ave. Jefferson City MO 65101 7/24/2012 $250.00

Noranda Aluminum Inc. P.O. Box 70 New Madrid MO 63869 7/25/2012 $4,000.00

Phillips 66 Company 201 NW 63rd St Suite 300 Oklahoma City OK 73116 7/25/2012 $750.00

Citizens for Jay Wasson P.O. Box 1231 Nixa MO 65714 7/26/2012 $2,500.00

[emphasis added]

Nope, not actually in the district. Yeah, so maybe some of these entities do business in the district (beer, anyone?), but let’s not pretend that republican internal struggle for control primary campaigns are funded exclusively by little old ladies who live in the district writing $20.00 checks, mkay?

Captain Renault: I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here! [a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]

Croupier: Your winnings, sir.

Captain Renault: [sotto voce] Oh, thank you very much.

Here’s the punchline – ElGene Ver Dught, the Democratic Party candidate in the 21st Senate District, having spent and raised a minimal amount of money in the campaign to date is by far the candidate currently least beholden to outside of the district interests:

REPORT SUMMARY

VER DUGHT FOR SENATE [pdf] 7/30/2012

2. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $115.00

3. All Loans Received This Period [$]3,000.00

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $3,988.16

[emphasis added]

Again, making the same assumptions, $3,988.16 cash raised divided by 6,407 votes = 62 cents per vote.  

Not in my houshold.

A get out the vote postcard from Missouri National Education Association arrived in today’s mail:

Not after seeing the competing television commercials with the two republican candidates trying to out right wingnut each other.

What was Missouri NEA thinking?

Money. An obscene amount of money. A struggle for control. Spent by a small number of big money donors, on one hand, to prop up a useful idiot who is a teabagger, birther, tenther, and not exactly a friend of public education. And also spent by corporatist interests, on the other hand, to prop up an establishment republican. The thing is, if you take out most of the crazy of the first candidate you really can’t find much of a difference with the second.

Some of the mail sent in the 21st Senate District republican primary.

The amount of mail we’ve been receiving in the 21st Senate District race can only be described as a flood. Some of it from a third party. Most of the content is not relevant to the every day lives of people in the district.

In the Texas republican lieutenant governor runoff election this week:

What Happened In Texas Is a Running Off the Rails

By Charles P. Pierce

….Texas had two chances to resist the blandishments of Tea Partier Ted Cruz, whom it is overwhelmingly likely to send to the United States Senate, the World’s Greatest Deliberative Body, in favor of a bland lump of conservative muenster named David Dewhurst. On the issues, there is no logical reason why this should have happened, much less why it should have happened once in a preliminary election, and then again on Tuesday night. Dewhurst was as pure a cultist as Cruz is….

….This was a signal that conservative extremism knows no limits and recognizes no national boundaries. The Tea Party now has morphed into a movement made up solely of three elements: corporate money, television hucksters, and suckers. The first of these make the other two elements possible. If you are a Republican officeholder, especially in a staunchly Republican state, and you don’t see what can happen to you in what happened to David Dewhurst, you should begin your search for a second career right now…..

The campaign finance summaries for the 8 Day Before Primary Election reports in Missouri’s 21st Senate District republican primary between Mike McGhee and David Pearce:

REPORT SUMMARY

MCGHEE FOR SENATE [pdf] 7/30/2012

1. Total Receipts For This Election Previously Reported $167,435.44

2. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $107,045.00

6. In-kind Contributions Received This Period [$]69,990.42

8. Total All Receipts This Election $344,470.86

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $68,741.17

[emphasis added]

REPORT SUMMARY

PEARCE FOR SENATE [pdf] 7/30/2012

1. Total Receipts For This Election Previously Reported $259,597.15

2. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $52,700.00

8. Total All Receipts This Election $312,297.15

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $152,082.72

[emphasis added]

Some of the details:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

MCGHEE FOR SENATE 7/30/2012

David Humphreys P.O. Box 4050 Joplin MO 64803 Tamko Building Products 7/2/2012 $50,000.00

Lisa Bailey 8807 N Highway 131 Odessa MO 64076 KAT Construction 7/5/2012 $1,000.00

Missouri Club for Growth P.O. Box 2068 St Louis MO 63158 7/7/2012 $10,000.00

Missouri Club for Growth P.O. Box 2068 St Louis MO 63158 7/13/2012 $10,000.00

Missouri Club for Growth P.O. BOx 2068 St Louis MO 63158 7/20/2012 $20,000.00

A L Hill P.O. Box 460 Blue Springs MO 64013 Self 7/22/2012 $1,000.00

Eileen Bakke 2811 24th St. N Arlington VA 22207 Imagine Schools 7/24/2012 $10,000.00

Missouri Club for Growth P.O. Box 2068 St Louis MO 63158 7/26/2012 $69,665.00

[emphasis added]

That’s so, you know, grassrootsie.

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

MCGHEE FOR SENATE 7/30/2012

Victory Enterprises

5200 SW 30th St

Suite 7

Davenport IA 52802

7/3/2012

TV & Direct mail $36,894.43

Victory Enterprises

5200 SW 30th St

Suite 7

Davenport IA 52802

7/17/2012

Advertising $17,657.49

Victory Enterpriss

5200 SW 30th St.

Suite 7

Davenport IA 52802

7/24/2012

Advertising $8,772.57

[emphasis added]

Direct mail and cable television.

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

PEARCE FOR SENATE 7/30/2012

Missouri Forest Products PAC 611 E. Capitol Ave. Suite 1 Jefferson City MO 65101 7/2/2012 $500.00

MLPA Legislative Fund P.O. Box 1725 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/6/2012 $500.00

Hallmark Cards Inc. P.O. Box 419580 Kansas City MO 64141 7/9/2012 $1,000.00

Missouri Public School Advocates 704 Wildwood Dr. Columbia MO 65203 7/9/2012 $2,000.00

JE Dunn Construction 1001 Locust St. Kansas City MO 64106 7/9/2012 $500.00

Terrence Dunn 1001 Locust St. Kansas City MO 64106 JE DUNN — President 7/9/2012 $1,000.00

Missouri Republican Leadership Council P.O. Box 16737 St. Louis MO 63105 7/9/2012 $10,000.00

Blue Cross Blue Shield of KC PAC P.O. Box 419169 Kansas City MO 64141 7/10/2012 $1,000.00

Missouri ACTE PAC P.O. Box 1865 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/11/2012 $500.00

Consumer Lending Alliance 92 Royster Dr. Crawfordville FL 32327 7/11/2012 $500.00

HUB Inc. 1587 Larkin Williams Fenton MO 63026 7/11/2012 $500.00

St. Louis Teachers COPE Fund 2710 Hampton Ave. St. Louis MO 63139 7/12/2012 $1,000.00

Smithfield Foods Inc. P.O. Box 9004 Smithfield VA 23431 7/16/2012 $500.00

Missouri Freedom P.O. Box 1792 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/16/2012 $2,500.00

Ameren UE PAC P.O. Box 780 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/17/2012 $2,500.00

Missouri Association of Municipal Utilities 1808 I-70 Dr. SW Columbia MO 65203 7/17/2012 $500.00

Coventry Health Care 8320 Ward Pkwy. Kansas City MO 64114 7/17/2012 $750.00

Anheuser Busch Companies One Busch Place 202-8 St. Louis MO 63118 7/17/2012 $1,000.00

MO Optometric PAC 100 E. High St. Suite 301 Jefferson City MO 65101 7/17/2012 $1,000.00

HCA Missouri Good Government Fund P.O. Box 305 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/17/2012 $1,000.00

MO Criminal Defense Lawyers PAC P.O. Box 1543 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/17/2012 $500.00

CenturyLink 220 Madison St. Jefferson City MO 65101 7/18/2012 $2,500.00

American Traffic Solutions 2737 Hereford Ave. St. Louis MO 63139 7/18/2012 $500.00

LeadingAge Missouri 3412 Knipp Dr. Suite 102 Jefferson City MO 65109 7/18/2012 $500.00

Keith Dorsch 8292 Howe Rd. Lexington MO 64067 Self — Farmer 7/19/2012 $1,000.00

HTH Companies 239 Rock Industrial Blvd. Suite 108 Union MO 63084 7/20/2012 $1,500.00

Missouri CPA PAC 540 Maryville Centre Dr. Suite 200 St. Louis MO 63141 7/21/2012 $500.00

Langdon & Emison P.O. Box 220 Lexington MO 64067 7/21/2012 $2,500.00

MO Bev PAC P.O. Box 1865 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/21/2012 $500.00

Engler for Missouri 108 W. Columbia Farmington MO 63640 7/24/2012 $1,000.00

Noranda Aluminum Inc. P.O. Box 70 New Madrid MO 63869 7/25/2012 $4,000.00

Citizens for Jay Wasson P.O. Box 1231 Nixa MO 65714 7/26/2012 $2,500.00

[emphasis added]

And here you though all that money was raised by little old ladies giving $20 a pop.

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

PEARCE FOR SENATE 7/30/2012

Rocketgroup, LLC

P.O. Box 913

Jefferson City MO 65102

7/1/2012

Signs $1,516.53

American Viewpoint

300 N. Lee St. #400

Alexandria VA 22314

7/1/2012

Polling $17,000.00

The Barklage Company

7925 Clayton Rd

STE 200

St Louis MO 63117

7/2/2012

Consulting $6,000.00

Thompson Communications

200 W. Jefferson St

Marshfield MO 65706

7/16/2012

Media $24,980.00

Thompson Communications

200 W Jefferson St.

Marshfield MO 65706

7/20/2012

Media $22,000.00

Targeted Creative Communications, INC

106 S. Columbus St

Alexandria VA 22314

7/20/2012

Mail $14,291.24

[emphasis added]

That’s a pricey poll you got there, son.

Now it’s just a matter of who can out wingnut who on cable television by next Tuesday.

Yesterday, 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

C051254 [pdf] MCGHEE FOR SENATE 7/27/2012

Missouri Club for Growth PAC

P.O. Box 2068

St Louis, MO 63158 7/26/2012

$69,665.00

IN-KIND

[emphasis added]

It’s gotta be mail. A lot of mail.

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

C010192 [pdf] PEARCE FOR SENATE 7/27/2012

Realtors Political Action Comm MO

P.O. BOX 30635

Columbia, MO 65203 7/27/2012

$11,186.76

IN-KIND

[emphasis added]

Yep, it’s gotta be mail.

When the special interests fight for control, the voters and Democracy get trampled.

One has to wonder what the old style republican corporatists are thinking now that the right wingnut crazies are the dominant force of nature in their world. It’ alive, it must be fed, and they helped create it.

Pass the popcorn.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Missouri Club for Growth going all in for the right wingnut senate caucus (July 20, 2012)

Mail: If you’ve seen one republican candidate driving a tractor in the 21st Senate District… (July 18, 2012)

Campaign Finance: David Pearce (r) and Mike McGhee (r) – July quarterly reports (July 16, 2012)

Campaign Finance: a sign on every lawn (July 16, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Missouri Club for Growth really likes Mike McGhee (r)… (July 13, 2012)

Campaign Finance: dueling checks – the republican primary in the 21st Senate District (July 9, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Sen. David Pearce (r) in the 21st Senate District – gonna need more signs (July 5, 2012)

Campaign Finance: five more an it’d be a right wingnut dozen (July 2, 2012)

Campaign Finance: somebody doesn’t like Sen. David Pearce (r) (June 30, 2012)

…you’ve seen all of the tractors in the district?

Freedom PAC, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C091269: Freedom Pac

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $1,414.78

Monetary Receipts + $0.00

Monetary Expenditures – $0.00

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $1,000.00

Subtotal     ($1,000.00)

Ending Money On Hand   $414.78

[emphasis added]

Well, that isn’t very much money (up to June 30th).

And then:

C091269 07/13/2012 FREEDOM PAC Herzog Contracting Corp 600 S Riverside Road St Joseph MO 64507 7/13/2012 $54,409.15

[emphasis added]

What on earth would they spend that kind of money on?

Today we received a fifteen inch by twelve inch slick mail piece – that’s huge and very expensive:

An attack piece directed at Senator David Pearce (r) who is facing an August primary with Mike McGhee (r).

And on the other side of the mail piece:

Why, that’s Mike McGhee with a tractor.

And who paid for that mail piece?:

Well, look at that. You’ve got to wonder if it was $54,409.15 worth of mail.

Here’s an interesting detail:

How’s that previous support for Mike McGhee working out for you, AFL-CIO?

…Mike McGhee took on union bosses to protect the right to secret ballots, and stop union bosses from taking money out of workers’ paychecks without permission…

Yeah, that filthy union money, via the Missouri Ethics Commission:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

CITIZENS TO RE-ELECT MIKE MCGHEE 10/12/2010

Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 Voluntary Political, Educational, Legislative, Charity & Defense Fund 12385 Larimore Road St. Louis, MO 63138 9/28/2010 $500.00

Missouri AFL-CIO COPE 227 Jefferson Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 9/29/2010 $200.00

[emphasis added]

And that was just a quick search of one campaign finance report.

The people who paid for this mail piece and the people who created it think the people in the district are too stupid to notice.

And the tractor? We’ve seen that before, on a mail piece paid for by and and on behalf of Mike McGhee’s (r) campaign:

Detail from a previous mail piece paid for and on behalf of Mike McGhee (r).

Why, that’s the same tractor and Mike McGhee is wearing the same clothing. Fancy that.

You’d think they’d arrange for a change of clothes during the photo session.

Another mail piece paid for and on behalf of Mike McGhee:

Ah, the usual right wingnut drivel.

Pass the popcorn.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: David Pearce (r) and Mike McGhee (r) – July quarterly reports (July 16, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Missouri Club for Growth really likes Mike McGhee (r)… (July 13, 2012)

Campaign Finance: dueling checks – the republican primary in the 21st Senate District (July 9, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Sen. David Pearce (r) in the 21st Senate District – gonna need more signs (July 5, 2012)

Campaign Finance: five more an it’d be a right wingnut dozen (July 2, 2012)

Campaign Finance: somebody doesn’t like Sen. David Pearce (r) (June 30, 2012)

Campaign Finance: when an amazing perpetual motion machine isn’t enough (February 8, 2012)

The republican sign primary in the 21st Senate District:

Interestingly, there’s no indication of party affiliation. If there were they would have to be:

(left) “very conservative republican” and (right) “wingnut birther republican who has a thing for perpetual motion machines“.

The July quarterly reports are out at the Missouri Ethics Commission. First, for David Pearce (r):

REPORT SUMMARY

PEARCE FOR SENATE 7/15/2012

2. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $65,220.00

10. Expenditures made by cash or check this period $17,201.54

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $194,420.31

[emphasis added]

That’s a healthy cash on hand, but there is also a well financed primary opponent with a base in the district. Money sitting around in the campaign account doesn’t do any good the day after you lose a primary.

Some of the contributions:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

PEARCE FOR SENATE 7/15/2012

MO Assessor’s Assn. Legislative Acct. P.O. Box 339 New London MO 63459 4/6/2012 $1,000.00

Ronnie Porter 323 Cambridge St. Marshall MO 65340 self — business owner 5/2/2012 $500.00

Committee to Elect Ron Richard P.O. Box 2523 Joplin MO 64803 5/4/2012 $5,005.00

MPCA PAC 205 E. Capitol Ave. Suite 205 Jefferson City MO 65101 5/14/2012 $1,000.00

Dempsey for Senate Two Westbury Drive St. Charles MO 63301 5/19/2012 $5,500.00

Anheuser Busch Companies One Busch Place St. Louis MO 63118 5/26/2012 $1,000.00

Mike Kehoe 3589 Gettysburg Pl. Jefferson City MO 65109 Self 6/1/2012 $5,005.00

Action Realty Co. P.O. Box 431 Warrensburg MO 64093 6/4/2012 $1,000.00

MSTA Legislative Impact Committee P.O. Box 458 Columbia MO 65205 6/21/2012 $7,500.00

Cerner 2800 Rockcreek Pkwy. Kansas City MO 64117 6/21/2012 $1,000.00

Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce PAC 30 W. Pershing Rd. Suite 301 Kansas City MO 64108 6/21/2012 $5,000.00

Titlemax 15 Bull Street Suite 200 Savannah GA 31401 6/21/2012 $1,000.00

[emphasis added]

Some of the expenditures:

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

PEARCE FOR SENATE 7/15/2012

Captiol Consulting, LLC PO BOX 931 Jefferson City MO 65102 4/2/2012 Fundraising $1,771.05

Rocket Group, LLC PO BOX 913 Jefferson City MO 65102 4/2/2012 Parade Bags $1,642.79

Consolidated Capital & Consulting PO BOX 234 Columbia MO 65205 4/5/2012 Consulting $2,000.00

Consolidated Capital & Consulting PO BOX 234 Columbia MO 65205 5/15/2012 Consulting $2,000.00

Sodexo 103 N. North St Warrensburg MO 64093 5/24/2012 Catering $1,739.74

Capitol Consulting, LLC PO BOX Jefferson City MO 65102 5/14/2012 Fundraising $2,948.70

[emphasis added]

No mail yet.

And Mike McGhee’s (r) July quarterly report?:

REPORT SUMMARY

MCGHEE FOR SENATE 7/16/2012

2. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $43,765.00

13. Total All expenditures made this period $20,745.78

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $47,031.26

[emphasis added]

Remember, there’s been quite a bit of money from some of the usual suspects coming in to Mike McGhee’s (r) campaign coffers after the reporting period.

Let’s look at the contributions from the report:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

MCGHEE FOR SENATE 7/16/2012

Missouri Club for Growth P.O. Box 2068 St Louis MO 63158 6/29/2012 $40,000.00

Salley’s Propane 1010 E. Highway Z Bates City MO 64011 6/29/2012 $500.00

D & T Carwash, LLC P.O. Box 325 Blue Springs MO 64013 6/30/2012 $500.00

[emphasis added]

Uh, yep. That’s one monster contribution.

A slick mail piece (at least in look, not so much in content) from Mike McGhee’s (r) campaign. And, there’s no indication of party affiliation.

Typical. Touting useless legislation (“right to pray”) and support from a big money astroturf (fake grassroots) organization. And, of course, the republican brand is missing on the mailing.

Some of Mike McGhee’s (r) campaign expenditures:

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

MCGHEE FOR SENATE 7/16/2012

Orscheln Farm & Home 1661 N. Highway 13 Higginsville MO 64037 6/25/2012 T-Posts for signs $641.37

Victory Enterprises 5200 S.W. 30th Street Suite 7 Davenport IA 52802 5/31/2012 Signs $11,228.36

Signs!

Hmm. Nothing, as far as we can tell, about that slick mail piece yet.

Pass the popcorn.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Missouri Club for Growth really likes Mike McGhee (r)… (July 13, 2012)

Campaign Finance: dueling checks – the republican primary in the 21st Senate District (July 9, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Sen. David Pearce (r) in the 21st Senate District – gonna need more signs (July 5, 2012)

Campaign Finance: five more an it’d be a right wingnut dozen (July 2, 2012)

Campaign Finance: somebody doesn’t like Sen. David Pearce (r) (June 30, 2012)

Campaign Finance: when an amazing perpetual motion machine isn’t enough (February 8, 2012)

…again.

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission::

C051254 07/13/2012 MCGHEE FOR SENATE Missouri Club for Growth P.O. Box 2068 St Louis MO 63158 7/13/2012 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

That’s $20,000.00 from the Missouri Club for Growth within the past four days.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: dueling checks – the republican primary in the 21st Senate District (July 9, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Sen. David Pearce (r) in the 21st Senate District – gonna need more signs (July 5, 2012)

Campaign Finance: five more an it’d be a right wingnut dozen (July 2, 2012)

Campaign Finance: somebody doesn’t like Sen. David Pearce (r) (June 30, 2012)