Probably not.

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, from the folks who want to preserve Missouri’s least in the nation status for tobacco taxes:

C000639 10/26/2012 MO PETROLEUM MARKETERS + CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOC PAC LPC Inc 91 Larkin Williams Ind Ct Fenton MO 63026 10/26/2012 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

I sense a little less enthusiasm (cough, cough, hack, hack). Probably not.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: take that, you hackers (October 24, 2012)

Campaign Finance: “such sheets of fire [cough, cough], such bursts of horrid thunder” (October 23, 2012)

Campaign Finance – October 2012 quarterly reports – cough, cough, hack, hack (October 15, 2012)

Signs (cough) of the times (October 3, 2012)

Campaign Finance: What’s up in (cough) Fenton? (October 2, 2012)

Campaign Finance: the empire strikes back (September 27, 2012)

Campaign Finance: not just blowin’ smoke (September 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: put that in your pipe and smoke it (September 24, 2012)

Campaign Finance: in the old days everyone would notice (August 9, 2012)

Campaign Finance: take that (cough, cough, hack, hack) (June 15, 2012)

Campaign Finance: when the smoke clears (May 29, 2012)

Campaign Finance: stepping up to clear the air (May 25, 2012)

Campaign Finance: smoke gets in our eyes… (April 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: up in a cloud of smoke (April 20, 2012)

Campaign Finance: cough, cough, hack, hack (April 10, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 15, 2012)

Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 14, 2012)

Today, the folks supporting Proposition B, the initiative to raise Missouri’s last in the nation tobacco tax, scored a significant amount of in state money. At the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C121042 10/24/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Health Care Foundation of Greater KC 2700 East 18th Street #220 Kansas City MO 64127 10/23/2012 $400,000.00

[emphasis added]

Fancy that.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: “such sheets of fire [cough, cough], such bursts of horrid thunder” (October 23, 2012)

Campaign Finance – October 2012 quarterly reports – cough, cough, hack, hack (October 15, 2012)

Signs (cough) of the times (October 3, 2012)

Campaign Finance: What’s up in (cough) Fenton? (October 2, 2012)

Campaign Finance: the empire strikes back (September 27, 2012)

Campaign Finance: not just blowin’ smoke (September 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: put that in your pipe and smoke it (September 24, 2012)

Campaign Finance: in the old days everyone would notice (August 9, 2012)

Campaign Finance: take that (cough, cough, hack, hack) (June 15, 2012)

Campaign Finance: when the smoke clears (May 29, 2012)

Campaign Finance: stepping up to clear the air (May 25, 2012)

Campaign Finance: smoke gets in our eyes… (April 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: up in a cloud of smoke (April 20, 2012)

Campaign Finance: cough, cough, hack, hack (April 10, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 15, 2012)

Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 14, 2012)

The folks opposed to raising Missouri’s last in the nation tobacco tax raked it from out of state today. At the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C000639 10/23/2012 MO PETROLEUM MARKETERS + CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOC PAC XCaliber International LTD One Tobacco Road Pryor OK 74361 10/23/2012 $125,000.00

C000639 10/23/2012 MO PETROLEUM MARKETERS + CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOC PAC Cheyenne International, LLC 701 South Battleground Ave Grover NC 28073 10/23/2012 $275,000.00

C000639 10/23/2012 MO PETROLEUM MARKETERS + CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOC PAC Amcon Distributing Company PO Box 641940 Omaha NE 68164 10/23/2012 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Go figure.

Previously:

Campaign Finance – October 2012 quarterly reports – cough, cough, hack, hack (October 15, 2012)

Signs (cough) of the times (October 3, 2012)

Campaign Finance: What’s up in (cough) Fenton? (October 2, 2012)

Campaign Finance: the empire strikes back (September 27, 2012)

Campaign Finance: not just blowin’ smoke (September 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: put that in your pipe and smoke it (September 24, 2012)

Campaign Finance: in the old days everyone would notice (August 9, 2012)

Campaign Finance: take that (cough, cough, hack, hack) (June 15, 2012)

Campaign Finance: when the smoke clears (May 29, 2012)

Campaign Finance: stepping up to clear the air (May 25, 2012)

Campaign Finance: smoke gets in our eyes… (April 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: up in a cloud of smoke (April 20, 2012)

Campaign Finance: cough, cough, hack, hack (April 10, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 15, 2012)

Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 14, 2012)

The opponents to raising Missouri’s last in the nation tobacco tax showed us a few very interesting details in their October quarterly report filed today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR EXPENDITURE

MO PETROLEUM MARKETERS + CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOC PAC [pdf] 10/11/2012

Joseph Haslag 5403 W Tayside Cir Columbia MO 65203 9/18/2012 update of fiscal and economic impact of prop b, the Missouri 2012 Tobacco Tax $900.00

Axion Strategies, LLC 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy, Ste 85 Kansas City MO 64116 9/13/2012 focus groups on Prop B $15,198.68

[emphasis added]

Well, isn’t that special?

They spent a lot of money on billboards and $23,870.69 on yard signs.

Previously:

Signs (cough) of the times (October 3, 2012)

Campaign Finance: What’s up in (cough) Fenton? (October 2, 2012)

Campaign Finance: the empire strikes back (September 27, 2012)

Campaign Finance: not just blowin’ smoke (September 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: put that in your pipe and smoke it (September 24, 2012)

Campaign Finance: in the old days everyone would notice (August 9, 2012)

Campaign Finance: take that (cough, cough, hack, hack) (June 15, 2012)

Campaign Finance: when the smoke clears (May 29, 2012)

Campaign Finance: stepping up to clear the air (May 25, 2012)

Campaign Finance: smoke gets in our eyes… (April 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: up in a cloud of smoke (April 20, 2012)

Campaign Finance: cough, cough, hack, hack (April 10, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 15, 2012)

Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 14, 2012)

Yard signs for the folks opposed to increasing Missouri’s least in the nation tobacco tax – spotted in front of the right of way at a convenience store in west central Missouri:

When is too little next to nothing?

Paid for by the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association PAC. What, people won’t patronize

establishments if they can’t get the cheapest smokes? As if spicy jerky isn’t enough?

I dunno, it just seems so grassrootsie. From a corporate point of view.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: What’s up in (cough) Fenton? (October 2, 2012)

Campaign Finance: the empire strikes back (September 27, 2012)

Campaign Finance: not just blowin’ smoke (September 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: put that in your pipe and smoke it (September 24, 2012)

Campaign Finance: in the old days everyone would notice (August 9, 2012)

Campaign Finance: take that (cough, cough, hack, hack) (June 15, 2012)

Campaign Finance: when the smoke clears (May 29, 2012)

Campaign Finance: stepping up to clear the air (May 25, 2012)

Campaign Finance: smoke gets in our eyes… (April 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: up in a cloud of smoke (April 20, 2012)

Campaign Finance: cough, cough, hack, hack (April 10, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 15, 2012)

Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 14, 2012)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, for some of the folks who want to keep Missouri’s tobacco tax at 51st lowest in the nation:

C000639 10/02/2012 MO PETROLEUM MARKETERS + CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOC PAC DC Inc 895 Bolger Court Fenton MO 63026 10/2/2012 $25,000.00

C000639 10/02/2012 MO PETROLEUM MARKETERS + CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOC PAC U-Gas Inc 895 Bolger Court Fenton MO 63026 10/2/2012 $25,000.00

C000639 10/02/2012 MO PETROLEUM MARKETERS + CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOC PAC Hub Inc 1587 Larkin Wiliams Fenton MO 63026 10/2/2012 $25,000.00

C000639 10/02/2012 MO PETROLEUM MARKETERS + CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOC PAC LPC Inc 91 Larkin Williams Ind Ct Fenton MO 63026 10/2/2012 $25,000.00

They’re such nice round numbers.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: the empire strikes back (September 27, 2012)

Campaign Finance: not just blowin’ smoke (September 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: put that in your pipe and smoke it (September 24, 2012)

Campaign Finance: in the old days everyone would notice (August 9, 2012)

Campaign Finance: take that (cough, cough, hack, hack) (June 15, 2012)

Campaign Finance: when the smoke clears (May 29, 2012)

Campaign Finance: stepping up to clear the air (May 25, 2012)

Campaign Finance: smoke gets in our eyes… (April 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: up in a cloud of smoke (April 20, 2012)

Campaign Finance: cough, cough, hack, hack (April 10, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 15, 2012)

Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 14, 2012)

Yesterday:

Uh, yeah. It’ll be difficult to top that.

Heh.

Darth Vader: I find your lack of faith disturbing.

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, it’s tobacco’s turn:

C000639 09/27/2012 MO PETROLEUM MARKETERS + CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOC PAC Xcaliber International LTD, LLC One Tobacco Road Pryor OK 74361 9/27/2012 $200,000.00

[emphasis added]

Previously:

Campaign Finance: not just blowin’ smoke (September 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: put that in your pipe and smoke it (September 24, 2012)

Campaign Finance: in the old days everyone would notice (August 9, 2012)

Campaign Finance: take that (cough, cough, hack, hack) (June 15, 2012)

Campaign Finance: when the smoke clears (May 29, 2012)

Campaign Finance: stepping up to clear the air (May 25, 2012)

Campaign Finance: smoke gets in our eyes… (April 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: up in a cloud of smoke (April 20, 2012)

Campaign Finance: cough, cough, hack, hack (April 10, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 15, 2012)

Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 14, 2012)

Today, for the folks supporting an increase in Missouri’s tobacco tax on the November ballot, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C121042 09/26/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc. 555 11th Street NW Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 9/26/2012 $1,725,000.00

[emphasis added]

Uh, yeah. It’ll be difficult to top that.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: put that in your pipe and smoke it (September 24, 2012)

Campaign Finance: in the old days everyone would notice (August 9, 2012)

Campaign Finance: take that (cough, cough, hack, hack) (June 15, 2012)

Campaign Finance: when the smoke clears (May 29, 2012)

Campaign Finance: stepping up to clear the air (May 25, 2012)

Campaign Finance: smoke gets in our eyes… (April 26, 2012)

Campaign Finance: up in a cloud of smoke (April 20, 2012)

Campaign Finance: cough, cough, hack, hack (April 10, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 15, 2012)

Initiative petitions on raising the tobacco tax (February 14, 2012)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, for the group in support of raising Missouri’s lowest in the nation tobacco tax:

C121042 09/24/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Health Care Foundation of Greater KC 2700 East 18th Street #220 Kansas City MO 64127 9/24/2012 $435,000.00

[emphasis added]

C121042: Missourians For Health And Education

Ballot Measures Election Date Subject Support/Oppose

Statutory Amendment To Chapters 149 & 196 Rsmo Relating To Tobacco Taxation & Regulation 11/06/2012 Tobacco Taxation & Regulation Statewide Support

[emphasis added]

They have been pulling in the contributions (2012):

C121042 01/27/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society, High Plains Division, Inc. 2433 Ridgepoint Drive Austin TX 78754 1/26/2012 $217,622.00

C121042 02/09/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society, High Plains Division Inc. 2433 Ridgepoint Dr Austin TX 78754 2/8/2012 $82,500.00

C121042 02/14/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc 555 11th Street NW Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 2/14/2012 $5,308.50

C121042 02/15/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City 2700 East 18th Street Suite 200 Kansas City MO 64127 2/15/2012 $350,000.00

C121042 03/16/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc. 555 11th Street NW Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 3/16/2012 $9,781.63

C121042 04/03/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc. 555 11th Street NW Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 4/3/2012 $9,000.00

C121042 04/13/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc. 555 11th Street NW Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 4/13/2012 $18,763.00

C121042 04/20/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society-High Plains Division, Inc. 2433 Ridgepoint Dr Austin TX 78754 4/20/2012 $75,000.00

C121042 05/02/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc. 13740 W 7th Ave Golden CO 80401 5/2/2012 $9,000.00

C121042 05/16/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc. 555 11th Street NW Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 5/16/2012 $25,892.00

C121042 05/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Gary Forsee 3 Dunford Circle Kansas City MO 64112 Retired 5/23/2012 $25,000.00

C121042 05/29/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Orscheln Management Co. 2000 US Hwy 63 South Moberly MO 65270 5/29/2012 $25,000.00

C121042 06/04/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION The Civic Council of Greater Kansas City 1200 Main Street Suite 230 Kansas City MO 64105 6/4/2012 $25,000.00



C121042 06/05/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc. 555 11th Street NW Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 6/4/2012 $9,000.00

C121042 06/15/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network 555 11th Street NW Suite 300 Washingto DC 20004 6/15/2012 $127,515.78

C121042 06/18/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc. 555 11th Street NW Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 6/18/2012 $53,149.61

C121042 06/20/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Richard Miller 610 E. Jefferson Street Pittsburg KS 66762 Miller’s Professional Imaging/PPIX CEO 6/18/2012 $10,000.00

C121042 07/06/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Burns & McDonnell 9400 Ward Parkway Kansas City MO 64114 7/5/2012 $10,000.00

C121042 07/11/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Heart Association 7272 Greenville Avenue Dallas TX 75231 7/11/2012 $15,000.00

C121042 07/16/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network 555 11th Street NW, Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 7/16/2012 $9,000.00

C121042 07/18/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas City P.O Box 419169 Kansas City MO 64141 7/18/2012 $10,000.00

C121042 07/18/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Kansas City Southern Railway Co 427 West 12th Street Kansas City MO 64105 7/18/2012 $25,000.00

C121042 07/30/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Gray Ritter & Graham, P.C. 701 Market St. Ste 800 St Louis MO 63101 7/29/2012 $10,000.00

C121042 08/02/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION World Wide Technology Holding Co, Inc 60 Weldon Parkway St Louis MO 63043 8/2/2012 $25,000.00

C121042 08/07/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network 555 11th Street NW, Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 8/6/2012 $21,904.50

C121042 08/07/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network 555 11th Street NW, Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 8/7/2012 $9,000.00

C121042 08/08/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION JAD VII, LLC 2001 Shawnee Mission Pkwy Shawnee Mission KS 66205 8/8/2012 $15,000.00

C121042 08/14/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network 555 11th Street NW, Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 8/14/2012 $11,564.22

C121042 08/16/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network 555 11th Street NW, Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 8/16/2012 $9,000.00

C121042 08/17/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Friends of Chris Kelly 1400 Forum Blvd Ste 38 Columbia MO 65203 8/17/2012 $10,000.00

C121042 08/22/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Husch Blackwell LLP 4801 Main St., Ste 1000 Kansas City MO 64112 8/22/2012 $10,000.00

C121042 08/22/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Polsinelli Shughart 700 West 47th St., Ste 1000 Kansas City MO 64112 8/22/2012 $10,000.00

C121042 08/23/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Gilmore & Bell 2405 Grand Blvd, Ste 1100 Kansas City MO 64108 8/23/2012 $10,000.00

C121042 08/28/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network 555 11th Street NW, Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 8/28/2012 $38,538.70

C121042 08/28/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network 555 11th Street NW, Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 8/28/2012 $18,630.50

C121042 08/28/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network 555 11th Street NW, Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 8/28/2012 $48,467.93

C121042 08/28/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network 555 11th Street NW, Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 8/28/2012 $20,213.75

C121042 08/29/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Civic Progress Action Committee 800 Market St., Ste 1900 St Louis MO 63101 8/29/2012 $25,000.00

C121042 09/04/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION The Laclede Group, Inc. 720 Olive Street St Louis MO 63101 9/3/2012 $15,000.00

C121042 09/04/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Regional Business Council 7701 Forsyth Blvd., Ste 205 St Louis MO 63105 9/3/2012 $25,000.00

C121042 09/04/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION HMK Global Services P.O. Box 418307 Kansas City MO 64108 9/3/2012 $15,000.00

C121042 09/07/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION DST Systems, Inc. 333 W. 11th St. Kansas City MO 64105 9/7/2012 $10,000.00

C121042 09/09/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network 555 11th Street NW, Suite 300 Washington DC 20004 9/7/2012 $9,514.99

C121042 09/12/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP 460 Nichols Rd, Ste 200 Kansas City MO 64112 9/12/2012 $10,000.00

C121042 09/12/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Health Care Foundation of Greater KC 2700 East 18th Street #220 Kansas City MO 64127 9/12/2012 $210,000.00

C121042 09/17/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION Missouri National Education Assoc Legislative Crisis Fund 1810 E. Elm St. Jefferson City MO 65101 9/17/2012 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

Well, that’s an interesting group of Godless socialists if we’ve ever seen one….

In case you’re wondering, that was the title of a Chuck Wagon and the Wheels album from the late seventies.

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C000639 08/14/2012 MO PETROLEUM MARKETERS + CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOC PAC Xcaliber International LTD, LLC One Tobacco Road Pryor OK 74361 8/13/2012 $200,000.00

C000639 08/14/2012 MO PETROLEUM MARKETERS + CONVENIENCE STORE ASSOC PAC U-GAS, INC 1587 LARKIN WILLIAMS RD Fenton MO 63026 8/14/2012 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

Tobacco and gas.

Previously: Campaign Finance: in the old days everyone would notice (August 9, 2012)