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Tag Archives: Grow Missouri

Campaign Finance: Will it be enough?

02 Wednesday Oct 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

campaign finance, Grow Missouri, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PAC, Rex Sinquefield

Bring back the blimp!

The Rex Sinquefield funded PAC Grow Missouri’s moving billboard [October 2014 file photo].

Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C131097 10/01/2019 Grow Missouri Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 Retired 9/30/2019 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

Sadly, probably not.

Previously:

The blimp is dope, man… (November 8, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Bring back the blimp! (July 20, 2018)

Campaign Finance: Oh, pretty please, bring back the blimp…

10 Monday Sep 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

blimp, campaign finance, Grow Missouri, initiatives, Marijuana, missouri, PAC, Rex Sinquefield

Grow Missouri’s moving billboard [October 2014 file photo].

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C131097 09/10/2018 Grow Missouri Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 Retired 9/10/2018 $105,000.00

[emphasis added]

It’s not going to happen. But, it’s a nice thought, especially since there are few marijuana initiatives on the November ballot. The confusion would be epic.

Campaign Finance: Bring back the blimp!

20 Friday Jul 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

campaign finance, Grow Missouri, missouri, Missouri Club for Growth, Missouri Ethics Commission, PACs, Rex Sinquefield

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for a couple of right wingnut PACs from one of their consistent check writers:

C101046 07/20/2018 Missouri Club for Growth Political Action Committee Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Ln Westphalia MO 65085 Retired 7/20/2018 $250,000.00

[emphasis added]

Grow Missouri’s moving billboard [October 2014 file photo].

C131097 07/20/2018 Grow Missouri Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 Retired 7/20/2018 $200,000.00

[emphasis added]

He’s awake and writing big checks.

Spend it on the blimp!

Previously:

Campaign Finance: He’s baaaaack. (March 9, 2018)

Is the fix in for Lambert airport privitazation?

16 Saturday Jun 2018

Posted by willykay in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Grow Missouri, Lambert airport, Lyda Krewson, missouri, privatization, Rex Sinquefield, Show-Me-Institute

Two days ago (6/14) St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson published a guest column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch entitled “Turning our airport into a stronger reagional asset.” It was all sweet nothings and tippy toes. Sweet words because the spectre of privatization, first raised by Krewson’s mentor, Mayor Slay, has properly raised hackles elsewhere in city government. As St. Louis Comptroller put it:

… . Currently, the airport is in a strong financial position showing 31 straight months of passenger growth, two credit-rating upgrades, and added international flights.

Privatization would disrupt this growth. Our airport is an asset for the city, and a private entity beholden to shareowners, not consumers, would put bottom-line profit over public service.

But clearly Mayor Krewson has  her eye on a bigger prize for cash-strapped St. Louis since she writes that “this proposal could result in new revenue, potentially hundreds of millions of dollars. We could use that revenue to provide better city services across the board, without raising taxes.” It’s hard to deny that St. Louis is in a hard place right now – but the problem isn’t the airport so one wonders why the airport has to provide the solution. Selling the family jewels in order to buy bread is hardly a “win-win,” just more evidence that the region is on a downward trajectory.

It’s interesting that Krewson mentions the hoped-for financial windfall only after asserting that contracting with a “private entity” to oversee the management and operation at the airport would open the door to “innovation” and improved services. She’s also emphatic that the airport itself would not be sold to private interests, only leased, and she’s at great pains to assure us that care is being taken to be sure that the city’s and the region’s interests will not be sacrificed.

To this end she notes that a study of the advantages and disadvantages has been commissioned and she lists several of the “broad range of […] experts” that have been engaged to carry it out. And it is at this point that my sleepy hackles went up: Krewson, hoping to tip the scales just a little more heavily in the direction of the careful process she wants us to believe she has engendered notes that this study will cost the city nothing. Nothing at all. It will be paid for by one of that group of “experts,” Grow Missouri, a local nonprofit that is providing funding for all of the work leading up to the signing of a potential lease.”

What Krewson conveniently omits – at least I didn’t notice it at first – is that Grow Missouri, which, given its financial commitment to underwrite the effort, is a significant stakeholder in the process, is also affiliated with funded by local rightwing billionaire Rex Sinquefield‘s. Show-Me-Institute, a “think-tank” that commits “studies” that studiously confirm Sinquefield’s druthers. It looks like old Mr. Privatizer, megabucks Rex Sinquefield, will continue in his efforts to get government out of government, Lambert representing one more can that can be knocked down. Am I wrong? Can we expect transparency in a process funded by folks who start with a firm agenda to arrive at a pre-determined answer?

Alderman Cara Spencer agrees that the study-group might not be as kosher as Krewson suggests, and also notes that the study group does not include an important stakeholder, further suggesting that it represents an effort to stack the deck:

She said in an interview that there had been a lack of transparency from the start and that the consultants had an incentive to push for a privatization deal because they’d be paid only if one was lined up. “Their incentive is to say yes,” she said.

She also criticized the selection of the Sinquefield-related firm to continue guiding a process that it started. Moreover, she complained that Airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge wasn’t part of the committee. “I find the lack of inclusion of the airport director really alarming, quite frankly,” Spencer said.

I initially felt a little suspicious of the careful cooking process that Krewson accorded her oh-so tasty argument in her op-ed, but after taking the final product in, I’ve got to admit, I’m feeling a little sick to my stomach. A teaspoon of sugar might make the “medicine go down,” but too much saccharin has the opposite effect. So much for the sweet words and tippy toes.

It also might not hurt to take a look at a Congressional Research Service Report that notes that, of the two applicants to take advantage of an Airport Privatization Pilot Program authorized in 1996, only one remains in private hands. Among the reasons for the failure of the pilot to recruit more participants and to demonstrate success was the level of regulation that such a monopoly would be subjected to – many of which constitute just those fiduciary and service protections that Krewson promises.

But, hey, it’s Trump (and Sinquefield) time, the day of the almighty buck. With any luck most of those protections will be re-regulated away.

Addendum 1: I misspoke when I noted that Grow Missouri is affiliated with the Show-Me-Institute. My apologies for not checking my sources more carefully. The situation is even worse, however, than such an affiliation would have suggested. Grow Missouri is, in fact, just another one of those of the myriad entities heavily or entirely funded directly by Rex Sinquefield (to the tune of $2.5 million in 2014 alone) in order to realize his political and ideological inclinations.

Additionally, according to a February report in the STL Post-Dispatch, Sinquefield also paid “the city’s application to the Federal Aviation Administration’s privatization pilot program, and is paying the consultants.” Oddly, given Krewson’s statement that the study will cost the city nada, the same report states that he “will be reimbursed.”  An even earlier January Post-Dispatch report contains the following assertions: “the firms would be paid only out of the proceeds of any privatization deal that ends up being worked out, city officials said. […]  Grow Missouri, the Sinquefield-funded nonprofit, would be paid only to reimburse any out-of-pocket payments it makes to the McKenna and Moelis firms and to any other contractors hired by Grow Missouri.” So what’s the story?

Addendum 2: Want even more on the “fix” that may be in process? A joint letter to the editor of the Post-Dispatch (6/17) from State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal and State Rep. Courtney Allen Curtis present pertinent arguments that County residents have little say in the issue although they have paid the heaviest price for airport improvements in the past and are likely to do so again once the private industry profit motive is allowed fuller reign.

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed  also published a letter today (6/17) noting that the issue must to be discussed publicly and  not turned over to a group of “consultants” who, “far from being an objective group, […] would be paid millions of dollars if the airport is privatized.”

Campaign Finance: really hoping for the return of the blimp

20 Sunday Mar 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

campaign finance, Grow Missouri, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PAC, Rex Sinquefield

Some of us.

The Rex Sinquefield funded PAC Grow Missouri’s moving billboard at  the University of Central Missouri’s Skyhaven Airport near Warrensburg [October 2014 file photo].

The Rex Sinquefield funded PAC Grow Missouri’s moving billboard at the University of Central Missouri’s Skyhaven Airport near Warrensburg [October 2014 file photo].

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C131097 03/20/2016 GROW MISSOURI Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 Retired 3/17/2016 $21,625.00

[emphasis added]

Does anyone think we could lobby for it?

Previously:

The blimp is dope, man… (November 8, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Startup costs? (March 5, 2016)

Campaign Finance: Bring back the blimp! (March 9, 2016)

Campaign Finance: Bring back the blimp!

09 Wednesday Mar 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

blimp, campaign finance, Grow Missouri, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PAC, Rex Sinquefield

The Rex Sinquefield funded PAC Grow Missouri’s moving billboard at  the University of Central Missouri’s Skyhaven Airport near Warrensburg [October 2014 file photo].

The Rex Sinquefield funded PAC Grow Missouri’s moving billboard at the University of Central Missouri’s Skyhaven Airport near Warrensburg [October 2014 file photo].

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C131097 03/09/2016 GROW MISSOURI Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 Retired 3/8/2016 $13,300.00

[emphasis added]

Pretty please!

Previously:

The blimp is dope, man… (November 8, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Startup costs? (March 5, 2016)

Campaign Finance: Startup costs?

05 Saturday Mar 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

campaign finance, Grow Missouri, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PAC, Rex Sinquefield

The Rex Sinquefield funded PAC Grow Missouri’s moving billboard at  the University of Central Missouri’s Skyhaven Airport near Warrensburg [October 2014 file photo].

The Rex Sinquefield funded PAC Grow Missouri’s moving billboard at the University of Central Missouri’s Skyhaven Airport near Warrensburg [October 2014 file photo].

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the Grow Missouri PAC:

C131097 03/05/2016 GROW MISSOURI Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 Retired 3/3/2016 $9,242.00

[emphasis added]

That’s small potatoes. Maybe they’re getting ready to bring back the blimp.

Inviting the leader of a sovereign state to speak in your capital city to tweak your elected leader

04 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Grow Missouri, Kansas, missouri, Rex Sinquefield, Sam Brownback, Show Me Institute, taxes

What is it with republicans?

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback (r) [2015 file photo].

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback talking tax cuts in Missouri

By JASON HANCOCK

The Star’s Jefferson City correspondent

03/04/2015 1:04 PM 03/04/2015 1:50 PM

JEFFERSON CITY

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is taking his tax-slashing message on the road, with two speaking events in Missouri to groups funded by St. Louis billionaire and conservative megadonor Rex Sinquefield.

Wednesday afternoon, Brownback addressed a luncheon sponsored by Grow Missouri, a Sinquefield-funded group founded two years ago to push lawmakers to enact tax cuts for individuals and businesses in the state. The title of the luncheon was “Growing Prosperity for Years to Come,” and Grow Missouri tweeted that Brownback would discuss “his tax policies and how we can adopt them.”

Joining Grow Missouri in sponsoring the luncheon were the Associated Industries of Missouri and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. The event was invitation only, with a representative from Sinquefield’s lobbying firm telling The Star that no media would be allowed. Several lawmakers indicated they planned to attend….

[….]

At least we think it reads like he spoke in Jefferson City.

A comment, via Twitter:

Steven Anthony ‏@scanthony14

Pretty sure Gov. Nixon has never gone to speak in Topeka, so why would Gov. Brownback speak in our capital? #BorderWar #MOLeg 12:51 PM – 4 Mar 2015

Uh, he’s following the money since there isn’t any left in Kansas?

Campaign Finance: It’s never too soon, eh?

07 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Grow Missouri, missouri, PAC, Paul Wieland, Rex Sinquefield

What’s so special about today? Just asking.

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C101236 01/07/2015 WIELAND NOW Grow Missouri 308 E. High St Suite 301 Jefferson City MO 65101 1/6/2015 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

C101236: Wieland Now

1015 Castleman Drive Committee Type: Candidate

Imperial Mo 63052 Party Affiliation: Republican

[….] Established Date: 04/15/2010

[….]

Election Year Primary Outcome General Outcome Political Office

2018 State Senator District 22

2014 Successful Successful State Senator District 22

2012 Successful Successful State Representative District 112

2010 Successful Successful State Representative District 102

[emphasis added]

What’s the rush?

Campaign Finance: rearranging the deck chairs on the blimp

24 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

blimp, campaign finance, Grow Missouri, missouri, Rex Sinquefield, Teachgreat

The Rex Sinquefield funded PAC Grow Missouri’s moving billboard at

the University of Central Missouri’s Skyhaven Airport near Warrensburg [file photo].

Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C131097 12/23/2014 GROW MISSOURI TeachGreat.Org 308 E. High Street Suite 301 Jefferson City MO 65101 12/22/2014 $19,141.10

[emphasis added]

It’s a monetary contribution. We checked.

C121045: Teachgreat.Org

308 E High St Ste 301 Committee Type: Political Action

Jefferson City Mo 65101

[….] Established Date: 01/27/2012

[….]

Information Reported On: 2014 – 30 Day After General Election-11/4/2014

Beginning Money on Hand $33,685.01

Monetary Receipts + $10.09

Monetary Expenditures – $9,318.04

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $0.00

Subtotal     ($9,307.95)

Ending Money On Hand   $24,377.06

[emphasis added]

Not much left after that. We’ll see if there’s anything after the next quarterly report.

C131097: Grow Missouri

308 E High St Ste 301 Committee Type: Political Action

Jefferson City Mo 65101

[….] Established Date: 07/08/2013

[….]

Information Reported On: 2014 – 30 Day After General Election-11/4/2014

Beginning Money on Hand $1,527,083.78

Monetary Receipts + $0.00

Monetary Expenditures – $120,556.29

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $0.00

Subtotal     ($120,556.29)

Ending Money On Hand   $1,406,527.49

[emphasis added]

There’s plenty enough there to bring back the blimp.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: how astroturf (the fake grassroots) works (August 1, 2013)

Campaign Finance: teachers are evil, except when they save kids from a tornado or a crazed gunman (May 24, 2013)

Campaign Finance: using a lot of money to beat up on teachers (May 28, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Bah, humbug! (December 25, 2013)

Campaign Finance: here’s $31,000.00, go beat up on public school teachers (February 26, 2014)

Campaign Finance: a contribution of only $20.00 is a stronger statement (April 25, 2014)

“…We smiled and waved, sittin’ there on that sack of seeds.” (September 20, 2014)

The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys (October 1, 2014)

Follow the blimp, then check the area for concentrations of hot air… (October 11, 2014)

The twenty-something campaign consultants who spend Rex Sinquefield’s money think your stoopit (October 22, 2014)

Campaign Finance: maybe the blimp is running out of gas (October 24, 2014)

The campaign consultants who spend Rex Sinquefield’s money think your stoopit – part 2 (October 28, 2014)

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