Follow the money.

The Red Lily, Anatole France

…For the poor it consists in sustaining and preserving the wealthy in their power and their laziness. The poor must work for this, in presence of the majestic quality of the law which prohibits the wealthy as well as the poor from sleeping under the bridges, from begging in the streets, and from stealing bread…

In Missouri and America the majestic quality of the law allows the wealthy and the poor alike to face no limits on the amount of money they can choose to contribute to a candidate or political cause.

Via Twitter:

Sean Nicholson @ssnich

Guess who gave $300k to the RSLC in October? Hint: Rhymes with Hex Pinkfield. [….] #moleg 8:37 PM – 4 Dec 2014

Via the IRS, from the Republican State Leadership Committee IRS Form 8872 filed on December 4, 2014:

One of their many contributors:

A few of their contributions:

Gee, that was mighty independent of them.

Welcome to the world of politics in 21st century America.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Who is getting propped up this time? (October 3, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Now we know… (October 6, 2014)

Campaign Finance: But wait, there’s more… (October 12, 2014)

Others are noticing (October 17, 2014)

Campaign Finance: topping off the tank (October 17, 2014)

What you’d get to see of a campaign finance full moon if the RSLC cut a check in Missouri (October 20, 2014)

Campaign Finance: be the judge (October 23, 2014)

Campaign Finance: a Cole County courtroom drama (October 27, 2014)

Campaign Finance: judge the details (October 30, 2014)

Campaign Finance: last minute (November 2, 2014)

Election Results: 19th Judicial Circuit – Cole County (November 5, 2014)

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) has been funneling a lot of money (the source which we don’t know yet) to prop up Brian Stumpe, the republican in the 19th Judicial Circuit race challenging incumbent Judge Patricia Joyce (D). Still, we can see what their “local” PAC does with the money through reports to the Missouri Ethics Commission. Why is this race so important? Court challenges to statewide ballot initiative language are filed in the Cole County circuit (which includes Jefferson City). You think right wingnuts get upset when the court sometimes won’t let them have their way with obfuscatory ballot language?

From the RSLC Missouri PAC eight days before the election report:

CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOANS RECEIVED

RSLC-MISSOURI PAC [pdf] 10/27/2014

Republican State Leadership Committee

1201 F Street, NW

Washington DC 20004

10/3/2014

$100,000.00

Republican State Leadership Committee

1201 F Street, NW

Washington DC 20004

10/10/2014

$100,000.00

Republican State Leadership Committee

1201 F Street, NW

Washington DC 20004

10/15/2014

$10,700.00

Republican State Leadership Committee

1201 F Street, NW

Washington DC 20004

10/21/2014

$35,250.00

Republican State Leadership Committee

1201 F Street, NW

Washington DC 20004

10/23/2014

$22,800.00

[emphasis added]

And they gave a really big chunk of that change to the republican challenger:

EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE

RSLC-MISSOURI PAC 10/27/2014

C.Contributions Made (Regardless of Amount)

Citizens for Stumpe

611 E Capitol Avenue

Jefferson City MO 65101

10/3/2014

$100,000.00

[emphasis added]

And they also have to report what they spent the money on:

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

RSLC-MISSOURI PAC 10/27/2014

Smart Media Group, LLC

1427 Leslie Avenue

Suite 100

Alexandria VA 22301

10/3/2014

Media Placement and Production $100,000.00

Candidate Command, LLC

1420 NW Vivion

Suite 113

Kansas City MO 64118

10/15/2014

Mail Postage and Production $10,666.00

Candidate Command, LLC

1420 NW Vivion

Suite 113

Kansas City MO 64118

10/21/2014

Mail Postage and Production $34,108.00

Candidate Command, LLC

1420 NW Vivion

Suite 113

Kansas City MO 64118

10/23/2014

Mail Postage and Production $12,776.00

Hanold Communications

630 Browns Court, SE

Washington DC 20003

10/21/2014

Media Production

$1,070.00

[emphasis added]

Television (?), radio (?) and a lot of mail.

And who they spent the money against:

DIRECT EXPENDITURE REPORT

RSLC-MISSOURI PAC 10/27/2014

This form is used when expenditures listed on form CD3 have been made directly on behalf of [or in opposition to] a candidate or ballot measure issue. Candidate committees making expenditures only on behalf of the candidate for which their committee was formed do not complete this form.

[in opposition to:]

Patricia Joyce

PO Box 105827

Jefferson City MO 65110

Circuit Judge

Circuit 19

Division 4

10/21/2014 $1,070.00

Patricia Joyce

PO Box 105827

Jefferson City MO 65110

Circuit Judge

Circuit 19

Division 4

10/23/2014 $12,776.00

Patricia Joyce

PO Box 105827

Jefferson City MO 65110

Circuit Judge

Circuit 19

Division 4

10/21/2014 $34,108.00

Patricia Joyce

PO Box 105827

Jefferson City MO 65110

Circuit Judge

Circuit 19

Division 4

10/15/2014 $10,666.00

Patricia Joyce

PO Box 105827

Jefferson City MO 65110

Circuit Judge

Circuit 19

Division 4

10/10/2014 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

They’re carpet bombing the voters with direct mail.

We’re at the point in the campaign calender where PACs (and all other campaigns) must report significant expenditures within twenty-four hours. The RSLC Missouri PAC has filed a couple of those, too:

CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOANS RECEIVED

RSLC-MISSOURI PAC [pdf] 10/27/2014

Republican State Leadership Committee

1201 F Street, NW

Washington DC 20004

10/27/2014

$12,800.00

EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE

B.Itemized Expenditures All Over $100

Candidate Command, LLC

1420 NW Vivion

Suite 113

Kansas City MO 64118

10/27/2014

Mail Postage and Production

$12,776.00

DIRECT EXPENDITURE REPORT

[in opposition to:]

Patricia Joyce

PO Box 105827

Jefferson City MO 65110

Circuit Judge

Circuit 19

Division 4

10/27/2014 $12,776.00

[emphasis added]

Fancy that.

CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOANS RECEIVED

RSLC-MISSOURI PAC [pdf] 10/30/2014

Republican State Leadership Committee

1201 F Street, NW

Washington DC 20004

10/29/2014

$16,200.00

Republican State Leadership Committee

1201 F Street, NW

Washington DC 20004

10/30/2014

$1,250.00

EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE

B.Itemized Expenditures All Over $100

Smart Media Group, LLC

1427 Leslie Avenue

Suite 100

Alexandria VA 22301

10/29/2014

Media Placement and Production

$16,200.00

Four Winds Consulting

311 S Summit Avenue

Villa Park IL 60181

10/30/2014

Digital Production

$1,250.00

DIRECT EXPENDITURE REPORT

[in opposition to:]

Patricia Joyce

PO Box 105827

Jefferson City MO 65110

Circuit Judge

Circuit 19

Division 4

10/29/2014 $16,200.00

Patricia Joyce

PO Box 105827

Jefferson City MO 65110

Circuit Judge

Circuit 19

Division 4

10/30/2014 1,250.00

[emphasis added]

That’s close to $300,000.00 against an incumbent in a county circuit judge race. There’s probably plenty more where that came from.

Now, tell us again why we don’t need campaign finance limits and campaign finance reform in Missouri.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Who is getting propped up this time? (October 3, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Now we know… (October 6, 2014)

Campaign Finance: But wait, there’s more… (October 12, 2014)

Others are noticing (October 17, 2014)

Campaign Finance: topping off the tank (October 17, 2014)

What you’d get to see of a campaign finance full moon if the RSLC cut a check in Missouri (October 20, 2014)

Campaign Finance: be the judge (October 23, 2014)

Campaign Finance: a Cole County courtroom drama (October 27, 2014)

Yesterday, via Facebook:

Friends to Re-Elect Judge Pat Joyce

Yesterday at 9:00am ·

3rd OPEN LETTER TO THE VOTERS AND THE PEOPLE OF COLE COUNTY – October 26, 2014

Distorting a 32-year record of public service and undermining the trust that this community has placed in me as a county court judge for the last 20 years is disgraceful and sad. A campaign with over $200,000 at its disposal-directly and indirectly-can spend a lot to do that.

On Friday, the News Tribune reported on a mailing sent to voters that misrepresents a decision I made in 2008 involving the law that prohibits a registered sex offender’s residence within 1000 feet of a school. The mailing doesn’t tell you the sex offender owned his property 7 years prior to the law’s enactment and that the Missouri Constitution prohibits retroactive application of laws. The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously affirmed my strict application of the constitutional provision in that case.

This case is a prime example of why politics should have no place in how a judge performs her job, applying the facts to the law.

The decision on November 4 should come down to the person the voters trust the most, and the person they believe is most qualified.

The large sums of money being spent by and for Brian Stumpe are staggering. The vast majority of his support is being provided by a person or persons unknown, and that should be alarming to citizens of this county who believe judges should be fair and impartial.

Contributors to my campaign, non-lawyers and lawyers alike, are publicly reported. They expect no favors-all they want is a fair court that’s free of outside influence. But because of secret donors to Mr. Stumpe’s campaign, no one will know who might have influence over him if he’s elected. The integrity and independence of the court will be questioned, and that should never happen. It’s a matter of trust.

This week, Mr. Stumpe has a final opportunity to appear at an open candidates’ forum and face the public. On Thursday, Oct. 30 at 5:30 p.m., at Lincoln University’s Pawley Theatre, candidates for county elective offices will appear to talk and take questions. I will be attending. Will Mr. Stumpe be there?

I am deeply thankful and humbled by the support you’ve given me during these last weeks of the campaign, and during my long service to the county. I will continue to work to be worthy of that support.

Judge Pat Joyce

19th Judicial Circuit (Cole County)

That about sums it up.

Welcome to Missouri and America in the 21st century.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Who is getting propped up this time? (October 3, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Now we know… (October 6, 2014)

Campaign Finance: But wait, there’s more… (October 12, 2014)

Others are noticing (October 17, 2014)

Campaign Finance: topping off the tank (October 17, 2014)

What you’d get to see of a campaign finance full moon if the RSLC cut a check in Missouri (October 20, 2014)

Campaign Finance: be the judge (October 23, 2014)

Gosh, those funsters at the Republican State leadership Committee – Missouri PAC just keep rolling in that campaign cash. Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

CONTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN $5,000.00 RECEIVEDBY ANY COMMITTEE FROM ANY

SINGLE DONOR -TO BE FILED WITHIN 48 HOURS OF RECEIVING THE CONTRIBUTION

C051039

RSLC-MISSOURI PAC [pdf] 10/23/2014

Republican State Leadership Committee

1201 F Street, NW Suite 675

Washington, DC 20004 10/21/2014

$35,250.00

Republican State Leadership Committee

1201 F Street, NW Suite 675

Washington, DC 20004 10/23/2014

$22,800.00

[emphasis added]

They ain’t feeding widows and orphans with all that money.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Who is getting propped up this time? (October 3, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Now we know… (October 6, 2014)

Campaign Finance: But wait, there’s more… (October 12, 2014)

Others are noticing (October 17, 2014)

Campaign Finance: topping off the tank (October 17, 2014)

What you’d get to see of a campaign finance full moon if the RSLC cut a check in Missouri (October 20, 2014)

The Republican State Leadership Committee is topping off the Republican State Leadership Committee – Missouri PAC. Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C051039 10/17/2014 RSLC-MISSOURI PAC Republican State Leadership Committee 1201 F Street, NW Suite 675 Washington DC 20004 10/15/2014 $10,700.00

[emphasis added]

Maybe they’ll use the money to fly a blimp painted in psychedelic colors around Cole County.

By the way, that’s a total of $210,700.00 within the last two weeks.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Who is getting propped up this time? (October 3, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Now we know… (October 6, 2014)

Campaign Finance: But wait, there’s more… (October 12, 2014)

Others are noticing (October 17, 2014)

Today, at TPM:

Who’s Behind The Whopping Six Figures Being Spent To Oust A Dem State Judge?

By Dylan Scott Published October 17, 2014, 6:00 AM EDT

A month ago, Missouri GOP prosecutor Brian Stumpe had less than $100 on hand in his campaign to unseat Cole County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Joyce, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Now, just a few weeks later, he has received $100,000 — all of it funneled into his campaign by a national group, the Republican State Leadership Committee, which has spent a total of $200,000 so far in this race for a single state judgeship….

….”If you sue the state of Missouri, if there’s a lawsuit in which you’re bringing a constitutional question or challenging ballot language or a fiscal note by a state auditor, those cases are directed to the Cole County Circuit Court,” Roy Temple, chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party, told TPM. “It is a judgeship that has statewide importance.”

Joyce is the only Democratic judge at the Cole County Circuit Court; her two colleagues are Republican. So ousting her would, in theory, be a significant win for Republicans looking to influence the outcome of the kind of cases Temple described….

What the voters in Cole County are seeing on their television:

Announcer: Meet liberal judge Pat Joyce. Radical environmentalists think Joyce is so groovy. And the lawyers funding her campaign do, too. Pat Joyce ruled against farmers and their property rights so she could side with radical environmentalists. And Joyce’s reelection is bankrolled by the same lawyers who profit from the cases she oversees as judge. Pat Joyce, groovy for them, bad for us.

It’s paid for by the Republican State Leadership Committee – Missouri PAC. They obviously think Cole County voters are stoopit.

“…And the lawyers funding her campaign do, too…” Ah, chutzpah. And yet we don’t know who provided the money for the RSLC-Missouri PAC contribution and ad, do we?

Yes, the RSLC thinks Cole County voters are really stoopit.

“…the same lawyers who profit from the cases she oversees as judge…” All lawyers profit from the cases judges oversee. On all sides of an issue before a court. They get paid for being lawyers, and, you know, that includes appearing in court to do, you know, law things. It’s their job.

Yes, they definitely think Cole County voters are really stoopit.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Who is getting propped up this time? (October 3, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Now we know… (October 6, 2014)

Campaign Finance: But wait, there’s more… (October 12, 2014)

More propping up of (a) republican candidate(s) is on the horizon. Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C051039 10/12/2014 RSLC-MISSOURI PAC Republican State Leadership Committee 1201 F Street, NW Suite 675 Washington DC 20004 10/10/2014 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

And the winner is [stay tuned]!

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Who is getting propped up this time? (October 3, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Now we know…

…who’s getting propped up.

[….]

…who’s getting propped up.

Previously: Campaign Finance: Who is getting propped up this time? (October 3, 2014)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C141122 10/06/2014 CITIZENS FOR STUMPE RSLC-MISSOURI PAC 1201 F ST NW STE 675 WASHINGTON DC 20004 10/4/2014 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

Who? That passed through pretty quickly.

C141122: Citizens For Stumpe

611 East Capitol Ave Ste 1 Committee Type: Candidate

Jefferson City Mo 65101 Party Affiliation: Republican

[….] Established Date: 03/17/2014

[….]

Election History

Election Year Primary Outcome General Outcome Political Office

2014 Successful Circuit Judge Circuit 19 Division 4

[emphasis added]

For Circuit Judge in Cole County. That’s quite an infusion for a circuit judge race. Why on earth would a republican entity dump so much cash on this race?

The Circuit Court in Cole County must be a really interesting place. Heh.