Wednesday - December 20, 2006

Show Me The Money

We’re being asked to trust our politicians here in Missouri. Yeah, right. They managed to slip a new law onto the books last summer that removes limits on campaign contributions. It also imposes stricter reporting of those contributions, which may be a good thing - provided the goobers in government honestly report everything.

Oddly enough, there is a Catch-22 here and for two days after the New Year lobbyists can throw unlimited cash at the local politicians - right before the legislature begins its session. Hmmmmm. What could possibly go wrong with that ... ?

_{RJ Matson - The St. Louis Post Dispatch}

Missouri Campaign Finance Law Has Loophole
_{(KANSAS CITY STAR) - December 2, 2006}

Gov. Matt Blunt, who signed legislation that scrapped Missouri’s limits on campaign donations, has sworn off accepting large contributions — at least for the first 60 hours of next year.

Blunt’s office issued a statement this week pointing out a loophole in the bill he signed into law last summer. The bill eliminated all limits on the contributions candidates can accept. But it also prohibited lawmakers and statewide elected officials from accepting contributions while the legislature is in session.

Blunt’s statement pointed out that the law takes effect Jan. 1 and the legislative session does not begin until noon on Jan. 3. That gives those elected officials 2½ days to collect lobbyists’ and special interests’ contributions just before lawmakers begin deliberations on legislation that affects those special interests.

But Blunt wants to end the party before it begins. “It is important to begin the legislative session focused on doing the people’s business and making Missouri a better place rather than engaging in a fundraising frenzy,” Blunt said.

Therefore, he is discouraging lawmakers and other elected officials from accepting contributions in excess of the current limits — $1,275 for statewide officials, $650 for senators and $325 for House members. Blunt said he would abide by his own advice. He pledged not to accept contributions beyond the current limits for those first 60 hours of 2007.

Once the legislature adjourns on May 17, candidates could accept unlimited contributions. The new law will require stricter reporting of those contributions and prohibits funneling contributions to candidates through committees established by political parties.

Posted by The Skipper     on 12/20/2006 at 01:18 AM   
Filed Under: • Corruption and Greed • Politics •  
• Comments (1) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

DISCLAIMER

THE SERVICES AND MATERIALS ON THIS WEBSITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE HOSTS OF THIS SITE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF SATISFACTORY QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICE OR ANY MATERIALS.

Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:

1. Keep a firm grasp of Right and Wrong
2. Stay involved with government on every level and don't let those bastards get away with a thing
3. Use every legal means to defend yourself in the event of real internal trouble, and, most importantly:
4. Keep talking to each other, whether here or elsewhere

It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

THE INFORMATION AND OTHER CONTENTS OF THIS WEBSITE ARE DESIGNED TO COMPLY WITH THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS WEBSITE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ALL PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE AMERICAN COURTS. IF ANYTHING ON THIS WEBSITE IS CONSTRUED AS BEING CONTRARY TO THE LAWS APPLICABLE IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY, THEN THIS WEBSITE IS NOT INTENDED TO BE ACCESSED BY PERSONS FROM THAT COUNTRY AND ANY PERSONS WHO ARE SUBJECT TO SUCH LAWS SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO USE OUR SERVICES UNLESS THEY CAN SATISFY US THAT SUCH USE WOULD BE LAWFUL.

Copyright © 2004-2015 Domain Owner