UPDATE: Hulshof rakes in dough from fee agents
U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof’s careful dancing around the issue of fee office reform has been successful, if the goal of his hedged language was making sure the agents who run fee offices in Missouri were still willing to donate to his campaign.
Comparing lists of fee agents with donations from Hulshof’s April filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission, the Republican candidate for governor garnered nearly $28,000 in campaign donations from fee office agents or relatives of those agents.
In early March, Hulshof announced he would “end the patronage system” by requiring all fee offices to be bid. Under previous governors the offices were handed out to political supporters, who responded in kind by donating to campaigns. Hulshof said he would end that practice.
But in late March outside a Joplin fee office, he appeared to hedge, suggesting that fee offices that were “efficient” wouldn’t be in danger of losing their contracts. “What I don’t want to happen,” he said, “is to put a burden on our efficiently run offices.” Hulshof has since maintained that all offices will be bid, but there will be a rating scale that could give a built in advantage to those offices that are currently being run “efficiently.”
He made those statements in front of the fee office in Joplin, which Hulshof said was among the best run in the state. That office is run by Roy Cagle, chairman of the Newton County Republican Central Committee.
Cagle gave $250 to Hulshof’s campaign in late March. Other big donors who also have contracts to run fee offices included the Atkins family in Columbia ($5,400 total); Michael Becker of St. Louis (Deer Creek office), $1,350; the Boyers family of Poplar Bluff, $4,050; Tom Carter of Ozark, $1,350 (the Carter’s run three fee offices in Southwest Missouri); Garrett and Michelle Lott of St. Louis (South County contract office), $2,700.
On another note, Hulshof also has another interesting donation. It’s from Stephen Colbert of Columbia. Who knew the Comedy Channel faux news star moved to the Show Me State?
See Hulshof’s April MEC filing here.
UPDATE: I’d like to thank Gov. Matt Blunt’s spokesman, Rich Chrismer, for personally driving up hits at Political Fix tonight. Chrismer e-mailed again to ask that I add to this post the fact that the governor has put five fee offices out for bids. The governor also expanded the patronage system by privatizing formerly state-run offices.
Hey, Tony, I’ve got a better story for you: Nixon rakes in dough from attorneys. In the latest reporting period, Nixon raised a total of $142,850 from attorneys. This even included 11 contributions from people currently working in the attorney general’s office.
nice job Nick!!!! have you had time to add up Steelman’s attorney money or dollars to Jeremiah from the Ameren boys??? if I have time I will add em up but let us know if you already did the crunching
pleezzze give us a break! When Hulshof or Chrismer, for that matter, says he’s going to put Fee Offices up for bids, it’s Republican CODE SPEAK for “Republican controlled fee office Management Companies” such as: the ones currently controlling the St Louis and Kansas City markets……. as in: Garrett Lott, the convicted Federal Ethics violater who currently controls the management company running the st louis area fee offices.
Another reason to vote Steelman in the primary. Missourians are growing increasingly tired of the way the republicans are doing business in Jeff City and Washington DC. Kinda reminds me of the democrats back 20 years ago. Steelman in the primary. If she loses, then Nixon in the general election. Time to send Hulshof out to pasture to keep Talent company.
Reeves needs to talk a look at the Steelman report, this Garret Lott and wife maxed out with Sarah. Best part of Hulshof’s plan is guys like Lott will be out. Every office they manage has rotten service because the “agent” is not onsite. Lott and crew are one of Blunts biggest mistakes.
Can’t think of one office they manage were anyone would renew the contract. Give Hulshof’s plan a chance and I’ll be you see service to the public improve.
lOOK AT THE DATES of the Lott, et al money. It was before Kenny “saw the light.” He asked for money from these people knowing he was weeks away from announcing his reform plan. He did not tell them, he just smiled and took their money. Most want it back. Most have switched to Steelman by now. Lott just sponsored a fundraiser for her a couple of weeks back at Tony Sansone’s. Also, Debbie is nuts, those offices are currently running the lowest reject percentages in the history of the state. Almost all of them have management and employees from the prior Democrat agents. No mass firings, instead continuity.