Suit filed against Americans for a Better America
For those following the saga (Messenger and Mannies accounts) of the new alleged 527 group running an ad against state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, here’s the latest:
The Stegall Law Firm and the Law Offices of Steve Sanders announced Thursday that they have filed suit against the group, known as Americans for a Better America.
The suit also names the group’s president, Kansas City lawyer Arthur Fillmore, Springfield communications firm chief John Thompson, among others.
The suit contends that the group violated Missouri’s campaign finance law, and is not truly independent.
Instead, the suit ”alleges that Americans for a Better America, Inc. is a front group for the campaign of Congressman Kenny Hulshof for Governor of Missouri,” the lawyers say in a release.
The release adds: “The suit alleges that Americans for a Better America, Inc. is a Missouri not-for-profit corporation formed on May 22, 2008 for the express purpose of influencing the action of voters for nomination to public office of Congressman Hulshof against the nomination of Sarah Steelman.
“Americans for a Better America, Inc., recently placed ad buys with multiple broadcast stations through John Thompson, who is believed to be in the employ of Kenny Hulshof for Governor, Inc.”
Such a purchase is really a contribution, the suit says, and Americans for a Better America, Inc. is actually a regular campaign committee (known as a “continuing committee”) that must comply with state law.
The suit alleges that Americans for a Better America failed to comply with the state law mandating that it file a statement of organization within 20 days of formation.
The lawyers also allege that the group “was established as part of a conspiracy to evade Missouri’s campaign finance contribution limits and to avoid disclosure of political donors as required by Missouri law.”
Fillmore has said the group doesn’t have to identify its donors because it’s a 527. However, the suit says that ”federal IRS filings…indicate that Americans for a Better America claimed to be a ‘qualified state or local political organization’ exempt from federal disclosure rules. Such organizations are required by law to report donor information….”
Unless Steelman’s goons have a smoking gun - and I’m betting they don’t - then it’s an independent expenditure. If it’s an independent expenditure, they can’t do a thing.
“Big Spending Kenny” is hiding fee office money there! Or maybe its his Conflict of Interest $$$ from his ethanol cronies. It makes sense why else would he risk skirting the law like he has? Looks like Mr Moral Clarity had another lapse of judgement! So we know he’s not a very good Prosecutor (to put it nicely), his congressional record is horrible, is he really even a farmer? I mean he spent $3,000 on wine jet setting back and forth to San Fransisco. What would Cartman think?
In my neck of the woods people are feed up with these Washington politicians wasting our taxpayer dollars. Instead of voting for that Bridge to Nowhere, Hulshof could have spent that $230,000,000 on the briges here in St Louis.
Smells like desperation to me …
Want to know what’s wrong with politics today? Same as always lawyers. either running for or against they seem to view politics as they do a trial - sew doubt, cause turmoil, cloud issues, in short do what is necessary to tarnish or destroy what ever opposes their narrow focus, self serving interests.
Is Steelman and her supporters out of line, or following normal court proceedings?
Is Hulshof and his supporters out of line, or following normal court proceedings?
When do we get honest, unbiased, straight forward answers to our questions?
Fight all you want but not on my time and using my dime folks.
Steelman can dish ou lies about Hulshof but when someone is telling the truth about her wrong-doings a lawsuit is filed. Grow up Steelman and Spence…what are you thinking?