Amended report shows Steelman money from committees
More campaign finance reports are due in Missouri today, but in the process of waiting for them to come in, I came across another interesting amended filing by Treasurer Sarah Steelman, who is running for governor in the Republican primary against U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof.
Steelman has been funneling much of her support from trial attorneys through legislative committees, thus making it harder to determine where her base of support comes from. And in her latest amended report, she adds about $67,000 in in-kind contributions from five legislative party committees.
Those committees each gave maximum $13,450 contributions by paying the Catalyst Consulting Group money for fund-raising expenses. Catalyst is run by former Jim Talent staffer Daniel Pfeifer and it shares an address with Steelman consultant Jeff Roe. (Catalyst does not show up on Steelman’s reports).
So why the delay? Each of the committees, the Republican Sixth Congressional Committee, and Republican legislative district committees from the 29th, 30th, 32nd and 34th, filed their July reports on time. Steelman’s report says it had software problems.
Steelman’s hardly alone in the game of using legislative committees to hide either donations or expenses. Much has been made this year about the Dems’ Economic Growth Council and the GOP’s Better Leadership for Missouri group. They are just the tip of the iceberg.
Checking the various legislative committees that gave to Steelman, many of their contributions came from, that’s right, other legislative committees.
So much for transparency in government.
Correction, Tony, the Economic Growth Council isn’t the “Dems’”. It was set up for and has been coordinated by one guy, who is a Republican: Chris Koster.
So our state treasurer can’t get a simple campaign finance report in on time, and she wants to be promoted to governor? That’s funny! Fortunately, she’ll be out of it in a few days, and Kenny Hulshof can concentrate his energy where it needs to be: On keeping sleazy Jay Nixon out of the governor’s mansion.
Nick, Congressman Hulshof has had to amend, too. That happens in all major campaigns, especially those that are really trying to get things right. You make a bunch of assumptions, which is simply reflective of your persistent bias in this race.
Speaking of interesting reports, Tony, why hasn’t the post-dispatch done any reporting on the race going on in the 73rd House District for Margaret Donnelly’s open seat?
The latest report filed by candidate Steve Brown shows he’s spent nearly $260,000 (with roughly $50,000 funneled through committees) in his race for state rep!
Have you ever heard of so much being spent for a state rep seat? Statewide coverage is important but this kind of activity at a local level is appalling.
Someone should report on this.
hey nick, at least Steelman can balance a budget unlike hushof who justs wastes money by voting for earmarks.
If Steelman can’t file her papers on time maybe she has something to hide. It seems a state treasurer would be ableto get this task completed rather quickly if she knows her job. I wonder ifshewill have a commercial showing her unable to do her job…I bet not since she only can SEE the negative of Kenny. The man who has my vote along with my family!!!!! Keep you head up Kenny…you are the MAN for the job….You have a lovely FAMILY!
I have a lovely family, and a dog! Can I run for Governor too?!?!?
As state tresurer steelman started the first terror free fund in the nation and improved the most 529 college savings plan from one of the worst in the country to one of the best. And, unlike kenny, she helped balance the budget as state tresurer