The plutocrat next door, and at home
Wednesday, Jun 3, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* A super-wealthy anti-tax man spends $40 million on campaigns and lobbying expenses in Missouri to get what he wants. It’s today’s must-read…
Republicans are in firm control of the Missouri House of Representatives, and they run a good whip operation. If they can’t get a bill passed with a solid GOP majority, they don’t bring it to the floor. They’d rather not advertise dissension within party ranks. A couple of years ago, however, the leadership made a big exception to that rule. They knew they lacked the Republican support to override Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of an $800 million state income tax cut, but they still called the package up for a vote, forcing all legislators to go on record, including 15 Republicans who ended up bucking the party majority and opposing the cut.
Rank-and-file members are convinced this all took place to please one man. A decade after returning to the state with a fortune he earned managing money in California, 70-year-old Rex Sinquefield has become a powerful presence in Missouri politics. Unlike most people who disagree with the positions politicians take, Sinquefield has the resources to make them pay. Last year, he and campaign committees he funded helped recruit candidates to run in primary contests against several of the Republicans who had broken party ranks on the tax cut vote. Each of the challengers was offered six-figure support. “He came after me with a lot of money and a very, very negative campaign,” says Nate Walker, one of the targeted House members. “I had to go and mortgage my house so I could at least fight back a little bit.”
The issues that concern “Rex,” as he is universally referred to in political circles, have become central to the state’s agenda in recent years. In addition to his campaign contributions, Sinquefield has spent millions on lobbying efforts and on the Show-Me Institute, a free-market think tank he established in St. Louis. Last year, he estimated his lobbying operation employed about 1,000 people “the last time I looked at my checkbook.” It’s hard to tell to what extent he was kidding, but he didn’t seem to be joking when at the same event he twice referred to Nixon as an “idiot.” (Sinquefield declined requests to be interviewed for this story.) […]
Win or lose, the ongoing Sinquefield saga in Missouri sheds light on the central role money plays in contemporary American politics, as well as its limits. While many megadonors, such as billionaires Charles and David Koch, continue to be cash machines for federal candidates, others are finding they can get more for their money by focusing on a single state. Not every state has a Sinquefield, but quite a few do. And some of these state moneybrokers, such as Republicans Art Pope in North Carolina and Bruce Rastetter in Iowa, and Democrats Tim Gill and Pat Stryker in Colorado, threaten to amass the kind of clout in individual legislatures that was held more than a century ago by railroads and mining companies, and triggered Progressive Era campaign finance limits in the first place. “It costs less currying favor with state lawmakers,” says Kenneth Vogel, author of Big Money, a book detailing donations in the current super PAC era, “and bills are actually moving. They don’t have the same level of gridlock as Washington.” […]
While many legislators have balked at parts of Sinquefield’s agenda, Sinquefield can take some satisfaction in the fact that many of his critics won’t be around all that long. House and Senate members in Missouri are limited to eight years in office; if the current cohort is hard to persuade, the next generation of legislators may feel it’s not worth the aggravation of standing up to him and enduring thousands of dollars in attack ads as their reward. And Sinquefield doesn’t intend to stop writing checks until he can succeed in reshaping Missouri more to his liking. He once grandiosely declared that he refused to die until his favored tax and education policies had been adopted. “There’s more coming down the pike,” says Travis Brown, Sinquefield’s lobbyist. “He’s got a very ambitious agenda.”
Go read the whole thing.
* Meanwhile, in Illinois…
Illinoisans for Growth and Opportunity, a business-backed group formed to support Democrats who take tough votes on the state budget, has raised more than $14 million in two political funds. But it will not be joining Rauner in a media campaign for legislative term limits, workers’ compensation reform and other changes the governor is pushing to be packaged with a 2016 state budget agreement.
Instead, says Greg Goldner, a longtime Chicago political operative who is the organization’s consultant, the group will engage only in limited activities for now, and only positive ones.
“Our primary goal is to defend Democratic legislators who are willing to take tough votes, not to push them,” Goldner told me. “Legislators who made good votes (this session) deserve a little pat on the back instead of always being criticized.” […]
Goldner hinted in recent weeks that it was about to open its wallet soon, seemingly preparing for a two-pronged attack on lawmakers alongside Rauner, who has gathered an even bigger war chest that he says soon will target legislative foes, especially House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton.
But in the interview, Goldner seemed to suggest there is little role for IllinoisGO in what is starting to look like a personal battle between the governor and the speaker. “We will be most effective if we can articulate a positive alternative,” he said.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:46 am:
I saw this the other day. I just feel so warm and fuzzy by all these billionaires willing to spend their fortune trying to help the middle class. (/s)
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:49 am:
The Rauner/Griff/Uiehlein money has always been a greater threat to GOP incumbents who might dare to buck them.
It will be interesting to see if they decide to get into Dem primaries with their ILGO money.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:50 am:
Of course, “Candidate X took money from a group that ran ads against Dems” would be a kiss of death in a Dem primary.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 11:58 am:
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
- 4 by 4 - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:05 pm:
Methinks Rahm is begging his old pal Goldner to cool his jets for now. The mayor did not get a lot of cooperation out of the Speaker’s office late this session. Does that have something to do with the prospect of ILGO forcing Madigan to spend millions defending his members in a primary? You betcha!
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:06 pm:
==It will be interesting to see if they decide to get into Dem primaries with their ILGO money.==
I still say that in the insular world of Dem Primaries, Rauner money is the kiss of death. There shot is in the General.
- GraduatedCollegeStudent - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:22 pm:
===While many legislators have balked at parts of Sinquefield’s agenda, Sinquefield can take some satisfaction in the fact that many of his critics won’t be around all that long. House and Senate members in Missouri are limited to eight years in office; if the current cohort is hard to persuade, the next generation of legislators may feel it’s not worth the aggravation of standing up to him and enduring thousands of dollars in attack ads as their reward.===
Another major “con” to term limits.
- West St Louis - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:24 pm:
The last sentence says a lot about why term limits are bad. Not only are all the new members beholden to this guy - nobody in the Missouri legislature has a clue. They don’t know the history of their statutes, their state government. They don’t understand a thing.
“Sinquefield can take some satisfaction in the fact that many of his critics won’t be around all that long. House and Senate members in Missouri are limited to eight years in office”
The bad policymaking that results from term limits should scare people more than a guy with money.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:28 pm:
Wow not a single comment yet about how he is doing this just for his own profit…
You guys are slacking….
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:47 pm:
The plutocratic agenda runnin’ full steam ahead.
We’re living in dangerous times, with the likes of Rauner, his funders and people like the Kochs pouring hundreds of millions into politics, probably billions, if we count all of them.
In Missouri, Gov. Nixon is one of the few politicians who are effectively stopping right to work in that state.
The Kansas tea party experiment is an absolute disaster. That state is really hurtin’ because of tax slashin’ and cuttin’.
Wisconsin and New Jersey also are reportedly having negative effects from cuts/tax breaks. California and Minnesota are benefiting greatly because of tax hikes on the wealthy.
I read that in Texas, some in the business community are leanin’ on Republicans to expand Medicaid, because it would create jobs, lower the rate of uninsured (highest in the nation) and use the tax dollars that people are paying anyway for Obamacare, for which the state is gettin’ no benefit.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 12:50 pm:
The influence of Sinquefield is enormous. ILGOP should take note. I know Dwight Kay has being in the Metro East.
- NewWestSuburbanGop'er - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 1:04 pm:
All the money being spent by these ultra rich donors are not tax deductible, right? So, why not just put the money to good use and help fix the problems the state has been experiencing? Maybe the people will vote to have a statue named in your honor or change a street name?
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 1:16 pm:
===Maybe the people will vote to have a statue named in your honor or change a street name?====
Not while you’re still alive…That has become much, much too dangerous!! lol
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 1:40 pm:
My takeaways from this article are probably a bit different than most people’s.
1. Claire McKaskill can get elected to the U.S. Senate twice but she can’t get a citizen’s initiative on the ballot. That’s troubling.
2. How vain do you have to be to mortgage your home so that you don’t lose an election?!
3. Elections still come down to the will of the people. Period. John Corzine spent a small fortune to win a U.S. Senate seat and to become Governor of New Jersey. Then he spent a small fortune to lose to now Governor Christie. Bruce Rauner almost lost the GOP primary. This guy throws money around like Adam “Pacman” Jones at a gentleman’s club and went oh-fer last fall.
- econ prof - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 1:47 pm:
You know it’s a liberally-biased article when it mentions the Koch Brothers, but fails to mention the largest democrat donors: Michael Bloomberg, Tom Steyer, George & Jon Soros, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Alida Messenger, etc.
- sideline watcher - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 1:52 pm:
What is the definition of robber barrons? Is that how you spell it? What are the parallels today? Anyone? If we don’t know our history, we’re doomed to repeat it. It really seems like this is what is happening right now.
- cover - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:07 pm:
= The mayor did not get a lot of cooperation out of the Speaker’s office late this session. =
The Chicago police and fire pension bill had to be at or near the top of Mayor Emanuel’s wish list, and it passed.
- Wordslinger - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 2:32 pm:
Since the purported mood of the public is being speculated upon, today’s NYT/CBS national poll on money in politics is worth a look.
– 84 percent say money has too much influence in political campaigns.
– 66 percent think the wealthy have more influence in politics.
– 77 percent want to limit the amount individuals can contribute to campaigns.
– 78 percent believe spending by groups not affiliated with a candidate should be limited.
– 85 percent think that the campaign finance system requires “major changes” or should be “completely rebuilt.”
Since the governor is the enemy of the political class and champion of the common folks, I’m sure he will adopt the people’s cause as his own, and act personally and within the power of his office to check th scourge of unlimited big money in state politics.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 4:13 pm:
==This guy throws money around like Adam “Pacman” Jones at a gentleman’s club and went oh-fer last fall.==
No he didn’t, he went 1 for 1. If you look at what he actually did in other races, he clearly didn’t care at all about them.
- James - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 4:20 pm:
I expect Rauner to be a one-term governor, and his next career move will be to become Illinois’ version of Rex. Changing Illinois’ legal structure is his hobby, and he will come to realize it will take more than a single term to replace the number of legislators necessary to pass his agendas. Being Rex behind the scenes will be a much easier lifestyle than governin’–he can run Illinois from Montana, Napa or NYC–all of the influence with none of the bruises.
- Outside the Bubble - Wednesday, Jun 3, 15 @ 4:21 pm:
” YOU CAN HAVE A VERY WEALTHY CLASS OR YOU CAN HAVE DEMOCRACY… You can’t have both” Supreme Court Justice Louis Banderais