* Missouri state Rep. Justin Sparks (R-Wildwood) was elected just two years ago, in 2022…
“The uncomfortable truth is, power is for sale in Jefferson City. If you want to be a chairman of a powerful committee, you gotta pay,” Sparks said in the video. “If you want to be on the budget committee, you gotta pay.
“When I got to Jefferson City, they gave all the Republicans an envelope. Inside the envelope was a card,” Sparks said in the video. He said inside the envelope was a card that had a dollar amount, which varied by representative.
“Mine was $20,000. That’s what I was being required to give to the House Republican Campaign Committee in order to buy my position on powerful committees and to possibly be in leadership one day,” Sparks said in the video.
The always entertaining Donnybrook TV show cast discussed the allegation. Click here. Some folks defended it.
- New Day - Friday, Nov 15, 24 @ 1:52 pm:
This is my shocked face:
:-I
Seriously though, kind of surprising that he said the supposed to be very quiet part out loud and that they do that in such an obvious and clumsy way in MO. Too bad MO only has one party.
- Candy Dogood - Friday, Nov 15, 24 @ 2:07 pm:
Expecting members of your house caucus to fund raise: Legal
Giving members of your house caucus a fund raising goal: Legal
Giving members of your house caucus a specific goal to be named to a specific committee or to remain chair: Probably also legal, but unusual
Handing out envelopes with dollar amounts written on a card to members of your caucus with no other information: That looks a lot like soliciting a bribe, enough to merit an investigation.
Why on earth are they doing it that way?
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Nov 15, 24 @ 2:34 pm:
I guess I am cynical I thought that was standard operating procedure. Maybe not a specific dollar amount for a specific job but the more money you raise the more influence. And that is certainly the way it works in D C
- Paddyrollingstone - Friday, Nov 15, 24 @ 3:05 pm:
Don’t say anything if you can nod Don’t nod if you can wink.
Words to live by
- Give Me A Break - Friday, Nov 15, 24 @ 3:06 pm:
Imagine him seeing an Up of Down arrow on a bill analysis.