ALEC, lobbyists for Michelle Rhee group, Rex Sinquefield contribute to Tim Jones

If you want an idea of the direction in which new Speaker of the House Tim Jones, R-Eureka, will take the Missouri House of Representatives this year, take a look at his October disclosure report, filed Monday with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

His contributors are a laundry list of special interests, including some who have lined up behind educational vouchers and attacks on public schools and public schoolteachers.

Jones' contributors include the American Legislative Exchange Council and lobbyists for retired billionaire Rex Sinquefield and Michelle Rhee's Students First group.

This is the fourth time ALEC has contributed to Tim Jones, which raises some questions about why this is considered to be a campaign contribution and not an outright gift since Jones seems to be the only politician receiving money from the organization.

I addressed the topic in the Sept. 12 Turner Report:

New Speaker of the House Tim Jones, R-Eureka, did not have any lobbyists' gifts during the American Legislative Exchange Council national conference in Utah in July, but his latest campaign finance report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission certainly raises some questions.

Apparently alone among the Missourians attending ALEC, Jones received a $1,251.58 campaign contribution, dated August 31.
The contribution is the third this year from ALEC for Jones, who has been ALEC's top water carrier in the Missouri Legislature, helping push model legislation written by special interests. Earlier this year, ALEC gave Jones $350 on June 21 and $1,071.39 on January 17.
The January 17 and August 31 contributions are unusual amounts for normal campaign contributions and appear far more likely to be reimbursement for expenses, possibly including costs of lodging and travel, though the contributions are not listed as in-kind.
ALEC would appear to be getting its money worth out of Jones since his first news conference as speaker included an echo chamber endorsement of ALEC's anti-teacher, anti-public school sentiment, and a promise to lead an attack on teacher tenure.
The shadowy ALEC, which over the years has provided lazy legislators with cookie-cutter laws ranging from the Voter ID legislation pushed by secretary of state candidate and ALEC member Rep. Shane Schoeller, R-Willard, to the various anti-public education, anti-federal health care and unnecessary gun legislation sponsored by ALEC member Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, has been under attack in recent months, primarily because of Voter ID laws and the controversial Stand Your Ground gun legislation, which jumped into the spotlight after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Florida.

 The October campaign report showed Jones receiving $1,251.58 from ALEC, as well as $150 from Sinquefield lobbyist David Jackson, $500 from Penman & Winton, a lobbying firm that represents Michelle Rhee's Students First organization, $250 from Harvey Tettlebaum, lobbyist for the Missouri Health Care Association, and $171.60 and $541.43 in-kind contributions from Chuck Simino, lobbyist for the Missouri Telecommunications Association.