Monday, October 15, 2007

More on Sinquefield PACs in Post-Dispatch blog

An explanation of retired billionaire voucher supporter Rex Sinquefield's brazen attempt to buy the Missouri political system can be found in this post from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Political Blog:

Sinquefield gave $2,500 to each of the 100 PACs as “seed money,'’ s spokeswoman said. His aim is to encourage like-minded donors, big and small, to follow suit.

Explains Sinquefield’s release: “Donors will now be able to contribute to the specific policy area that they care about. More information on how to access policy information and each PAC will be available in the coming days and weeks.”

“Our goal, and this is important, is to provide easy access to issue-oriented information and immediate access for large and small contributors,'’ Sinquefield said in a statement. “Campaign contributions will be non-partisan and we are encouraging taxpayers from every political persuasion to join our effort to improve the quality of life for all Missourians.”

Although his release doesn't mention this, having so many PACs would allow Sinquefield and other generous donors ways to give more to favored, like-minded candidates than the now-restored campaign donation limits, which range from $325 to $1,275 per candidate per election.

Sinquefield, for example, is among a dozen or so who have given $100,000 or more apiece to Gov. Matt Blunt, a Republican seeking re-election next year, before the donation limits were restored by the state Supreme Court.


An interesting sidebar, which I somehow doubt is coincidental, is that Sinquefield has started several Missourians Needing Educational Alternatives, which has been abbreviated MNEA, the same initials used by the Missouri chapter of the National Education Association.

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:17 PM

    If its legal to do it this way, whats the problem. Its not like it has never been done before. Rex obvioulsy is giving money to issues or candidates that he supports. He is such a large advocate for school choice. Obviously something needs to be done about our schools, I mean some were just unaccrediated! Doesn't that say something!!!
    maybe he is just the man to save the schools, the kids, and the cities of STL and KC.

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  2. It seems to me that he may be starting these PACs to be able to donate but also to attract and gain support of other people supporting his causes, such as school choice and tax reforms. It seems his issues are well thought out, and has support from many many economists and education economists.
    There are so many problems with education, why not start some changes. He may just be the best man for the job. He's got my support.

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