What's wrong with this picture?
Just a few days after announcing he would reject voucher supporter Derio Gambaro's appointment to the State Board of Education, Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, filed his quarterly report showing he accepted $9,750 from 15 shell committees formed by retired billionaire voucher supporter Rex Sinquefield.
The disclosure documents, filed three days after the Jan. 15 deadline, showed Smith accepted maximum $650 contributions from 10 regional Public Charter Schools for Missouri committees (Smith has said he supports public charter schools), and five regional committees of Missourians Supporting Teaching Excellence.
Sinquefield provided two-thirds of Smith's contributions for the quarter, according to the report. Smith received $14,100, with all but $650 coming from out-of-district sources. Smith's one St. Louis contributor was the Home Building Industry PAC.
Other maximum contributors to Smith included District 6 Missouri Health Care Association PAC, Jefferson City; District 7 Missouri Health Care Association, Jefferson City; American Family Insurance PAC, St. Joseph.
Smith also picked up $600 from Eli Lilly & Co., Springfield, Ill.; and $500 from the Missouri Hospital Association PAC, Jefferson City.
The good news: Smith did not receive any contributions from the Isle of Capri casinos.
5 comments:
"retired billionaire voucher supporter"
I like that. How do you get a job as a billionaire voucher supporter? I'd like to retire from that position someday, too.
Smith isnt quite the young progressive that would change Jefferson City that everyone thought he would be.
Actually, Randy, it's more like "What's right with this picture?"
Smith continues to prove that is the most independent legislator in Jefferson City, especially on education issues.
He has the independence to take Rex Sinquefield's money, then vote against a voucher supporter.
How can you complain about that? Aren't we supposed to applaud that type of behavior? Or are you more interested in just reciting fundraising numbers than looking at the facts?
I hope you are right, but I have the feeling Rex Sinquefield doesn't put his money into something unless he knows he is going to get a positive return on his investment.
Randy - just because you have no integrity doesn't mean other don't.
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