Livengood: Monett businessman bankrolled anti-Steelman ad

A perfect example of the importance of covering "creative" (read underhanded) campaign financing can be seen from the old fashioned shoe leather reporting of the Springfield News-Leader's Chad Livengood on how a committee was apparently created so one Monett businessman can bankroll one expensive attack ad against Sarah Steelman in the Joplin and Springfield television markets:

Jerry Hall, executive vice president of Jack Henry & Associates in Monett, on June 2 gave $125,000 to the newly formed Americans for a Better America, it's only contribution during the second quarter, according to a Missouri Ethics Commission report filed Tuesday.

But the group didn't official form as a political action committee until June 19, which is why a Steelman supporter filed a lawsuit in mid-June seeking an injunction on the ad. The lawsuit filed by Matt Cleveland, of Knob Noster, got nowhere.

When the group filed its quarterly report, it also declared on July 15 that it was terminating itself, records show.

The group reported paying Marshfield-based Patrick Media $101,145 to buy television spots in the Springfield and Joplin market to run the ad, which offered praise for U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof and criticism for Steelman.