Mystery woman contributes $1,000 to Billy Long campaign

A 48-hour report filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) shows a mystery woman named Debra Anderson contributed $1,000 to the re-election campaign of Seventh District Congressman Billy Long, but the report did not list her employer.

All it said was "name of employer requested."

I can certainly understand how Long's overworked campaign staff might not have enough time to find out everything about contributors, especially given the tough primary challenge Billy Long had from Mike Moon and Tom Stilson. In addition, the staff has to be behind a little bit since the 48-hour report, which was filed August 6, has contributions dating back to July 19. Apparently, 48 hours means something different in Washington than it does in Missouri.

That is why I am stepping forward to offer some information about the mysterious Debra Anderson. Her employer is Perennial Strategy Group, a lobbying firm that represents such interests as Regions Financial, a commercial banker.

And if this helps any, Ms. Anderson's husband is lobbyist John Milne, who has helped his clients over the years by vigorously battling any proposal to increase the minimum wage. He has also been an advocate for so-called health savings accounts.

If you happen to recognize Milne's names, perhaps it is because he has been in the news lately. On the FEC documents, it lists his wife's address as 409 G Street SE. I don't know whether Ms. Anderson lives at that address, she might, but it is an apartment complex that came under scrutiny recently because one of the tenants is Speaker of the House John Boehner, who often deals with issues involving clients represented by his landlords, the same John Milne and Debra Anderson.

Hopefully, that information will help.

Long's disclosure document shows $15,520 in donations, with $4,000 coming from lobbyists or lobbying firms, including the $1,000 from Ms. Anderson.

Long also picked up $1,000 from former Roy Blunt chief of staff Greg Hartley, who works for the lobbying firm of Cassady and Associates, $1,000 from Samantha Cook of SMC Consulting, which represents the Greene County Commission and Joplin Area Coalition, and $1,000 from the K&L Gates Lobbying firm, which represents dozens of clients, including J. P. Morgan.

The report also included $1,000 contributions from the Amcrican Trucking Association PAC, PARO PAC, the Help Unite Republicans PAC of Rep. Robert Hurt, R-Va., and the American Security PAC of Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala.