Jeff Roe

For those new to the issue:

Missourians for Responsible Lending is a real deal grassroots campaign to reform the Payday Loan Industry and limit the APR to 36%, down from the current 1900%.

The out-of-state bankers and lawyers that make up corporate opposition groups Missourians for Equal Credit Opportunity and Stand Up Missouri have been bringing out all the stops as they realize they're about to be reined in.

The most recent bit of trickery the loan sharks have practiced is writing up two new ballot initiatives themselves, that also "reform" Payday Loans. Here's exerpts from the St. Louis Beacon's article.

From this week's Political EYE in the St. Louis American

The tipping factor already has started to tip. According to reliable, disgruntled Republican sources, a powerful Republican operative who favors state Sen. Brad Lager was the one who turned Tilley’s toxic source(s) against him to scare him out of the lieutenant governor’s race. The EYE was told this before Lager declared he had entered the LG race, which gives the report some credence. The same source said this same operative was suspected within the party of turning up trouble for current Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder in his still undeclared bid for governor. This suggests the Missouri Republican Party has started to come apart at its center, with a free-for-all fight for power starting to get underway.

A big win for Steve Tilley, Birther Tim Jones, Jeff Roe and former possible statewide candidate Caleb Jones: "This is what the Republican-led Missouri House did Thursday when it was supposed to be debating a jobs bill in the now five-week old Missouri Legislature's special session: It took a break to pass a worthless — but not meaningless — resolution that directly slapped the face of one of the state's biggest employers. Missouri House Republicans have made their stance quite clear. They are pro-wasteful federal spending, pro-GOP consultant, pro-Texas. They're equally anti-middle class, anti-Boeing, anti-progress. And they are opposed to any jobs bill that might bring thousands of new jobs to St. Louis. We hope the business community that has been so generous with campaign funds for the House Republicans is paying attention."

Midwest Voices details the services rendered by Jeff Roe's Axiom Strategies in defense of 1,950 percent  APR on payday loans.

Last week it paid $86,000 to Axiom Strategies, the company owed by Kansas City campaign guru Jeff Roe, for duties such as strategic campaign oversight ($15,000); strategic communications ($16,000); regional operations management ($25,000); and Website design ($9,500).

Earlier this year, the payday loan industry founded a political action committee called Missourians for Equal Credit Opportunity. Records filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission show the committee was terminated last week, and a balance of $107,000 was transferred to a campaign committee of the same name.

UPDATE: The Star has more. 

So tweets the Post-Dispatch's Tony Messenger.  Bill Stouffer's consultant his unsuccessful primary against now-Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler was Jeff Roe, though it's not clear yet if the candidate will continue to retain Roe's services.

Stouffer's most recent filing with the Federal Election Commission show that he still owes Roe almost $74,000 in unpaid direct mail, robocall and staff fees.

Saturday, the American Democracy Alliance sent a $50,000 check to "Freedom PAC," a committee formed in 2009 and used to pay Jeff Roe's Axiom Strategies for a campaign to oppose a St. Joseph tax proposal.   Later in the 2010 cycle, funds were directed through the committee to oppose Rep. Jason Grill's (D-Kansas City) re-election campaign. 

It's not clear what this $50k is for, of course. 

Sam Graves and Jeff Roe at a Clay County event in May 2010

In yesterday's story in The Hill, it wasn't clear how serious Sam Graves in his consideration of a Senate run.  But the Hotline reports this morning that "Graves' political team also spent Wednesday working the phones and seeing if a campaign is possible."

And Jeff Roe, Graves' political consultant who ran Sarah Steelman's 2008 campaign, has been fueling the fire with a few tweets in the past 24 hours. 

Discuss.

Yesterday on Facebook, Rep. Brian Nieves reiterated his belief that Shawn Bell, the rival campaign staffer who accused Nieves of assaulting him after the August 3 primary, "is being pushed, manipulated & used like a pawn that The Machine will toss aside as soon as he no longer serves their purposes."

The Beacon's Jo Mannies has a must-read story this morning about the Brian Nieves prayer vigil in Washington last night.

Nieves contended that [alleged victim Shawn Bell] was "a pawn" being used by top state politicians who want to destroy Nieves and keep him out of the state Senate. Nieves asserted that [Dick Stratman's] allies already have been publicly calling for him to step down as the GOP nominee for the Senate post, but he added, "I won't back down."

The state's powerbrokers, said Nieves, are "using [Bell] like day-old bread that they're going to throw away when they are done."

So the Post-Dispatch has a story today headlined, "GOP may restrict attack tactics in ads."   (Apologies if coffee just spewed out your nose).

The article is interesting, even if it doesn't provide any evidence to believe the headline, or give any indication of how Sen. Majority Leader Kevin Engler (R-Farmington) and House Floor Leader Steve Tilley (R-Perryville) might enforce a "a code of conduct for primary campaigns" if they ever get around to drafting such a code. What's notable (to me, anyway) is that in an article in which Engler complains about "hard-charging consultants who orchestrate political attacks" and  "political consultants that use people like pawns in a chess game and don't care whether what they're saying is the truth," the consultant retained by each of the allegedly dirty campaigns is Jeff Roe.  Something tells me Roe doesn't really care what Engler thinks.  "You strap on the chinstrap and go to war" when you run for office, Roe told the Post-Dispatch.

But stepping back from the intraparty squabbling for a moment, the thing I find most striking about Engler's proposal is that his alleged concern for honesty and dignity explicitly excludes general election and public policy campaigns. His "code of conduct" is only meant to apply to primaries, and he's only worried about "whether what they're saying is the truth" when it concerns his Republican candidates.  How commendable! 

Couldn't he at least pretend to care about honest campaigning in the 90 days between the primary and general elections?

Following up on last week's post about how Jefferson City's own Adam Smith Foundation has funneled $498,000 into a California campaign to suspend California's greenhouse gas reduction law, the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the money came from "about 10 individuals," and not from corporations or industry groups.  But incredibly, Foundation president John Elliott previously told reporters that "he did not recall who contributed the money or who had argued for spending the money on California's Prop. 23."

The Chronicle breaks down the legal questions surrounding the huge cash transfers, and notes that "neither the spokeswoman for the campaign to pass Prop. 23 nor a lawmaker leading the effort said they had contact with the group, and they did not know any of its leaders."

So far, the other major contributors to the campaign to pass Prop. 23 are the Valero and Tesoro oil companies, which have spent $5.025 million on the campaign. Valero donated $3 million Friday, bringing its total contributions to $4.5 million. Some of the largest U.S. coal companies are headquartered in Missouri.

The legal issue is whether the foundation, which is named for the 18th century economist, violated its status as a 501(c)4 organization under IRS rules. Such nonprofits are supposed to exist "only to promote social welfare," but they can have some political involvement, according to the IRS.

However, the IRS guide for such states, "in order to retain tax-exempt status ... an organization must ensure that its political campaign activities do not constitute the organization's primary activity."

The foundation, created in 2007, has received $93,500 in contributions over the past three years, according to its tax filings. It has made some small donations to conservative groups in Missouri during that time. It consists of a president, treasurer, two directors and an unpaid executive director, Elliott said. He said the group meets either monthly or quarterly.

When first contacted by The Chronicle, Elliott said he did not recall who contributed the money or who had argued for spending the money on California's Prop. 23.

The Sacramento  Bee reports today that California officials are seeking a criminal investigation into whether the Adam Smith Foundation -- headquartered in Jefferson City -- is illegally moving money to a campaign to overturn the Golden State's greenhouse gas law.

State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John Pérez have asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to open an investigation into a tiny Missouri nonprofit organization that has pumped nearly $500,000 into a voter initiative to suspend the state's landmark climate change law.

In a letter to Holder on Tuesday, Steinberg, D-Sacramento, and Pérez, D-Los Angeles, asked the Justice Department to determine whether the Adam Smith Foundation is illegally funneling campaign contributions from third parties to support the rollback measure, Proposition 23.

"Serious issues are implicated by the use of an out-of-state organization that may be abusing its tax status to avoid having to disclose the name of its donors to a campaign that will have a profound impact on the future of California," the lawmakers wrote.

John Elliott, the Adam Smith Foundation's president, could not be reached for comment, and an e-mail to the foundation's Jefferson City, Mo., office was not returned.

The $498,000 funneled through Jefferson City is a full 16% of the $3.1M raised by the "California Jobs Initiative committee" to date.

Steven Maviglio of The California Majority Report writes that "the Missouri-based Adam Smith Foundation had net revenue of $109 last year -- yet managed to give the Texas oil companies $498,000. Other newspaper reporters trying to learn more about the Foundation did not have their calls returned or were hung up on by Adam Smith officials."

The most recent filings with the Secretary of State show that the organization is led (on paper, at least) by John Elliott of Smithville; Thomas Shupe of St. Louis, Buddy Hardin of St. Charles; and Kurt Killen of Platte Woods. State Rep. Mike Lair was one of the organization's original board members. 

The cast of characters who appear on the organization's official documents has previously raised questions regarding the possible involvement of GOP operatives James Harris and Jeff Roe, and more recent filings with the IRS and Missouri Ethics Commission confirm those suspicions.

For instance: The only donations that appear on the group's 990 filing for 2009 are $4,000 to Harris' Better Courts for Missouri organization (now known as ShowMe Better Courts) and $2,500 to Roe's "Citizens Against Forever Tax" committee. 

ShowMe Better Courts, as you know, is all about junking the state's nonpartisan courts plan.  Roe's "Citizens Against Forever Tax" committee was set up last year to battle a school tax levy in St. Joseph. 

This year, the Adam Smith Foundation moved an additional $75,000 into  "Citizens Against Forever Tax" (CAFT) which in turn moved almost all of its money to Roe's Axiom Strategies for direct mail, robocalls and other services in this year's elections.  All told, Axiom has collected more than $89,000 from "Citizens Against Forever Tax" this year.

In addition: A July 27 donation of $35,000 from the Adam Smith Foundation to Citizens Against Forever Tax lists a St. Joseph address for the Foundation -- the address of the treasurer for Citizens Against Forever Tax, Ed Catron. 

 With the August 3rd primary rapidly approaching, the Republican candidates of Missouri’s 7th District combined for a surprisingly tame second to last week. The Republican establishment continued to line up behind Jack Goodman, with the state senator receiving the formal support of the 7th Congressional Republican Assembly. Goodman also recently won the endorsement of a few Southwestern Missouri firefighters' groups and the Springfield News-Leader, positioning him as one of the leading candidates along with Billy Long as Gary Nodler continues to fade.

OK, not exactly.

But with a base that hates even the whiff of a tax increase, it is somewhat interesting that the Missouri Republican Party's new political director is fresh off a campaign to pass a tax levy for St. Joseph schools.  Chris Roepe was the manager for the successful pro-levy "Our Children. Our Future. Our Decision." campaign, which bested Jeff Roe's "Citizens Against Forever Tax" effort two weeks ago.

Roepe is also the former chief of staff for Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields of St. Joseph, who strongly supported campaign and loaned it money.

The Star's Steve Kraske isn't buying Sen. Kit Bond's claims about a deal to replace Todd Graves as U.S. Attorney:

Despite the new evidence, Bond offered the same explanation he’s offered for months. That is, his staff was doing all this behind his back, without his knowledge and completely out of his earshot.

And Dick Nixon never had anything to do with all those dirty tricks at the White House…right?

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Hiding behind executive privilege didn't work, and trying to make Governor Nixon the target of the suit didn't work, so settling to avoid a trial may have been the last best option.

The state will pay a former staffer of Gov. Matt Blunt $500,000 to settle his wrongful termination and defamation lawsuit.

Scott Eckersley sued the governor and several of his staff members last January alleging defamation of character, wrongful termination and violations of the state open records law. The lawsuit has cost the state well over a million dollars as Blunt and his staffers used the state’s legal defense fund to pay attorneys fees.

Rather than fight for Missouri's families, GOP state legislators insist on fighting amongst themselves. In a must-read piece for The Beacon, Jason Rosenbaum touches on many of the big fights at the Capitol slowing down legislation: Senate Republicans v. House Republicans, Jason Crowell v. Kurt Schaefer, Jeff Roe v. Rod Jetton, John Griesheimer v. "outside forces", John Griesheimer v. Rod Jetton, Kurt Schaefer v. Rod Jetton, Jason Crowell v. Jeff Roe and David Barklage, Jason Crowell's ego v. Ron Richard's ego, Allen Icet v. Gary Nodler, Kevin Engler v. perpetrators of physical violence... 

[W]ith roughly a month to go before lawmakers adjourn for the year, Republicans seem to be turning their aim away from the Democratic governor and instead targeting each other.

Some Senate Republicans are lobbing stinging attacks, questioning the ethics and motivations of their colleagues. Various factions seem miles apart on two of the biggest bills: 1) an economic development package and 2) a proposal to allow utility companies to recover financing costs for the construction of nuclear power plants....

The animosity among Republican lawmakers has been noticeable, going beyond simple differences of opinion.

Steelman is required to file with the Federal Elections Commission within 15 days of spending $5,000 on behalf of a federal campaign.

If you are running for the U.S. House, Senate or the Presidency, you must register with the FEC once you (or persons acting on your behalf) receive contributions or make expenditures in excess of $5,000. Within 15 days of reaching that $5,000 threshold, you must file a Statement of Candidacy (FEC Form 2 [PDF]) authorizing a principal campaign committee to raise and spend funds on your behalf. Within 10 days of that filing, your principal campaign committee must submit a Statement of Organization (FEC Form 1 [PDF]). 

She has coyly relaunched her website, still pretending that she hasn't decided if she's running yet. Except (oops!) she linked to two social networking websites unambiguously titled, "Sarah Steelman for U.S. Senate."

And while we're discussing evasions of federal campaign finance law, how does she explain all of these expenses from her gubernatorial campaign account?

• $22,905.48 to Public Opinion Strategies for "Polling and strategy" in March 2009
• $21,691.58 to Jeff Roe's Axiom Strategies for "Survey, Consulting, Campaign Management" in February 2009
• $20,000.00 to Axiom Strategies for "Consulting, Campaign Management, Research, Expenses" in March 2009
• $37,230.12 to the Catalyst Group for "Fundraising Fees" in February 2009
• $774.42 to Dirt Road Productions for "Media Placement" in February 2009

What sort of polling, consulting, research and media placement are required in early 2009 for a gubernatorial race she lost the first week of August 2008?

Apparently concerned about a lack of enthusiasm for tomorrow's Tea Parties, the Americans for Prosperity Foundation and Heritage Foundation are now sponsoring four contests with $5,000 in prizes to encourage participation.

In Kansas City, the "grassroots" uprising has been so overwhelming that corporate sponsors (i.e. Jeff Roe's lobbying shop + a FOX radio affiliate) were enlisted to bankroll the event.

Reflecting on the brewing hatred between Jeff Roe and Rod Jetton, this morning's story on Shane Schoeller's desire to be Speaker Pro Tem is especially interesting.  As we understand it from Capitol sources, Steven Tilley, Schoeller and Tim Jones have no real opposition for the top three GOP slots in the House -- and all three answer directly to Jetton.

Does this mean that Roe is ceding all power in the House to Jetton?  Or are the Roe-bots simply laying low, until the time is right to mount a challenge? 

(Say, when Tim Jones embarasses himself for the 345th time.)