"Better Leadership for Missouri" Comes Out of Hibernation to Lobby Against Tax Commission Appointment

The "Better Leadership for Missouri" campaign committee is back in action, lobbying against the nomination of former state Rep. Bill Ransdall to the State Tax Commission.

The committee has been mostly dormant since 2008, when Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder used the account to benefit from overlimit contributions without actually having the money show up on his official campaign ledger.  Fired Up! first reported on the scheme in July 2008, which was noted by the News-Leader yesterday. 

More recently , the account was used to funnel money from Sen. Jim Lembke (R-Lemay) and Rep. Mike Leara (R-St. Louis) to the "South County Citizens for Public Reform" committee. 

Here's a transcript of at least one version of the calls:

Hello, I am calling on behalf of Better Leadership for Missouri. Senator Frank Barnitz’s nominee to the state tax commission will be appointed this week to a full term. As an interim director Senator Barnitz’s nominee immediately voted to increase property taxes on farms resulting in higher taxes on farmers and higher food prices on our families. Barnitz’s nominee has failed to pledge that he wouldn’t raise property taxes on home owners. To protect Missouri taxpayers we need to let Senator Barnitz know that his appointee to the Missouri tax commission should be withdrawn. Missourians can’t afford higher taxes at this time. Call Senator Barnitz at 573- 751-2108 and encourage him to withdraw his nominee for Director of the State Tax Commission. Our address is P.O Box 903 Jefferson City Missouri 65102.

According to the News-Leader, Kinder consultant David Barklage says he "certainly was aware" of the calls, but didn't "execute" them.  Barklage also told the paper that the committee is not currently one of his clients. 

Who's behind the effort?  Barklage isn't saying.  But for the past six months, the committee's account has had just $667.38 in the bank, suggesting that a very recent cash infusion was needed to make the calls happen. 

It's also unclear at this point how lobbying against an appointment fits under the list of permissible uses for a campaign committee (outlined here). Generally, donvations to campaign accounts are expected to be used for campaigns, and not lobbying for or against official actions.

A special thanks to tipster D for the transcript.