Newly elected Missouri Governor Eric R. Greitens felt creative. One of his first acts – after hiring a Chief Operating Officer to do most of his governor work – was to create his very own “dark money” group, A New Missouri.
During Governor SEAL’s brief yet too long reign, rumors swirled that Greitens’ 501 c ( 4 ) stashed million upon millions of dollars, ready to club the governor’s opponents and kiss his friends.
For example, Missouri Gov. Greitens’ nonprofit attacks St. Joseph senator, a fellow Republican [ https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article145941109.html ] was a 2017 headline about A New Missouri.
Thanks to a quirk in tax and campaign law, A New Missouri and similar groups claiming to not be overtly political could accept money and spend it doing political things (such as attack a state senator) without ever revealing who paid for the nastiness. These groups have been especially popular in the Show Me State.
Surprise!
The U. S. Supreme Court, ironically following the logic they established in the dreadful Citizens United V. FECdecision, decided not to accept a challenge to a lower court decision to require 501 ( c ) 4 and 501 c ( 6 ) organizations to share the names of their donors and how much they gave. Back in Citizens the court made noises about the need for transparency, letting voters know who is paying for ads and such. The court’s action means that, well, starting now, groups will have to report-out what traditional political organizations must already report. [ https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/09/supreme-court-lets-stand-a-decision-requiring-dark-money-disclosure/570670/ ]
Of course, the money already in the accounts can stay dark – or can it? Reading a few articles on the court action I’m wondering if the rules now apply to any money now expended, even if it was donated weeks or years ago? I’m sure some legal types will get that clarified.
Meanwhile, let’s look back at A New Missouri. Though founded at the dawn of Eric’s interregnum, as of today, the group has yet to have its IRS form 990 processed and published…Probably just tied-up in the mail.
The most recent information about the group comes from last month’s Missouri corporate report. Strange, Eric R. Greitens isn’t on the form, no, the Registered Agent and Secretary is Robin Simpson of Monroe City, Missouri. The current President of A New Missouri is Monu Joseph of Costa Mesa, California and the Treasurer is Michael G. Adams of Louisville, Kentucky. [MO SoS Annual Report for N000704138]
Wait! A group for and about Missouri is headed by an Orange County venture capitalist and a Kentucky lawyer with ties to the Republican Governor’s Association? [ http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/20180503/greitens-campaign-sought-foreign-contributions-consultant-testified & http://www.cpblawgroup.com/leadership/michael-g-adams/ ] Yup.
Oh yes, a state-level lawsuit trying to get A New Missouri to disclose its donors is in the courts. Fortunately for former Governor SEAL’s team, it’s being heard by Cole County Judge Jon E. Beetem, a Republican so reliable that if a GOP party leader threw him in a sewage plant he’d say it’s a great day for a swim.
So, despite the best partisan efforts of the Cole County Courthouse, the game has changed. Yes, shadow groups can still spend all the money they want on the tacky and rude. They’ll just have to smile for a snapshot telling everyone who they are.
Remember that the supremes action also applied to 501 ( c ) 6 groups? That includes the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry which spent eight years opposing every thing former Governor Jay Nixon tried to do. Now, besides knowing that the chamber’s czar Dan Mehan makes $310,436 a year plus benes [IRS form 990 for 2017], interested citizens will learn who gives the chambers millions to fight for right to work, against Medicaid expansion, against CLEAN Missouri, against raising the minimum wage…Progress.
Submitted by Glenn Koenen, WCD Member