Friday, October 19, 2012

New York Times article examines corrosive effect of Rex Sinquefield's money on Missouri

Today's New York Times features a powerful story examining the corrosive influence of retired billionaire Rex Sinquefield on Missouri politics, including his bankrolling of Republican secretary of state candidate Shane Schoeller.

Schoeller, of course, says that no one, not even Sinquefield can buy him.


Mr. Sinquefield has contributed about 40 percent of the money raised by Mr. Schoeller. Next week, Mr. Sinquefield will hold a fund-raiser for Mr. Schoeller at his home in St. Louis.The Democratic candidate in the race, Jason Kander, raised more money than Mr. Schoeller through the beginning of September, largely from unions and trial lawyers, but no single donor has given nearly as much.In an interview at a coffee shop here, Mr. Schoeller said he shared Mr. Sinquefield’s views on the income tax. But if elected, he said, he would treat his largest donor no differently from any other constituent.“I’m grateful for the support that Mr. Sinquefield has given to me, certainly,” Mr. Schoeller said. “But I think it’s important to say that everybody has a voice in the way that I look at government. Because you’re there to serve.”



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