Campaign Contributions-What does the money get you?

The Post-Dispatch ran a story yesterday about how Mayor Francis Slay's campaign contributors are finding ways around campaign contribution limits. The leader of the pack is none other than developer Paul McKee who just might need some help to collect on a 100 million dollar tax credit that McKee's supporters got passed by the State of Missouri.

Slay says that contributions do not get a donor extra access while McKee was quoted in the Post article as saying; "The decision to contribute, again, to the mayor's re-election efforts reflects the support that my family of companies continues to have for the mayor's economic development policies." Of course, one of the best ways to find out where a McKee company plans to do business is to find out where McKee, his family, his lawyer and his companies start spending money. And you will also find that those "economic development policies" McKee takes a sudden interest in will often change in ways favorable to McKee's development.

There is no better example of what big money will get you than in St. Charles County, Paul McKee's home base. While the Post-Dispatch has recently decided to focus on McKee's influence over elected officials it has all but ignored the story as it relates to St. Charles. McKee and other builders such as McBride & Sons, TR Hughes, Tom Johnson as well as other businesses have poured millions of dollars into political races in St. Charles County. As an example, take a look at the THE REGIONAL ST CHARLES COUNTY LEADERSHIP FUND which was formed in March of 2006 by employees of TR Hughes. Within months the group had raised over $200,000.00 dollars. The money poured in from developers, builders, businesses and their employees, lawyers and family members. The group did even better in 2007 and this money does not include the vast sums of money paid through direct contributions or other PACs.

Up until the recent slow down in the housing market, St. Charles County was exploding in growth with new houses going up faster than the infrastructure to support such growth. So what kind of "economic development policies" were these big money candidates supporting? Here is a partial list of what you got in O'Fallon

• "Voluntary" annexations with predetermined zoning (illegal) and millions in taxpayer financed giveaways (illegal) such as free tap fees.
• Instructions to staff not to enforce certain ordinances against favored builders/developers.(illegal)
• Underfunded and understaffed building inspection departments.
• Favorable treatment from some building inspectors. (illegal)
• Payments of money to builders in excess of $100,000 without approval of aldermen. (illegal)
• Improper use of eminent domain. (illegal)
• Favorable changes to building codes and zoning laws.
• Favorable settlement of lawsuits.
• Every legal taxpayer financed giveaway possible.
• Disregard for zoning laws and other controls on developments. (illegal)
• Access. Lots of access.

As for as the City of St. Louis goes I think it is interesting Paul McKee has not told anyone what his plans are for the land he has amassed yet he supports Mayor Slay's policies. Since Slay has indicated money does not buy extra access, I suggest the residents of the city either email (mayorslay@mayorslay.com) or call (314-534-2005) the mayor and set up a meeting to find out which of Slay's policies McKee supports. Let me know what you find out.