Sat, Jul 04 2009
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Published November 08, 2008 07:54 pm - One of the points of writing this column is to show that it is very difficult to prove that money buys actual votes. But the case of Proposition A comes close. Joe Hadsall: Casinos report spending $13.9 million days before election By Joe Hadsall
Globe columnist One of the points of writing this column is to show that it is very difficult to prove that money buys actual votes. But the case of Proposition A comes close. The measure that removes loss limits from Missouri casinos and prohibits the construction of any more casinos passed last Tuesday night with a 56.2 percent majority. It garnered 1,573,988 votes during the election. Prop A was marketed as the “Schools First Initiative,” pushed by the Yes on A Coalition. Supporters said that the measure would give about $100 million in new funding to public schools by increasing the state tax casinos pay from 20 percent to 21 percent. Opponents — specifically area school superintendents — argued that the measure used students and teachers to touch on voters’ soft spots. The measure did much more for casinos than schools, they argued, and even threatened to monkey with the state’s education-funding formula. If you take a look at the state records it would appear that the coalition paid a premium price for votes. According to a report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, the coalition raised more than $15 million since December 2007 — about a million less than Governor-elect Jay Nixon raised in more than three years. The coalition had spent about $13.9 million eight days before the election. It bought the best that money could buy: Almost two thirds of that money, about $9.2 million, went to Winner & Mandabach Campaigns, an L.A. firm that specializes in winning elections. On its Web site — wmcampaigns.com — it claims that it has handled more ballot measure campaigns than any other firm and has a 90 percent win record. The firm was called the leading ballot measure firm in the nation by ABC, according to its Web site. Winner & Mandabach, in 2006, managed campaigns of Rhode Island racetracks opposed to a new casino in West Warwick and for Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., to install electronic gaming machines. The firm is compensated in reports for campaign management, but also raked in expenses for broadcast cable, Web site development and many other expenses. The firm organized a campaign blitz for Prop A. It hired petition management groups, several full-time employees and a bevy of other consultants. 
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