Kinder launches fresh personal fundraising while seeking taxpayer bailout for "his" bike race
As he seeks a taxpayer funded bailout for his novelty, French-style bike race, Peter Kinder is kicking off a new round of personal political fundraising.
Last week, Kinder established a brand new political committee to raise cash for his personal partisan uses--- "Friends of Kinder."
That while he is asking taxpayers cover the $1.7 million deficit in his fundraising for the Tour of Missouri bike race.
Shameless.
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The Tour is Back On
http://governor.mo.gov/newsroom/2009/Statement_on_Funding_for_the_Tour_of_Missouri
July 14, 2009
Gov. Nixon's statement on state funding for the Tour of Missouri
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon today released the following statement on a Department of Economic Development recommendation that $1.5 million for the Tour of Missouri bicycle race be cut from the Division of Tourism budget:
"Missouri currently faces tremendous financial challenges, and the state must find ways to reduce spending. Even as my administration continues to tighten its belt, I believe that the 2009 Tour of Missouri should go forward. The race will go on this year, and Missourians deserve to know that state funds for the event are used transparently and accountably. They should know precisely how money for the Tour of Missouri is being spent, and that the event is being run in a way that minimizes the cost to taxpayers.
To ensure transparency and accountability, I asked the Office of Administration to seek a full and fair explanation of all expenditures connected with the Tour of Missouri in 2007 and 2008, and of budgeted expenditures and contracts for 2009. A representative from the Office of Administration met today with representatives of the Department of Economic Development, the Division of Tourism and Tour of Missouri, Inc. Because of assurances from the Division of Tourism and the Tour of Missouri, Inc. that they are now willing to share records regarding spending on previous races and planned spending for this year's race, the Office of Budget and Planning will immediately begin to provide state funds for the 2009 Tour of Missouri."
It doesn't look too good
to announce the tour on the same day that we find out that Missouri has 1 out of 6 people on foodstamps. I believe the tour generates money for private business rather than directly to the state? Sorry, but I think this is a mistake.
Bicycles are Progressive
I'm a bike commuter. I'm also a liberal who supports the Tour of Missouri.
Over the last two years, the Tour has generated about $30 in revenue for each $1 invested. It attracts fans from around the world.
Since when is bashing bicycles as a "novelty" and using "French" like a dirty word "progressive"? I swear, it's like I'm reading Rush Limbaugh's site or something.
Kinder talking points
Did Peter Kinder write those talking points out for you on a steamed locker room mirror at Wash U?
Spare us the stock Kinder rhetoric.
It's Priorities, Marston
How you feel about this bike race has nothing to do with whether you're progressive or not.
It has to do with priorities.
If a family has a child whose needing an appendectomy and a grocery bill that needing to be paid, but uses their few available dollars to buy a zippy bycycle instead, we would not call them non-progressive, we'd say they don't have their priorities straight. Though, I suppose, there would always be those arguing that the family is curbing pollution, saving on gas, and getting more exercise, so, therefore, the expenditure was justified.
It's all a matter of priorities.
Mayor Slay on the Tour of Missouri
RT @MayorSlay: You say bike race. I say major economic impact, international notice, promotion of cycling.