Typos? Parry contributors share PO box with campaign; corporation gives directly to Parry (update: campaign gives it back)

A sharp-eyed reader called Bluestem's attention to the fact that a contributor shares a post office box with the Mike Parry campaign.

We checked, and found yet another donor sharing the same box in Waseca.

We know times are tough, but Bluestem thinks that those able to contribute a few hundred to the Emo Senator's campaign should probably rent their own post boxes.

Moreover, the business account of one contributor is credited with a contribution. This may be a violation of federal campaign finance law.  While the controversial Citizens United decision freed corporations and unions to give directly to committees that independently support or oppose a candidate, corporations and unions cannot give directly to a federal candidate's committee. NPR reported in Supreme Court Rips Up Campaign Finance Laws:

Even before the court's decision, national political campaigns had been growing increasingly expensive. Watchdog groups worry that by removing limits on expenditures by corporations that are not coordinated with candidates' campaigns, the court will boost the role of special interests in politics.

"As long as they do it independently, they can spend whatever they want," notes NPR's Nina Totenberg. "It will undoubtedly help Republican candidates since corporations have generally supported Republican candidates more."

Some important limits do remain intact: Corporations still cannot give money directly to federal candidates or national party committees. That ban dates to 1907. The justices also upheld some other restrictions, including disclosure requirements for nonprofit groups that advocate for political candidates.

The Parry campaign's post office box is P.O. 188, Waseca MN, 56093. It must be getting pretty crowded in there, since it's shared with two individuals:

Paul Rosenau PO Box 188 Waseca, Minnesota 56093	None	06/30/2012	5000.00
	Retired		5000.00
Paul Rosenau PO Box 188 Waseca, Minnesota 56093	None	06/30/2012	-2500.00
	Retired	MEMO	0.00
	Redesignate:		LIMITS
Paul Rosenau PO Box 188 Waseca, Minnesota 56093	None	06/30/2012	2500.00
	Retired	MEMO	0.00
	Redesignate: From Primary		LIMITS

and:

Jeff Carney PO Box 188 Waseca, Minnesota 56093	Carney Auto	06/01/2012	500.00
	Owner		500.00
Jeff Carney PO Box 188 Waseca, Minnesota 56093	Carney Auto	06/25/2012	10.00
	Owner		510.00

The latter contribution is followed by this:

Carney Auto, Inc 26008 US Hwy 218 Austin, Minnesota 55912		06/27/2012	500.00
			500.00

While a small business, Carney Auto is a corporation, according to the listing on the Parry report (the Minnesota Secretary of State's business filings search tool is undergoing maintenance and thus Bluestem can't check the firm's status there).

Update and correction: A reader wrote to let us know about the return of the corporate contribution:

Carney Auto, Inc 26008 US Hwy 218 Austin, Minnesota 55912		06/28/2012
	Refund of Corporate Contribution	500.00

The return wasn't noted in the receipts section, as is the practice, but only in the expenses section.

One hopes that the Parry campaign will find the addresses of its contributors.

Bonus round: Rochester state senator Dave Senjem gave $100.00 to the Parry campaign in the past quarter.  Nothing amiss with that, but the campaign's description of his employer/occuption is--er--charming:

David Senjem 2423 12th Ave NW Rochester, Minnesota 559011596	Self Employer	06/27/2012	100.00
	Running State Senate		250.00

A friendly suggestion? Try "State of Minnesota" as the employer. Others can discuss whether the majority caucus leader is "Running State Senate."  Or does the entry merely reflect Parry's mania for privatization?

Powerball bonus: The Rosenaus were $180 million Powerball winners in 2008. Since then, they've been giving generously to worthy community causes in the Waseca area.

Photo: Mike Parry is so frugal, he recycles the drapes for a frock and bonnet.