State cites Jefferson City group for Medicaid expansion postcards

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City group will have to pay a fine for not disclosing it paid for postcards sent to support an August ballot measure.

The Missouri Ethics Commission fined the Jefferson City Area Indivisible $1,100 on Dec. 4 for failing to tell people it paid for postcards promoting Amendment 2 or for reporting that activity to the MEC. That constitutional amendment expanded eligibility for Medicaid. The amendment failed in Cole County by nearly 4,000 votes, despite winning statewide with 53 percent of the vote.

The consent order between the MEC and one of JCAI's founding members Tony Smith said the group could pay just $200 within 45 days to satisfy the fine. Smith did not return a request for comment on Tuesday.

The consent order said JCAI sent out 1,800 postcards to Jefferson City residents that said "Vote YES on Amendment 2 August 4." JCAI spent $630 on postage and $30 on paper, according to the MEC, but never reported the money spent to the MEC. The postcards also did not say which group paid for them. Material like mailed pamphlets, advertisements and yard signs must say who paid for them, according to state law.

JCAI's Facebook page describes the group as "a citizens group working together in the heart of Missouri to create positive change."