Jonathan Shorman

News-Leader

A group funded by a St. Louis billionaire wants to own the Missouri House, a Marshfield Republican lawmaker says.

Rep. Lyndall Fraker is accusing the organization of attacking the character of several representatives.

Fraker said in a Facebook post this week that the character of four of his fellow House members is being attacked in radio ads funded by the Missouri Club for Growth, a group funded almost entirely by Rex Sinquefield, a retired businessman and philanthropist.

The four House members — including Rep. Jeff Messenger of Republic — face primary opponents who have received campaign support from the Club for Growth.

In June, the Club for Growth gave Loren Hunt, who is running against Messenger, $25,000. That donation accounts for 97 percent of Hunt's entire campaign haul, according to a recent Missouri Ethics Commission report.

The Club for Growth is supporting Hunt's campaign after Messenger voted against overriding Gov. Jay Nixon's veto of legislation that contained an income tax cut in 2013 — House Bill 253. Sinquefield, whose ultimate aim is to eliminate the income tax in Missouri, poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into efforts supporting a veto override.

The organization is now paying for radio ads that have aired in Springfield criticizing Messenger for his vote.

"The radio advertisements are now attacking the character of these fine men. It is sad that these guys that have served their communities all of their lives are being slandered," Fraker said in the post.

Fraker wrote that he hopes voters support Messenger and the other lawmakers facing challengers.

"Some are afraid to stand up and say anything because they are afraid of these outside interest groups. But friends can't stand by and let this character assignation (sic) occur. God speed my courageous friends," Fraker said.

Club for Growth spokesperson Todd Abrajano issued a statement in response.

"Lyndall Fraker, Jeff Messenger, and their other fiscally liberal comrades in the state legislature have horrendous voting records that include denying hard-working families robust tax relief and supporting tax hikes on low-income seniors and disabled people," Abrajano said. "Rather than attacking conservatives that expose them for who they really are, these politicians need to be honest and take responsibility for their own actions."

In a News-Leader interview last week, Hunt embraced the Club for Growth and welcomed its support. He said he and the group are "like-minded."

"I'm a true constitutional conservative, and I think the key to a lot of our social issues is economic growth and I would agree with everything the Missouri Club for Growth stands for," Hunt said.

Fraker himself does not have a primary challenger, though he also voted against overriding the House Bill 253 veto. He will face Democrat Sandy Grogan and Libertarian Bill Boone in the November general election.