Thursday, Jul. 29 2010 6:40PM

Kraus accepts $125K from fellow Republican

Pratt received $70,000 from PAC, Dusenberg ‘drove from Blue Springs to Lee’s Summit to get $100’

Miranda Wycoff, Journal Staff

At Monday’s Eighth District Senate forum, $70,000 was the number of the day. But today, it is $125,000.

According to the Missouri Ethics Commission Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, received $125,000 from Citizens for Brad Lager, a group campaigning for Sen. Brad Lager, R-District 12, on Wednesday.

“Brad’s a strong conservative and a good friend of mine,” Kraus said Thursday afternoon. “We have the same political leanings such as cutting taxes, public education and smaller government. He supports me and wants to make sure we get a strong conservative in office.”

Kraus said he and the northeastern Missouri Senator were roommates in Jefferson City Kraus’ first term as a representative.

That’s why Kraus said his campaign contribution is a completely different situation than the $70,000 his opponent Bryan Pratt, R-Blue Springs, received from the Missouri Club for Growth July 20.

“This is 100 percent different,” Kraus said. “(Lager) is not a special interest group. It’s very transparent and you know exactly who it’s coming from.”

But Pratt contends Kraus’s money does come from special interest groups.

“The Lager committee is a special interest breeding ground,” Pratt said.

At the candidate’s forum Monday, Pratt’s contribution from the Missouri Club for Growth, a St. Louis-based political action committee, was a sticking point for opponents Kraus and Gary Dusenberg, R-Blue Springs.

“No one gets $70,000 and thinks there is no strings attached,” Kraus said at the forum Monday.

But still, Kraus maintains that because his large contribution came from an individual and a friend, his argument against Pratt is still valid.

“It’s very transparent,” Kraus said about Lager’s donation. “You know exactly who it’s coming from. He’s not going to be asking me to support a certain bill.”

Pratt said he had a feeling Kraus had a big check coming in on Monday while Kraus and Dusenberg were attacking his $70,000 contribution. But Pratt said he couldn’t say anything then because he had no proof. “So you can see how disingenuous (those comments) were,” Pratt said.

On Monday, questions were raised about the Missouri Club for Growth committee Pratt received his largest donation from. Commentator Julius Oswald said he has heard the PAC has “been on the opposite side of public education,” in the past.

But Pratt took issue with that.

“I am on the side of public education,” Pratt said Monday. “And anyone who thinks otherwise is dead wrong. I’ve got a personal vested interest in our schools and their names are Leah, Benjamin and Ava.”

Dusenberg, who was vocal about Pratt’s large contribution Monday night, said Thursday he is disappointed with both his opponents.

“I drove from Blue Springs to Lee’s Summit this afternoon to get a check of $100 from a friend and I was thrilled to death,” Dusenberg said. “To see that my opponents are taking checks for hundreds of thousands of dollars…what is this world coming to?”

Kraus said he will be using the money received Wednesday to run TV commercials “combating special interest attacks” on him.

“I didn’t realize we were going to be doing TV commercials in this campaign,” Kraus said.

Pratt said he thinks Kraus is going to use the check to “buy this election with negative attack ads.”

“I believe every single penny of that money is going to be used on attack ads against me,” Pratt said.

In total, Pratt has received $438,339 for his senate campaign, according to the eight-day before election report. In addition to the $125,000 and another $10,000 from consultant Jeff Roe, Kraus received Wednesday, contributions to his campaign total $223,860. Dusenberg’s contributions total $49,870, including, he said, funds from his previous campaigns for the Missouri House.

To reach Journal reporter Miranda Wycoff call 816-282-7017, or e-mail mwycoff@lsjournal.com