Monday, January 11, 2016
Galloway Doesn’t Pull Punches
State Auditor Nicole Galloway has started the New Year with an independent streak. Last week in an audit of the Secretary of State’s office, run by Democratic US Senate candidate Jason Kander, she pointed out “incomplete documentation.” See it here.
Pull Quote: The SOS did not maintain complete documentation to support salary increases provided to many employees. Auditors reviewed documents and spoke with SOS personnel regarding a sampling of raises and found that the office did not always adequately document the reasons increases were given. Memos written to support raises for reasons other than promotion did not contain critical information, including who prepared and reviewed the memos and the dates they were written. For many raises, the documentation was inadequate, lacking clear detail and/or conflicting with other documentation or explanations provided by SOS personnel. For example, 10 raises for increased workload, additional duties and/or responsibilities were not supported by documentation detailing the workload increases or specific additional duties/responsibilities.
Galloway also takes – what looks like – a shot at the governor who appointed her, in announcing an audit of the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board. See it here. In her announcement she notes that “the annual report is the board's first in several years. In it, the board reported a number of serious internal problems, including failures in proper tracking of board documents and archives resulting in missing records, as well as board vacancies that undermine the board's ability to operate…” The governor appoints (or doesn’t appoint) board members.
Galloway is up for re-election in 2018. The conventional wisdom is that the off-presidential cycle makes the auditor’s office one of the toughest for Democrats. But starting early to define herself as a tough and independent auditor certainly won’t hurt her chances.
Politico Ranks MO Senate Race #9 Most Competitive
Politico had previously ranked the race #10. Kander-Blunt jumped ahead of the North Caorlina race. See it here.
Pull Quote: “Democrats couldn't be much higher on Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, a veteran who has gone on the offensive on national security against [Roy] Blunt. Kander is looking to be the latest statewide Democrat to successfully fight national tides in Missouri, which Mitt Romney easily carried in 2012. Blunt has also dealt with a series of stories looking at his son and campaign manager's lobbying work. Still, the Blunt family has never lost a statewide general election, the incumbent retains a healthy lead in cash on hand, and Missouri isn’t on the presidential battleground map yet.”
Team Kander immediately used the upgrade for a fundraising appeal….
Korman on CNN
Rep. Bart Korman’s “sex as a gift” bill goes national, hitting CNN. Though the whole idea of reporting sex sounded like a bad joke, Korman makes it seem pretty reasonable in the video. See it here.
Harmon Plays Catch Up on Diversity
St. Louis Circuit Attorney candidate Steven Harmon sends out an appeal for diversity applicants…
---------- Forwarded message ----------
*From:* list-manager@mcba.simplelists.com [
mailto:list-manager@mcba.simplelists.com <list-manager@mcba.simplelists.com>]
*Sent:* Wednesday, December 30, 2015 11:21 AM
*Subject:* ATTORNEY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Greetings,
Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce has publicly stated that I have not referred any attorney candidates to her for employment. If you know of any attorneys interested in employment with the Office of the Circuit Attorney, please have them contact me and I will refer them to the Circuit Attorney.
The below comment is from the St. Louis Post Dispatch, December 22, 2015.
In the 15 years I’ve been circuit attorney, we have yet to receive one attorney candidate who was recommended by Mr. Harmon. I believe that says a lot about his real commitment to diversity in this office.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/diversity-integrity-facts-and-evidence-matter-in-prosecution/article_bbb5479f-9d10-5306-9b47-bda2a35f3de5.html
Thank you,
Steven L. Harmon
Bits
The Missouri Ethic Commission dismissed a complaint against Rep. DaRon McGee that he didn’t use a “Paid for” disclosure. See it here.
Missouri Energy Development Association spent another non-committee expenditure. See it here. It was for legal expenses to opposed an initiative petition relating to the purchase of electricity. See the IP here.
Solar Wars in Nevada. See it here.
Help Wanted
County of Boone seeks Prosecuting Attorney. “Represent the State of Missouri in criminal prosecutions… Starting Annual Salary Range: $51,750-$54,995…” See the ad here.
New Committees
A new PAC, Move Marshall Forward, was formed. Its treasurer is Kay Graves. She’s the Marshall Chamber of Commerce Board President.
eMailbag: Good News
Missouri's underserved populations are closer to having access to much needed oral health services, through Governor Jay Nixon's announcement that he's moving forward to reinstate a benefit cut back in 2005. It should be noted that this is one of the most significant bipartisan health policy agreements in years. With implementation of the Show Me Healthy Babies initiative for pregnant women, 2016 is off to a great start!
Today’s Events
From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Missouri Optometric Assn. Cinnamon roll day & reception – Capitol Plaza – 5PM.
Rep. John McCaherty Reception & NCAA Watch Party – J Pfennys – 7PM.
Lobbyists Registrations
Andrew Blunt, Mark Schwartz and Jay Reichard added Statehouse Strategies LLC.
James Foley, Andrew Foley, Gary Burton, Mark Bruns, and Chris Liese added Ernst & Yong LLP.
Dawn Nicklas added Missouri Votes Conservation, Missouri Parks Association, Missouri Conservation Environmental Alliance.
James Atkins added Federal Home Loan Bank Of Des Moines.
Elizabeth Lauber added Strategic Capitol Consulting.
Chris Liese, Gary Burton and James Foley deleted National Vision Administrators LLC.
Andrew Foley and Don Soph deleted Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
Mark Habbas added Uber Technologies Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Koster for Missouri - $20,000 from Robert Brinkmann.
United Food & Commercial Workers Local #655 Elect Political Action Fund - $6,513 from UFCW Local 655.
Greitens for Missouri - $5,001 from Ronald Krongold.
Progress KC PAC - $10,000 from William Gautreaux.
Progress KC PAC - $7,500 from Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.
Citizens for Bonnaye Mims - $5,001 from CHIPP PAC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Judy Morgan, Scott Intagliata, and Darin Cline.