Friday, June 24, 2016
Kinder Touts MRL Endorsement
The press release: Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder today was endorsed by the political action arm of Missouri’s largest grassroots pro-life organization, Missouri Right to Life.
Missouri Right to Life Political Action Committee (MRL PAC) endorses candidates for political office who “would be the best and most effective voice for the unborn.” MRL PAC is a non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting the right to life of all persons and represents thousands of pro-life Missourians… Kinder was previously awarded Missouri Right to Life’s “Defender of Life Award” for leading the fight to ban partial-birth abortion in Missouri.
The MRL PAC has notified candidates of their endorsements and is set to be made public next week.
Kander on Deficit
In a press release entitled Jason Kander Breaks with Party and Announces Support for Balanced Budget Amendment: Jason Kander today announced he supports a Constitutional amendment that would mandate that Congress pass a balanced federal budget. The announcement was made at the Boone County Government Chambers this afternoon in Columbia with local small business owners and community leaders in attendance.
The deficit stopped being a hot button issue years ago. This looks like a move to the middle, maybe grab a few Independent voters?
And
I’m always amazed when I listen to state senators on the floor yapping about Washington and the debt and how out of control it is and how “the Chinese” will own this country. They never mention the debt markets. In every other conversation they love the markets. So why play blind about what the markets think of US debt? There’s next to no default risk premium in US debt. They’re only asking for 1.5% to lend money for ten years.
Brunner Adds Another Million
Republican gubernatorial candidate John Brunner transferred another million from his checking account to the campaign checking account. This is not a surprise as he added $3.6 million at the end of last year. You don’t come this far, and not spend the extra amount (assuming you have it) you think might put you across the finish line.
Brunner did start the campaign saying he wasn’t planning on self-funding this race as he did his unsuccessful Senate race (Akin won the primary).
MO Club Hits Parson
The Rex Sinquefield funded Missouri Club for Growth PAC has a commercial up punching Sen. Mike Parson for the lobbyists’ gifts he’s accepted and his vote against the lobbyist gift ban. Parson is running in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor against former MO Club Chairwoman Bev Randles.
See the ad here. The tag is: “Senator Parson, it’s time to stop living off lobbyists.”
And
In the large contributions, Rep. Justin Hill reports a $10K check from MO Club for Growth. This is probably the first of the checks being cut to those who won the MO Club’s endorsements. See the list here.
Also
Humphreys added another $500K to his Accountability Committee. It’s on, folks. This is where the primary election gets thick.
Hawley’s Response
I’m always curious about the wisdom and effectiveness of responding to attacks. The Schaefer “he helped a terrorist” ad clearly needs to be answered, but does the response sometimes reinforce the attack.
Here’s the Post-Dispatch article debunking (sort of) Schaefer’s hit.
And here’s one reader’s take: Hawley is insane if he thinks this article helps him. You can't claim on one hand that your name on a Supreme Court brief means everything (Hobby Lobby) and then on the other hand means nothing (Muhammad). Not to mention the fact that this article comes across as "Hawley's representation of the terrorist was modest"...in today's world, that's like saying "I only modestly beat my wife"...
Lastly, 90% or more of the people who read this article are now going to want to watch Schaefer's ad. Hawley's only saving grace is that it doesn't say "terrorist" in the title of the article to draw more attention.
Bits
Source watching the TV buys says that the Faith and Freedom ad buy is for two weeks and amounts to $111K. While the SCRAPAC (anti-Schaefer) TV buy is $800K through July 13 – so far.
Eugene Dokes, who lost to Rep. Bill Otto in House 70 in 2012, admitted that he participated in SSI disability fraud. See it here.
How much do Uber drivers make? See it here.
Is this for real? Solar roads? See it here.
Governing Magazine rates Missouri’s gubernatorial race a “lean Democrat.” See it here.
Today’s Events
Powered by Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Reps. Nathan Beard and Dean Dohrman Golf – Indian Foothills GC – Marshall – 8AM.
Rep. Dan Shaul Snow Cone Social – Mastodon State Park Pavilion – Imperial – 5:30PM.
House 112 candidate Robert Butler Shooting – Ultimate Defense Firing Range – St. Peters – 6PM.
$5K+ Contributions
Hill for Missouri - $10,000 from Missouri Club for Growth Political Action Committee.
Committee for Accountable Government in Missouri - $500,000 from David Humphreys.
Seniors Count Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Mercy Accounts Payable Shared Services.
Seniors Count Campaign Committee - $15,000 from Ascension Health Ministry SVS CTR.
Greitens for Missouri - $10,000 from Dairy Farmers of America Inc.
Raise Your Hand For Kids - $200,000 from RAI Services Company.
Koster for Missouri - $15,000 from AGC of Missouri PAC.
Koster for Missouri - $10,000 from Friends for Gina Walsh.
Missourians for John Brunner - $1,000,000 from John G Brunner.
Koster for Missouri - $10,000 from Dale Turvey.
Citizens to Elect McCann - $10,000 from David Humphreys.
Russ Carnahan for Missouri - $20,000 from Simmons Hanly Conroy.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Reps. Kevin Austin and Shelley Kenney Taylor, former Reps. Danielle Moore and Jim Krieder, Eileen Evans and Alex Curchin.
Saturday: The mighty Jason Rosenbaum and aldermen Christine Ingrassia and Joe Vaccaro.
Sunday: Reps. Kurt Bahr, Kirk Mathews and Steve Cookson, Mark Coulter and Dick Aldrich.