Friday, November 18, 2016
Lefties Rushing Their IPs?
Last week Sean Soendker Nicholson filed a slew of initiative petitions, and this week there have been two dozen more filed by Richard Von Glahn, an organizing director with Missouri Jobs with Justice.
One observer remarks that there appears to be a “mad dash to get left leaning petitions filed with the SOS so that Jason Kander will be the one to write the ballot summary. There is a feeling that Jay Ashcroft may write them using a more conservative lens. The process takes about 40 days and so there’s maybe a week or two left to have the opportunity for Kander to handle the process. So far the petitions submitted include marijuana legalization, minimum wage and redistricting.”
Ashcroft Names Transition Team
Press release: Jay Ashcroft, Missouri Secretary of State-Elect, announced a five-member Secretary of State transition team… The effort will be led by Lowell Pearson, former Deputy Counsel to Secretary of State Matt Blunt and Chief Counsel to Governor Matt Blunt and Partner at Husch Blackwell; Bev Randles, Partner at Randles and Splittgerber Law and former Chairman of Missouri Club for Growth; Matt Morrow, President and CEO of Springfield Chamber of Commerce; Steele Shippy, former Ashcroft Campaign Manager; and Lindsey Reinholdt, former Ashcroft Political Director…
And
Amid the transition excitement, it’s easy to lose sight of the flip side for many employees: economic anxiety. There are probably a fair number of hard-working mid and lower level employees who are wondering where they will land as the five new statewide electeds take their offices and bring in their own people. Some may be a little short of being vested in the pension, others may be looking at the final stretch of years before retirement.
State government is the largest employer in Jeff City. But if your boss is suddenly out a of job, and was crossways with the new boss, it might be hard to get your resume in front of the right eyes.
Talent for Defense Secretary
Who knows among all the rumors, but here’s an article saying that Jim Talent is a front-runner to become Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary. See it here.
Pull Quote: Former Missouri Sen. Jim Talent is the front-runner to be the next defense secretary under President-elect Donald Trump, according to a source close to the matter. The 60-year-old Talent, who served for 12 years in the House and the Senate, would represent a more traditional wing of the Republican national security apparatus, and his nomination could calm fears that Trump will staff his top tier of advisers only with loyalists.
With the Trump transition team, nothing is certain until it is announced. Amid negative reports of chaos and leadership shakeups within Team Trum, rumors and speculation have surrounded the selection process for Cabinet secretaries, with at least a half-dozen names alone mentioned for defense secretary in the last week….
Lembke in Greitens Administration?
I keep hearing folks mentioning former Sen. Jim Lembke as someone potentially going to work in an Eric Greitens administration. I’m not sure if the rumors are truthful or just full of fascination. It’d be a little bit odd for a few reasons. Lembke was a staunch opponent of right to work during his time in the legislature. And he a well-known enjoyer of lobbyists’ meals while Greitens has called for a lobbyist gift ban.
Bits
Missouri Congressional delegation gets some up front placement in this Pence selfie. See it here.
Bob Priddy says it’s time to get to work here.
Lobbyists Registrations
Brian Grace, Katherine Casas, Kelvin Simmons and Rodney Boyd added Shelter Mutual Insurance Company; and deleted Lochmueller Group.
Chris Molendorp added Pleasant Hill Fire Protection District.
Julia Gonazles added Amplify Education Inc.
Ari Matusiak deleted Renovate America Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Midwest Region Laborers’ Political League Education Fund - $7,573 from Laborers Supplemental Dues Fund.
Committee to Elect Reed - $10,000 from St. louis Fire Fighters P.A.C. Committee.
Tishaura O Jones for Mayor - $25,000 from William H Jones.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Reps. Randy Dunn and Brandon Ellington, Charlie Puyear, Danny Powell, Tim Person and former House candidate Neal Boyd.
Saturday: Former Rep. Kenny Jones, and Fred Dreiling.
Sunday: Matt Blunt, Rep. Sharon Pace, former Reps. Mike Vogt and Myron Neth, and Rep-elect Dan Houx (House 54)