Monday, October 24, 2016
Senate GOP Sends $200K at Rizzo
Senate 1 and Senate 19 are thought to be the prime battleground for the Senate this cycle. However Republicans are trying to make a late play for Senate 11, a traditionally Democratic district. The gambit appears to be a long-shot.
Still over the weekend, Sen. Ron Richard sent $100K to Kansas City Missouri Republican Senate PAC. His check was joined by $50K from Sen. Jay Wasson and $50K from Sen. Mike Kehoe for a total of $200K.
Rep. John Rizzo won a spirited primary, but only had $75K on-hand as of the October quarter. His Republican opponent, former Rep. Brent Lasater, only had $867 on-hand.
Word is that Republicans will go with the tried and true playbook of tying Rizzo to Hillary Clinton who they believe to be deeply unpopular in the district.
And
KCStar endorses Lasater in Senate 11 (see it here) at least in part because Rizzo “has to explain why he was the top recipient in the House of lobbyist gifts in 2014.”
MOScout Poll
Last weekend’s MOScout poll showed Chris Koster with a 9-point lead over Eric Greitens. See the full results here.
The only other Democrat leading the statewide contests was Russ Carnahan with a 3-point lead over Mike Parson. But what was remarkable about the governor’s race poll was that it was the only one where the voters surveyed weren’t mostly partisan.
In the crosstabs Koster is grabbing 34% of the Republican voters. In every other race the candidates are mostly getting single-digit percentages in crossover votes.
It seems that Greitens failed to consolidate his base after the primary. Koster may have prevented this with his quick start of TV ads, and his lassoing the Farm Bureau and NRA endorsements.
One reader thinks that Carnahan is “like a security blanket… in this insane election cycle people will feel good about the Carnahan name.” Perhaps the same will be true of Jay Ashcroft who leads 47% to 41% over Robin Smith.
Finally, my gut is that the treasurer’s race only widens from here as Sen. Eric Schmitt has started to deploy his $2.5 million war-chest. With TV commercials running until Election Day and Judy Baker outspent I think that 46% to 40% margin will increase in his favor.
New Hensley Ad
See the new Teresa Hensley ad here. The tagline is: “A prosecutor for attorney general.” I think her resume, message and ads are better than Josh Hawley, but I’m skeptical that those advantages can overcome the very large difference in resources. Their October cash on-hand totals showed Hensley with $1.1 million and Hawley with $4.3 million.
New Parson Ad
Sen. Mike Parson goes after Russ Carnahan in his latest ad. See it here. “In Washington Carnahan sided with Barack Obama…”
You Make the Call
Brad Ketcher appeared at the Empower Missouri meeting Friday and cast doubt that the cigarette tax increase proposal’s money would be correctly spent. He told folks, “If you go look at their proposal you will see in there multiple times ‘subject to appropriation’ which means the legislature gets to decide about the appropriation… They have cast their lot with the legislature. The power to appropriate is the power to misappropriate…”
Ketcher is correct that you can go and look at the proposal. It’s here. But the other stuff is malarkey. “Subject to appropriation” isn’t in the proposal multiple times. It’s not even in there once.
The proposal is less than three pages, so surely he’d taken the time to read it before speaking about it. And that begs the question: what was Ketcher up to? Incompetence or intentional misrepresentation? You make the call.
Blunt Kander Bits
And now suddenly Blunt Kander is a hot race…
Sunday front page NYTimes article here. “Mr. Kander has benefited from being a sui generis blend: At once, he is a gun-wielding Democrat, a veteran, a Georgetown-educated lawyer who wears the outsider label, and the opponent of an incumbent who is the embodiment of Washington longevity. He has focused on trying to turn Mr. Blunt’s experience into a liability. He has also homed in on the senator’s tangled family ties. Mr. Blunt’s wife is a lobbyist, and his three adult children are registered lobbyists as well.”
Politico article here. “The GOP assumed Trump’s popularity would guarantee GOP Sen. Roy Blunt’s reelection. But while Trump’s numbers in the state slid slightly over the past month, Democrat Jason Kander gained momentum and kept outperforming Hillary Clinton on the Democratic ticket.”
And
Post-Dispatch reports that “Vice President Joe Biden will be in St. Louis Friday to campaign for Jason Kander, the Democrat challenging incumbent Sen. Roy Blunt. Kander, Missouri's secretary of state, announced the planned visit during a labor rally Sunday at IBEW Local 1 headquarters in St. Louis…” See it here.
Eagle Forum Saga
The Post-Dispatch reports that a judge has sided against Ed Martin in his ongoing Eagle Forum dispute. See it here.
Pull Quote: On Thursday, Judge John B. Barberis Jr. ruled that the board of directors was to retake control of the forum — and Martin was to be suspended as president and restrained from conducting Eagle Forum business… Martin said he was unavailable for an interview but said in an email the temporary ruling “does not affect our work in any way. Courts do not properly pick leaders of political organizations. The court ruled without hearing any testimony, and mistakes happen that way. I’m confident this unprecedented ruling will be overturned on appeal.”
Some School Funding Released
The press release form Friday: Gov. Jay Nixon announced that following Volkswagen's settlement of a multi-state consumer protection settlement he was making Missouri's $8.7 million share of the settlement available for the current fiscal year budget…. The funds made available today include $4.5 million for school transportation, as well as $3 million for a previously deferred biodiesel subsidies transfer. In addition, the Governor released $1.2 million in funding to the State Emergency Management Agency for Missouri Task Force 1 to support disaster response.
Bits
Continued lackluster job growth in Kansas. See it here.
Sam Wright is no longer listed as a staffer (Senate 19) on the Senate webpage.
And Eric Vander Weerd is listed as having joined the Research staff.
Committee Changes
Rep. Nick King amended his committee to show that he’s seeking House 17 in 2018. He lost his primary this year. See it here.
Lisa Y Pratt-Swoboda is the new treasurer of the St. Francois Democratic Central Committee (see it here) and the new deputy treasurer of the St. Francois County Democrat Club (see it here).
Bryant Liddle is the new treasurer of the Callaway County Democratic Central Committee. See it here.
eMailbag: Trump’s Message Stew
The law and order, NRA endorsed candidate is hitting Kaine for supporting one of the NRA's signature programs and reducing crime in Richmond, because BLM is complaining about it? As if we needed more proof of Trump's incoherent messaging.
eMailbag on Baker’s Swipe at Brattin
Brian Baker is also a lobbyist for Cerner in Kansas City. Just another example of a company who could be a 800-lb gorilla in Missouri, acting like a bunch of imbeciles…
Help Wanted
Senate seeks Writer. “The Missouri Senate is seeking a strong staff writer who would be required to prepare press releases, speeches, newsletter articles and other legislative publications under close deadlines and must also have experience in publication layout. Ideal candidates will have a degree in journalism or a closely related field and/or a minimum of three years experience as a writer.”
Senate seeks Pension Analyst. “The Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement (JCPER) is a bipartisan, bicameral committee providing the General Assembly with information, analysis and recommendations concerning Missouri’s public employee retirement systems. The JCPER’s specific responsibility is to perform a continuing analysis of all state and local government retirement systems to determine necessary recommendations for changes in statutory law. The JCPER performs analysis of the fiscal impact of proposed legislative changes and is responsible for compliance with the statutory requirements concerning actuarial cost statements for any benefit change on both state and local level.”
Lobbyists Registrations
Jacqueline Bardgett added Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Assn., HDR Engineering Inc., ESA Of Missouri, Healthy Vision Association, Missouri Dental Hygienists' Association, City of Independence, Husch Blackwell LLP, Motorola Solutions Inc., Bank of America, Little Blue Valley Sewer District, QC Financial Services, Inc., Prosecuting Attorney and Circuit Attorney Retirement System, Mercy Healthcare Systems, Jackson County Executives Office, St. Louis Home Builders Association, St. Louis Metropolitan Taxicab Commission, St. Louis Police Retirement System, Jackson County Sports Complex Authority, Gallagher Nac, St. Louis Art Museum Foundation, Insurance Auto Auctions, Altria Client Services LLC And Its Affiliates, Mid-America Automatic Merchandising Association, Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association and The Staenberg Group.
John Bardgett added Healthy Vision Association, Hugo LLC, City Of Independence, Motorola Solutions Inc., Mercy Healthcare Systems, Terra-gen Development Company LLC, Insurance Auto Auctions, and Gallagher NAC.
John Parris added Missouri Physical Therapy Association, City Of Independence, Gallagher NAC, Motorola Solutions Inc., Lathrop & Gage, LLP, Celgene Corporation, Healthy Vision Association, Mid-America Automatic Merchandising Association, Walgreens, HDR Engineering, Inc., St. Louis Art Museum Foundation, ESA of Missouri, Missouri Association Of Nurse Anesthetists, Missouri Community College Association, Missouri Dental Hygienists' Association, Altria Client Services LLC And Its Affiliates, Husch Blackwell LLP, Mercy Healthcare Systems, Missouri Association Of Rehabilitation Facilities, Insurance Auto Auctions, St. Louis Police Retirement System, and Rockwood Asset Management.
Chris Roepe added Altria Client Services LLC And Its Affiliates, St. Louis Art Museum Foundation, St. Louis Convention And Visitors Commission, Missouri Community College Association, The Staenberg Group, Missouri Petroleum Marketers And Convenience Store Assn., Healthy Vision Association, Logisticare Solutions, LLC, Missouri Association Of Nurse Anesthetists, Mercy Healthcare Systems, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, St. Louis Cardinals, LP, Missouri Physical Therapy Association, Jackson County Executives Office, City of Independence, Missouri Association Of Rehabilitation Facilities, Walgreens, Husch Blackwell LLP, and St. Louis Metropolitan Taxicab Commission, Anheuser-Busch, Insurance Auto Auctions, HDR Engineering, Inc., QC Financial Services, Inc., Mid-America Automatic Merchandising Association, Gallagher NAC, Missouri Dental Hygienists' Association, Jackson County Sports Complex Authority, Motorola Solutions Inc., ESA Of Missouri, Rockwood Asset Management, Bank Of America, Little Blue Valley Sewer District, Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association, St. Louis Police Retirement System, St. Louis Home Builders Association, Prosecuting Attorney And Circuit Attorney Retirement System, Lathrop & Gage, LLP, Celgene Corporation, and Centers For Independent Living.
Erika Leonard added Rockwood Asset Management, Jackson County Executives Office, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, Motorola Solutions Inc., Healthy Vision Association, Mercy Healthcare Systems, and the City of Independence.
David Klarich added Southlaw PC, and Millsap And Singer, LLC.
David Jackson added RX Outreach
John Bardgett, John Parris, Jacqueline Bardgett, and Erika Leonard deleted The Reliable Life Insurance Company.
John Bardgett, Jacqueline Bardgett, and Erika Leonard deleted The Alliance for Solar Choice.
John Bardgett and Kimberly Tuttle deleted Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.
John Bardgett deleted National Association Consultants Inc.
John Parris deleted Missouri Full Employment Group LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Ashcroft for Missouri - $25,000 from Demi Lloyd.
Ashcroft for Missouri - $75,000 from Herzog Contracting Corp.
MO Soybean Association State PAC - $15,000 from Missouri Soybean Association.
Parson for Missouri - $10,000 from Xcaliber MO PAC.
MO Petroleum Marketers + Convenience Store Assoc PAC - $28,577 from Xcaliber International LTD LLC.
Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe - $7,000 from MO Soybean Association State PAC/
Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe - $15,000 from David Steward.
Koster for Missouri - $5,500 from Enterprise Services Company.
Missouri REALTORS PAC Inc - $6,906 fromNational Association of REALTORS.
With Robin Smith in 2016 Committee - $15,000 from SEIU.
Democratic Governors Association Missouri - $150,000 from Democratic Governors Association.
Democratic Governors Association Missouri – $400,000 from Democratic Governors Association.
Democratic Governors Association Missouri - $450,000 from Democratic Governors Association.
Friends for Alberhasky - $10,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Vote Yes on 3 for Kids - $69,640 from RAI Services Company.
Vote Yes on 3 for Kids - $40,000 from RAI Services Company.
Vote Yes on 3 for Kids - $29,622 from RAI Services Company.
Koster for Missouri - $10,000 from The Driscoll Firm PC.
Citizens for Cheri Toalson Reisch - $66,830 from House Republican Campaign Committee Inc.
Koster for Missouri - $20,000 from Clayco.
Schmitt for Missouri - $10,000 from Friends of Todd Richardson.
MO Republican Paryt - $75,000 from Greitens for Governor.
Greitens for Missouri - $50,000 from Julian Robertson.
Greitens for Missouri - $25,000 from Edward Cuccio.
Greitens for Missouri - $20,000 from James Riley.
Greitens for Missouri - $10,000 from Lawrence Carrico.
Greitens for Missouri - $25,000 from Doug Burgum.
Greitens for Missouri - $29,000 from Bruce Mills.
Scott Sifton for Missouri - $12,444 from Missouri State Democratic Committee.
Scott Sifton for Missouri - $50,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Committee to Elect Randy Jotte - $200,000 from Eastern Missouri Senate PAC.
Friends of Steve Helms - $35,295 from House Republican Campaign Committee Inc.
Friends of Steve Helms - $9,690 from House Republican Campaign Committee Inc.
MO Republican Party - $25,000 from Committee to Elect Randy Jotte.
Koster for Missouri - $10,000 from Missouri Pork PAC.
Koster for Missouri - $10,000 from Missouri Cattlemens Association PAC.
Koster for Missouri - $27,000 from Missouri Drive Fund.
Friends for Chuck Basye - $72,330 from House Republican Campaign Committee.
House Republican Campaign Committee - $100,000 from Friends of Todd Richardson.
Teresa Hensley for Missouri - $34,649 from Missouri Democratic State Committee.
Teresa Hensley for Missouri - $10,000 from Planned Parenthood.
Teresa Hensley for Missouri - $5,001 from The Slay Committee.
Missourians for Byron DeLear - $15,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Friends of Mark Ellebracht - $20,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Citizens for Stephen Webber - $10,969 from Missouri State Democratic Committee.
Koster for Missouri - $1,000,000 from Democratic Governors Association Missouri.
Mark Milton for State Rep - $10,250 from house Republican Campaign Committee Inc.
Citizens for a Safer Jackson County - $20,000 from Truman Medical Centers.
Bill Kidd for State Representative - $8,000 from HRCC.
Koster for Missouri - $10,000 from Missouri Growth PAC.
Committee to Elect Mary Hill - $9,608 from Missouri House Republican Campaign Committee Inc.
Rucker for Missouri - $6,130 from Missouri Democratic State Committee.
Friends of Mark Matthiesen - $20,500 from Missouri House Republican Campaign Committee Inc.
Rizzo for Missouri - $5,100 from Friends for Gina Walsh.
Rizzo for Missouri - $5,001 from Safer Families for Missouri.
Parson for Missouri - $10,000 from Peter Herschend.
Kansas City Missouri Republican Senate PAC - $100,000 from Committee to Elect Ron Richard.
Kansas City Missouri Republican Senate PAC - $50,000 from Citizens for Jay Wasson.
Kansas City Missouri Republican Senate PAC - $50,000 from Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe.
Committee to Elect Mary Hill - $25,000 from David Humphreys.
Missourians for Byron DeLear - $6,541 from Working America Coalition.
Taxpayers in Support of Public Education - $22,500 from CHIPP Political Account.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sen. Jay Wasson, Brian Wahby, Jon Galloway, Craig Stevenson, and Chuck Hatfield (the big 5-0).