Monday, March 17, 2014
Right to Work and the Republican Caucus
House Republicans last week caucused about labor issues. The rumor throughout session has been that they would wait until after filing closes to take up the divisive issues. With filing closing the day after they return from Spring Break, that window of time is opening.
It appears that within the caucus right to work has tightened drastically. Those opposed to it have found some new allies in members “with qualms.” As a result, those voicing objections are not just the pro-union Republicans, or even the Republicans who are worried about the political impact of their vote. There are now Republicans who are pro-right to work, yet are concerned about the larger roadmap for the issue. They want to pass it, but they are falling prey to growing skepticism that there’s no real plan to pass it. Instead they think a vote will be taken to fulfill the speaker’s personal agenda with no real follow-through.
These reps and those who are worried about the political fall-out of the vote are pointing to the speakers’ million-ish war-chest and asking: if feels so strongly about the issue, is he willing to commit some portion of it to help out representatives who are in harm’s way by the vote?
Onder Dumps $200K into Senate Race
Bob Onder gave his campaign $200,000 over the weekend. The move will catapult him into the fundraising lead in that Senate 2 primary to replace Sen. Scott Rupp.
As of the January quarter Onder was leading the Rep. Rep. Chuck Gatschenberger and Vicki Schneider. Onder had $100K on-hand; Gatschenberger had $67K on-hand; and Schneider had $48K on-hand. The is the first large contribution that’s been recorded this quarter – which ends in two weeks.
Dempsey for Hanaway
Also in the large contributions (below) there’s a $10,000 donation from Tom Dempsey’s campaign account to Hanaway for Governor. This comes on the heels of his endorsement of Catherine Hanaway last week. See the Missouri Times article about it here.
Filing News: GOP Gets Top Recruit in House 149
Rep. Steve Hodges is termed and his bootheel district is considered highly competitive. That part of the state has had a tradition of electing conservative Democrats, but in recent cycles Republicans have been very successful.
Democrats were cheering the fact that they recruits Morgan Copeland Nesselrodt because her family is well known in the district.
But now Republicans are saying that they think their recruit is even better. On Friday Don Rone filed to run as Republican in House 149. He appears to be a farmer – based on the $1.1 million in federal subsidies he’s received…
Filing News: Married Couple Runs In Two Different Districts
Republican in St. Louis City filed multiple candidates last week. Mike Colona, Karla May and Michael Butler all drawing Republican challengers. None are expected to succeed. But what was interesting was that Butler’s opponent – Robert Vroman may be married to Penny Hubbard’s opponent, Natalie Vowell.
See their engagement announcement here. “A January 2014 ‘guerrilla’ wedding is planned at an undisclosed location…”
They have different addresses and are running in different district.
One tipster did say that Vowell was “really a Libertarian,” but was running as a Democrat because she realized it was hard to win House 78 without being a Democrat. Her husband however is running as a Republican.
Other Filing News
Laura Castaneda filed to run as a Democrat in House 64. She is the Spencer Creek committeewoman. The current incumbent is Rep. Robert Cornejo.
Matt Judkins filed to run as a Democrat in House 105. The current incumbent is Rep. Mark Parkinson.
Painters Consolidate
As evidenced by Bruce Holt’s change in lobbying registration (see below), the International Painters Union has consolidated some of their infrastructure, and District 2 is now part of District 58.
Missourinet Loses Machetta to Lawyers Weekly
Jessica Machetta, managing editor of the Missourinet and a familiar veteran of the Capitol press corps, is joining the reporting staff of Missouri Lawyers Weekly and moving to St. Louis. Machetta has a background in both print and broadcast in Missouri as well as Florida.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Gate Way Group website:
Bruce Wayne Holt added Painters District Council #58; and deleted Painters’ District Council #2.
Celeste Banks-Rueter deleted St. Louis Association of Realtors.
James C. Bowers, Jr. deleted Cabinrock Investments LLC, Chris Valentine, Balaji Development Corp, Brent Owens, International World Financial LLC, Missouri Rural Water Association, and Ranch Entertainment.
Shanon M Hawk added SPM Coalition; and deleted CCRC of Gladstone LLC.
Roxsen Koch added Parkville Missouri Economic Development Council; and deleted Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City Missouri, King Hershey PC, and Westside Housing Organization.
Karen Strange added York Trucking LLC, and ArtPho Limited Productions.
$5K+ Contributions
Citizens for Brad Lager - $10,000 from Smithfield Foods Inc.
Hanaway for Governor - $10,000 from Dempsey for Missouri.
Operating Engineers Local 101 Political Fund - $150,000 from Engineers Political Education Committee.
Missouri Early Voting Fund - $10,000 from Strong Garner Bauer PC.
Citizens for Fairness in Missouri - $5,400 from Kelsey Buckman.
Citizens for Steve Stenger - $5,005 from James Lang.
Citizens for Fairness in Missouri - $10,000 from Adam Smith Foundation.
Missouri Early Voting Fund - $10,000 from UFCW District Union Local Two.
Re-elect Woolston, The Tornado Mayor - $10,000 from Missouri Association of REALTORS PAC.
Missourians for Koster - $10,000 from Pharmacy Services Inc.
Onder for Missouri - $200,000 from Robert Onder.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Joe Maxwell (56) lobbyists Earl Simms (35) and Todd Smith (55), and former Reps. Billy Pat Wright (76) and Tom Self (46).
MOScout News
Spring break comes to the legislature this week. I’m planning to do the Daily Updates every morning as usual – except Friday.