Monday, March 4, 2013
MRP Turnout?
With Ed Martin and Shane Schoeller taking the reins at the Missouri Republican Party, there appears to be some churn in staff.
The rumor – from two sources – is that Emily Kliethermes is leaving MRP where she’s been the comptroller.
Says one tipster, “You’ll note that Justin Alferman is now working in the House. He used to be one of the only ‘go to guys’ over at the party. It wouldn’t surprise me if the exodus continued…
The problem is that our data is unbelievably outdated… they need to get things up to speed in a hurry.”
Both Kliethermes and Alferman are still listed as being on staff on the MRP website.
Jason Smith Does DC
“Senator Roy Blunt, Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, Congressman Billy Long, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer, Congresswoman Ann Wagner Cordially Invite You To An Informal Roundtable Discussion With JASON SMITH
Republican Candidate - Missouri's 8th Congressional District
Speaker Pro Temp of the Missouri House of Representatives
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Bistro Bis in the Hotel George
15 E Street NW
Washington, DC
To RSVP, please contact Steve Gordon or Michael Marinaccio at (202) 546-0900 or via email to Michael@stevegordon.com”
And
In other words, Speaker Pro Tem Jason Smith won’t be on the dais a week from Wednesday.
Schupp Works Across Aisles
Rep. Jill Schupp, a stalwart liberal, calls attention to her bi-partisan efforts in her latest Capitol Update. Dems have her slated for the Senate 24 race in 2014. It’s interesting to see her highlight her ability to work across the aisle, while incumbent Republican John Lamping seems to moving farther right each year.
“On a personal note, I have been able to work with several members across the aisle to try to craft and pass good legislation. Some are carrying my legislation so that it has a better chance of moving through the process with a majority party sponsorship. Some have allowed my amendments to be added to their bills. One is working to help convince opposition to allow one of my bills to move forward...the bill is sensible and resolves a real problem. Another has asked me to work with him to find ways to stop unintended consequences of his legislation.
“None of us always agrees, but it is healthy and helpful to keep dialogue going and to try to understand the place from which the legislation originates. It is the way I like to work, and the way you have indicated you expect me to work. You should expect no less.”
Senate Hearings Of Interest
Elections Committee, Monday 2pm, Senate Lounge
House Voter ID bills get a Senate hearing.
General Laws Committee, Monday 3:45pm, Room 423
Executive Session on Kurt Schaefer’s constitutional amendment on guns.
Commerce Committee, Tuesday 3pm, Senate Lounge
SB 297 - modifies provisions related to water utilities’ ISRS.
Economic Development Committee, Wednesday 1pm, Senate
SB 112 - Reauthorizes the New Markets Tax Credit.
Education Committee, Wednesday 3pm, Senate Lounge
SB 210 - Prohibits the State Board of Education and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education from implementing the Common Core State Standards. Common Core divides legislators in unconventional ways. Some conservative rebel against the notion as a big government-big brother initiative. (This bill is sponsored by newly emerging conservative banner bearer Sen. John Lamping.) But school reformers generally like standards against which to measure expectations and performance. Hence Rex Sinquefield’s Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri supports the idea. See it here.
House Hearings of Interest
Elections Committee, Tuesday 8:15am, HR5
Couple of proposals to shrink the size of the House.
Agriculture Policy Committee, Tuesday Noon, HR6
HJR 29 – a constitutional amendment (of which Speaker Tim Jones is co-sponsor) to establish the elected office of the Secretary of Agriculture and eliminate the Department of Agriculture as an executive department.
Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities Committee, Tuesday Noon, HR1
Rep. Eric Burlison has a bill (HB515) that requires all children over 15 years of age in foster care or in the Division of Youth Services to receive a visit to a state university or community or technical college in the child's area.
Rep. Jeremy LaFaver’s HB493 removes exemptions in the child-care licensure regulations.
Ways and Means Committee, Tuesday 5pm, HR1
Various tax cut proposals.
Workforce Development Committee, Wednesday 8am, HR5
Hearing on Senate’s workers’ comp bill. (SB1). This will give the first public response from the House about the compromise reached by the Senate.
Emerging Issues in Health Care Committee, Wednesday 4pm, HR3
Constitutional amendment for medical malpractice cap.
Bits
As Francis Slay goes for an unprecedented fourth term as St. Louis Mayor, the weather forecast for Tuesday is low of 25, high of 40, with some light snow and blustery conditions. The appearance of the elements on Election Day is thought to favor the incumbent over his challenger Lewis Reed because Slay’s campaign operations are far superior. That should help them in turn-out.
Best analysis of federal politics over sequester comes from Politico’s Morning Money: “MLS Strategies Jason Rosenstock sums it up: Ironically, it seems like both sides are in the same place, with Democrats and Republicans counting on the American people to realize how the sequester impacts the role of government. Only, Democrats are hoping that people will realize they miss these services and Republicans are hoping that they won’t.”
Jasper County Republican Central Committee member, John Lewis, in trouble with the law. Blogger Randy Turner has the story here.
eMailbag: Aldrich Great Hire
“Dick Aldrich is a great hire for AIM. He’s a veteran journalist, has connections with Missouri media through his past work as assignment editor for the hardworking Kermit Miller and KRCG-TV, as House Communications Director and with Missouri News Horizon. And, Dick is a very nice guy - probably too nice to have been saddled with working for some legislators.”
eMailbag: Schoeller Beware!
“I agree that the Party ED job will give Shane Schoeller a platform to stay relevant, but he’ll have to avoid the trap that Lloyd Smith fell in to if he wants to stay viable. The party apparatus is always the whipping boy for the base when the elections don’t go perfectly right. I firmly believe that Lloyd would be a congressman today if he had bypassed the MRP job.”
eMailbag: Why GOP Looks for Alternatives in Senate 22
“I have no problem with Rep. Paul Wieland, but there’s a feeling that there are better candidates out there. It’s gonna take an aggressive hard-nosed Republican to take the shots necessary to win that seat. And I think that Democrat Jeff Roorda will probably make Wieland cry…”
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Pelopidas website:
Carol Pfau deleted Carol Pfau Consulting.
Charles "Andy" Arnold added Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.
John E Bardgett Jr, Erika Leonard, Brian Millner, John R Parris, and Kimberly Tuttle added Major Brands Premium Beverages Distributors.
Brendan J Cossette added Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Janette M Lohman added U.S. Bank National Association.
$5K+ Contributions
North County Firefighters PAC - $10,000 from Black Jack Firefighters Union Fund.
Committee to Elect Reed - $14,320 from CHIPP Political Account.
Committee to Elect Reed - $10,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Maria Walden.