Thursday, September 27, 2012

This Day in Akin

Republicans continue to rearrange themselves into a formation that will charge in and support Congressman Todd Akin.  Read the Springfield News Leader’s account of the flip-flopping going on here.

But some can’t do it.  Count Jack Danforth among them.  Read it here.

And from that article comes the danger for Republicans that they get Akin-ized.  Ed Martin shoots it straight down the fairway here, sticking to his statement refusing to get caught in the Akin trap…

“On Wednesday, a reporter asked Martin whether he agrees with Akin's position that abortion should not be allowed in any situation, with no exceptions for women who are raped. ‘Everything I know and believe about abortion tells me that it's wrong,’ Martin said.

“Asked to clarify whether he believes there should be no exceptions, Martin repeated the statement verbatim. A second reporter asked the question a third time, prompting the identical response.  Martin said it is well-known that he is an abortion-rights opponent. He also said that he believes Akin was right to apologize for his statements and that he supports Akin in the race against incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.”

Columbia Daily Tribune’s Hank Waters III endorses Claire McCaskill.  Read it here.

St. Chuck Ballot Issues

Earlier this week politicos gathered in St. Charles to hash out ballot issues.

In the Courtroom of former state Senator, Ted House, Chuck Hatfield represented Ameristar Casino who was trying to keep the smoking ban off the ballot.  Jorgen Schlemeier and Jeff Brooks from Gamble Schlemeier observed from the gallery also on behalf of Ameristar.  Carl Bearden was also in attendance and testified that the smoking ban had not been passed using

proper procedures.

Hatfield told Judge House that it would be impossible to change the ballots because military ballots had already gone out and absentee balloting had begun that very morning.  At the end of the day, House agreed and said the initiative did not have to be on the ballot.  House pointed out that there may be a problem with state law because it requires military ballots to be out 45 days before an election, but another law seems to say a Judge could add to the ballot up to 42 days before the election.

Meanwhile, down the Hall, Judge Leslie Schneider also declined to change the St. Charles County ballot.  She was being asked to remove a different ballot measure.  No lobbyists were spotted in her court room, however.

Election Time is the Right Time to Hug AARP

From the press release: “State Treasurer Clint Zweifel will join AARP Missouri Director Craig Eichelman at the Missouri AARP offices on Thursday, September 27 at 2 p.m. to announce a major education initiative partnership with the organization regarding Unclaimed Property. AARP Missouri offices are located at 9200 Ward Parkway, Suite 350.  Treasurer Zweifel holds nearly $700 million in Unclaimed Property for more than 4.3 million account holders…”

MO Budget Project Report

Missouri Budget Project released its “Cutting to the Chase” report highlighting the pain from the last four years of difficult budgets.

They argue that without new revenue the state will continue to starve its investments – education in particular.

See the report here.  (It’s a big file = slow download, fyi).

I found the chart on page nine most interesting which showed how schools are having to cover more of their transportation costs.  Nixon’s administration has made a habit of withholding from this category in order to say that they’re sparing “classrooms.”

But it’s an inconsequential distinction.  The districts still have to get the kids to the classrooms.  That cost can’t be avoided and the money ultimately has to come from somewhere.

Holt Exits Room 418

Bruce Holt, the former state representative who’s served as Sen. Scott Rupp’s legislative assistant for the past two years, is moving on…  It’s said he’s going to work for an organization with which he’s had a long-standing relationship.  Stay tuned.

Another Non-Profit Scam?

The Riverfront Times delves into the “non-profit” American Future Fund which has been running advertisements against Attorney General Chris Koster.

“American Future Fund calls itself a conservative, free-market ‘advocacy group’ which allows it to claim nonprofit status with the IRS as a ‘social welfare’ agency or 501(c)(4). In reality, though, AFF behaves more like a political hired gun that can use its nonprofit status to sidestep federal election laws….

“Moreover, nonprofits don't have to disclose their donors, the way that PACs must, allowing anonymous contributors to flood these ‘social welfare’ groups with cash.”  Read it here.

St. Louis Tea Party to GOTV

The press release: “ St. Louis Tea Party Coalition is pleased to announce our new Get Out the

Vote headquarters located at 9966 Lin Ferry Rd. St. Louis, MO 63123. Thanks to the joint efforts of St. Louis Tea Party Coalition, Madison Project, and Heritage Action, conservatives in St. Louis and the surrounding metro area can help ensure a landslide victory for freedom in Missouri this November.

“St. Louis Tea Party Coalition has a call center and will provide neighborhood walk list for volunteers.”

MOScout News

I’ll be doing Friday Updates through Election Day.

I’ve been dragging my pen on doing state House and state Senate  forecast revisions, but it will be done soon.  Previously, I was projecting +1 Dems in House and +2/3 Dems in Senate.  House is likely to go to wash or +1 GOP.  Senate may stay where it is or drop to +2 Dems.

And for those whose subscriptions are on the November cycle, renewals will go out next week.

Lobbyist Registrations

From the Pelopidas website:

Robert Gustafson added Lundbeck LLC.

Jonathan Klock added Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics.

$5K+ Contributions

Teamsters Local Union No 688 PAC - $9,788 from IBT Drive.

Rupp for Missouri - $10,000 from Lewis & Clark Regional Leadership Fund.

Jay Nixon for Missouri - $10,000 from Clyde Lear.

Jay Nixon for Missouri - $12,422 from Joseph Danis.

Jay Nixon for Missouri - $9,107 from Joseph Danis.

Citizens for Our Liberty and Our Community - $7,500 from Jacobs Engineering.

Citizens for Timothy W Jones - $5,005 from Advantage Capital Management Corp.

Spence for Governor – 25,000 from William Koman.

Missourians for Health and Education - $1,725,000 from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

Friends of Melissa Leach - $20,000 from David Bryan.

CWA District 6 Political Education Committee – $5,600 from CWA COPE.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to middle-aging Richard Moore (35).

Passings

Former state representative Chuck Surface passed away yesterday.  Here’s his official bio from his days in the state House.