Monday, March 12, 2012
Spring break kids… I’ll be putting together the mid-term grades this week, send me your thoughts.
Today it’s just bits…
Reading Minds on ESP
Is there a deal on Early Site Permit? Maybe…
At last week House Utilities Committee hearing on Site Permit, ears perked up when Chris Roepe, executive director for the FEREF coalition was asked if his organization supported Sen. Mike Kehoe’s filed legislation which was modeled on last session’s last day agreement. MO News Horizon quotes: “If the utility companies would come on board and support that also, I don't think you would have any problem with us not opposing it,” Roepe said. “We are not against nuclear power...it's just a matter of making sure that consumers are protected in this process.”
That sounds like a deal. But skepticism still runs high on both sides.
Says one hardened observer – with Ameren sympathies, “Noranda has moved the line, reached a deal only to move the line again. My guess is the line is about to move and Roepe will distance himself from this statement.”
Williams Announces for Senate 7
On Friday, Crystal Williams officially announced for the new Senate 7. From the press release: “Williams currently serves as Jackson County Legislator, 2nd District At-Large, elected in 2010... Williams has worked in public policy and communications for numerous non-profits throughout her 20-plus year career as an advocate. She has served in a leadership role for Partnership for Children, Swope Health Services and Planned Parenthood… Williams already has a strong campaign team in place with veteran Missouri political strategist Roy Temple acting as a Senior Campaign Advisor and veteran Jackson County Campaign Manager Lisa Honn leading the campaign effort.”
But Holsman Wins the First Weekend
Tipster: “At the Brookside St. Patricks Day parade Rep. Jason Holsman had at least 50 people in Holsman for State Senate shirts. Crystal Williams had about five people walking with her. Holsman looked like his campaign is on the ground running.”
Caleb Jones Reception
Rep. Caleb Jones’ wedding reception brought out the bold-faced names on Saturday at the Wheeler Airport. Elected attendees included Speaker Steve Tilley, Sen. Brad Lager, and Reps. Chris Molendorp, Kevin Elmer, Todd Richardson, Dem Stephen Webber, and Reps. Noel Torpey and Mike Cierpiot debuting their freshly shaved heads, which they did earlier in the day as a fundraiser for the Hope House women’s shelter.
Other politicos were SNR Denton’s Brian Grace, MEDA’s Trey Davis, Catalyst’s Danny Pfeifer, Bryan Cave’s Matt Jessee, Warlord and wife Jeff and Melissa Roe, Power couple Mike and Heather Grote, lobbyist Scott Swain, Troopers’ Brad Thielemier, Luetkeyer staffer Jeremy Ketterer, Barky’s Michael Hafner, MOBio’s Alex Eaton, Roe-man Jason Klindt, Tilley staffer David Willis, and House staffer Alex Curchin.
Limbaugh Bust Week 2: Why The Issue Is Gold For Dems
Pre-slut comment, while Rush Limbaugh was popular among Republicans, he wasn’t overall (19% approve 40% disapprove). And Independents – who decide generally
decide elections – didn’t like him ( 14% approve /36% disapprove).
Post-slut comment – Limbaugh’s numbers have gone down. He now doesn’t even get 50% of Republicans. Whether those bad numbers are sustainable or they revert to the pre-slut numbers isn’t clear. There is always the possibility that he says something even stupider…
Bits
Last week I wrote that it looked like the Dublin Group was picking up clients and doing a fundraiser for HRCC. They are working for Rep. Thomas Long – not HRCC.
Missouri isn’t the only state dealing with “Petition Wars.” See the Stateline article Here.
The quotable H-Bomb: Still, opponents argued that mentioning puppy mills would prejudice voters. Their court challenges failed. In the end, the initiative passed with 51.6 percent of the vote. Opponents feel confident that without “puppy mill cruelty” they would have won. “Who’s for puppy mills?” says Chuck Hatfield, a lawyer who argued the case. “Who could be for mills that crush puppies into small parts? It’s a loaded term.”
Running in House 44 (Boone County) Republican Caleb Rowden facing off against former state senator Ken Jacob, announced his campaign treasurer in a breathless press release: “Rowden named Moresource, Inc. owner Kat Cunningham as his Campaign Treasurer today.”
And from the peerless Combest.com:
American Idol celeb Neil Boyd to run in House 149 against Rep. Steve Hodges. Read it Here.
Scott Charton undergoing cancer treatment. Read it Here.
New Candidate Filings
Jim Neely filed to run as a Republican in House 8. This district is an open, Republican-lean. Neely ran as a Democrat in 2006 in Senate 12. He lost (60-40) to Sen. Brad Lager.
Carol Suter filed to run as a Democrat in House 15. She’s a Gladstone city council member. See her website Here. This seat is a Dem-lean which is now open (Rep. Jerry Nolte termed). Seder joins two others in a Dem primary.
Lobbyists’ Principals Changes
From the Pelopidas website:
Ward Cook added Pelopidas, A Safer Missouri, City of Grandview, Central Cas Fire Protection District, The Missouri Bar, Missouri I-49 Coalition, MRACJ, and CNS Corporation.
Neal English added Mineral Area College.
Lewis Melahn added Molina Healthcare Inc.
Jeffery Brooks deleted City of Joplin.
Janette M Lohman deleted Mills Group Inc, Ensign-Bickford Industries Inc, Rosemann & Associates PCILLS GROUP, INC.
$5K+ Contributions
Friends of Crystal Williams - $10,000 from Crystal Williams
Competitive Enterprise Growth Political Action Committee - $40,000 from Glazer’s Wholesale Drug Co.
Operating Engineers Local 101 Political Fund - $100,000 from Engineers Political Education Committee.
Spence for Governor - $5,000 from Eugene Toombs.
Spence for Governor - $10,000 from Kenneth Kranzberg.
Jay Nixon for Missouri - $15,000 from CHIPP Political Action.
Citizens for Safe Courts and Kids - $12,500 from Alberici Constructors.
Citizens for Safe Courts and Kids - $10,000 from McCarthy Building Companies Inc.
Kander for Missouri - $7,000 from Barry Aycock.
Jay Nixon for Missouri - $10,000 from Roofers Local #20 PAC.
Jay Nixon for Missouri - $10,000 from Martin M Meyers.
Jay Nixon for Missouri - $10,000 from The Henning Law Firm PC.
Jay Nixon for Missouri - $10,000 from Boyd & Kenter PC.
Missourians for Koster - $5,000 from Jeffrey Hartnett.
Missourians for Koster - $5,000 from Plumbers and Pipefitters Local #562.
Missourians for Koster - $5,000 from Hoisting Engineers Local #513.
Jay Nixon for Missouri - $5,000 from Holman Schiavone LLC.
Jay Nixon for Missouri - $5,000 from Bratcher Gockel & Kingston LC.
Jay Nixon for Missouri - $5,000 from Pipefitters Local Union 533 Volunteer Political Fund.