Wednesday, August 29 2018: Hawley Preaches to Choir - Greitens Ethic Charges Possible? - Jordan Confirmed as US Marshall and more...
Jordan Confirmed as US Marshall
John Jordan, former sheriff of Cape Girardeau, was confirmed by the US Senate to be the US Marshall for the Eastern District. He resigned earlier this month.
Hawley Preaches to Choir
St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that “Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley supports repealing a provision in the federal tax code that bars politicking in the pulpit. In an Aug. 21 speech to religious leaders in St. Louis, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate said he favors getting rid of the Johnson Amendment, which bars religious organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates. Charities that violate the current prohibition could lose their tax exemption with the Internal Revenue Service and may get fined.”
What It Means
We living in a “base elections” era. The two major party candidates no longer attempt to woo swing voters, or appeal to Independents. Now they’re spending their resources trying to fire up their true believers and get them to the polls. With that in mind, Hawley saying that it’s time to dismantle this church/state barrier isn’t a problem for him, it’s exactly the message he needs to get out – and loudly.
MOScouter: No Buko
One reader tells me to scratch Jennifer Bukowsky off any auditor wannabe list. “Well, THAT would be awkward: [She’s] married to uber-rich Veterans United Co-Founder Brant Bukowsy. State Auditor Nicole Galloway is married to Jon Galloway, part of Brant Bukowsky’s VU leadership team…”
And then there’s this snark… “Jen sucked up to Greitens and donated big, so Dems will hang that around her neck... [and she] loves private jets, in other words Claire McCaskill’s issues.”
Greitens Ethics Charges Still Possible?
I was re-reading the MEC letter about the Greitens’ ethic complaint yesterday. When I initially read it, I must have missed the final sentence of the letter. It now strikes me as quite provocative. “The Commission notes that 130.081, RSMo allows for criminal prosecution up to 3 years of the alleged offense.”
Perhaps I’m reading too much up into it, but it sounds to me as if they think the next Cole County prosecutor could/would/should do what Mark Richardson failed to do: file charges.
Sinquefields Gives $$$ to SLU
Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield gave $50 big ones (million) to St. Louis University. See it here. It’s “the largest gift in the school’s 200-year history.” BOOM!
What It Means
One Sinquefieldian texted me: “The rumors over the past 5 years or so of the Sinquefields’ retreat from all things STL & MO have been greatly exaggerated…”
It’s true Sinquefield is still engaged in his quest to make St. Louis (and Missouri) a better place. He was the catalyst behind the St. Louis’ airport privatization movement. And he still funds Missouri Club for Growth – this year (so far) to the tune of $500,000.
But it’s also true he is less dominant than he used to be. Gone are the days when he would single-handed fund a statewide campaign. Instead David Humphreys has largely eclipsed Sinquefield as the top GOP donor.
Kander Settles Some Scores
I just finished Jason Kander’s book, Outside the Wire. It’s a quick and fun read, written in the conversational tone of a state rep who might slide into a seat across from you at the Truman Hotel’s breakfast buffet – back when the lights were still on there. It’s half “How To,” half memoir, but all around lots of fun especially when he throws a few jabs at MO poltiticos…. Kander describes Mark Parkinson as a lightweight who doodled his way through budget briefings, and talks about how Kerry Messer wasn’t someone he could ever trust.
Bits
Axios linked to a feature that lets you look at some selected congressional campaigns and see how much money they’ve raised within their district and out of their state. See it here. MO’s CD-2 is one of them. The Democrat Cort VanOstran has a lower average contribution than Congresswoman Ann Wagner. But Wagner has raised more of her money in the district.
Sen. Bob Onder – who handled the paycheck protection bill – responds to the news that a lawsuit has been filed to overturn it. “This is a politically motivated lawsuit by government union bosses to keep the status quo. The Government Worker Protection Act creates accountability and workplace democracy so that public sector union members can have a voice and a vote. This is about making government unions accountable to their members and to taxpayers. Dues money is often used on politics, and union members have a right to know how their hard-earned wages are spent. I am confident Missouri courts will reject this self-interested lawsuit and protect the rights of our government workers and the taxpayers of Missouri.”
Post-Dispatch reports: U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, who has long fought to expand broadband to rural communities throughout Missouri, applauded today’s announcement by the Federal Communications Commission that nearly $255 million was awarded to eleven companies over the next ten years to expand broadband to Missourians in rural communities. Missouri received more awards than any other state.
Parson, Honeymooner
Lobbyist: This gov knows how to prolong a honeymoon like no other… See the tweet here.
Help Wanted
The St. Louis Regional Chamber seeks Public Policy Intern (Part-time). “Responsible for assisting the department with the identification and collection of research, summarization and presentation of information, and other various and related tasks.” See more information here.
Today’s Events
Fundraiser for Sen. Jill Schupp, hosted by Maxine Clark and Bob Fox, at the St. Louis Club - 5:30PM.
New Committees
Team Mike PAC was formed. Its treasurer is James C Thomas III.
Protect Missouri Workers PAC was formed. Its treasurer is Thomas Madden.
$5K+ Contributions
POL PAC - $11,000 from H&R Block.
Poor for Judge - $5,500 from Jerel Poor.
SaferMO.Com - $10,000 from Missouri Association of Counties.
Citizens for a Safer St. Louis - $10,000 from Ameren Missouri.
Raise Up Missouri - $10,000 from United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (Washington DC).
Missouri First - $15,000 from QC Holdings Inc.
Missouri First - $17,500 from Altria Client Services.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $7,500 from MO-DSV PAC.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $7,500 from PQC PAC.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $20,000 from Burns & McDonnell.
CLEAN Missouri - $250,000 from National Education Association (Washington DC).
Raise Up Missouri - $150,000 from SEIU Missouri State Council PAC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Robin Smith and Jack Atterberry.