Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Hawley Will Be at Trump Rally
Yesterday I doubted that Attorney General Josh Hawley would attend President Donald Trump’s tax reform rally this Wednesday in St. Charles. I was wrong.
Kansas City Star reports he’ll attend. See it here…. “I look forward to hearing President Trump talk about his tax reform plan that will bring much needed relief to Missouri families,” Hawley said in a statement. “I support the President’s plan; it’s unfortunate that Claire McCaskill sides with Washington’s elite while leaving Missouri behind.”
Wessels Won’t Run for Re-election
Rep. Fred Wessels (House 81) sent a letter to his constituents last week saying that he would not be running for re-election.
Word is that Wessels has been unhappy with the political life of a member of the minority party in the lower chamber. He had higher expectations of being able to make a difference.
Steve Butz is expected to run. He lost to Wessels in 2016, placing second in a three-way primary with 35%. See Butz bio here.
Butz is pro-life, so it’s likely that progressive get behind an alternative candidate….
Pre-Filing on Friday
Bills can be pre-filed on Friday (December 1). Often its an early indication of legislative priorities. This year in the Senate, watch for what you don’t see. That is: folks are saying some senators won’t be pre-filing anything. They’re going to send the message that they have no priorities to hold hostage and they’ll be free agents to muck things up as they see fit.
In other words… there are still lingering resentment over PQs….
Q&A #1: Is This the Year for Utility Regulatory Reform?
Short answer: It’s definitely moving in that direction.
Yesterday the Missouri Grocers Association joined the Missouri Retailers Association calling for a change in the regulatory framework of public utilities in Missouri. They echoed the Retailers demand for a 3% cap as a condition.
“In today’s economy, running a family-owned grocery store takes dedication, hard work and ingenuity. But it also takes electricity. Next time you go grab a cold gallon of milk or a hot rotisserie chicken, just imagine how much energy is being used to heat, cool, cook and light your local grocery store… The problem is that Missouri's energy regulations are over 100 years old, established by the General Assembly in 1913, and have not been materially updated since… In addition to the costs of energy, a sustained power outage can cost a single grocer tens of thousands of dollars…”
By enlisting these associations in their cause, the utilities appear to be building a broader coalition than they have in previous years. They might still find themselves in the same situation – having to horse-trade with a reluctant big corporation or staring down an obstinate legislator in the Senate. However marshalling the thousands of retailers and grocers across Missouri is strong opening move.
Upcoming ALEC Dinner
ALEC-MO State Night in Nashville, TN is Friday December 8. The details: 6:45PM at Moto, 1120 McGavock Street, Nashville, TN 37203
RSVP to Deanna Hemphill @ dhemphill@gogateway.org
New Committees
Ethan Perkinson formed a candidate committee (Committee To Elect Ethan Perkinson) to run in House 39 as a Democrat. This is Joe Don McGaugh’s seat where there will be a special election in February.
Dale Wright formed a candidate committee (Wright For Missouri) to run for House 116 as a Republican. The current incumbent, Kevin Engler, is termed.
The Right Track PAC was formed. Its treasurer is Mavis Busiek.
Charter Communications, Inc. Missouri PAC was formed. Its treasurer is Donald Vollmayer.
And
See this Twitter picture from Dana Rademan of capitol workers “converting the 7600 lbs rotunda chandelier to LED.”
Help Wanted
Senator seeks Chief of Staff. “The Chief of Staff position is responsible for reviewing and summarizing legislation, providing daily reports on legislative activity, assisting with public policy formation and drafting legislation. This position will also aid in creating and maintaining floor calendars, creating files and databases on a variety of legislative topics. Successful candidates must have an advanced knowledge of public policy and the legislative process, the ability to multitask effectively in a fast paced work environment and the ability to interact with members of the General Assembly on a variety of legislative and procedural issues. The position also requires the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, work with sensitive issues, and maintain a professional standard of confidentiality…” See it here.
Washington University seeks Director, Immigration Law Clinic - School of Law. “The Clinic will begin operation in the Fall semester 2018 and join the Law School’s eighteen other law clinic and externships… The Immigration Clinic, through its second- and third-year law students, will provide free legal assistance on immigration related matters to individuals who cannot otherwise afford the services of an attorney. Clinic students will assist clients on matters such as naturalization, deportation, adjustment of status, and asylum.
The Director is expected to oversee all aspects of the Clinic, including the teaching of students (through one-on-one tutorials and a weekly seminar), supervision of and responsibility for student casework, identification and selection of clients, and administration of the office and staff. The Director will also teach non-clinic courses each year…”
Today’s Events
From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable calendar:
Rep. Marsha Haefner Reception – Anheuser-Busch Lager Room – St. Louis – 5PM.
Lobbyists Registrations
John Bardgett Jr. added Alterra Worldwide.
Doug Nelson added Vieability Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Supporters of Health Research and Treatments - $19,083 from Sam Fox.
Find the Cures - $10,000 from Bradley Bradshaw.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Jeff Messenger, former Rep. Ed Schieffer, and Lenny Jones.