Friday, September 8, 2017
GOP Auditor Bits
Here’s the scuttlebutt from various Republican sources… Don’t take any of it as gospel. These are just data points of what folks are talking about…
Why Todd Richardson is Passing: IF Josh Hawley wins, both US Senate seats are likely filled for the next decade. Meanwhile the governor’s slot has a Republican nominee for the next six years and you’d be looking at a potential primary anyway with Treasurer Eric Schmitt or others. So maybe sitting in the auditor’s office for years waiting for a higher office shot would be torturous if you don’t actually want to be auditor.
Bob Onder Probably Doesn’t Run: Two folks say they don’t think he’s interested. Look for him to instead focus on the pro tem’s job next term.
David Wasinger to Run?: Folks say Wasinger will run. But he has explored all sorts of offices to run in the past, talked to any number of consultants and never pulled the trigger. So it’s a seeing-is-believing case now. Plus the never-been-candidate hasn’t felt the vetting of a statewide race before, and he’d definitely have a primary.
Paul Curtman Calculus Unchanged: No word from Camp Curtman, but folks point out the same weakness in U.S. Senate race though applies to auditor’s race: can he raise the $$$? Most observers are skeptical.
Mike Kehoe: One source says that “Jeff City business people are nudging Kehoe, but I don't think he is interested…”
Scott Fitzpatrick Too Nerdy?: One building denizen offers this assessment: “His only downfall is that he may be too wonk-ish on the campaign trail because he such a details guy but in terms of someone that could do the job he would be an outstanding choice….”
New Dark Horse?: “Chris Limbaugh’s name has been floated…” Who the what?! He’s the prosecuting attorney in Cape Girardeau, and cousin of… Missouri Hall of Famer Rush Limbaugh…
Parson’s Call
Post-Dispatch reports on Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson’s calls for special sessions – one to address budget cuts and another to punish Sen. Maria Chapelle-Nadal. See it here.
One House Republican bristled at the presser: “[Parson] has no view on how the fix the problem… tell us we are bad, but not provide a solution, same crap Kinder would pull…”
But Speaker Todd Richardson’s statement was more politic: “My colleagues in the House made it a top priority during our regular session to find a viable solution that would allow state assistance to continue for disabled Missourians who need in-home and nursing care. We continue to be ready and willing to develop a fiscally responsible answer to this serious problem. We are currently working closely with the Senate to determine our available options to address this issue as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile
Joplin Globe’s Crystal Thomas tweets that Sen. Ed Emery will vote to censure Chappelle-Nadal, but not for expulsion. See it here.
Dems Dread Clinton Book Tour
Democrats dread Hillary Clinton’s upcoming book tour…. See it here.
Pull Quote: On September 18, Hillary Clinton will kick off the book tour for What Happened, her memoir about the 2016 presidential election, in Washington, D.C. The crowd at the Warner Theatre will, no doubt, be filled with many representatives of Pantsuit Nation and other pro-Clinton factions of the Democratic Party. But, as Politico found out by talking to Democratic lawmakers and other Clinton allies, there will be plenty members of the minority party staying home on the 18th, preferring to stick toothpicks in their eyes than relive the nightmare of the 2016 elections… Asked whether she was excited about Clinton’s book tour, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), one of Republicans’ top 2018 targets, responded first with, “Beg your pardon?” Asked again, she started shaking her head, walking away.
Lair Obituary
Representative Michael “Coach” Lair, age 71 years, of Jefferson City, Missouri, formerly of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at his home. Mike was born on February 27, 1946 in Omaha, Nebraska the son of the late Ralph and Teresa (Torpey) Lair.
A 1964 graduate of Creighton Preparatory Jesuit School, he played in Nebraska’s Shrine Bowl football game and played football at Colorado State University. He earned a B.S. in history from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1970 and a M.S. in education from Central Methodist University in 2003.
In the Black Hills of South Dakota, he married his best friend Jeanne Doyle. Mike and Jeanne taught on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Mission South Dakota—which he treasured for the experience of getting to live among the people whose history, culture, and land he loved…
Mike taught and coached for more than 38 years in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Missouri until his retirement in 2008. He prided himself on his informative, yet highly entertaining, lectures and particularly enjoyed his Socratic method of imparting knowledge and expelling ignorance in his beloved students.
Upon his retirement from teaching, Mike was elected to the House of Representatives in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014. He was a firm believer in the merits of a citizen legislature and loved being able to serve the people using the wealth of knowledge his unique life experiences had given him. He respected others and always considered that an opinion differing from his own was something to be weighed and measured. During his time in legislature, he served as the Chair of the Select Committee on Education (2015-2016) and the Chair of Appropriations-Education (2011-2014).
Mike had a memorable personality, a keen sense of humor, and a strong work ethic. A voracious reader and lifelong student of history, Mike’s favorite pastime involved smoking his pipe outside in the quiet reading a book…
Visitation will be held at the Cathedral of St. Joseph from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Monday, September 11, 2017 with a Rosary Service at 3:15 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at high 12:00 noon Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph with his dear friend Monsignor Robert A. Kurwicki officiating.
A memorial service will be held in Chillicothe, Missouri on Thursday, September 14, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at St. Columban Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Mike Lair Memorial Fund to support Bishop Hogan Memorial School and other education efforts dear to him.
Bits
Late Tuesday the last two (of five) NE Missouri counties voted to approve the Mark Twain transmission line which is an Ameren Transmission Corp project (Read Kirksville Daily Express Story here). The project is the only crucial transmission project identified in Missouri by the Midcontinental Independent System Operator, or MISO. It's needed to strengthen the grid, relieve line congestion and tap more renewable power from NE Missouri and Iowa. Locally, it means jobs, better reliability and more dollars to local NE Missouri schools. At one point the project appeared dead, by Ameren was able to negotiate a win-win deal with NE Power Cooperative to use their easements; this proved to be a game changer for local opinion. The project now goes back to the PSC for final approvals.
MOScout tipster: Jason Crowell’s first Missouri House Development Commission meeting was uneventful. An in-and-out affair….
Eddy Justice is jumping in with both feet to his new role on the State Board of Education. His twitterfeed shows him making the rounds to schools. See it here. Visited another st school for severely disabled today. These kids r AMAZING!! Proud 2 advocate 4 them. They deserve our attn. @MOEducation
Both St. Louis and Kansas City announce they will try to land the new Amazon headquarters. Will Department of Economic Development support both efforts or put its weight behind the proposal that seems superior?
Press release: The City of St. Louis has filed a lawsuit to establish that Proposition NS, which would raise up to $40 million for the City to stabilize buildings owned by the Land Reutilization Authority (LRA), was passed by voters on April 4, 2017. At issue is whether the ballot measure is governed by the City's Charter, which requires two-thirds (66.67 percent) voter approval before the City can issue bonds, or the Missouri Constitution, which mandates four-sevenths (57.14 percent) voter approval. The measure garnered 58.57 percent of the April 4 vote. It is the City's position that the measure passed under state law….
eMailbag on Nixon Re-emerging
Real issue on Nixon...does anybody really care or think he's relevant anymore?..
eMailbag on Infiltration!
It’s undeniable that the plaintiffs’ bar has infiltrated the Republicans with some plaintiff friendly Republicans. The question is: did they do the same with the Chamber somehow? Seriously, the new GC maybe a super person but an asbestos plaintiff’s lawyer is almost certainly going to be at least personally opposed to tort reform measures…
New Committees
Missouri Republican Leadership PAC was formed. Its treasurer is Tony Feather. Feather is also treasurer for Missouri Freedom PAC. Its deputy treasurer is John Sheehan. He’s also deputy treasurer for: Kansas City Missouri Republican Senate PAC, Central Missouri Senate Republican PAC, Eastern Missouri Senate PAC, Citizen to Elect Mike Kehoe, and Misosuri Senate Campaign Committee.
Today’s Events
Powered by Mary Scruggs’ indispensable calendar:
St. Louis City Alderwoman Sarah Martin reception at The Kelley Group, St. Louis – 7:30AM.
Rep. Joshua Peters Reception – Chase Club, St. Louis – 6PM.
Saturday: Rep. Dan Houx Fish Fry - 214 NW 21 Road – Warrensburg – 5PM.
Lobbyists Registrations
David Sweeney added Axon, and St. Louis Realtors; and deleted Taser International Inc.
Jewell Patek deleted Missouri Independent Oil and Gas Association.
Christopher Graham deleted Koch Companies Public Sector LLC and affiliates.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to former Rep. John Quinn.
Saturday: Rep. Alan Green, former Sens. Jack Goodman and Delbert Scott, Rod Jetton, Jorgen Schlemeier, Dave Plemmons, Mark Habbas, Zach Pollock, and Garrett Webb.
Sunday: Erika Leonard and Jill Kline.