Friday, April 1, 2016
St. Louis Wins NGA
Cheers erupted across St. Louis yesterday as word came that the City was chosen as the site for the new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency facility. See the Post-Dispatch article here.
Pull Quote: The decision means the city will keep 3,100 jobs, currently housed at the Old Arsenal complex south of Anheuser-Busch brewery, and move them to a $1.75 billion development just northwest of downtown. The move is expected to further the city’s pursuit of redeveloping the near North Side with a massive federal anchor — something that could lure more investment to the struggling area, but also give a major boost to nearby Washington Avenue.
SJR 39 Follow-Up
One reader thinks that SJR 39 path in the House faces a bigger challenge in Rep. Elijah Haahr’s Emerging Issues Committee than it does in Rep. Caleb Jones’ General Laws Committee. We’ll see…
That bill may have a tough time getting out of the first committee clean. [Democratic Reps. Mike Colona and [Jeremy] LaFaver do pretty well in there and it’s got pro-business GOP members [Reps. Caleb] Rowden and [Anne] Zerr. It doesn't seem like a stretch that it’s possible they might make a change or two and send it on its way. An early count might be 7-5 in support. That's pretty narrow.
Jones' committee [has Rep. Paul ]Curtman on there with other social conservatives who can likely defend any challenges/changes…
And
Haahr speaks about SJR 39 on the mighty Jason Rosenbaum’s Politically Speaking podcast saying it’d be good to allow the citizens of the state to weigh in on the issue. Listen to it here. Around the 25 minute mark.
Meanwhile
Across the building the Senate seemed to have largely regained its old form. The only hint of lingering resentment was Sen. Bob Onder’s SB 783 treading water and being laid over while many other bills gained quick passage yesterday.
Maybe it’s my imagination that Dems are giving a bit more scrutiny to Onder’s legislation now after the PQ on SJR 39.
I guess, we’ll see….
Engler’s Advice to Senate
Rep. Kevin Engler’s Capitol Report gives some suggestions for the upper chamber. Engler is a former state senator – and former floor leader of that body…
It is good to be back from the legislative spring break. I am excited to pick up right where we left off and finish the session with energy and purpose. As the House stands right now we have passed more bills than ever before. Many of these bills are not controversial, just acts of good governance. Yet for the second year in a row the Senate is on the verge of imploding. They are locked in conflict over several bills they can’t agree upon. One consequence of a broken Senate is that these bills of good governance, already passed from the House, will not see the light of day in Senate. It is damaging to our state to allow a great number of bills beneficial to the all groups within our state to die in the legislature, to never reach the Governor’s desk because of deadlock over a few other bills. I suggest that the Senate set aside rhetoric in support of governance. First address the least controversial bills that strengthen the organizational structure of our state so it can operate in the smoothest and most effective way, then address the more controversial bills.
Koster versus Trump
Attorney General Chris Koster sent a fundraising email out trying to raise money off the candidacy of Donald Trump. Dems seem really happy with the prospect of Trump as presidential candidate. We’ll see….
It's pretty simple: Donald Trump is reckless, dangerous, and an embarrassment. His willingness to tolerate violence at his rallies is unacceptable. But all four of our GOP opponents -- John Brunner, Catherine Hanaway, Eric Greitens and Peter Kinder -- say they'll support Donald Trump if he's their presidential nominee.
By choosing Donald Trump, they are putting party above country. They are putting party above Missouri.
Chip in $10 to help us to defeat Trump and all of the candidates supporting his reckless campaign…..
And
The widely respected Larry Sabato “Crystal Ball” puts Missouri in play with Trump at the top of the ticket. See it here.
Pull Quote: “Over the years we’ve put much emphasis on the seven super-swing states: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Virginia. While some will fall to the Democrats less readily than others, it is difficult to see any that Trump is likely to grab. In fact, four normally Republican states (Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, and Missouri) would be somewhat less secure for the GOP than usual. North Carolina, which normally leans slightly to the GOP, would also be well within Clinton’s grasp in this election after being Mitt Romney’s closest win in 2012...”
Also
See a recent poll here. It has Hillary Clinton and Trump basically neck-and-neck: Clinton (42%) and Trump (40%). This despite Roy Blunt holding a double digit lead of Jason Kander: 49% to 35%.
Also of interest gubernatorial match-ups:
Koster 43% to Catherine Hanaway 31%.
Koster 39% to Peter Kinder 37%.
Koster 42% to John Brunner 28%.
Koster 41% to Eric Greitens 24%.
Too Fragmented to Endorse?
This week endorsement editorial in the St. Louis American bemoans how the fragmented St. Louis County makes educating one’s self on the issues an impossible task. See it here.
Pull Quote: In St. Louis County, the sample ballot runs for 71 pages, owing to the counter-productive fragmentation of the county into an absurd number of often tiny municipalities. Among many other things, this makes it all but impossible for local media with their limited staff to responsibly cover all of these elections or make credible endorsements in them.
See the many issues and elections in St. Louis County here.
Commutations
President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 61 individuals. Here are the ones with a Missouri connection…
Terry Brown – St. Louis, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and phencyclidine (PCP); Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (July 7, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2016.
Kenneth G. Harvey – Los Angeles, CA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Western District of Missouri Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release; $10,000 fine (April 5, 1991) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2016.
Corey R. Thomas – St. Louis, MO
Offense: Possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base ("crack"); Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years' supervised release (June 9, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2016.
Damion L. Tripp – Poplar Bluff, MO
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a substance containing 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute a substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana; Eastern District of Missouri Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (April 28, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2016.
Filing News
Democrat Jim Acton withdrew from the House 51 race. That makes it a November face-off between incumbent Republican Rep. Dean Dohrman and Democrat John Cozort.
New Committees
Campaign For Children, Youth, And Families was formed. It’s a political action committee. It is supporting the passage of children’s services fund. See the paperwork here. The treasurer is Laura Loyacono.
Lobbyists Registrations
Megan Shackelford added Rockwood Asset Management.
Daniel Beckett added Smith Lewis.
Jay Hahn added Associated Industries of Missouri.
$5K+ Contributions
Progress KC PAC - $17,500 from International Association of Fire Fighters Local 42 PAC.
Lavender for State Rep - $5,001 from Barry Aycock.
Greitens for Missouri - $5,001 from Richard Huber.
MO Drive Fund - $25,000 from Drive Committee.
MO Chamber PAC - $8,000 from Hallmark Cards.
Hanaway for Governor Inc - $10,000 from Thermaltech Inc.
MO Democratic State Committee - $10,000 from UAW Region 5 PAC.
Early Childhood Education Initiative - $50,000 from RAI Services Company.
Property Casualty Insurers Association of America Political Account - $21,286 from Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.
Health Care Leadership Committee - $6,000 from MB Medical Services Inc.
Reduce & Reform STL - $10,000 from Civic Progress Action Committee.
Citizens for Stephen Webber - $10,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Reinvest STL - $10,000 from BJC HealthCare.
Missourians for John Brunner - $25,000 from Lewis & Clark Northern MO Forum.
Missourians for John Brunner - $5,001 from David McQueary.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $5,001 from Engler for Missouri.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $5,001 from Friends of Glen Kolkmeyer.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $5,124 from Citizens for Rocky Miller.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $10,001 from Fitzpatrick for House.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $10,049 from Friends for Travis Fitzwater.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $25,000 from Missourians for Mike Cierpiot.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $50,000 from Friends of Todd Richardson.
Committee to Elect David Hurt - $10,794 from Committee to Elect David Hurt.
Committee to Elect David Hurt - $12,,562 from Committee to Elect David Hurt.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Mike Wolff.
Sunday: former Reps. Ron Schieber and Charles Portwood, Dusty Schnieders and Eapen Thampy.
And
Be careful out there… it’s April Fool’s Day…