Friday, July 8, 2016
Humphreys Tosses Hawley a Million-Dollar Boney
Republican donor David Humphreys sent Republican attorney general candidate Josh Hawley a million dollar check. Will Rex Sinquefield respond with six or seven figures to Kurt Schaefer? Why do I feel like these two have a one-dollar bet on this race…..
Other Hawley News
A press release: Josh Hawley announced today that five state attorneys general have endorsed his outsider candidacy for Missouri Attorney General… Scott Pruitt (AG of Oklahoma), Patrick Morrisey (West Virginia), Mark Brnovich (Arizona), Adam Laxalt (Nevada), and Ken Paxton (Texas).
Another press release: Statement from General Jerry Boykin, US Army, Retired Former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence under former President George W. Bush. “It is very disappointing to see Senator Kurt Schaefer question the patriotism of Josh Hawley, who I know to be a constitutional conservative who loves his country. As a former commander of the Army's Delta Force as well as the Green Berets, I have spent many years fighting to keep our country safe from our enemies and I know that these claims of Senator Schaefer are not true…”
But
None of this, not even the million dollars, can undo the damage done by the terrorism hit. I’m keeping my Schaefer prediction as the primary winner.
Keaveny Resigns
Sen. Joe Keaveney officially resigned yesterday and was appointed by Governor Jay Nixon to be an Administrative Law Judge.
From his resignation letter
It has been a great privilege to serve as State Senator from the 4th Senatorial District, serving St. Louis City and St. Louis County for the past seven years. However, today I will resign from my position, effective immediately.
I am proud of the many legislative accomplishments I had in the Missouri State Senate including: expanding early childhood education, improving procedures for child support and updating statutes relating to trusts, probate, banking and retirement. Additional legislation I worked on included local control of the St. Louis Police Department, reducing wrongful convictions, expanding access to CBD oil, barring discrimination against gender identity, increasing the cost of seatbelt fines and studying costs of the death penalty.…
The Early Odds
Sen. Gina Walsh is the favorite to become the next minority leader of the Senate, and Rep. Jake Hummel is expected to win the Democratic nomination for the special election for Keaveny’s seat.
Nixon Vetoes Voter ID
Governor Jay Nixon vetoed HB 1631 – the Voter ID bill. That’ll be one more item on what’s shaping up to be a pretty interesting veto session.
It passed with veto-proof majorities during session: 24 votes in the Senate and 112 votes in the House.
Should Hicks Resign? Yes.
Post-Dispatch reports that Rep. Ron Hicks has moved out of his district. And “when a state lawmaker moves out of their district, the Missouri Constitution says the seat must be declared vacant.” Yet he remains. See it here.
Pull Quote: In a statement, House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, said he has "neither seen nor heard anything to indicate Rep. Hicks has moved out of his district."
Well now there’s a newspaper article that he’s moved out.
Here’s the idea: everybody just follow the rules. Then I don’t get these types of complaints which give the building a bad name… [L]etting him stay to get his pension bugs the question ; was Mr. Hicks offered this to get his vote on paycheck override?
Blunt in DC
The Post-Dispatch reports that Andy Blunt led a delegation of cable executives to Washington DC. See it here.
Pull Quote: When it was announced last year that Andy Blunt would manage the re-election campaign of his father, Sen. Roy Blunt, Missouri Democrats accused the younger Blunt of a conflict of interest. In December, Andy Blunt told the Post-Dispatch that “I lobby in the state of Missouri, not the United States Congress, and there is a clear distinction.”
“The Kander campaign is trying to draw an inference that an annual pilgrimage for a meet-and-greet should be covered as ‘See, he is a federal lobbyist,’ and any coverage of that assertion would leave the reader with an impression way different than the clear reality,” Andy Blunt said. “I don't think if I was going to start a career as a federal lobbyist that I would be going to Senator McCaskill's office, and I can't imagine anyone would ever pay me to do that…”
John LaBombard, a spokesman for Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said Andy Blunt was in a meeting of five MCTA representatives with McCaskill’s staff on April 13.
“I can confirm on the record that this meeting was requested by Andy, that it was a staff meeting that didn’t include Claire,” LaBombard said, when asked by the Post-Dispatch. “And from our staff’s perspective, he was lobbying us.”
Andy Blunt also sat in on meetings with staffs of Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth; and Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin, spokespeople said...
Federal disclosure requirements say that to be considered a federal lobbyist, a person must spend 20 percent of his or her time trying to influence members of Congress or federal agency officials. Under that definition, Andy Blunt and the other members of the MCTA would be far from having to register…
Bits
I asked about the Norman Harty, who gave Peter Kinder $25K, and is listed as a self-employed “Dynamite-Explosive Cleaner.” Here’s the answer from a MOScout reader: “Norm Narty is from Dexter. Longtime Bill Emerson, Jo Ann Emerson, Sarah Steelman, Peter Kinder, Jason Smith donor. Whoever asked who he was must be from the I-70 corridor. He was a demo guy in Vietnam, patented a system to clean out industrial smoke stacks, also owns banks…”
It sounds like Rep. Kim Gardner is polling in her circuit attorney’s race. She has the endorsement of Congressman Lacy Clay.
Former KC mayor and state senator Charlie Wheeler started a committee for his run for governor. (He’s a Democrat). It’s an “exemption committee,” meaning he doesn’t plan to raise or spend more than $500.
Nixon withholds hit University of Missouri Review Commission. See it here. Pull Quote: “It’s pretty sad given that the only thing this commission is doing is trying to suggest improvements and improve accountability for the university system,” said commission member Dave Spence, Nixon’s GOP opponent in the 2012 election. “There is plenty of money down there, and he is just playing games. But why would I expect anything different at this point?”
eMailbag: Greitens Boxing Ad
Wtf? Is he trying to get drafted into the UFC? His ads have nothing to do with anything beyond his muscles and shooting people.
ugh Greitens…a GOP loyalist told me yesterday that if Greitens were the nominee she would vote for Koster.
His campaign ads resemble an SNL skit or a bit on the Daily Show. I suspect that his female outreach will include a spot of a sleeveless Greitens doing some curls for the girls.
Today’s Events
From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Rep. David Wood Burgers and Bluegrass – Wood’s home – Versailles – 10AM.
House 101 candidate Anne Gassel Bowling – West Cty. Lanes – Ellisville – 7PM.
Lobbyists Registrations
Rodney Boyd, Kelvin Simmons and Brian Grace deleted Time-Warner Cable.
$5K+ Contributions
Citizens for Will Kraus - $5,785 from Bennet Packaging.
Hawley for Missouri - $1,000,000 from David Humphreys.
MO Republican Party - $25,000 from Hunter Engineering Company.
Committee to Elect Gary Myers Judge - $10,000 from Gary Myers.
Citizens to Elect Kurt Schaefer Attorney General - $25,000 from MACO Development Company LLC.
Citizens to Elect Kurt Schaefer Attorney General - $25,000 from Sterling Bancshares Inc.
Committee to Elect Jake Hummel - $10,000 from Simmons Hanly Conroy.
Grow Missouri - $206,554 from Great St. Louis.
Bass for Cass - $8,000 from West Central Mo Regional Lodge # 50 FOP – Political Action Committee.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Marsha Haefner, Richard Martin, and Jeff Aboussie.
Saturday: Former Rep. Don Ruzicka, and Ron Fitzwater.
Sunday: Former Rep. Cole McNary.
Congratulations
To Chris Roepe and wife Lindasy on the birth of Catherine Parker Roepe (7 lbs 6 oz).