Monday, February 22, 2016
More Gosen Bits
Last week, I mentioned Darby Arakelian being floated as a possible replacement for Don Gosen. Looks like there’s lots of interest in the seat…
Beside Arakelian, John Hoffman’s internet newsletter mentions Chesterfield Councilman Bruce DeBroot as interested.
One MOScout tipster says Joy Krieger, executive director of Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) St. Louis chapter, will file. She has “great fundraising ability and contacts throughout area…”
A second MOScout tipster says Noreen McCann is interested. She’s “a long time Republican activis… Her daughter Molly headed up the St. Louis Young Republicans for a time and her son,
Jack worked in Sen. Roy Blunt's D.C. office for four years ending in 2013…” McCann is already boasting endorsements for her bid from LG Peter Kinder, Sen. Bob Onder, former Sens. John Lamping, Jane Cunningham, and Jim Lembke; plus stalwart conservatives like Ed Martin, Phyllis Schlafly, Don Hinkle and Janet Engelbach.
We’ll see….
And
Another MOScout reader asks what will be a hot question… “Really surprised no one has pondered what Gosen will do with his $94,603.80 war chest...”
Barnes’ Bill Redefines AG
Rep. Jay Barnes filed HB 2586, outlining qualifications to be attorney general. See the bill here. It’s not clear that all the current candidates for attorney general would meet this standard.
- The attorney general shall be an attorney licensed and in good standing in the state of Missouri who has: (1) Tried a criminal case before a judge or jury in Missouri as a prosecutor on behalf of the state or as counsel for the accused; (2) Tried a civil case before a judge or jury in Missouri as counsel for the individual, business, association or other entity bringing the claim or as counsel for the individual, business association or other entity defending the claim; (3) Tried an administrative case before a hearing officer in Missouri as counsel for the individual, business, association, or other entity in interest or as counsel for the state or governmental entity; (4) Represented any party to an appeal in a Missouri court and participated in oral argument; or (5) Participated in any motion hearing in a Missouri court involving the rules of civil or criminal procedure.
And
Barnes writes on his blog (See it here) the conditions he’s set on stadium funding being returned to the budget…
Meanwhile, I believe the legislature would be improperly abdicating its oversight and budgetary duties if the stadium funding is returned to the budget without three things happening: (1) Commissioner Nelson must release the letter from bond counsel. (2) The legislature must find an entity of state government that we can trust won’t try to use the money as the first payment for a new thirty-year bond indebting two more generations of Missourians for a palace for billionaires. And (3) the legislature must find appropriate limiting language to place on any appropriation to “trust but verify” that the trust-worthy entity will comply with the budget. I believe State Treasurer Client Zwiefel is the trust-worthy person to whom any stadium funding should be appropriated.
Noranda Troubles
The Post-Dispatch writes about whether Noranda’s aluminum smelters are gone forever… See it here.
Pull Quote: Steelworkers union president Dallas Snider said he started worrying last year that Noranda could run into trouble. It was in May, when Apollo Global Management, the New York private equity firm that initiated a leveraged buyout of Noranda, sold its remaining stake in the company. The 2007 buyout saddled Noranda with $1 billion in debt while Apollo paid itself $300 million in special dividends. Noranda paid more than $160 million in regular dividends after Apollo took the company public in 2010 and retained a controlling stake.
It Just Won’t End
Melissa Click, in the New York Times, trying to tell her side of the story despite the video evidence to the contrary. See it here.
Pull Quote: “I love my job,” she said. “I’m good at it, and yeah, I think I have a lot of good left to do with the University of Missouri.”
The Return of Pat Yeager?
Tipster says that former Rep. Pat Yeager will run for the St. Louis County Council, in District 6 where incumbent Democrat Kevin O’Leary isn’t seek re-election.
Jones Funds Leadership For America
Former speaker Tim Jones contributed $200K to a new political action committee, “Leadership for America.” See the paperwork on Leadership here.
Jones reported $709K on-hand at the end of last quarter. So with this diversification, he’ll still be sitting on a campaign committee with a half-million dollars in the bank. His Missouri Ethics files has his campaign committee for a 2016 statewide race. As part of “ethics reform” this year, legislation has been proposed to prevent former legislators from retaining their war-chests beyond their political careers.
Jones is now involved in various Rex Sinquefield related organizations like Missouri Club for Growth and Pelopidas LLC.
New Committees
Candidate filing starts tomorrow morning. In the meantime here are some new candidate committee which have been formed.
Nathan Tate started a campaign committee to run for House 119 as a Republican. The current incumbent, Rep. Dave Hinson, has said he’s not running for re-election. Tate is a former St. Clair alderman.
Bill Birkes started a campaign committee to run for House 163 as a Republican. The current incumbent, Rep. Tom Flanigan, is termed. See an article about Birkes here. Looks like he ran for state representative back in 2010 also.
Greg Razer started a campaign committee to run for House 25 as a Democrat. The current incumbent, Rep. Jeremy LaFaver, has said he’s not running for re-election, and has endorsed Razer.
Harris Forms Committee
Nixon aide and former minority leader Jeff Harris formed “Jeff Harris For Circuit Judge” to run for Circuit Judge Circuit 13. His treasurer is Nancy Wilson.
Lobbyists Registrations
John Bardgett Jr., Erika Leonard, and Jacqueline Bardgett added The Alliance for Solar Choice.
John Bardgett Jr. added Husch Blackwell LLP.
James Moody added Cornerstones of Care.
$5K+ Contributions
Missourians for John Brunner - $10,000 from John Stack.
United Food & Commercial Workers Local #655 Elect Political Action Fund - $6,736 from UFCW Local 655.
Property Casualty Insurers Association of America Political Account - $84,947 from Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.
Raise Your Hand for Kids - $100,000 from RAI Services Company.
Raise Your Hand for Kids - $139,826 from RAI Services Company.
Raise Your Hand for Kids - $38,862 from RAI Services Company.
Progress KC PAC - $25,000 from Kansas City Power & Light.
Progress KC PAC - $7,500 from Stinson Leonard Street.
Koster for Missouri - $35,000 from Health Systems Inc.
Citizens to Elect Kurt Schaefer Attorney General - $5,001 from Lewis & Clark Northern Missouri Forum.
Leadership for America - $200,000 from Missourians for Tim Jones.