Monday, January 30, 2017

Greitens Visits White House

Over the weekend Governor Eric Greitens met with Vice President Mike Pence in the White House.  Here’s the Greitens’ statement:  "Today, I met with my friend, Vice President Mike Pence, to talk about the challenges facing Missouri and what we can do, together, to help people. The Trump-Pence administration understands that our state needs quality jobs again, and they are ready to partner in our success. They also understand the damage that Obamacare is doing to our families and our state's budget, and they promised that relief is on its way. I know that with a strong partnership between the White House and the Governor's office, we can take our state in a new direction with more jobs, higher pay, safer streets, and better schools for all Missourians."

And

MOScout tipster says that the rumor is that “over the weekend while Governor Greitens was in Washington DC he attended the annual Alfalfa Club dinner, an exclusive club consisting of the most influential political movers and shakers. Members include Jeb Bush, Tom Daschle, Newt Gingrich and Alan Greenspan among others… Why would the Governor who campaigned as an outsider and attacked lobbyist, special interest and insiders attend the most elite event in Washington DC?...”

Greitens’ Dark Money Habit

Round three of Governor Eric Greitens having trouble talking about money… First it was not providing his tax returns, then it was hiding the identity of his largest campaign contributors and now it’s who paid for his inaugural.

Jason Hancock reports on the shhhhhh.  See it here.

Pull Quote: Nonprofits aren’t required to disclose their donors and aren’t subject to recently enacted campaign donation limits. Greitens has refused to say how much was raised, how much was spent, how much each donor chipped in or whether he’ll ever make any of that information public.  So far, the only thing he’s been willing to share is a list of “benefactors” he says helped finance the inaugural festivities. On the list are some of the state’s largest companies, most of whom have business before the legislature that Greitens may one day have to either sign or veto.

[Greitens] commitment to transparency has always been shaky at best…. Among the nearly 100 “benefactors” Greitens says helped fund his inauguration… was Uber. The California-based vehicle-for-hire company is pushing Missouri legislation that would enact regulations Uber thinks would allow it to expand throughout the state. The legislation also would exempt the company from paying local or municipal taxes…

Kolky’s Tort Reform Legislation Gets House Hearing

Today at 1PM, Rep. Glen Kolkmeyer has five bills dealing with tort reform that will get a hearing in Rep. Bill Lant’s Special Committee on Litigation Reform.

With right to work beginning the final leg of its journey to the governor’s desk, the tort reform pipeline is filling up…

So, Like Nothing Works?...

The most depressing thing you might read today… 5 Big Ideas in Education That Don’t Work.  See it here. The List: Achievement standards; Achievement tests; School choice; Small class size; More money.

Silvey – Kraus Trade Barbs

After Sen. Will Kraus compared Real ID to Nazism, Sen. Ryan Silvey fired back, “He's more worried about Gov't keeping copies of Gov't issued docs than the Gov't keeping a 5 yr old from his mom at an airport. #MuslimBan”

Lyft Against Closed Borders

Ride-sharing company Lyft sent out an email blast denouncing the “Muslim Ban” executive order… This weekend, Trump closed the country's borders to refugees, immigrants, and even documented residents from around the world based on their country of origin. Banning people of a particular faith or creed, race or identity, sexuality or ethnicity, from entering the U.S. is antithetical to both Lyft's and our nation's core values… We stand with you, and are donating $1,000,000 over the next four years to the ACLU to defend our constitution. We ask that you continue to be there for each other - and together, continue proving the power of community.

One MOScout reader asks… Do you think Lyft's opposition to Trump will hurt their effort in the Missouri Senate?  Answer: probably not with Sen. Bob Onder as their legislative champion, though it will give any would-be Republican trouble-makers a talking point.

And – Reminder on Trump

Donald Trump is doing exactly what he campaigned on.  You get the government you deserve.

NYTimes analyzed Trump’s “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States” executive order.  See it here.

Pull Quote: [S]ince the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, no one has been killed in the United States in a terrorist attack by anyone who emigrated from or whose parents emigrated from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, the seven countries targeted in the order’s 120-day visa ban, according to Charles Kurzman, a sociology professor at the University of North Carolina… There was a random quality to the list of countries: It excluded Saudi Arabia and Egypt, where the founders of Al Qaeda and many other jihadist groups have originated. Also excluded are Pakistan and Afghanistan, where persistent extremism and decades of war have produced militants who have occasionally reached the United States….  For an action aimed at terrorism, the order appeared to garner little or no support among experts and former officials of every political stripe with experience in the field.

Looking for Answers in Marceline Missouri

Thomas Frank goes looking for answers in Marceline, Missouri. Read it here.  What he finds: [S]mall towns are dying… You need to see the thing itself. And what you will discover, should you choose to undertake this mission in the part of the midwest where I come from, is this: ruination, unless the town you choose to visit has a college or a hospital or a prison in it.

With a few exceptions, the shops on Main Street will be empty or in mothballs. There will be deindustrialization and despair. Places where stuff used to be made will be closed down. Population growth will be negative. There will be no local newspaper, or else just a sliver of one. There will be problems with meth. There will be hundred-year-old homes that would be millionaire’s palaces were they situated in popular urban areas.

And there will be Trump signs.

Bits

Springfield Chamber’s Hollie Elliott has taken a job as Executive Director of the Dallas County Economic Development Group.

Katherine Stepanek was fined $10,000 by the Missouri Ethics Commission for various reporting failures.  Lobbyist Phil LeVota makes a cameo in the order.  See it here.

In the St. Louis mayoral race, public funding for a soccer stadium has become a hot button issue.  Board President Lewis Reed explains his vote to put the issue on the ballot… “Yesterday I voted to give the people of St. Louis the right to choose how their tax dollars will be spent.  I voted to give the people a direct voice. If you support a candidate for Mayor who stands up for the voice of the people, join our campaign today….”

Post-Dispatch reports on Rep. Mike Bernskoetter’s bill to reverse the longer vesting period that happened under Governor Jay Nixon’s watch.  Read it here.

eMailbag on MOScout Poll

I think Carl Edwards goes by Carl Edwards Jr. maybe, which might make him more recognizable to the NASCAR crowd.  Just a thought.

eMailbag on Edwards for Senate Snark

Had to laugh at the NASCAR commenter who probably has no problem with Senator Al Franken.

Help Wanted

Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement seeks Assistant Director for Civic Engagement Education. “The Assistant Director for Civic Engagement Education is the Gephardt Institute’s lead educator on the theory and application of civic engagement.  With responsibilities for the management and strategic development of the Civic Scholars and Urban Fellows program, the Assistant Director fosters student civic mindedness, engagement and leadership in civic life, most often as educator, facilitator, leadership trainer, advisor, and consultant.  In addition, the Assistant Director provides expert training and consultation to university staff and faculty seeking to incorporate civic engagement in their curricular and co-curricular programs…”   See it here.

Lobbyists Registrations

Jason Zamkus added Drivewyze Inc.

Thomas Robbins added The Swain Group.

Michael Kelley added Regional Strategies LLC.

David Sweeney and Jeff Rainford added Kiel Center Partners.

Jeff Rainford added SC STL.

David Jackson added Washington University, Penman & Winton Consulting Group Inc., County Employees Retirement Fund Board, Pharmacy Business Associates, Care Management Technologies, and Missouri Society for Respiratory Care, Missouri Academy of Physician Assistants.

Harry Gallagher and Heath Clarkston added Luminus Management LLC.

Caren Lock added TIAA.

Tony Dugger added Missouri American Water.

Andy Arnold added Randall’s Wines & Spirits.

Michael Scott added Missouri Secretary of State.

Jerry Dowell added Columbia Community Partnership.

Rodney Boyd, Brian Grace, Katherine Casas and Kelvin Simmons deleted Steven Carroll/xcaliber, DraftKings Inc., and FanDuel Inc.

$5K+ Contributions

New Approach Missouri - $10,000 from DREI Bruder LLC.

New Approach Missouri - $10,000 from Larry Malashock.

Citizens for Steve Stenger - $10,000 from B & C Southwest Properties, LLC.

Progress KC PAC - $10,000 from Briarcliff Development Company.

Progress KC PAC - $50,000 from Burns & McDonnell.

Progress KC PAC - $10,000 from Charles Laue.

Progress KC PAC - $15,000 from NorthPoint Development LLC.

Progress KC PAC - $10,000 from Shook Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.

Progress KC PAC - $7,000 from White Goss.

And

See information about Progress KC PAC at their website here.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Chuck Caisley.