Monday, July 5, 2016
New Electric Rate Case
KCPL and Ameren filed new rate cases just before the holiday weekend. See the Post-Dispatch article here. With the rate case, it’s back to the usual game. Ameren is asking for an 8%-ish increase.
This comes on the heels of the legislative session ending where they offered a new framework which would have capped rates at zero percent increase in 2016 and 2017 and no more than 3% in 2018. Furthermore Ameren argued that their proposal would have brought regulatory certainty allowing for hundreds of millions of dollars of investment into grid and cyber security upgrades.
It will take a while for the rate case to work through the process but one wonders if some skeptics will now have second thoughts about not passing the “Performance Based Rates” legislation.
Statement from Office of Public Counsel
As there is a significant amount of information in any of these matters, the OPC will take time and effort to thoroughly review all details to determine what impacts this will have on Missouri ratepayers. The public can expect OPC will vigorously prosecute any aspects of this matter not in their best interests.
A cursory review of the filing shows residential customers are being asked to assume a heavy burden under this proposal. While Ameren characterizes the overall increase to be approximately 7.8%, the proposed increase for residential customers is actually closer to 8.29% since Ameren proposes to apply more of the increase to residential customers than other customer classes….
Holiday Weekend Money
There’s a long list of large contributions over the three day weekend. It includes checks zipping in to make the end of quarter deadline, and others right afterward giving a sharp start to the next quarter.
Bullet Points
$100K from the Senate Republicans’ campaign committee to Randy Jotte, the Republican candidate in Senate 1 (that’s where incumbent Sen. Scott Sifton is up for re-election). With the narrow field of play, they’re definitely going to put some resources into that race.
Sen. Bob Onder’s brother’s law firm gave money to Chris Koster’s gubernatorial campaign… Was that an awkward conversation over their 4th of July barbecue?
More of the funneled Rex Sinquefield money to Catherine Hanaway ($850K) and Sen. Kurt Schaefer ($900K), but nothing for Sen. Will Kraus? Dude being cut loose by Team Rex?! What gives?
And Sen. Brian Munzlinger is that latest Republican senator to give to Bill Eigel’s Senate 23 campaign…
Zimmerman Ad
Democratic attorney general candidate Jake Zimmerman is on the air starting today with his first ad, “Fairness.” See it here. After the weeks of negative ads on the Republican side of the attorney general’s race, the positive nature of the ad has a certain glow to it.
Humphreys Wants All Children to Have Same Opportunities He Had
Jason Hancock reports on the huge David Humphreys contributions. See it here.
Pull Quote: His end game is simple: He hopes to get rid of Republicans who for years have helped derail anti-union legislation in the Missouri General Assembly. But in doing so, he potentially opens the door for Democrats to capture the seats of Republicans weakened by tough primary fights.
Humphreys rarely grants interviews, instead relying on written statements. In an email to The Star, he said his donations were an attempt to “help preserve and advance a free society so that all our children can enjoy the same kinds of freedom and opportunities that we have had. And being blessed with significant resources,” Humphreys said, “I have a personal sense of duty to play some part in that endeavor both for my own children and our broader community.”
Humphreys is the president and CEO of Tamko Building Products Inc… His grandfather founded the company in 1944, and Humphreys took the reins upon the death of his father in 1993….
Michelson to Senate: See You Later, See You Soon
Matthew Michelson on Facebook
Today I am turning in my key to the Capitol.
This is a very special place to me, and while we talk about the “Senate Family”, my family has been a part of the Senate for the last 43 years and that is something that I will always be proud of, and consider an honor.
I am the third generation to work in the Senate, my grandmother Pat Michelson began working in January of 1973 for Sen. Richard Webster until his death in 1990, then Senator Singleton until her death in 1995. My mother Karen began working in the senate minority offices in August of 1973, and as if everyone didn’t already know, she still works sessions in the copy center. My grandfather Marion “JR” Miller briefly was over Senate Telecommunications from 1985-1991. I started working for Sen. Bill Stouffer in January of 2005, transitioning to Sen. Pearce in 2009. During that time, I learned that this building is full of some of the greatest people Missouri has to offer. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by intelligent, compassionate, caring, honest and trustworthy coworkers, colleagues, bosses and a great many mentors.
I’m thankful for each and every one of you for the lessons and knowledge you always welcomed me with.
I have accepted a position at the Missouri State Teachers Association. I will still be around the building, and if you ever need to get in touch with me, I am always available
Bits
According to the Senate website: Lisa Dailey has left the Senate 22 office (Sen. Paul Wieland), and Paula Medlin has joined the office.
The White House Internship Program announced its participants for the Summer 2016 session. Here are the folks with Missouri connections… Mariah Haley – Hometown: Kansas City, MO; Wellesley College, MA; Michael Holtz – Hometown: Westport, CT; Washington University in St. Louis, MO; and James Wyderko – Hometown: Rockville, MD; Washington University in St. Louis, MO
Cerner spat impacting information exchange? Politico has the story. See it here. Pull Quote: More than two dozen emails that POLITICO obtained through the Freedom of Information Act reveal some of the roadblocks — incidental or otherwise — that keep providers from getting the data they need to deliver care. The emails come from an account CMS set up last June to solicit feedback on information blocking. Six of the complaints target the Missouri Health Connection, a health information exchange, built with the help of $14 million in taxpayer funds, that mostly serves central and western parts of the state. Each complaint charges it with refusing to connect with the Lewis and Clark Information Exchange, which serves Kansas and eastern Missouri. The conflict between the two exchanges appears partly to be an element in a proxy battle between Epic and Cerner.
Governing Magazine looks at the Trump effect on local races. See it here.
Help Wanted
The Board of Election Commissioners for the City of St. Louis is accepting applications and resumes for the position of Republican Judges Department Supervisor…. The Republican Judges Department Supervisor, in conjunction with his/her Democratic counterpart, is responsible for recruiting, training and paying the Poll Managers and Election Judges required to staff the polling sites on Election Day…. SALARY: $38,000.00 to $44,000.00 per year….
Lobbyists Registrations
L.P. (Louis) Hamilton added TMX Finance, Ace Cash Finance, Title Lenders Inc, QC Holdings, PH Financial Services, and MO Title Loans.
$5K+ Contributions
Citizens for Frank White Jr. - $15,000 from The Heavy Constructors Association.
Committee to Elect Jean Evans - $5,001 from Citizens for Dogan.
Committee to Elect Tami (Renfro) Owens Newton County Assessor - $7,985 from Missouri Realtors Political Action Committee Inc.
Contreras for Treasurer - $12,500 from Western Missouri and Kansas Laborers’ District Council.
Contreras for Treasurer - $25,000 from Kenneth McClain.
Contreras for Treasurer - $15,000 from Eastern Missouri Laborers’ Educational Benevolent Fund.
Scott Sifton for Missouri - $25,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Scott Sifton for Missouri - $15,000 from Safer Families for Missouri.
Scott Sifton for Missouri - $10,000 from Better Schools for Missouri.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Citizens for Riddle.
Missourians for Peter Kinder - $10,000 from William Weier.
Greitens for Missouri - $25,000 from Onshore Technology.
Committee to Elect Randy Jotte - $100,000 from Missouri Senate Campaign Committee.
Committee to Elect Randy Jotte - $10,000 from Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe.
Greitens for Missouri - $10,000 from Elliot Broidy.
Koster for Missouri - $100,000 from SEIU HealthCare Missouri PAC.
Koster for Missouri - $15,000 from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas City PAC.
Koster for Missouri - $25,000 from SEIU Missouri State Council PAC.
Koster for Missouri - $40,000 Health Systems Inc.
Hanaway for Governor Inc - $395,162 from Great St. Louis.
Hanaway for Governor Inc - $454,832 from Missourians for Excellence in Government.
Citizens to Elect Kurt Schaefer Attorney General - $404,629 from Great St. Louis.
Citizens to Elect Kurt Schaefer Attorney General - $253,288 from Missourians for Excellence in Government.
Citizens to Elect Kurt Schaefer Attorney General - $248,713 from Grow Missouri.
Leadership for America - $125,087 from Missourians for Tim Jones.
Citizens for Jennifer Growcock - $20,000 from Jennifer Growcock.
Koster for Missouri - $7,500 from Onder, Shelton, O’Leary & Peterson LLC.
Koster for Missouri - $10,000 from Firefighters for Missouri Governor 2016.
Citizens for Shane Roden - $15,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Koster for Missouri - $100,000 from UAW-V-CAP.
Koster for Missouri - $10,000 from HCA Missouri Good Government Fund.
Onder for Missouri - $7,500 from Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe.
Eigel for Missouri - $5,001 from Friends of Munzlinger.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to former Reps. Jake Zimmerman, Gary Dusenberg (70!), and Chris Molendorp.