Thursday, December 8, 2016
Piles of Money Before Amendment 2 Deadline
Governor-elect Eric Greitens led the way of a mad rush to deposit large campaign contributions before the limits of Amendment 2 took effect. Greitens recorded about $2.4 million in contributions. $1 million of it was from the Humphreys family which is cheered that Greitens appears to be prioritizing their two biggest issues: weakening labor organizations, and modifying tort procedures. One source says that Greitens also received plenty of $5,000 checks which won’t show up until the quarterly filings, as only those greater than $5,000 are subject to the special notice.
David Humphreys also gave $100K to Sen. Bob Onder, $100K to Rep. Rob Vescovo, and $50K to Rep. Shamed Dogan.
And
Chuck Hatfield filed the expected lawsuit against Amendment 2 because it prevents some corporations from being able to give political contributions. See it here. The expectation is that this lawsuit – which appears to have merit – wouldn’t sink the whole Amendment, but as always… we’ll see….
Rumorville: Backer Settles
It’s said that Gracia Backer’s discrimination lawsuit has been settled. We’ll see if we get a legit news report on it today, but it could be a seven-figure settlement. See the back story here. If true, it might be an effort on the administration’s part to tie up any loose ends before leaving office. No need to let a potentially explosive lawsuit linger – or go to court – under a new administration with no motive to not let it get as messy as possible. We’ll see…
And
Todd Richardson called for an investigation into the Department of Corrections after The Pitch ran an article highlighting all the lawsuits that have taken place there. See it here.
Emery Files Energy Bill
And now we have the starting point for the bill to modernize the electrical grid…. Sen. Ed Emery pre-filed (SB 190), the Missouri Economic Development and Infrastructure Investment Act. This is a shorter, more streamlined version of last year's legislation. It makes small adjustments to Missouri energy regulations to support energy infrastructure and smart grid investment while promoting economic development with over a $1 billion investment and creating thousands of MO jobs.
Nixon Withholds
The press release: To keep the FY2017 budget balanced, the Governor today restricted $42.8 million in Medicaid spending, savings that were achieved because of lower program costs his administration has implemented. He also said that because of the state's continued spotless AAA credit rating which keeps borrowing costs lower, he has restricted $8.8 million in excess bonding authority. Together with restrictions made in July and September to balance the budget, $201 million in spending authorized by the General Assembly has been restricted for the current fiscal year.
MDFB To Hear Soccer Plan
As I mentioned last week, the Missouri Development Finance Board will hold a special meeting today in preparation for their regularly scheduled December meeting where they are expected to approve tax credit for the proposed Major League Soccer stadium in downtown St. Louis. See the Post-Dispatch article here.
Pull Quote: An application for $40 million in state tax credits for constructing a Major League Soccer stadium downtown also reveals more details about an ownership group's plan to bring a team to St. Louis… The application, prepared by the city's Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, puts the total estimated cost of the stadium and acquiring a team at $405 million. SC STL, led by former Bain Capital executive and majority investor Paul Edgerley, St. Louis FC founder Jim Kavanaugh, and former Anheuser-Busch president Dave Peacock, would provide $280 million, including the $200 million team expansion fee… The city-owned stadium would seat 22,000 and could be expanded to 28,000 in the future….
Ashcroft Team
Secretary of State-elect Jay Ashcroft announced his leadership team….
Deputy Secretary of State / Chief of Staff: Trish Vincent
Commissioner of Securities: David Minnick
General Counsel: Frank Jung
Deputy Chief of Staff: Steele Shippy
Bits
According to the Senate website, Stephen Ahlers has joined Sen. Ed Emery’s staff, and Kelley Prescott has joined Communications.
Press release: Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway released an audit that uncovers new inappropriate and potentially fraudulent activities by former Wright County Collector Cynthia Cottengim. The former collector resigned in July after pleading guilty to forging nearly $500 worth of checks from county accounts. Now it appears that was just a fraction of the amount mishandled during Cottengim's time as Wright County Collector. The total amount is likely to exceed $7,000… See the audit here.
Governor Jay Nixon will speak to The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis today at 1:30PM, “regarding the importance of the Non-Partisan Court Plan.”
Rex Sinquefield’s annual Snowflake Celebration is tonight. It raises money for The Sharing Fund (St. Vincent & Covenant House). They’ll raise over $110K with 375-400 expected to attend…
Riverfront Times looks at the continuing Ed Martin saga. It’s not pretty. See it here.
eMailbag: on Deer Fight
Some of those petitions not only keep deer under Conservation, they ban captive hunting facilities after 2021….
eMailbag: on PSC Report
Hard to recall the last time I heard such a bunch of backward, sanctimonious, self serving drivel. “Hey duly elected representatives of the people, you better not do anything to undercut our authority. We're doing a perfectly fine job overseeing Missouri's patchwork of crumbling infrastructure, thank you very much….”
eMailbag: Boeing
Remember the bipartisan howling all the Boeing supporters made, especially in St Louis, over the F35 resolution Rep. Caleb Jones proposed a few years ago in special session? Interesting how we heard crickets from Congresswoman Ann Wagner et al over President-elect Donald Trump crashing their stock with his false and ignorant tweet.
Help Wanted
The Kansas City Star Media Company seeks Opinion Writer. “The Kansas City Star is seeking an opinion writer to join our editorial board. Both internal and external candidates will be considered… This writer will be a key player on The Star's editorial board, helping to shape the newspaper's editorial voice while also contributing columns to the opinion pages. The Star is building an ambitious team of opinion writers who will weigh in on the issues of the day and also will tackle longer-term editorial projects. A strong interest in local and state issues is essential, as is the ability to write persuasively about complex public-policy questions…” See it here.
Today’s Events
From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar
Rep. Joshua Peters Holiday Breakfast – Goody Goody Diner – St. Louis – 7:30AM.
Lobbyists Registrations
Kate Kulesher Jarecke added Novartis Services Inc.; and deleted Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
Richard AuBuchon added Hallmark Cards; and deleted Steven Carroll and Associates, and Xcaliber International Ltd LLC.
Deborah Mary Howland deleted Cornerstone of Care.
Clifford Axelson deleted Prudential Financial Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Greitens for Missouri - $500,000 f rom David Humphreys.
Greitens for Missouri - $500,000 from Sarah Humphreys Atkins.
Greitens for Missouri – $300,000 from Herzog Railroad Services Inc.
Greitens for Missouri - $100,000 from Ameren.
Greitens for Missouri – $100,000 from Lodging Hospitality.
Onder for Missouri - $100,000 from David Humphreys.
Friends of Rob Vescovo - $100,000 from David Humphreys.
Greitens for Missouri - $90,000 from Jeffrey Fox.
Missourians for Fair Taxation - $80,500 from Missouri Association of REALTORS.
MO Society of Anesthesiologists Political Action Committee - $50,000 from Anesthesia Associates of Kansas City.
Citizens for Dogan - $50,000 from David Humphreys.
MO Society of Anesthesiologists Political Action Committee - $50,000 from Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists.
Emersons Missouri Responsible Government Fund - $25,000 from Emerson Electric Co.
Jobs with Justice Ballot Fund - $50,000 from National Employment Law Project.
Greitens for Missouri - $50,000 from Supporters of Health Research & Treatments.
Greitens for Missouri - $50,000 from Smithfield.
Patterson for Missouri - $46,518 from Missouri Alliance PAC.
Greitens for Missouri – $35,000 from Comprehensive Management Inc.
Greitens for Missouri – $35,000 from Health Systems Inc.
Friends of Caleb Rowden - $30,000 from Missouri Senate Campaign Committee.
Find the Cures - $30,000 from Brad Bradshaw.
Greitens for Missouri – $25,000 from Richard Destefane.
Greitens for Missouri – $25,000 from Steven Craig.
Greitens for Missouri - $25,000 from The Boeing Company PAC.
Greitens for Missouri – $25,000 from Emerson’s Missouri Responsible Government Fund.
Greitens for Missouri – $25,000 from Anheuser Busch.
Onder for Missouri - $25,000 from Herzog Contracting Corp.
Greitens for Missouri – $25,000 from Cape Aerospace Jets LLC.
Greitens for Missouri - $25,000 from Continental Cement Co LLC.
Greitens for Missouri – $25,000 from Con-Agg of MO LLC.
Greitens for Missouri - $20,000 from Missouri Health Care Association PAC.
Greitens for Missouri – $20,000 from Ryan LLC.
Greitens for Missouri – $20,000 from KCS Rail PAC.
A Better Kansas City - $20,000 from Holsman for Missouri.
Greitens for Missouri - $20,000 from Missouri Soybean Association.
Greitens for Missouri - $15,357 from Pro Air LLC.
Greitens for Missouri – $15,000 from Polsinelli.
Greitens for Missouri – $15,000 from HealthPAC.
Onder for Missouri - $15,000 from Menlo Smith.
Future Leaders of America - $15,000 from Holsman for Missouri.
Greitens for Missouri – $15,000 from Spire Political Action Committee.
We Deserve Better Inc. - $13,123 from Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures Inc.
Greitens for Missouri - $12,500 from MADA Services Corporation.
Greitens for Missouri - $12,500 from Northpark Partners LLC.
Missouri Growth PAC - $11,000 from Friends of Diehl.
MO Society of Anesthesiologists Political Action Committee - $10,000 from Ozark Anesthesia Associates Inc.
Greitens for Missouri – $10,000 from Atoske.
Greitens for Missouri – $10,000 from Missouri Energy Development Association PAC.
Greitens for Missouri – $10,000 from Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists.
Greitens for Missouri - $10,000 from Western Anesthesiology Associates Inc.
Greitens for Missouri – $10,000 from Veterans United Home Loans.
Greitens for Missouri – $10,000 from Brad Bedell.
Greitens for Missouri – $10,000 from Enterprise Holdings Inc.
Greitens for Missouri - $10,000 from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas City.
Greitens for Missouri - $10,000 from Thompson Coburn LLP.
Greitens for Missouri - $10,000 from Mallinckodt LLC.
Greitens for Missouri – $10,000 from Archer Daniels Midland Company.
Greitens for Missouri - $10,000 from International Game Technology PAC.
Greitens for Missouri – $10,000 from Penn Enterprises Inc.
Greitens for Missouri – $10,000 from Northpoint.
Greitens for Missouri – $10,000 from Jeffrey Fox.
Greitens for Missouri – $10,000 from Missouri Pork PAC.
Greitens for Missouri - $10,000 from HNTB Holdings LTD PAC.
Greitens for Missouri - $10,000 from Misosuri American Water Employees PAC.Team Justin Brown - $10,000 from Dr Dan Brown for Senate.
Parson for Missouri - $10,000 from Supporters of Health Research and Treatments.
Greitens for Missouri – $10,000 from Susan McCollum.
Greitens for Missouri - $10,000 from Major Brands Inc PAC.
Greitens for Missouri – $10,000 from Enhancing Community PAC.
Missouri Energy Development Association Political Action Committee - $10,000 from KCP&L.
Missouri Energy Development Association Political Action Committee - $10,000 from Spire Energy.
Parson for Missouri - $10,000 from Roy Pfautch.
Schupp for Senate - $10,000 from Eastern Missouri Laborers’ Education & Benevolent Fund.
Hawley for Missouri - $10,000 from Drury Development Corporation.
Hawley for Missouri - $10,000 from Orscheln Management Co.
Progress KC - $8,000 from Go for KC.
Greitens for Missouri – $7,500 from Coca-Cola North America.
Greitens for Missouri - $5,001 from Edwin Rice.
Greitens for Missouri – $5,001 from Sara Hargis.
Greitens for Missouri – $5,001 from Jerry Sumners.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to John Brunner, Linda Rallo, and Patrick Bonnot.