Thursday, July 14, 2016

Sex Slave Owner

Last night’s Republican gubernatorial debate was televised across the state provided a few highlights…

There was Eric Greitens boasting that if he were governor, Ferguson would have been peaceful by Night Two.

There was Peter Kinder saying only he could wrestle the NRA endorsement away from Chris Koster.

There was Catherine Hanaway breaking with her main funder, Rex Sinquefield, to say that the Kansas tax cuts were imprudent.

But the biggest blow was at the end when John Brunner told off Greitens his acceptance of a million-dollar donation from a “sex slave owner.”

Brunner’s team followed up immediately after the debate reiterating the charge in a press release, leading one unaffiliated politico to offer this assessment: “Closing statements are supposed to be used for positive talking points.  That Brunner used his to attack Greitens for the Goguen contribution is an admission of what his internal polls look like… We should expect to see a sex slave ad soon…”

And

The title Team Hanaway’s email blast last night… I Just Won the Debate.

New Schaefer Ad Coming?

Tipster says a new Kurt Schaefer ad will be hitting the airwaves entitles “Prayer” which will feature Schaefer talking about saying a prayer every day when his kids leave the house.

What it means: “You do this when your negative ratings are too high…”

We’ll see….

Hawley Gets Bond and Danforth

Josh Hawley pulled down endorsements from two big GOPers: Kit Bond and Jack Danforth. One observer wonders: “So Hawley has the far right (Tea Party, faith based community) and the Danforth types… who does Schaefer have?”

Hawley Ad Pulled

But a Pro-Hawley PAC had to pull a radio ad because it was untruthful… from the press release: The ad, paid for by the Washington, D.C.-based Faith and Freedom Coalition, sought to discredit Senator Schaefer because of his record of being a champion of pro-life causes….

Push-back: Koster Match-Ups

One reader rejected the notion that the RGA wouldn’t fund a Peter Kinder candidacy, telling me that representatives from the national organization have already committed to “eight-figure” funding of the race regardless of who the Republican nominee is.

And then this from another reader who thinks Catherine Hanaway has a shot at the NRA endorsement… “Koster is tip-toeing the line on Constitutional Carry/Stand Your Grand and NRA can't be happy about it. Your assessment today was way off…”

Pushback: Senate 19 Polling

Republicans say they see Senate 19 being very competitive.  Their polling – from late April – showed “a narrow 3-point lead on the generic State Senate ballot (45%-42%)…” and the Stephen Webber – Caleb Rowden race “deadlocked at 41%-41%...”

Cig Tax Increase Careens Into Uncharted Territory

The Missouri Supreme Court declined to hear Jason Kander’s motion concerning the Raise Your Hands for Kids initiative petition.  See the Post-Dispatch article here.

Next step… probably more litigation… Kander may simply change the ballot language as the court instructions and then certify it for the ballot.  That would trigger a lawsuit that the new summary language was not what people were signing when they sought to put the issue on the ballot.

Clinton in STL

Hillary Clinton was in St. Louis for a fundraiser.  Tipster says that a group of about 20 VIPs had a private dinner with Clinton at the home of Joyce Aboussie where Clinton answered questions.  Around the dinner table… Marlo Thomas, Barry Aycock, Richard Gephardt, and Maxine Clark…

Bits

Nixon signed several bills yesterday including the so-called “expungement” bill and a bill prohibiting municipalities from having their officers have a quota of the number of tickets they have to write.

Don’t expect any global warming jokes at the Republican convention next week… See it here.

Riverfront Times reports that weary challengers to the Hubbard family are tired of getting their hats handed to them on absentee balloting, and are asking for extra scrutiny.  See it here.

Today’s Events

Powered by Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:

Last day for action on bills by Governor.

Sen. Ron Richard Bowling – 4th Street Bowl – Joplin.

Senate 11 candidate Jessica Podhola – home of Keith and Sandy Querry, Independence – 5:30PM.

St. Louis circuit attorney candidate Steve Harmon – Feasting Fox, St. Louis – 5:30PM.

Rep. Denny Hoskins – Montserrat Vineyards, Knob Noster MO – 5:30PM.

Lobbyists Registrations

Brent Evans added Aclara Technologies LLC.

Chris Moody added Aetna Better Health; and deleted Healthcare USA.

Brent Hemphill deleted Noranda Aluminum, and Missouri Retailers Association.

$5K+ Contributions

Greitens for Missouri - $7,500 from Breckenridge Material Company.

Central Missouri Senate Republican PAC - $25,000 from David Humphreys.

Eastern Missouri Senate PAC - $25,000 from David Humphreys.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $5,001 from Hegeman for Senate.

Koster for Missouri - $25,000 from Gori, Julian & Associates P.C.

Citizens Committee for Soil, Water and State Park - $10,000 from Missouri Soybean Association.

The Committee to Protect MO Families - $100,000 from CHIPP.

Hawley for Missouri - $100,000 from Peter Thiel.

Grow Missouri - $253,674 from Missourians for Excellence in Government.

Eigel for Missouri - $100,000 from Herzog Contracting Corp.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to David Winton!