Tuesday, September 13, 2016

GOP Senate Targeting Rizzo?

A new political action committee was formed… Kansas City Missouri Republican Senate PAC.  Its treasurer is Ron Richard.  The deputy treasurer is John Sheehan.  He’s also deputy treasurer of two other committees that the Republican Senate majority has established to target specific races.

The Eastern Missouri Senate PAC is focused on the competitive Senate 1 race (Scott Sifton vs Randy Jotte); and the Central Missouri Senate Republican PAC is focused on the competitive Senate 19 race (Stephen Webber vs Caleb Rowden).

This new committee appears to be focused on Senate 11, which has been thought to be a safe hold for Dems.  The Democratic candidate is Rep. John Rizzo.  His cash on-hand on the 30 Day After report was $28,751, after having spent about $350K in the primary.

Perhaps Republicans think that their candidate, former Rep. Brent Lasater can run strongly enough to expand the field against the Democrats?  Or at the very least force some Dem money to defend Rizzo instead of help Webber or Sifton?

We’ll see.

Veto Session Coming

Find the MOScout Veto Session cheat sheet here.  I put this out a few weeks ago, but have made a few corrections to it since.  It’s a spreadsheet linking to the bills, the veto letters, listing vote counts and sponsor/handlers with a few notes on the far column.

Lots of small receptions tonight in Jefferson City.  See the list of events below.

Speaker Todd Richardson did a facetime type chat on the veto session.  See it here.  Richardson says that most of the house sponsors of vetoed bills are “intent” on attempting an override on their bills.

And see Minority Leader Jake Hummel’s thoughts here.  One issue where there seems to be concern… Governor Nixon’s projection that three bills: SB 641, HB 2030, and SB 1025, would cost Missouri $60 million.

And

The mighty Jason Rosenbaum write “5 things to looks for during veto session.” See it here.

Here’s the one big thing to watch for…. Will defeated lawmakers show up — or walk out?

One thing that could complicate Republican override efforts is making sure their caucus actually shows up on Wednesday.

During the Aug. 2 primary, two Republican incumbents — state Reps. Sheila Solon and Nick King — lost their re-election bids. And based from precedent, Solon and King may not be in the mood to stick with their party.

One particularly memorable example of this occurred in 2012, when a bill aimed at allowing entities to opt out of an insurance mandate for contraception was the veto session’s main event. Then-state Rep. Ward Franz didn’t end up voting on the bill, primarily because he was upset that Missouri Right to Life didn’t endorse him during an unsuccessful state Senate primary. But Franz was definitely in the Capitol that day: He shook my hand while riding in an elevator right before veto session started. 

Dueks’ Hubby Judge in English Case

According to Casenet Joseph Schocklee Duecker is the judge in Jay Mosley’s lawsuit trying to disqualify Rep. Keith English from the ballot based on residency. That’s lobbyist Jane Dueker’s husband…

Onders Heart Greitens

Sen. Bob Onder sent out a op/ed touting Republican gubernatorial candidate Eric Greitens.

Excerpt

From my position in the Missouri Senate, I cannot overstate how difficult it is to get the two-thirds vote necessary to override the Governor on a number of crucial issues.  Take jobs and labor reform.  Missouri's economy remains in the doldrums… A Governor Chris Koster will block Freedom to Work.  Similarly, antiquated, historically racist "prevailing wage" and "project labor agreement" laws result in necessary school, library, and road projects going undone, because taxpayers can't afford the inflated tribute demanded by union bosses.  A Governor Koster will do the bidding of the overlords who elected him.  A Governor Greitens will be beholden to no one, and will stand up for all Missourians.

And

Rumor has it his wife Allison Onder is hosting a women’s event for Sheena Greitens this afternoon in Jefferson City…

Nixon to UCity

Post-Dispatch reports that Governor Jay Nixon will move to University City after his term is up.  See it here.  Pull Quote:  Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has bought a house in University City with an eye on practicing law or going into business after he leaves office in January — though he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a place in a Hillary Clinton White House… “I’ve kept my (law) license. I don’t have gainful employment yet,” Nixon said in a meeting with the Post-Dispatch editorial board and others at the newspaper… However, he added: “If a president of the United States asks you to do something significant for the country, then you consider it.”

Tweet of the Day

Scott Dieckhaus ‏@sdieckhaus: So wait - @GovJayNixon will be a constituent of @MariaChappelleN?

Politico on MO Senate Race

Politico reports that Senate Democrats campaign committee is upping their bet on Jason Kander.  See it here.

Pull Quote: The campaign arm for Senate Democrats is launching television ads in North Carolina and Missouri, a sign of their bullishness about winning seats in conservative territory, according to a source familiar with the ad buy.  The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is spending $2.5 million in North Carolina to wrest a seat from GOP Sen. Richard Burr and $1.5 million to knock off Republican Sen. Roy Blunt. The cash infusion for television and possibly digital ads comes from the DSCC's independent expenditure unit….

Amendment 4 Supporters Kick-off

Yesterday was the Amendment 4 kickoff rally in Springfield.  Amendment 4 would prohibit any expansion in the state sales tax.  This is the first of the coalition rallies planned by each of the 34 local boards of Realtors in Missouri, who are approaching the ground game with the intensity of 34 local mayor's races.  See KY3 coverage here.

Auditor Action

Auditor Nicole Galloway released an audit of Cedar County.  See it here.  There were a number of problem findings, earning Cedar County a “fair” rating.

For example, the Sheriff improperly deposited funds into the Sheriff's Revolving Fund with authorized unallowable disbursements and transfers totaling $17,475 from that fund during the year ended December 31, 2015.

Neither the County Clerk nor the County Commission adequately reviews the financial activities of the County Collector.

The County Collector's annual settlement was not accurate.

The County Clerk failed to submit a certified copy of the 2016 and 2014 county budgets to the State Auditor's Office in accordance with state law.

About Cedar County

The sheriff, D. Leon Dwerlkotte is a lame duck.  He lost the Republican primary last month by 24 votes to James McCrary.

Cedar County is represented by Sen. Mike Parson, and Reps. Warren Love, Mike Kelley and Sue Entlicher.  Entlicher is retiring and Mike Stephens won the primary to succeed her.

Panel for St. Louis County Judgeship

The Twenty-First Circuit Judicial Commission announced the panel of three nominees to be submitted to Governor Jay Nixon to fill the associate circuit judge vacancy in St. Louis County created by the appointment of Judge Joseph Dueker as circuit judge.

Those nominated by the commission are: Mondonna L. Ghasedi, Amanda B. McNelley, and Nicole S. Zellweger… the commission reports the final votes received by each nominee were: Ghasedi received 5 votes, McNelley received 3 votes, and Zellweger received 4 votes.

The members of the Twenty-First Circuit Judicial Commission are: Judge Philip M. Hess, chief judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District; Matthew J. Rossiter, Rev. Anthony Witherspoon, Christy Bertelson and Jeffrey D. Sigmund.

Today’s Events

Powered by Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:

Rep. Caleb Rowden Golf – Eagle Knoll Golf Course – Hartsburg – 8AM.

Sen. Bob Onder Reception – The Grand Café – JC – 4PM.

Rep. Courtney Curtis Reception – J Pfenny’s – JC – 4PM.

SLAM Reception – 318 Washington – JC – 4PM.

HRCC Reception – 305 Jefferson St. – JC – 4:30PM

Rep. Holly Rehder, Glen Kolkmeyer, Chuck Basye Reception – Heartland Credit Union – JC – 4:30PM.

Sen. Eric Schmitt Reception – J Pfenny’s Deck – JC – 4:30PM.

Rep. Keith English Reception – J Pfenny’s, 217 E. High – JC – 5PM.

St. Louis city mayoral candidate Lyda Krewson – The Cheshire – St. Louis – 5:30PM.

Reps. Mike Kelley & Charlie Davis Reception – Rooftop Deck 229 Madison St. – JC – 5:30PM.

Reps. Gina Mitten, Randy Dunn, Rory Rowland & Joe Runions Reception – Bones – JC – 6PM.

Reps. Kathy Conway, Marsha Haefner, Diane Franklin, Sheila Solon Reception –107 E. High St., Ste. 201 Rooftop – 6PM.

Rep. John McCaherty Reception – J Pfenny’s Sports Grill – JC – 6PM.

Reps. Elaine Gannon, Elijah Haahr, Jim Hansen, Jim Neely & Donna Pfautsch Reception – 223 Madison – JC – 6PM.

Rep. Joe Don McGaugh, House 90 candidate Mark Milton, House 153 candidate Steve Helms, Rep. Kevin Corlew Reception – 115 E. High – JC – 6PM.

House 80 candidate Peter Merideth Reception – Bones – JC – 6PM.

Reps. Rebecca Roeber, Tila Hubrecht, Patrica Pike, Don Rone Reception – Grand Café – JC – 7PM.

Sen. Scott Sifton Reception – Madison’s Café – JC – 7PM.

Five Guys plus One Girl Reception – Heartland Credit Union, 223 Madison – 7:30PM.

Sens. Ron Richard, Mike Kehoe & MSCC Desserts by the Pool – Kehoe’s home – 8:45-9:30 p.m.

Changes in Lobbyist Registrations

Aaron Baker and Kristian Starner added Missouri Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association.

David Durbin added Voyce.

Quintin Hull added Midwest Behavioral Healthcare Management Inc., and Fresenius Medical Care.

Lee Ann Barrett deleted Missouri Optometric Association.

$5K+ Contributions

MO Petroleum Marketers + Convenience Store Assoc PAC - $125,000 from Cheyenne International LLC.

Democratic Governors Association-Missouri - $9,000 from Democratic Governors Association.

Parson for Missouri - $20,000 from Howard Wood.

Koster for Missouri - $15,000 from Chesterfield Grove Market LLC.

Koster for Missouri - $10,000 from DiPasquale Moore LLC.

UAW Region 5 Midwest States Political Action Committee MO - $50,000 from UAW Region 5 Midwest States PAC (KS).

Koster for Missouri - $20,000 from Mallinckrodt LLC.

Koster for Missouri - $10,620 from Democratic Governors Association.

Missouri Democratic State Committee - $50,000 from Koster for Missouri.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Congresswoman Ann Wagner, and Sam Lee.