Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Fitzpatrick Gets Budget, Sets Goals
Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick was named Budget Chair. See it here.
Pull Quote: The Shell Knob Republican has two personal goals. One is to fully fund the foundation formula for Missouri’s K-12 schools. Fitzpatrick said after the passage this year of a bill that reinstates a cap in growth of the amount needed to fully fund that formula, that goal is attainable…. His other personal goal for his time as budget chair is to pay off the state’s general obligation debt - debt on things like bonds that pay for capital improvements and work taking place now on the State Capitol.
Monmouth University Poll
Only 400 people surveyed gives it a pretty high +/- 5% margin of error. It gives Roy Blunt a 5-point lead over Jason Kander, and Chris Koster an 11-point lead on Eric Greitens. And it shows Donald Trump only up 1 point. See it here.
And
The Washington Post says that Missouri is now a swing state. See it here.
Another Schmitt Line of Attack?
Yesterday I wrote about the expectation that Sen. Eric Schmitt is attack former Rep. Judy Baker on her efforts to implement Obamacare.
But there’s another line of attack we may see… terrorism.
The Missouri Republican Party had previously dinged Baker for having a fundraiser “at the home of anti-defense radical Joan Suarez.” See it here.
Pull Quote: While the US faces growing threats of international terrorism and hostile nations such as Russia and Iran, liberal Democrat candidate for Treasurer Judy Baker is raising money today at the home…
Meanwhile Schmitt has sponsored “defund Iran” legislation. We’ll see…
Independents On the Ballot
The secretary of state’s office certified Independent candidates for November’s election. There are:
Governor: Lester Benton (Les) Turilli, Jr.
Senate 31: Tim Wells
House 45: William Lee
House 48: Debra (Debbie) Dilks
House 68: Keith English
House 86: Joy Elliott
House District 111: Jon Schuessler
House 127: George R. Parsons
House 128: Janet Sheffield
House 129: Charles Matranga
House 154: Terry Hampton
House 157: Stephanie Davis
Of course Rep. Keith English running for re-election will be interesting, but he’s an underdog against Democrat Jay Mosley in that race.
And – now we’ll start including Les Turilli in the governor’s race polling. One would expect that his impact would be limited to a minor siphoning of conservative or religious voters away from voting Republican, that is Eric Greitens.
Dixon Calls for Special Session
Jason Hancock reports Sen. Bob Dixon wants the governor to call a special session to deal with the funding controversy in the public defenders’ office. The head of the public defenders, Michael Barrett, has been publicly pleading and cajoling Governor Jay Nixon to restore money he’s withheld. See Hancock’s article here.
Pull Quote: The struggles of Missouri’s public defenders office gained national attention earlier this month when the state’s lead public defender ordered Nixon to represent a poor person in Cole County. The move came after Nixon reduced a $4.5 million increase earmarked for the system by state legislators to $1 million… Dixon also hopes to fix a typo in the state’s drunk driving laws that prosecutors say could make it impossible to prosecute thousands of DWI cases… “We haven’t failed until we’ve given up,” Dixon said. “Let’s roll up our sleeves and get back to work.”
Blunt’s Promotion Ad
Senator Roy Blunt’s campaign released a new ad attacking Jason Kander. It says he’s done a bad job as secretary of state so voters shouldn’t promote him to the US Senate. See it here.
Politico: Koster Tacking Right
Politico has an article about Democrats who are “tacking right.” See it here.
Pull Quote: In Missouri, Democrats’ nominee to replace term-limited Gov. Jay Nixon is Attorney General Chris Koster, a Republican-turned-Democrat eager to highlight his prosecutorial experience, an “A” rating in the past from the National Rifle Association, and a historic endorsement from the Missouri Farm Bureau. While Republicans plan to attack Koster by relentlessly linking him to Clinton, Koster’s own TV spots paint him as a defender of Missouri against federal overreach by his own party’s president. Koster listed his accomplishments in his first ad: “Protecting victims of violence and corruption; putting crooked corporate bigshots in prison; even suing Barack Obama’s EPA to keep federal regulators off our land.”
KC Road Lawyers
Former Rod Jetton chief of staff, Chris Benjamin, puts up a web ad for his law firm… KC Road Lawyers. See it here.
Colona Repping Hubbard
The court case surrounding Rep. Penny Hubbard’s re-election victory proceeds involving the high amount of absentee votes. This CBS article quotes Rep. Mike Colona who is apparently Hubbard’s lawyer. See it here.
Dempsey Back in the Building?
Word is that former Sen. Tom Dempsey will be registering to lobby in Missouri. Dempsey waited until after the one-year anniversary of his resignation to make the move.
Dempsey will represent Renovate America.
The Missouri Clean Energy District (MCED), a statewide political subdivision comprised of community members, has partnered with Renovate America to provide their brand of PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy), called HERO (Home Energy Renovation Opportunity). The HERO program offers a network of trusted local contractors and industry leading consumer protections that help more property owners confidently invest in energy efficient renovations. So, instead of choosing the cheapest option, homeowner can make a decision on what is the best value.
STL Votes!
Stl Votes!, a political action committee, was formed. The treasurer is Martin Casas, husband of lobbyist Kate Casas. And the deputy treasurer is Pelopidas’ Larry Stendebach.
It would appear to be a companion committee to Make Saint Louis Safe.
Follow-Up on Butler Sues to DQ Vescovo
From a Vescovo support: Lawyers feel very strongly it’s frivolous. He’s running against a trial attorney. Of course he’s going to sue…
RYH4K Lawsuits Continue
Raise Your Hand for Kids cigarette tax increase won a victory yesterday. The indomitable Jane Dueker crowed on Twitter: Court rejected every single one of cheap cigs attacks on Amendment 3 @RYH4K & Secretary of State @JasonKander. #KidsWonToday
But everyone knew this was just one step on the appeals ladder. If they’d lost they’d have appealed, but they won, so the other side appeals. To be continued…
eMailbag: On Big Tobacco CA vs MO
15 cents a pack phased in vs $2 a pack is the difference, one keeps smokers smoking, the other gets them to quit. Keeping smokers smoking is what Big Tobacco spends multi millions for.
Today’s Events
From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Rep. Diane Franklin Golf – Old Kinderhook – Camdenton – 12:30PM.
House 92 candidate Doug Beck – Campaign Kick-off – Hessler’s Pub & Grill, St. Louis – 5:30PM.
$5K+ Contributions
Jasper County Repulbican Committee Inc - $10,000 from Committee to Elect Ron Richard.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $6,050 from The Good Folks for Cookson Campaign.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $20,000 from AT&T Missouri.
Committee to Elect Randy Jotte - $25,000 from Committee to Elect Ron Richard.
Citizens to Elect Bruce DeGroot- $10,000 from Bruce DeGroot.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to former Governor Bob Holden, and International Institute’s Anna Crosslin.