Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Teitelman Passes
News yesterday that Supreme Court Justice Richard Teitelman died brought waves of tributes. See the Post Dispatch article here.
Governor Jay Nixon ordered flags at half staff. “Missourians have lost a judicial leader who dedicated his life over more than four decades in service to the people of this state and to our legal system…. Judge Teitelman will be remembered not only for his breaking new ground as the first legally blind judge to sit on Missouri's highest court, but also for his legal skills and his passion for justice. He truly listened to, and never forgot, those who needed justice the most….”
Governor-elect Eric Greitens: “He dedicated his life to the service of Missourians and was deeply committed to justice. Judge Teitelman was a trailblazer, serving as both the first Jewish and first legally blind jurist on our state's highest court. His life serves as a reminder to every Missourian that nothing should stand in the way of passionate public service. He was a man known for his kindness and warm spirit, and he will be greatly missed…”
And
Eddie Roth on Twitter: @eddieroth Rick Teitelman: Raise your hand if you ever rec'd 8 min voicemail from Rick (time stamped 2 am) with brilliant strategy for helping people.
Rick Teitelman: Maybe now more than ever we need to emulate his implacable pursuit of justice and undying loyalty to the poor & powerless.
The Next Justice
Some might ask… can Jay Nixon slip in the appointment before he leaves office on noon, January 9th? Maybe he could install one of his loyalites? Ted Ardini, Karen Mitchell or Jeff Harris?
For Governor Nixon to make the appointment instead of Governor Greitens, the commission would have to move with “lightning speed.”
See the commission members here. It’s said that these are nearly all folks who would endeavor to fulfill the governor’s wishes.
Regardless of whether the commission moves fast enough for Nixon to make the high court appointment, it could at the least give Greitens a panel of folks that he’s not thrilled about.
One veteran says this “happened to [Matt] Blunt with Patricia Beckenridge.”
If the governor refuses to select one from the commission’s panel, the commission itself gets the pick, which is why Blunt reluctantly took Fischer.
The politics of this are interesting. If Nixon/commission do try to ram something through it clearly gives ammunition and emboldens the folks who want to get rid of the Missouri Plan. If they just do what they did to Blunt, folks may grumble, but won’t look as outrageous.
Rumorville: Vescovo to Cary RTW in House And….
Word is circulating that the GOP will be handing the ball to Rep. Rob Vescovo… it’s said that he’s been tapped to carry the right to work legislation in House.
Vescovo is part of the recent Republican takeover of Jefferson County and ran successfully on issue two years ago, and won re-election earlier this month despite his anti-labor votes.
Apparently that fearlessness will get its reward in the upcoming session as he’ll soak in the spotlight.
But… the rumor goes farther. It’s said that Vescovo is seen as a future senator… According to the talk, look for him to primary – with the backing of David Humphreys of course – incumbent Republican Sen. Paul Wieland in 2018.
We’ll see….
Cleaver Undecided on Pelosi
Politico reports on Nancy Pelosi’s re-election as Minority Leader, and quotes Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. See it here.
Pull Quote: “Change is necessary. And the only way we’re going to survive is to get change; they’re connected,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri. “We’ve never changed anything since I’ve been here.”
Pelosi took over as Democratic leader in 2003, while Cleaver was elected in 2004. Cleaver hasn’t declared how he will vote. He said he’s “not opposed” to Pelosi, but wants to see some additional changes to how the leadership team operates.
“A lot of what I do in terms of voting is going to be depending on the change,” Cleaver said.
Sweeney in Middle of Shannon Cards Spat
St. Louis Business Journal reports at Cardinals broadcaster Mike Shannon and the Cards organization are “in a dispute” regarding some deed restrictions of a building Shannon is trying to unload. See it here. And lobbyist Dave Sweeney is in the middle of it, representing Shannon.
Pull Quote: The city of St. Louis, St. Louis County, state of Missouri, and the developers of Ballpark Village — the Cardinals and Baltimore-based Cordish Cos. — must provide their consent to remove the restriction. The Cardinals and Cordish have refused to do so without seeing what would go on the property, worrying about proximity to Ballpark Village, the people said, adding that Shannon wants it removed without conditions… An attorney for Shannon, David Sweeney of Lathrop & Gage LLP, said, “We’re talking with Cordish and the Cardinals and we are hoping they will waive the height restriction so Mike Shannon can sell the property at a fair market value.”
Four More Marijuana IPs
Sheila Dundon, wife of marijuana reform advocate Dan Viets, filed four initiative petitions. See them here. There have now been 54 initiative petitions filed for the 2018 ballot. Many of them are near duplicates with slight variations. Still there’s no shortage of folks out of the gate – especially dealing with pot.
New Tax Credits
$72,968 in Neighborhood Assistance tax credits to The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri Inc in Senate 19 / House 45.
$44,327 in Neighborhood Assistance tax credits to Livingston County Community Development COR. in Senate 7 / House 21.
$38,500 in Neighborhood Assistance tax credits to Agape Ministry of Warren County in Senate 10 / House 42.
$32,958 in Neighborhood Assistance tax credits to Great River Council Boy Scouts of America in Senate 16 / House 124.
$26,098 in Neighborhood Assistance tax credits to Child Advocacy Center Inc in Senate 30 / House 132.
$25,336 in Neighborhood Assistance tax credits to Saint Louis Fashion Fund in Senate 5 / House 78.
$13,200 in Neighborhood Assistance tax credits to Boys & Girls Club of Springfield in Senate 30 / House 135.
$13,000 in Neighborhood Assistance tax credits to Youth in Need in Senate 23 / House 65.
$10,500 in Neighborhood Assistance tax credits to Fair Grove Senior Center in Senate 20 / House 137
$7,490 in Neighborhood Assistance tax credits to Boys & Girls Club of the Ozarks in Senate 29 / House 156.
$5,000 in Neighborhood Assistance tax credits to St. Louis Crisis Nursery in Senate 24 / House 71.
$3,375 in Neighborhood Assistance tax credits to United Services for Children in Senate 23 / House 105.
$2,800 in Neighborhood Assistance tax credits to Healing Horses Therapeutic Riding Program in Senate 6 / House 61.
Lobbyists Registrations
Rodney Boyd, Brian Grace and Katherine Casas deleted Hickman Mills School District.
Tricia Workman and Michael Gibbons deleted Missouri Creditors Bar Inc.
Erik Henry-Smetana, Eric Rosenhauer, and Jill Pollock added Curators of the University of Missouri.
Lance Kinzer added 1st Amendment Partnership.
Michael S Kelley added Kiel Center Partners LP.
Paul Kincaid added Jobs for America’s Graduates - Missouri.
$5K+ Contributions
Southern Glazer’s Missouri PAC - $75,000 from Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.
Greitens for Missouri - $25,000 from J H Berra Holding Co., Inc.
Greitens for Missouri - $25,000 from McBride & Son Management Co.
Vote Yes on 3 for Kids - $20,355 from RAI Services Company.
Southern Glazer’s Missouri PAC - $10,000 from Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.
Southern Glazer’s Missouri PAC - $10,000 from Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits.
United Food & Commercial Workers Local #655 Elect Political Action Fund - $6,358 from UFCW Local 655.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Alison Gee, Lara Granich, and Josh Schisler.