Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Daly for Mayor

Yesterday St. Louis Collector of Revenue Gregg Daly formed a committee to run for St. Louis Mayor.  Mayor Francis Slay announced he wouldn’t be seeking a fifth term.  Dale has long been considered a strong possibility to run, and this is one more step in that direction.

Daly brings several strengths to the race.  He’s well-known in the vote-rich southwest corner of the city; he’s practiced politics with a personal touch tirelessly for decades; he’s shown administrative competence, running one of the city’s county’s offices without scandal; and the $629,318 he has sitting in his Friends of Gregg Daly campaign committee account.

See Daly’s website here.

Follow-Up on Nixon Legacy

After yesterday’s bit about Governor Jay Nixon’s legacy, a few readers offered other assessments.  One mentioned his strong and assuring response to the Joplin tornado, calling it a high-water mark for Nixon’s time.

Another possible contender for Nixon’s legacy is the special session he called to “save” the Ford Claycomo plant.

In the summer of 2010 Nixon worked with the legislature in a way he rarely did and crafted a package of incentives to keep the thousands of good-paying auto jobs in the state.  The plant has thrived since.

And there’s a flip side to the issue as well.  To pay for the $150 million of incentives, Nixon and the legislature changed state employee pensions.  It required employees contributions and it doubled the length of time to “vest,” bringing it to ten years.

Those changes have made it harder for state agencies to recruit talented employees.  And a recent report recommended changes to put Missouri on a more competitive footing with their peer states.

eMailbag on Nixon Non-Engagement

Lobbyist: I guess the strategy is a good one if his goal is to not get boxed in by the legislature, but that is not the goal of a governor, it is to lead. Self-preservation wins again despite the campaign rhetoric of compromise.

Former legislator: Your philosophical leanings were on full display on Tuesday when you dared to even suggest that Nixon's complete ineffectiveness (you termed it "non-engagement"...how

quaint and cute a term) could possibly translate into some sort of positive legacy… being overridden a record (that will never be broken) NINETY-SIX TIMES??!!  You really need to take off the liberal lenses.

Bechthold Makes the Ballot

Jason Hancock reports that “The Democratic nominee for a Missouri Senate seat in Clay County will appear on the November ballot, the Western District Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday. Republican Sen. Ryan Silvey of Kansas City filed a lawsuit alleging his challenger, Democrat J. Ranen Bechthold of Gladstone, was registered to vote in Jackson County in November 2015 and therefore he lived outside the 17th Senate District where he is currently running.”

Silvey Statement

"I am disappointed that today the Courts have ruled that you may be registered to vote in one district while simultaneously being a resident of another district. While I don't agree with their decision, I accept it and look forward to a spirited campaign to continue representing the people of Clay county in the Senate."

RYH4K Cig Tax Makes Ballot

The Supreme Court affirmed the lower courts’ decision, sending the Raise Your Hand For Kids cigarette tax increase to the ballot in November.  See the decision here.

And

Opponents unveiled a list of 110 legislators opposing the tobacco tax increase.

Medical Marijuana Doesn’t Make Ballot

And the Post-Dispatch reports that medical marijuana initiative petition won’t make the ballot this time.  See it here.

Tying Kander to Clinton Part II

Here’s another Roy Blunt ad, again tying Jason Kinder to Hillary Clinton.  While there might be some pressure to rebut Kander’s blindfold gun ad because everyone says how good it is, I’m not sure this is such a good idea.  Might showing these images again just reinforce Kander’s ad?

AFSCME Ad for Kander

VoteVets and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), are partnering together to expand a TV ad to the St. Louis and Kansas City markets. The ad, which is currently airing in the Springfield market, underscores Jason Kander’s volunteer military service in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks and slams Sen. Blunt’s military draft deferments and his attempt to smear Kander’s political record. An Iraq War Veteran narrates the ad. The $782,004 ad buy will air in both the St. Louis and Kansas City markets from September 21st through October 4th.   See the ad here.

Koster on Greitens Out of State $$$

In a fundraising email blast the Koster Team says “Our opponent just reached a historic milestone.  Eric Greitens has now received more than $10 million from out-of-state contributors — the most out-of-state campaign cash ever spent on a single race in Missouri.  Eric Greitens isn’t ashamed his base of support is outside Missouri. ‘Investments’ (his words, not mine) from DC special interests and out-of-state billionaires have now made up over 70% of his entire campaign war chest. It's clear Eric Greitens isn’t answering to Missourians now, and he won’t if he becomes governor….”

Gubby Moves

Tiffany Jane Bayer has left the governor’s office where she was chief of staff to the 1st Lady.  She’s now at Health and Senior Services.

And Alice Wilson shows up on the latest payroll of the governor’s office as “miscellaneous professional.”

PD Day

It’s meeting day for the Public Defenders Commission.  And Governing Magazine has an article out (see it here): “Few functions of government are as consistently underfunded as providing legal defense for the poor. Although the problem remains serious, there are indications that, at least in some places, it's starting to get addressed. Missouri's top public defender drew attention to this issue last month when he attempted to assign a case to Gov. Jay Nixon to lighten his overwhelming workload due to the state's failure to fully fund his office….”

Schmitt Contra Boeing

Rudi Keller reports that Sen. Eric Schmitt’s anti-terrorism platform would prohibit Boeing from receiving tax credits if it sells plans to Iran.  See it here.

Pull Quote: Boeing employs about 15,000 people in the St. Louis area, making fighter jets and aircraft parts. In 2013, Missouri lawmakers passed an incentive package worth $1.7 billion to lure production of a new commercial airliner to the state. In January 2015, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Boeing had a deal with the state for $229 million in tax credits over 18 years to maintain and grow employment in the state.  The sale to Iran is pending and has been heavily criticized in Congress.  “I don’t think any tax dollars should go to any company that does business with Iran,” Schmitt said….

Greitens Gets Corrections Workers?

I didn’t think Eric Greitens was fishing for endorsements.  Maybe this is one of those fish that jumped into the boat?

The press release: Today, the Missouri Corrections Officers Association offered their full endorsement of Eric Greitens, the Republican candidate for governor of Missouri. The Missouri Corrections Officers Association represents thousands of officers around the state… Missouri Corrections Officers Association Executive Director Gary Gross said, "Missouri needs to go in a new direction with new leadership. Eric is an outsider who will stand up for all Missourians."

Tweet of the Day

Jennifer M. Joyce ‏@JenniferJoyceCA: Weird question:  I'm looking for a place to donate an extensive travel-themed magnet collection. Any thoughts? #downsizing

Auditor Action

State Auditor Nicole Galloway released audits of the DeSoto License Office (“Good” See it here) and the Grandview License Office (“Fair” See it here).

Bits

The New London License Office is open for bid now.  The contract will run through January 2022.

National Journal ranks Missouri’s gubernatorial race #1… “So far Koster is winning establishment support from both sides of the aisle and enjoys a head start in cash on hand, but Greitens is banking on Trump’s coattails to take him over the top in the trending red state.” See it here.

Beau Willimon, creator of House of Cards, weighs in on the new gun law.  See it here.

eMailbag on Mizzou Haters

It's unfortunate that "the hits keep coming" is from someone who doesn't understand the benefits of science. There's no way a university can combat that.  The scientific research conducted in that study was done to consider potential alcohol interventions based on these personality types… Today the university announced a $3 million grant award to study Hep B. Is that also foolish because it too is based in science?

Help Wanted

Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services seeks Staff Attorney. “Will handle legal cases from initial client meeting through drafting of the complaint, discovery, and individual and systemic litigation in state and federal courts, and administrative tribunals… Practice is focused on disability rights. No billable hours. Salary range is $35,000 to $50,000, depending on experience…”  See it here.

New Committees

Merlin Atkins started a campaign committee to run for Commissioner North Nodaway County as a Democrat.  See it here.

Committee Changes

NEA’s Sandy Smith became treasurer for Taxpayers in Support of Public Education (see it here), and Educators Support Public Education (see it here).

Sen. Will Kraus changed his committee to say he’s running for statewide office in 2020.  See it here.

Debbie Dilks became treasurer of the Cooper County Democratic Committee.  See it here.

Former Rep. Ron Hicks changed his committee to say he’s running for statewide office in 2018.  See it here.

Jill Blunt became the treasurer for Missourians For Responsible And Better Government. See it here.  The former treasurer was Andy Blunt.

Michael Mange is the treasurer of a new a PAC, Truth in Campaigns.  See it here.

Stephanie Davis started a committee to run as an Independent in House 157 (Mike Moon).  See it here.

Today’s Events

Powered by Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:

Reps. Sonya Anderson & Jered Taylor Reception – Vandivort Hotel – Springfield. – 4PM

Rep-elect Richard Brown Debt Reduction Party – Westport Flea Market, Kansas City – 5PM.

Changes in Lobbyist Registrations

Dana Koehn deleted Shire.

$5K+ Contributions

MO Leadership Committee - $7,000 from Engler for Missouri.

Vote for MYMCPL - $10,000 from CHIPP Political Account.

Koster for Missouri - $10,000 from Karen Holland.

Koster for Missouri - $10,000 from Robert Blitz.

DR PAC - $12,000 from Cape Radiology Group.

Russ Carnahan for Missouri - $10,000 from Clayco.

Russ Carnahan for Missouri - $10,000 from David & Thelma Steward.

Baker for Missouri - $5,100 from UAW Region 5 Midwest States Political Action Committee.

Greitens for Missouri - $5,001 from Sara Hargis.

Greitens for Missouri - $13,000 from Michael Blatz.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to former Rep. Roman LeBlanc.