Wednesday, September 28, 2016

KCPL: Changes Needed

While Ameren Missouri is talking about investing $1 billion over the next five years to modernize the grid if they get a new framework with “regulatory lag,” KCPL may be cutting some of their projects if changes are not made.

From the filing: “Absent comprehensive changes to ratemaking practices used in Missouri that will provide a reasonable opportunity to achieve the Commission-authorized return on equity sustainably over an extended period of time, KCPL and GMO cannot continue operating under the proactive capital expenditure philosophy.”

See the filing here.  It lists the projects that might be delayed without a change in policy.

Rex Speaks

Rex Sinquefield did an interview where he reiterates his support for the Kansas tax cuts where one type of corporation gets a tax cut but not another (i.e. winners and losers).  This has led to an increase in “new” business filings as folks restructure their businesses to take advantage of the tax cut while hurting the state’s revenues.  And he says the current Kansas budget is going to end this year with a surplus.  That’s true in the sense that the state’s bank account won’t be at $0.  But it’s after budget cuts and it will be below the statutorily required amount.  So he’s either a little out of his area of expertise of a little misleading.  You make the call.

He also teases the idea of of getting rid of the state income tax saying that you’d only have to increase the sales tax by 2.7% to cover eliminating corporate and personal income tax in Missouri.

And

Mayoral candidate Gregory FX Daly won’t be looking for Rex Sinquefield money. He tweets yesterday… ‏@gregoryfxdaly: I have stood firmly against the @rexsinqefield agenda since 2004.

New Ads

Chris Koster – Giveaways – promises to end special giveaways and tax loopholes.

Eric Greitens – Crooked Career Politician – calls Koster a crooked career politician.  Post-Dispatch reports that the veteran who narratives the commercial thinks Obama is a “foreigner,” and doesn’t like Muslims.  In short, he’s a Trump guy.

Jason Kander – Family Business – continues on his theme of Roy Blunt as an insider.

Yes on 3 – 23 Years – starts their campaign to pass the cigarette tax.

Big Money

Sarah Atkins, sister to David Humphreys, added $1 million to the Humphreys’ “Accountability” Committee.  If I’m a betting Democrat running for governor, I’d assume that committee will be running some hard-hitting attack ads at me.

We’ll see….

And

The realtors sent $1 million to their campaign committee to pass Amendment 4.

RFT: Rallo Flipeped Post

According to the Riverfront Times’ account it sounds like Linda Rallo was the catalyst behind the Post-Dispatch’s latest reversal on the RYH4K cigarette tax proposal.  See it here.

Pull Quote: However, Robberson says it wasn't a lobbying campaign that changed its mind so much as a willingness to hear out everyone. After the editorial announced its opposition in April, Raise Your Hand for Kids' spokeswoman had argued vociferously to him that they got it wrong, he says. He'd offered her op-ed space. From there, board members began to second-guess their decision.

Galloway Gives Wayne County a Poor Rating

Ouchy-wa-wa.  Another tough audit from Nicole Galloway.  This time Wayne County gets the lowest rating: poor.  See the audit here. Among the more troublesome findings: The county's General Revenue Fund is in poor financial condition. The cash balance is low and does not take into account significant liabilities of the fund, including $471,846 due to the Special Road and Bridge Fund… The Prosecuting Attorney frequently reduces charges filed on traffic tickets by requiring defendants to make a donation, ranging from $50 to $300, to the county's Special Law Enforcement Fund as a condition of reducing the charges. Donations totaled approximately $44,500 for the year ended December 31, 2015.  Written plea agreements signed by the defendant and the Judge do not disclose the amount the defendant was required to donate to the   Special Law Enforcement   Fund…  The Sheriff maintains a bank account outside the county treasury to account for proceeds from the U.S. Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Program without statutory authority….

Wayne County is represented by Sen. Wayne Wallingford, and Reps. Steve Cookson and Paul Fitzwater.

And

By comparison McDonald County’s “fair” rating ain’t so bad.  See that audit here.

McDonald County is represented by Sen. David Sater and Rep. Bill Lant.

Bits

Greitens and Koster are playing Trump with their tax returns.  See the Post Dispatch article on it here.

Sen. Maria Chappelle Nadal tweets that ATT & Charter should consider for the moving their Bridgeton offices for the health of their employees. See it here.

With a week left in the month, state revenues look solid with individual income tax receipts up over 6%.  We’ll see if the final week keeps these gains intact.

St. Charles County joining the growing number of municipalities that are establishing prescription drug monitoring programs.  See it here.  “The County Council on Monday night voted unanimously to join a new regional prescription drug monitoring program aimed at reducing the abuse of OxyContin and other painkillers. The program, already set to include St. Louis County and St. Louis, will get around the Legislature’s failure to set up a statewide monitoring network. Missouri is the only state in the country without a statewide program.”

Jason Hancock reports that the trial Gracia Backer’s lawsuit has been delayed. And “an open-records request by The Star has turned up two additional discrimination lawsuits against executive branch agencies — including one that names Nixon specifically as a defendant.” See it here.

In the registrations, Dentons lobbyists registered to represent the St. Louis Blues.  Word is that the hockey team may need an update to Scottrade Center, an antiquated facility that’s costing Missouri economic development opportunities.

Lyda Krewson’s campaign headquarters (see Events below) is in the same building where Mayor Francis Slay had his campaign office.

eMailbag: Questionable Poll

I just did a poll to test support for property tax increase in the Ritenour School District to pay down debt. They are looking at a 30-cent increase which would equate to about $57 per year for a $100K home.  Cellphone poll… I don’t live anywhere close to Ritenour…

Today’s Events

Powered by Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:

Lyda Krewson campaign office opening - 4236 Lindell Blvd. – 6PM.

Changes in Lobbyist Registrations

Brian Grace, Rodney Boyd, and Katherine Casas added St. Louis Blues.

David Jackson added Kansas City Missouri.

$5K+ Contributions

Missouri Democratic State Committee - $90,000 from Koster for Missouri.

Committee for Accountable Government in Missouri - $1,000,000 from Sarah Humphreys Atkins.

Citizens for Steve Stenger - $25,000 from Rosalita’s Cantina Management Group LLC.

Parson for Missouri - $5,201 from Kansas City Southern.

MO Petroleum Marketers + Convenience Store Assoc PAC - $130,000 from Cheyenne International LLC.

Committee Elect Gary Myers Judge - $10,000 from Gary Myers.

Missourians for Fair Taxation - $1,000,000 from Missouri Association of REALTORS.

Democratic Attorneys General Association Missouri - $25,000 from Health Care Service Corporation.

MO Republican Party - $25,302 from Committee to Elect Randy Jotte.

Mark Milton for State Rep - $40,000 from David Humphreys.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, former Reps. Michael Brown and Nathan Cooper, and radio host Dana Loesch.