Friday, December 18, 2015
Clean Energy IP Filed
Brightery’s Andy Zellers filed eight possible intitative petitions with the secrary of state’s office relating to clean energy.
They are: Petitions 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, and 180.
Zellers is the treasurer of a campaign committee to advance this effort. See my previous post it here.
Can/Should Greitens Inoculate Himself from Attacks?
This analysis from a lobbyist hit my in-box yesterday: “My assessment on Eric Greitens’ candidacy is that his conservative credentials will be too damaged by August for him to be viable. That said, his fundraising is really impressive and force me to recalculate my assessment.”
And it brings the question whether the Greitens camp shouldn’t be deploying their cash now, running radio and television to define their candidate first. The way things are going it seems that the Missouri rank-and-file Republicans will all be hearing about Greitens’ Dem-loving days either through the shady Super-PAC or from their co-patriots before the winter is over.
If they come to believe that Greitens isn’t a true conservative, it’s hard to undo that regardless of how much you pummel them on TV. It’ll just seem fake.
To paraphrase Harry Truman’s observation: The people don't want a phony Republican… they will choose the genuine article, every time.
Kinder: Stadium Rip-off Hiding in Plain Sight
The press release: Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder today called on Governor Jay Nixon to provide greater detail on his plans to commit Missourians to funding a large portion of a proposed $1 billion new stadium in St. Louis… Kinder said the Nixon administration's lack of transparency has been decried by both Democratic and Republican members of the Legislature. At a legislative committee hearing on Nov. 30, his commissioner of administration had few answers to questions from lawmakers…
"Missourians have had enough of his stonewalling," he said. "This rip-off of Missouri taxpayers is hiding in plain sight. The Governor owes the people of Missouri answers before this deal is forced on them.”
Hellhole Report
Sens. Kurt Schaefer and Eric Schmitt get a mention in the new American Tort Reform Association annual “Judicial Hellholes report.” See it here.
They ding the senators for filibustering the expert witness legislation.
The group is anti-Missouri Non-Partisan Plan and they rank Missouri #4 on their Hellhole chart.
New TV Ad Buys
The United Commercial Food and Workers are buying ads. See the paperwork here. It appears this will be one of their Change Walmart ads. See one here.
Bits
Pro Tem Ron Richard says he’ll enforce Senate subpoenas to Planned Parenthood. See it here.
In the Help Wanted (below) Dems are looking for a director of communication. I’m told that Marc Powers is still with the Minority Caucus, in a slightly different role, and that this is a staff addition.
Winton Apple has a Facebook page declaring that he’s a candidate for lieutenant governor. See it here. Apple, a Democrat, ran unsuccessfully for House in 2014, losing in the primary to John Sutton (House 29), by 21 votes.
And
PSC Commissioner Scott Rupp tweets out a review of the new Star Wars movie… @Scott_Rupp: “The Force is strong with JJ Abrams. Excellent movie. I got goosebumps when it started &when it finished….”
Help Wanted
Democratic Caucus seeks Director of Communications. “This is a full-time, salaried position in Jefferson City that will perform legislative and public contact work for the Democratic state representatives. Applicants should have a thorough working knowledge of and experience with the legislative and political process and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university. Applicants should also have strong written and verbal communication skills with an ability to ascertain and meet deadlines under pressure…. Salary commensurate with applicable experience and education…” See the ad here.
Today’s Events
From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Rep. Shawn Rhoads Pheasant Hunt – Ozark Wings – Caulfield
Saturday: Rep. Michael Butler Football Watch Party – The Lux Theatre – St. Louis – 11AM.
Lobbyists Registrations
Douglas S Stone added Kansas City Downtown Streetcar, Delta Quad Holding LLC, and Cs Chestnut Ridge Associates LLC.
Mike Grote added North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission.
$5K+ Contributions
Committee to Elect Lauren Arthur - $5,001 from CHIPP Political Account.
Eastern MO Laborers Education & Benevolent Fund - $198,579 from L.I.U.N.A Local 110 PAC Fund.
Greitens for Missouri - $5,001 from Sally Coleman.
Committee to Elect Ron Richard - $20,000 from Grow Missouri.
Committee to Elect Ron Richard - $10,000 from Supporters of Health Research & Treatment.
Campaign for Clean Water STL - $15,000 from Regional Business Council.
Greitens for Missouri - $5,001 from Steven Hantler.
Silvey for Missouri - $15,000 from White Dog Properties LLC.
Silvey for Missouri - $10,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Silvey for Missouri - $15,000 from White Dog Asset Holding LLC.
Koster for Missouri – $25,000 from Missouri Drive Fund.
Friends of Kevin Elmer - $20,000 from Friends of Eric Burlison.
Progress KC PAC - $50,000 from The Civic Council of Greater Kansas City.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to former Reps. Kevin Elmer and Dennis Fowler.
Saturday: Josh Haynes (the big 4-0), Greg Porter, and Megan Browning.
Sunday: Rep. Bart Korman (40), Dan Bryar, Melissa Furey, Bob Jacobi, Ellen Sherberg, and House candidate Ben Murray.