Monday, November 30, 2015
Awakening from a longggg weekend….
Senate 11: Start Your Engines
The race to replace Sen. Paul LeVota is starting. Over the weekend, Rep. John Rizzo announced to the KC Star that he was in. It was oddly timed – on Thanksgiving no less – perhaps because he heard that another candidate was prepping her entry.
It’s expected that Jessica Podhola will announce this week, as early in fact as today.
Podhola is Director of Governmental Affairs for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.
Ideology will be a wash in this primary as both are liberals. Rizzo will start with a more established money network as a well-known commodity among the Jeff City lobbying corps. But the conventional wisdom holds that women have an edge in Democratic primaries.
In other words, it should be a good primary.
Senate 23: Humphreys for Eigel
In the large contributions today, you notice that uber-donor David Humphreys donated to Republican candidate Bill Eigel. He’s running for Tom Dempsey’s old seat in Senate 23 against Rep. Anne Zerr who’s taken hits from conservatives for her willingness to buck them and oppose right to work legislation.
Humphreys is a long-time supporter of right to work.
His $50K contribution is significant, not only in itself, but as an indication of the GOP heavies’ interest in this race.
Together with the exit of Rep, Mark Parkinson, Eigel has the momentum in this race now.
Patriots for America
There’s a new YouTube video on the web mocking Eric Greitens’ recorded phone conversation with John Brunner. See it here. Patriots for America is listed on the “paid for.” That’s the same “group” that was listed on the original website which is said to be the cause for Grietens’ anger toward Brunner.
There is no Patriots for America committee registered with the Missouri Ethics Commission, so the expenditure of resource (they’re also paying for Youtube advertisements) is an ethics violation.
The Kansas City Star has linked the Patriots for America website to a former Brunner staffer. See it here. But Brunner’s team denies they’re involved.
English Fined
Rep. Keith English was fined $3,800 by the Missouri Ethics Commission for filing inaccurate reports. See it here. English has said that he won’t be running for re-election, having received a job offer from “a gentleman.”
Bits
Noranda leaves the New York Stock Exchange. See it here. How did it come to this? See a pretty good overview of the troubles facing the aluminum industry here.
The Joint House/Senate Budget hearing to examine state role in refugee programs and funding for them will be at 10AM today in House Hearing Room 3,
No Medicaid expansion in Tennessee, the Times Free Press reports. See it here.
New Committees
Patrick Hamacher started a campaign committee to run for St. Louis City Circuit Attorney. Incumbent Jennifer Joyce is not running for re-election, and it looks like a full scrum to replace her. Hamacher is an Assistant Circuit Attorney.
Lobbyists Registrations
Harry Foster added Foster Management Inc, and Christie Development Associates LLC.
Richard Brownlee III and Richard AuBuchon added Service Contract Industry Council.
Jennifer Battson Warren added Missouri Department of Conservation.
Nicolas Scott Beydler added University Of Missouri Office Of General Counsel.
Michele Baumer added Missouri Department Of Conservation.
$5K+ Contributions
Mehlville-Oakville United - $5,958 from Mehlville-Oakville United Committee.
Eigel for Missouri - $50,000 from David Humphreys.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Alison Gee, and Lara Granich.