Thursday, January 21, 2016
SOTS
Governor Jay Nixon’s State of the State speech last night received the usual response depending on the partisan divide. See the news articles from the speech at the peerless John Combest’s headline links here. Read the text of the speech here.
Interesting that he singled out the fantasy sports industry with this zinger… “Let’s also work together to protect kids and consumers by reining in the billion-dollar daily fantasy sports industry. Let’s get real: this is gambling, kids are playing, and it’s completely unregulated. And there are lobbyists in this building who want to keep it that way. If you’re going to legalize it, we must regulate it and tax it just like we do casinos. This industry should follow the law, play by the rules, and pay its fair share. This could mean millions of dollars a year for education...”
The Catalyst Group (Danny Pfeifer, Alex Eaton, Greg Porter and Rebecca Lohmann) represents DraftKings Inc. and FanDuel Inc. in Missouri.
New Approach to Hit the Ground
The press release: A campaign committee supporting the right of patients to access medical marijuana when recommended by their doctor is one step closer to putting the issue before voters in November 2016. According to campaign finance reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, New Approach Missouri raised over $394,000 through Dec. 31, 2015.
New Approach Missouri announced today that this strong fundraising effort would allow the campaign to start collecting initiative petition signatures from across the state starting on Tuesday, Feb. 2… Missourians can volunteer to collect signatures, donate or find out how to sign the initiative petition by visiting www.newapproachmissouri.com.
Rumorville: Wasinger to Form Committee
Source: David Wasinger will be filing his statement of committee organization for "statewide office" soon! Wasinger is the only attorney that took on the big banks after the 2008 financial crisis and won. He's ready to take on corruption in Missouri!
Which statewide office will he run for? We’ll see….
Rumorville: Wrestling $$$ for Greatens?
Source: Eric Greitens had an event at Linda McMahon's house last night. (McMahon is a professional wrestling magnate who spent a reported $50 million on her own political bid in 2010. See it here.) Greitens pitched an anti-career politician message focused on Chris Koster.
Who is Michael Ketchmark?
In the large contributions today, Michael Ketchmark is giving Chris Koster $25K. His name’s familiar to those who watch the donor list. He’s a consistent and solid donor. See his bio here.
Previous contributions totaling about $675K…
2015 Contributions from Michael Ketchmark
March 10 – Missourians for Koster - $25,000
May 12 – Bradshaw for Missouri - $5,500.
September 19 – Koster for Missouri - $25,000
2015 Contributions from Davis, Ketchmark, McCreight, & Ivers PC.
January 9 – Schmitt for Missouri - $15,000
2014 Contributions from Davis, Ketchmark, McCreight, & Ivers PC.
January 29 – Missouri Early Voting Fund - $25,000.
February 1 – Sanders for Jackson County - $10,000.
February 28 – Citizens for Torpey - $10,000.
March 27 – Kander for Missouri - $25,000.
June 25 – Sanders for Jackson County - $10,000.
July 25 – MO Democratic State Committee - $10,000.
December 9 – A Better Missouri With Governor Jay Nixon - $10,000
2013 Contributions from Michael Ketchmark
March 38 – Missourians for Koster - $25,000
May 1 – Missourians for Koster - $75,000
2013 Contributions from Davis, Ketchmark, McCreight, & Ivers PC.
June 28 - Committee to Elect Tony Miller - $7,500.
July 26 – Clint Zweifel for Missouri - $10,000.
September 13 – A Better Missouri with Governor Jay Nixon - $25,000.
September 30 – Committee to Elect Tony Miller - $150,000.
December 4 – A Better Missouri with Governor Jay Nixon - $16,875.
2012 Contributions from Michael Ketchmark
January 1 – Jay Nixon for Missouri - $10,000.
March 12 – Jay Nixon for Missouri - $10,000.
June 6 – Jay Nixon for Missouri - $12,500.
July 11 – Jay Nixon for Missouri - $8,412.
October 4 – Jay Nixon for Missouri - $35,000.
October 10 – Jay Nixon for Missouri - $20,000.
October 11 – Jay Nixon for Missouri - $10,000.
2012 Contributions from Davis, Ketchmark, McCreight, & Ivers PC.
January 19 – Montee for Missouri - $10,000
March 29 – Missourians for Koster - $25,000.
June 4 – Jay Nixon for Missouri - $25,000.
September 4 – Missourians for Mike Cierpiot - $20,000.
December 3 – Kander for Missouri - $10,000.
White House Lauds Cities
From the press release: President Obama today will host over 250 bipartisan Mayors at the White House during their annual U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. During their visit to the White House this evening, the President will thank the Mayors for their steadfast partnerships over the past seven years and will outline the Administration’s priorities for cities across the country in the year ahead. The convening will also focus on the economic progress that each city has made since the President took office… Below are some of the ways Mayors are helping to make President Obama’s agenda a reality in cities across the country… In St Louis, MO a network of over 150 employers in St. Louis’ rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem will build on a successful MasterCard pilot to partnerwith local non-profit Launchcode to build the skills of women and underrepresented minorities for tech jobs… Local elected officials from 20 cities and counties across the county are participating in the challenge to get their uninsured constituents covered… Kansas City Mayor Sly James recorded a PSA which will play 333 times throughout January…
Bits
Former Sen. Jane Cunningham withdrew her candidacy from the Chesterfield City Council.
According to the Senate website, Kari Hoelscher has joined Sen. Ryan Silvey’s staff.
Rep. Courtney Curtis still hasn’t filed his January Quarter finance report… or his October Quarter report….
St. Louis Business Journal asks the question: could Peabody Energy be headed to bankruptcy? Yeeks! See it here. Peabody’s lobbyists, btw, are: Mike Gibbons and Tricia Workman.
I’m late to this… a profile on Jeff Roe in the New Republic. See it here.
Help Wanted
VOYCE seeks Director of Public Policy. “Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Public Policy is charged with furthering the mission of VOYCE through a grassroots strategy to improve long-term care for Missouri consumers… Work collaboratively with all stakeholders to devise and advance our public policy agenda. Develop relationships with and educate federal, state and local lawmakers and regulatory department heads about VOYCE's public policy agenda and the needs of long-term care consumers. Research issues, analyze and draft policy proposals, talking points, issue briefs, and press documents necessary to plan and implement legislative and advocacy campaigns. Monitor, comment on and advocate for legislation and regulations at the state and federal level to benefit long-term care consumers….” See the ad here.
Lobbyists Registrations
Daniel Pfeifer, Alex Eaton, Greg Porter, and Rebecca Lohmann added Missouri Coroners & Medical Examiners Association.
Eapen Thampy and Jessica Mantonya added Domestic Gardener, and Access Dental & Dentures.
Yvonne Sparks added University of Missouri System.
Mary Chant added Missouri Childcare Association DBA MO Coalition of Children’s Agencies.
Audrey Hill added Saint Luke’s Health System.
John Gregory Hoke added Biotechnology Innovation Organization.
Judith Dungan added Beyond Housing.
Salvatore Panettiere added Morningstar Youth & Family Life Center Development, and Kit Bond Strategies.
Brent Hemphill added U.S. Term Limits.
Sherry Doctorian added Beleaf LLC.
William Maurer added Institute for Justice.
Anne Gassel and Gretchen Logue added Missouri Coalition Against Common Core.
Angela Schulte added Statehouse Strategies LLC.
Mark Schwartz added Yoga Alliance.
Brian Colby added MO Health Advocacy Alliance.
$5K+ Contributions
Koster for Missouri - $25,000 from Michael Ketchmark.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Farrah Fite.