Thursday, October 8, 2015
Marijuana IP Coming
Press release from the pro-marijuana reform folks says they’re going to start the initiative petition process today…
The press release: [A]t 9:30 a.m. initiative petitions that would allow state-licensed physicians to recommend medical marijuana to patients with debilitating illnesses will be filed at the Missouri Secretary of State’s office. The initiative petitions, which will be filed by the organization New Approach Missouri, would seek to put the issue on the 2016 General Election ballot in Missouri… Currently 23 other states allow physicians and patients this medical option…
This is New Approach Missouri. Jack Cardetti is the spokeperson, consultant on the job, and Brad Ketcher is the treasurer and attorney.
It’ll be interesting to see the language in these IPs.
Things to look for: First, what’s the threshold for getting a script for the funky weed? How serious does the medical condition have to be, or will the middle-age “my back was aching this morning” get the bongs fired up?
Second, what’s the distribution mechanism? If it free market with regulations, or is it tightly controlled distributorships that are given geographic monopolies, or something in between?
The Future of Campaigns is Facebook?
Nielson says that to reach the fastest growing demographics it’s becoming a Facebook world. Of course these aren’t necessarily the ones most likely to show up on Election Day…
Pull Quote: Facebook has been going hard after marketers' TV budgets, and with some success. Now, it's coming armed with research from Nielsen suggesting it's a better reach medium than TV for millennials and Hispanics coveted by so many marketers. A wide-ranging study using Nielsen's Homescan panel of consumers and audience-measurement tools shows buying Facebook alone now reaches more of each group than running ads on the 10 most watched TV networks combined -- though it also shows that using both Facebook and TV combined reaches a far larger slice of both groups…. The Nielsen study found that in a typical month, 12.2% of millennials can be reached on TV only (using the top 10 networks), vs. 14.2% who can only be reached on Facebook. Similarly 16.3% of U.S. Hispanics can only be reached on TV vs. 17.5% only on Facebook, the study found.
Hannegan Fined
Tom Hannegan, a Republican running in House 65 to replace Rep. Anne Zerr, was fined by the Missouri Ethics Commission. See it here.
He was fined $2,800 for putting an ad in his own publication, Street Scape, without a “paid for” disclosure and before forming a candidate committee.
Kander Fundy Email Draws Buzz
“Put this in a TV commercial,” says one politico.
The Email
I got out of the U.S. Army in 2004 and by 2013 I was homeless and I couldn't have felt more lost.
One day, while I was holding a sign asking for help by a highway off-ramp in Columbia, Missouri, a car parked on the other side of the road. I didn't know who it was at the time, but Jason Kander stepped out, walked across a busy intersection, shook my hand, and asked me if I was "Army, Air Force, Navy or the Marines?" He said he could tell that I had served by the way that I was standing ... he said that I had military bearing.
You can imagine I wasn't used to speaking with many people in suits at the time, but we talked for quite a while. He offered me advice and gave me a business card. He treated me with respect -- just like I was one of his soldiers….
He probably stopped by four times that first month just to talk. At some point during one of our roadside conversations, I decided that if someone like Jason was going to put the effort in for some dirty guy holding a sign and a backpack, that I would never let him see me like that again.
He gave me hope and helped me start on a successful path forward. The truth is, he was the one who gave me the motivation to turn my life around….
Schaefer Does St. Louis
Sen. Kurt Schaefer will be the guest speaker at the Young Republicans. St. Louis County Library HQ in Frontenac, 7PM. Drinks at Schneithorst afterwards.
Bernsky Doles Out Pork
Rep. Mike Bernskoetter’s fundraiser Tuesday night at the Wardsville Lions Club sold out. They served over 730 pork steak dinners at a fundraiser on a Tuesday night. Pretty impressive for a state rep candidate – in a non-election year!
Working the room: Sen. Mike Parson…
Help Wanted
Rep. Rochelle Walton Gray seek a new legislative assistant, again. “The House of Representatives is accepting resumes/applications for the position of Legislator Assistant. This is a highly responsible, professional administrative position providing general public information and office support to State Representative Rochelle Walton Gray of the 75th District. Duties include extensive contact and correspondence with district constituents and the general public, creating and maintaining calendars, coordinating and scheduling meetings, maintaining files and databases on a variety of legislative topics, and general office assistance…. The salary range for this position begins at $2,257 per month….” See it here.
Today’s Events
From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Rep. Bill White Ice Cream Social – Baskin Robbins – Joplin – 5:30PM.
Rep. Bill Lant Reception – River Ranch – Noel.
Lobbyists Registrations
Eric Jennings added Missouri Bar.
Maureen McDonnell deleted St. Louis Association of Realtors.
Jason Stabile deleted California Nurses Association, and National Nurses United.
$5K+ Contributions
Koster for Missouri - $15,000 from Super Market Merchandising & Supply.
St. Louisans for a Sustainable Future - $6,708 from Missourians organizing for reform and empowerment.
Lewis & Clark Ozarks Mountain Forum - $15,000 from Mark Gardner.
Parson for Missouri - $25,000 from Forest and Charlotte Lucas.
Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe - $10,000 from Health Systems Inc.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Rep. Pat Conway (68).