Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Stadium Watch: Enterprise Takes Naming Rights
Post-Dispatch reports that an agreement has been reached to name the proposed new St. Louis football stadium. See it here.
Pull Quote: The proposed riverfront football stadium, though little more than dirt, derelict warehouse and architectural designs, now has a $158 million name: National Car Rental Field.
Late Tuesday, Gov. Jay Nixon’s stadium task force and Enterprise Holdings, the parent company of National Car Rental, revealed a 20-year deal worth an average of $7.9 million a year.
Minutes later, snark from Jeff City: Pretty easy for Enterprise to enter into a naming agreement on a stadium everyone knows isn’t going to be built.
$50 Million Hole
Columbia Daily Tribune reports on the new $50 million hole in the state budget because the tobacco settlement money isn’t coming through. See it here.
Pull Quote: Missouri’s budget director on Monday said the state can’t count on getting $50 million in anticipated tobacco settlement money that was budgeted to be spent this fiscal year. Budget Director Dan Haug said a September appeals court ruling means the state won’t get the money unless a planned appeal to the state Supreme Court is successful, and it’s unlikely that will happen in time to spend it this fiscal year. Haug said the state still is reviewing how to deal with the loss… Missouri was penalized in 2013 after arbitrators said the state failed to diligently enforce the terms of the settlement in 2003… Sept. 22 state Eastern District Court of Appeals ruling overturned the lower court’s ruling on the payment money and the format for future arbitration… Nanci Gonder said Koster’s office will appeal the ruling on the arbitration penalty to the Missouri Supreme Court, but Haug said the timing likely will mean the state wouldn’t receive the money this fiscal year even if the state wins in court. The money has been included in the state budget for the past two years… Haug said Tuesday that there is concern about slow revenue growth. Collections increased only 1.6 percent in September compared with the same time last year, although revenue so far this fiscal year was up 3.6 percent. “I just think generally there is reason to be concerned,” Haug said. “There is no reason to panic yet. We are still trying to figure out how we will deal with the $50 million shortfall.”
Observer: The AG is responsible for lack of diligent enforcement and got outlawyered... The AG who failed to diligently enforce was Jay Nixon, whose budget as governor ironically will feel the $50 million impact. The AG who has been outlawyered in trying to recapture the dough is Chris Koster.
Budget Blahs Coming Back?
After dominating the first few years of Governor Jay Nixon’s tenure during the 2008 financial meltdown and recession, the budget has been more accommodating in recent years with job growth rising and steady revenues. Now the budget might become an issue again.
Budget watcher: Folks are saying that the Budget is going to tighten up… Predicting the budget is a risky game and predictions can change on a dime but that’s the current thinking. Nixon’s higher education deal might end up looking both premature and irresponsible. If you actually do what he wants, the money has to come from somewhere. And where it comes from could become painful….
Nixon Gets Great Outdoors Award
File under “Sec of Interior watch…”
The press release: Gov. Jay Nixon today was recognized for his commitment to conservation and the outdoors as the recipient of the 2015 Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award from the American Recreation Coalition (ARC), the outdoor recreation community's most prestigious award.
In presenting the award, ARC recognized the Governor's successful efforts throughout his career to enhance opportunities for outdoor recreation. Since taking office in 2009, Gov. Nixon has made increasing access to state parks for Missouri families a top priority. Under the Governor's leadership, Missouri has also been named the best camping state, the best trails state, and its state parks have consistently ranked among the best in the nation….
Gov. Nixon was an early supporter of the Katy Trail, the nation's longest rails-to-trails project, and has extended the trial to both the east and west as Governor. He recently announced that a 47.5 extension of the trail on the western side of the state is on pace to be complete by the end of 2016… Since fiscal year 2009, the state has invested $69 million in facility upgrades in the state park system… In 2010, Gov. Nixon created the State Parks Youth Corps (SPYC)… the Governor's 100 Missouri Miles Challenge encourages Missourians to complete 100 miles of outdoor physical activity in one year…
This year's award was given jointly to Governor Nixon and Wyoming Governor Matt Mead.
Unterreiner for House 145
Chad Unterreiner formed a campaign committee to run as a Republican in House 145. The current incumbent, Rep. Shelley Keeney is termed. Unterreiner comes from the northern part of the district with Perryville. Keeney is from Marble Hill in the southern part of the district.
Pierson: Program to End
KMOV reports that Rep. Tommie Pierson’s St. Greater Marks Church is ending using their space on Friday nights on youth programs after violence and break-ins. See it here.
Pull Quote: The organization Operation Help or Hush was using the school space at St. Greater Marks Church for community youth programs, but it’s now coming to an end. Pastor Tommie Pierson says a series of break-ins and gun fire after a Friday night event were just too much. “When you think you’re doing something good and suddenly it blows up in your face, I felt pretty horrible,” said Pastor Pierson. On Friday nights the space was used as a place for teens to hang out…
Now Pastor Pierson hopes they can utilize the space in another capacity. Operation Help or Hush also hopes there’s a future for more youth programs which are so desperately need in North County. But Pierson says they can’t do it alone. “If I can reach their parents, we can have great success around here,” he explained.
Raise Your Hand Cites Battleground Poll
Supporters of using an increase cigarette tax to pay for childhood services are citing a poll done in battleground states to show that the idea has strong support.
Key findings include: Battleground voters universally agree on the importance of early childhood education; Increasing access to and improving the quality early childhood education could have significant impact on voters’ preference as we head into presidential campaigns in 2016; There are a variety of funding methods with broad support, and results show voters across a broad range of key vote groups would back investing in early childhood education, even if it means a slight increase in their taxes; While nearly all voters agree that investing in early childhood education should be a priority – different voter blocks are sometimes motivated by different reasons and arguments…
Bits
AB InBev ups its take-over bid for Miller. See it here.
Show-Me Institute presents John Tamny, speaking about “The Unsung Genius of Inequality” next Wednesday at 5:30PM at Anheuser-Busch Auditorium (3674 Lindell Blvd., Saint Louis, MO 63108). Tamny is the political economy editor at Forbes, a senior economic advisor to
Toreador Research & Trading, and editor of RealClearMarkets.com (RCM), a spin -off of the policy website RealClearPolitics.
Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Hillman is the new president of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.
On the Senate website, DeeEllen Maher was added to the staff of Sen. Mike Cunningham.
Tweet of the Day
Charles Jaco with a bit of baseball history… @charlesjaco1: The Cardinals & Cubs haven't met in post-season since Game 6 of the 1886 WS. Ancestor StL Brown Stockings beat Chi ancestor White Stockings.
Lobbyists Registrations
Erin Brower added Hallmark Cards Incorporated; and deleted Alliance for Childhood Education.
Richard Martin added Paylock IPT; and deleted American Federation of Teachers, and Consumer Healthcare Products Association.
$5K+ Contributions
Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe - $10,000 from Pyramid Home Health Services.
Greitens for Missouri - $5,100 from Scott Kamber.
MBA Gateway Region PAC - $10,000 from Scottrade Bank.
MO Freedom - $7,500 from Plocher for Missouri.
Missourians for John Brunner - $5,001 from Kelly Ranches LLC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to former Reps. Zach Wyatt-Gomez (31), and Jeff Harris (51), Kenny Ross, and Sam Barbee.