Monday, June 29, 2015
Pierson Announces
On Rodney Boyd’s Insider Talk radio (97.1FM) show yesterday, Rep. Tommie Pierson formally announced his bid for lieutenant governor. Listen to the show here. (It’s near the end of the show).
Pierson becomes the second Democrat to formally announce for the position.
Pierson, as a sitting legislator, will have the ability to garner endorsements, and gather PAC contributions. Furthermore, many Democrats have a strong desire to have an African American on the statewide ballot.
However his opponent, Brad Bradshaw, has been raising money for a few months now. He’s shown big checks from trial attorneys, and has put in his own money. I expect he will out fundraise Pierson.
Republicans also are expected to have a primary in the LG race between Peter Kinder and Bev Randles. Though things are still fluid. Kinder has said he’s eying the governor’s race. And it’s possible others may look at the LG race.
Hancock Reports on Sex Harassment in JCity
The headline: The Wolves of Jefferson City
The lede: First came a hand on her back. Then on her leg. When fingers inched higher, Sarah Felts bolted. She was a 21-year-old intern in the Missouri Capitol out for drinks with co-workers. A few legislators showed up. Felts found herself alone with one lawmaker after the crowd thinned. That’s when he touched her, and she hurriedly conjured excuses to get away. She had to use the restroom, get back to the office. She faked a smile. Soon she was in her car, crying. “It makes me feel kind of slimy that I didn’t say something,” she said, “and didn’t speak up for myself.”
The most important sentence: Most of those willing to share their stories with The Star said they kept quiet out of a belief that a complaint would never result in real consequences — save for the targets of the unwanted overtures.
The only way to change the environment in the building is for the legislature to show that there are real consequences for this kind of behavior.
What This Means
Coming on the heels of the John Diehl sexting scandal, a Senate investigation into sexual harassment, and word of an FBI investigation, it seems to confirm a caricature of a capital with the lines of ethics so blurred or muddied that they’ve been forgotten or cast aside by some members.
There’s no reason to believe that there won’t be more reports and more scandals in the coming year.
My best guess is that the result is not particularly partisan, but it could create a general “throw the bums out” atmosphere which hurts incumbents.
With the Republicans enjoying large majorities, that scenario would be bad news for them.
Huckabee Coming
Mike Huckabee is coming to Lebanon MO…
Tuesday, August 25th, 2015
The Dogwood Room
Featuring Evergreen Historic Automobiles
13888 Highway 5, Lebanon, MO
4:30 pm Duesenberg Sponsor Reception
5:00 pm General Reception
*Tour of Historic Automobiles to Follow*
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
$2,000 Duesenberg
$1,000 Ferrari
Includes: Name listed on invite, Duesenberg Reception and General Reception
How many GOP presidential candidates are we up to like fifteen or something? Anybody know? Republicans who do the cocktail party circuit are going to be busy for the next six months….
SCOTUS, Social Issues And the GOP
The Washington Post has an essay this weekend about whether the Republican Party which has successfully used social issues in the past is in danger of feeling a different edge to that sword going forward.
Pull Quote: Huckabee responded by declaring that the standard of all truth is the Bible. Distorting the laws of nature, he said, is akin to playing the piano without a tuning fork — or baking a cake without the proper measurements of salt, flour and sugar. “You’re going to have a disaster on your hands,” he said.
The exchange illustrates the vexing challenge now facing Republican presidential candidates and the GOP itself: how to get in step with modern America.
Across the cultural landscape, the national consensus is evolving rapidly, epitomized by this year’s convulsions of celebrity, social issues and politics — including the acceptance of Caitlyn Jenner’s gender identity, Pope Francis’s climate-change decree and the widespread shunning of the Confederate flag.
Then came Friday’s landmark Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage. As rainbow colors bathed the White House and other landmarks in celebration, the entire field of Republican presidential candidates condemned the ruling.
And
For those who missed yesterday, the MOScout Weekly Poll is here. It showed that many Missourians disagreed with the recent Supreme Court decisions. The issues still have a partisan split (Democrats supportive while Republicans were not), but they seem to be losing their steam, as Independent voters were largely split whether stands on these issues would impact who they voted for.
Montecillo Hospitalized
Virginia Young reports that Rep. Genise Montecillo was hospitalized.
Pull Quote: A crisis intervention team from the St. Louis County Police Department was dispatched Friday morning to the home of Rep. Genise Montecillo, who had attempted suicide, according to a police incident report.
MO GOP Endorses RTW
At this weekend’s Republican state party meeting, the state committee endorsed right to work…
According to a leading business relocation firm, half of companies looking to relocate will not consider states without Right to Work laws. Also, some jobs require union membership regardless of how good of a job they are doing for the employee and this also limits the freedom of the employee to job opportunities. This resolution supports an override of the governor’s veto of a Right to Work.
The issue was debated by the committee and passed by a large majority of the committee.
Americans for Prosperity: RTW Ads Coming
The press release: Today Americans for Prosperity Missouri launched a new TV advertisement supporting the legislature's efforts to put Missouri on a path to prosperity and support worker freedom through Right to Work legislation. The six figure ad buy will air across the state with the tagline, "Right to Work is right for Missouri."
White House Summer Internship Program
The press release: The White House Internship Program announced participants for the summer 2015 session. The mission of the program is to make the White House accessible to future leaders around the nation and to prepare those devoted to public service for future leadership opportunities.
The only one with a Missouri connection this time is Jordan Finkelstein who attends Washington University in St. Louis, MO.
Today’s Events
From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Rep. Anne Zerr Golf – The Falls – O’Fallon – 11:30AM
Rep. Mark Parkinson Cigars, Scotch & Bocce – Aiello’s Cigar Bar – Cottleville – 4:30-6PM
$5K+ Contributions
Schmitt for Missouri - $10,000 from Rivertown Enterprises Inc.
Parson for Governor - $10,000 from Ken Weymuth.
Greitens for Missouri - $5,001 from Jeffrey Layman.
Greitens for Missouri - $10,000 from Dan Cobb.
Friends for Gina Walsh - $10,000 from Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC.
Schmitt for Missouri - $25,000 from Simmons Hanly Conroy.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to former Sen. Timothy Green (52).