Thursday July 2, 2015
Taxi Commission Twitter-Fight Over Uber
As the St. Louis Taxi Commission and the Uber continue to tussle (see it here), two commissioners – Lou Hamilton and Chris Sommers took to twitter. But policy arguments soon gave way to personal attacks.
Louis Hamilton @Hamiltonstl: @sommerscm Chris, perhaps your should resign as a commissioner and go 2work 4Uber as lobbyist Ur sunny personality will win the Repubs over
Chris Sommers @sommerscm: . @Hamiltonstl Surprised you even have time for MTC anymore, what w/ all the time you spend w/ Jeff Roorda.
Hamiltonstl: @sommerscm Chris you are an insufferable douche. If you don’t like it take your toys and go home.
Rumorville: Dixon to Explore Gov Race After All?
Is Sen. Bob Dixon still flirting with a possible gubernatorial bid? One source says that the senator has been telling folks to look for an exploratory committee in the coming weeks. We’ll see…
Mannies: Joyce Retiring
Jo Mannies nails down the retirement rumors on St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce. She is retiring and will not seek another term. And she is endorsing someone from her office, Mary Pat Carl, to succeed her. See it here.
Pull Quote: In the meantime, opting not to run for re-election also will free up Joyce for another task. “I’m here for the next 18 months and my primary focus, like a laser beam, is going to be trying to stem the gun violence in the city of St. Louis,” she said. “I don’t want to think about anything else,’’ Joyce continued. “I have reorganized the whole office around the mission.”
Knodell Retiring
In the lobbyists’ registrations, Joseph Knodell is deleting his registrations for the Missouri Education Reform Council. Word is that he’s making good on a planned retirement.
Diehl “Insisted” on Stadium
An interesting bit from Virginia Young’s article on the stadium lawsuit the other day was that Speaker John Diehl was instrumental on keeping a ban on public money for a new stadium out of the budget. See it here.
Pull Quote: Replied Barnes: "The fact is, the Legislature did say that," initially inserting in the state budget a ban on using money for a new stadium. However, in late-night negotiations, then-House Speaker John Diehl, R-Town and Country, "insisted" on deleting that restriction, so it was struck, Barnes said.
This demonstrates why some St. Louis civvies have bemoaned the demise of Diehl, losing a collaborator in a powerful position. Though another source has suggested this was part of larger give-and-takes between Diehl and governor’s office.
Clark for Greitens
The contribution a few days ago from Build-a-Bear founder Maxine Clark to Eric Greitens struck some as odd because Clark has typically been a Democratic donor. One interpretation is that Clark, as a huge early childhood education fan, is poking the eye of Chris Koster, whose support of the Missouri Promise proposal would conflict with the Raise Your Hand for Kids initiative.
eMailbag: Draw Straws!
In terms of folks getting out of races. On the Democrat side, either Scott Sifton or Jake Zimmerman should move to treasurer or secretary of state. Draw straws or whoever has raised the least money but it is stupid to have a primary.
eMailbag: Don’t Misunderestimate Kraus
Sen. Will Kraus may surprise you with his ability to raise small-dollar donations and put together a decent quarter. This isn't a coronation. Kraus is working hard around the state and really making an impression on grassroots leaders.
eMailbag: Small Money Blues
Every day I read the donations, it makes me wonder why I ever write a 250 or 100 dollar check.
Bits
Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal will hold a press conference this evening at 6PM in reaction to Governor Jay Nixon’s veto of the student transfer bill.
St. Louis Business Journal reports that Centene is buying California-based Health Net for $6.8 billion. See it here.
Missouri revenues look like they had a good month, powered oddly by “county foreign insurance” category. When the official report comes out it will be interesting to hear what was behind that.
Travis Brown unveils “Love it or Shove it.” See it here.
Help Wanted
CEAM – Children's Education Alliance of Missouri – seeks Development and Communication Manager. “The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in educational issues, the required skills to manage development and communication efforts, and the interpersonal skills to be part of a diverse and dedicated team of staff, students and volunteers. Understanding education policy issues and knowledge of education reform efforts are essential to have or learn quickly. A commitment to all Missouri children is at the heart of our work.” See the ad here.
Lobbyists Registrations
Rodney Gray, Tami Holliday, Susan Henderson Moore, and F. Chase Simmons added Fike Corporation.
Mary Anne McCollum deleted University of Missouri – Columbia.
Patricia Holden deleted Bank of America Corporation.
Marvin Proffer deleted Missouri port Authority Association.
Neal English deleted Mineral Area College.
Joseph Knodell deleted Missouri Education Reform Council.
Dana Koehn deleted Baxter Healthcare Corporation.
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Health Care Association PAC - $18,858 from Missouri Health Care Association.
Koster for Missouri - $25,000 from Edgar Law Firm LLC.
Friends of Mike Cunningham - $10,000 from Citizens for Jay Wasson.
Greitens for Missouri - $5,003 from Kaj Larsen.
Greitens for Missouri - $25,000 from Paul Melnuk.
Greitens for Missouri - $10,000 from Bobby Robertson.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to former Rep. TJ McKenna (30), Blunt’s Derek Coats, and Bruce Wylie.
MOScout News
Tomorrow is a state holiday, but there will be a morning Update and the Friday Weekly Summary and “Who Won the Week.” However no Weekly Poll this weekend.