Thursday, July 30, 2015

Hinson DWI

The hits just keep coming for this legislature… Rep. Dave Hinson has been charged with DWI.  The Turner Report blog had an item up on it (see it here), though I didn’t see anything on the Post website.  The Post-Dispatch had run the initial article about Hinson hitting a parked car and saying he thought that it was a curb before later deciding it was in fact a car and then reporting it the following morning.

The Post had noted that Hinson was under investigation for leaving the scene of the accident, which is different than DWI.  But Casenet confirms the Turner Report blog item.

Lobbyist: Uber in St. Louis? Who cares? We need to get Uber in Jeff City ASAP to stop this nonsense…

What It Means

Not much really.  These things happen. Still in light of InternGates I and II and other reports from the night life, it’ll look like one more data point that the party culture in Jeff City is out of control.  If it gains traction with voters, it could fuel an anti-incumbent sentiment.

Plocher Resigns

Dean Plocher resigned as treasurer of Rep. John Diehl’s campaign committee.

Plocher is reportedly one of several people interested in succeeding Diehl in House 89, and pursuing the Republican nomination for the upcoming special election.

His ties to Diehl have been the source of criticism as some folks wish to put the Diehl sexting scandal firmly into the past.

Diehl filed a Limited Activity report in July, a rare occurrence for a sitting speaker to raise less than $500.  Diehl had $230K on-hand.  It would entirely surprise me to see that money head to HRCC, though there’s been no indication if Diehl plans to unwind it – or how.

Schaefer Requests Columbia PP License Be Suspended

Sen. Kurt Schaefer sent a letter to Department of Health and Senior Services Director Gail Vasterling requesting that she suspend Columbia Planned Parenthood’s license.  See it here.

Schaefer’s dogged pursuit of this issue will make it increasingly hard for his AG primary opponent, Josh Hawley, to outflank him.

Curtis Contra Dems

From Rep. Courtney Curtis’ twitterfeed… ‏@curtisformo: I'm about to take the @MoDemParty to task.  Show me what a real democrat looks like.  I think we have a party of lightweight republicans!

Prove to me that @MoDemParty is legit! Chris Koster was a republican, came in & took over the entire party! Did we not have any leaders?

St. Louis Observer: As a member of a super-minority caucus you really have to work to make yourself less relevant.  It would be different if this was some sort of long-play on his part, but it looks like he is just immature and self-important….

Bits

Sen. Jamilah Nasheed “submitted letters today to St. Louis City Mayor Francis Slay, Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed, Vice-President Ald. Joseph Roddy, and Majority Floor Leader Ald. Freeman Bosley, Sr.  The letter asks the leaders to call either a special session or resumed meeting of the Board of Aldermen.  She states in her letter that the Board should consider a raise in the City's minimum wage.”

“Grrrrr,” goes the legislator to read of Senator Claire McCaskill’s take down of the Jeff City culture… “Bashing on the federal government and their fraud, waste and abuse has always been the go-to move for any candidate from either party here in Missouri.  Not so fun when the tables turn…”

In the large contributions below, interesting to see Sarah Steelman chipping in for Eric Greitens.

New Committees

Tyler Hobbs formed a committee to run for House 132 as a Republican.  The current incumbent Democratic Rep. Charlie Norr is termed.  Follow Hobbs on twitter here.

Today’s Events

From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:

HRCC Summer Caucus – St. Louis

Lobbyists Registrations

Victor Allred added Missouri Restaurant Association and Visit KC.

Brian Waller added Shelter Insurance Companies.

Alan Anderson added Osborn Wind Energy LLC.

Eapen Thampy added Kansas City Concentrates.

$5K+ Contributions

Committee to Elect Tom Flanigan - $10,000 from Missouri Hospital Association PAC.

Greitens for Missouri - $5,001 from Leonard’s S&S Inc.

Greitens for Missouri - $5,100 from Sarah Steelman.

Koster for Missouri - $25,000 from United Food and Commercial Workers International Union AFL-CIO.

Greitens for Missouri - $10,000 from William Darr.

House Republican Campaign Committee - $15,000 from Missouri Health Care Association PAC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to former Rep. Bruce Darrough (62).