Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Last Day of the Quarter

As we head into the final flurry of checks here’s where large contributions for the quarter stand.

Eric Greitens - $540,000 – Republican, governor.

Chris Koster - $480,000 – Democrat, governor.

John Brunner - $385,000 – Republican, governor.

Mike Parson - $215,000 – Republican, governor.

Catherine Hanaway - $200,000 – Republican, governor.

Brad Bradshaw - $150,000 – Democrat – lieutenant governor.

Peter Kinder - $92,500 – Republican – governor/lieutenant governor.

Eric Schmitt - $72,500 – Republican, treasurer.

John “Jay” Ashcroft - $30,000 – Republican, secretary of state.

Bev Randles - $25,000 – Republican, lieutenant governor.

Kurt Schaefer - $5,000 – Republican, attorney general.

Pat Contreras - $5,000 – Democrat, treasurer.

Will Kraus - $0 – Republican, secretary of state.

Tommie Pierson - $0 – Democrat, just announced lieutenant governor.

Scott Sifton - $0 – Democrat, attorney general.

Jake Zimmerman - $0 – Democrat, attorney general.

Large checks are only one part of a fundraising effort of course, but it takes a lot of little check to equal one big check, so it’s usually some indication.

A few thoughts: John Brunner is putting up a good quarter, but he’s been quiet lately.  He has only registered one large contribution since the middle of May.

Eric Greitens is the first Republican in a long time to be able to compete with Chris Koster in the fundraising arena, but can he put it together quarter after quarter as Koster does…. And then reload after a primary?

Bev Randles is promising supporters an exciting July, so it’ll be interesting what she has planned to roll out.  Despite this lackluster quarter, remember she’s sitting on $1 million of Rex money.

Will Kraus will need to show money if he hopes to overcome Ashcroft huge name ID lead.

Are Dems relunctant to give big to their two AG candidates because they like them both and wish they weren’t in a primary?

As Peter Kinder publicly flirts with the Gov race, one wonders if he’s telling donors he’s in that race, or in the LG race, or just soliciting money for whatever race he decides on.

Driving the Day

The mighty Jason Rosenbaum’s article with Stephen Miller, the chairman of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, will be a topic of discussion I’m sure.  See it here.

Pull Quote: Miller compared the current state of highways with how cell phones were viewed in the 1980s or 1990s. “I hold up my cell phone. And I said 20 or 30 years ago, all that was a telephone – a means to communicate,” Miller said. “But now, this little cell phone is an unbelievable economic engine. And who could have ever imagined all the apps, all the services and all the revenue that flows through what was once just a telephone? What was once just a highway, are we going to look back 10 or 20 years from now and say ‘gosh, these people saw it just as a road. But now, look at all the things that are done through our transportation'.”

New Overtime Rules

The press release: Today, President Obama announced that the Department of Labor will propose extending overtime pay to nearly 5 million workers. The proposal would guarantee overtime pay to most salaried workers earning less than an estimated $50,440 next year... The salary threshold guarantees overtime for most salaried workers who fall below it, but it is eroded by inflation every year… Today, the salary threshold remains at $23,660 ($455 per week), which is below the poverty threshold for a family of four, and only 8 percent of full-time salaried workers fall below it…

According to a White House fact sheet, 110,000 Missouri workers will be impacted.  See it here.

 
Bits

The Economist writes about the Supreme Court and Death Penalty.  See it here.  Pull Quote: Thirty states have either formally abolished the death penalty or have not executed someone in more than eight years. Only three states—Texas, Missouri and Florida—handle 80% of all executions.

Washington Post looks at Chelsea Clinton’s speechifying biz – using UMKC as an example.  See it here.  Pull Quote: When the University of Missouri at Kansas City was looking for a celebrity speaker to headline its gala luncheon marking the opening of a women’s hall of fame, one name came to mind: Hillary Rodham Clinton. But when the former secretary of state’s representatives quoted a fee of $275,000, officials at the public university balked. “Yikes!” one e-mailed another. So the school turned to the next best option: her daughter, Chelsea. The university paid $65,000 for Chelsea Clinton’s brief appearance Feb. 24, 2014…

The Post Dispatch reports on the pay raises for school superintendents. See it here.

And Post Dispatch reviews a new Justice Department report on crowd control missteps during the Ferguson turmoil.  See it here.  Pull Quote: Police trying to control the Ferguson protests and riots responded with an uncoordinated effort that sometimes violated free-speech rights, antagonized crowds with military-style tactics and shielded officers from accountability, the Justice Department says in a document obtained Monday by the Post-Dispatch.

Paper for Sale

The Weston Chronicle is selling.  The ad: Close to Kanas City. The owners of this prize-winning community newspaper are ready to retire. Paid circulation, active web site , two face book accounts, subscription list, a paid e-edition list plus 2 IMac computers, two smaller Mac computers and one PC, InDesign, Quick Books pro and other software, vending racks, desks and chairs, file cabinets, archives and lots more. Priced at 225,000 dollars with building or 125,000 dollars for newspaper only. Great opportunity for someone who wants an active, fulfilling and involved small town lifestyle.

New Committees

Mary Drape formed a committee to run for House 36 as a Democrat.  This is where Kevin McManus is vacating to join the Kansas City Council.  Drape is an attorney.

Byron Delear formed a committee to run for House 70 as a Democrat.  This is where Bill Otto is vacating to run for congress.

Today’s Events

From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:

Rep. Rocky Miller Golf – Old Kinderhook Golf Course – Camdenton.

Jake Zimmerman Reception – Starrs, 1135 S. Big Bend Blvd. – Richmond Heights – 5-7PM

Rep. Judy Morgan Reception – Morgan’s home, 3837 Campbell – KC – 5-8PM

$5K+ Contributions

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $20,000 from Anheuser Busch.

SITE Improvement Association of Missouri PAC - $13,725 from SITE Improvement Association.

Greitens for Missouri - $5,001 from Maxine Clark.

Committee to Elect Jake Hummel - $10,000 from Simmons Hanly Conroy.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to former Sen. Pat Dougherty (67).