Friday, June 13, 2014
On the Air: CEC Swings At Nixon on Transfer Issue
It looks like the Children’s Education Council of Missouri is preparing to launch television commercials aimed at pressuring Governor Jay Nixon to offer a solution on the student transfer issue.
An ad featuring Sens. Maria Chappelle-Nadal and Eric Schmitt as well as parent and child (See it here), closes with the mother looking at the camera with Nixon’s phone number on screen: Ask Jay Nixon why he won’t help children in failing schools!
Children’s Education Council of Missouri is a reform organization, a sister organization of Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri, funded by Rex Sinquefield.
MASW Sues SOS on Transport Tax
The press release: The Missouri Association for Social Welfare (MASW) today filed an action in the Circuit Court of Cole County challenging the Secretary of State’s summary statement for a statewide ballot measure that could create an additional three-quarters of one cent state sales and additional three-quarters of one cent state use tax to fund transportation projects. The MASW petition maintains that the “certified summary statement is insufficient and unfair because it inadequately, unfairly, and prejudicially describes the purposes and legal impact of the ballot measure.”
And MODOT Preps List
St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the project list should the tax pass will be released today. Read it here.
Pull Quote: But overall, the list is heavily focused on roads and bridges. Regional lists from throughout Missouri are now in the hands of the Missouri Department of Transportation. It is unclear what — if any — changes will be made before they are released Friday by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.
Gatchy Polling in Senate 2?
Upset blogger thinks it’s a push poll. Read it here.
Pull Quote: The young man started with a number of statements regarding Chuck Gatschenberger. They were all positive things that a Republican primary voter would likely embrace, such as Chuck’s pro-gun and anti-abortion stances. He then moved on to Bob Onder, and the statements were all negative things. I will not relate all of them here, but one example was that he “voted to name a bridge after someone who was later investigated…” You get the idea. This was a push-poll. This is a negative publicity smear tactic. Undoubtedly it was funded by the Gatschenberger campaign.
2014: House Bits
In the four-way House 1 Republican primary, where Rep. Mike Thomson is termed, the early favorite appears to be Roger Parshall. Missouri Torch reports that Parshall is “good friends” with Congressman Sam Graves…
In House 14, where Rep. Ron Schieber isn’t running for re-election, Kevin Corlew is the favorite. In addition an impressive resume, he has the endorsement of the incumbent as well as other politicos of the area like Sen, Ryan Silvey and Rep. TJ Berry.
In the House 20 Republican primary, former Rep. Brent Lasater is running against Bill E. Kidd. I thought that name was joke when I saw it on the SOS website, but I think Kidd is a legitimate candidate, and it’s no gimme that Lasater will be the Republican nominee. The incumbent is Democratic Rep. John Mayfield. It’s a Democratic district, but in an off-presidential cycle, Dems can’t take it for granted.
Haefner’s Constituents Speak
Possible future Budget Chair Marsha Haefner released a survey of her district. She asked for constituent feedback on a variety of issues and received overwhelming response… 680 responses. Because Haefner represents a swing district, some of the results are interesting.
4. Which statement best describes your opinion on union dues laws?
Employers should continue to be able to choose whether to hire only union employees and bargain with union representatives rather than each employee. 35.74%
Employers should be required to allow employees to choose whether to join a union to bargain on their behalf or to negotiate their own compensation individually. 37.50%
Labor unions served a purpose in their time, but now are an impediment to our state. 22.79%
No opinion 2.35%
5. Which statement best describes your opinion on our tax system?
It provides too little revenue for needs filled by state government. 24.41%
It provides the right amount of revenue for needs filled by state government. 35.29%
It provides too much revenue for needs filled by state government. 28.68%
No opinion 8.97%
6. Which statement best describes your opinion on our tax system?
A reduction in tax rates is needed to stimulate growth and opportunity in our state. 38.82%
Our tax system takes care of state government needs well and should be left alone. 34.85%
An increase in tax rates is needed to ensure our state government fulfills its obligations. 18.53%
No opinion 4.56%
11. Which statement best describes your opinion on tax incentives?
Tax credits or incentives that divert funds from state coffers should be eliminated. 20.15%
Targeted tax incentives are a key development tool that add jobs and investments. 22.35%
Internet purchases are the new norm and local businesses should be more competitive. 17.79%
Sales taxes should be the same whether the purchase is online or at a local retailer. 32.65%
No opinion 5.00%
12. Which statement best describes your opinion on abortion?
Abortion should be rare and medically safe, but is a woman's legal right over her body. 39.56%
Abortion should be illegal except in rape, incest, and threats to the life of the mother. 33.38%
We have effectively regulated abortion and nothing else needs to be done. 6.18%
We should follow the lead of other states and act now to make all abortions illegal. 16.47%
No opinion 2.21%
13. Which statement best describes your opinion on Medicaid Reform and Expansion?
Medicaid is broken and should be scrapped, regardless of federal funding. 12.21%
Missouri can't afford to expand Medicaid without harming other state services. 18.09%
Missouri should accept additional federal money to expand Medicaid only if the federal government eliminates regulations and bureaucracy that make it a broken system. 21.76%
While Medicaid could be more efficient, it should be expanded to more effectively provide for low-income Missourians and reduce overall taxpayer costs. 36.03%
Medicaid eligibility limits are too low and are hurting Missouri families and our state. 6.62%
No opinion 3.68%
Shane Hearts Jay
In an email to supporters former Rep. Shane Schoeller asks that they join him for a day of door knocking to help Senate 24 Republican candidate Jay Ashcroft…
[T]he Missouri Democrat Party chose not to run a candidate against our State Auditor Tom Schweich and have plans to gain back seats in the Missouri legislature. The 24th Senatorial District is their top priority in that effort!
Jay Ashcroft is an ideal candidate who the Missouri Democrats are already fearful of thanks to his ever-increasing fundraising and grassroots strength in the 24th District… I served with his opposition and I knew her to be a strident liberal. She embraced President Obama’s war on Missouri families as she has supported big government, higher taxes, implementing Obamacare, and increasing regulations on small businesses. Unfortunately, she styles her leadership style after President Obama that believes government can make better decisions with your hard earned dollars than you can…
So please reply back to me to let me know you'll be joining me on Saturday, June 21st to help ensure we elect a principled conservative to the Missouri Senate.
Bits
Tesla seems to relish the role of disrupter… In their latest blog post they say that “will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology… When I started out with my first company, Zip2, I thought patents were a good thing and worked hard to obtain them. And maybe they were good long ago, but too often these days they serve merely to stifle progress, entrench the positions of giant corporations and enrich those in the legal profession, rather than the actual inventors. After Zip2, when I realized that receiving a patent really just meant that you bought a lottery ticket to a lawsuit, I avoided them whenever possible.”
Congresswoman Ann Wagner not running for whip. Post-Dispatch’s Kevin McDermott has the story here. (The person she was supporting dropped out late yesterday).
Fundraising Calendar
Today’s fundraising events from Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Rep. TJ McKenna Golf – Union Hills Golf Course, Pevely.
Rep. Ken Wilson’s Faith & Family Picnic, Smithville.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Gate Way Group website:
Jessica Hodge deleted Immunophotonics Inc, Y2Payment Systems Inc, Veritec Solutions, SSM Health Care, Pollard BankNote Limited, Office Depot Inc, and Health Management Associates Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Missourians for Fair Taxation - $25,000 from Missouri Association of REALTORS.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthday to MEDA’s Michelle Galloway.
Saturday: Judi Roman.
Sunday: Former Rep. Martin Rucker (57).