Friday, March 20, 2015
Quick update this morning. Enjoy your “week off” folks. Seems everyone I talk to has jammed next week if everything they’ve put off for the last three months. I’ll do morning updates next week though they may show up a little later than usual….
Spring Break
Public Radio’s Marshall Griffin gives the rundown of the legislative accomplishments at the half-way mark. See it here. My thanks for the link to the peerless John Combest as always.
On the list is HB 259 which Sen. Ryan Silvey dubbed “ObamaCows” on the Senate floor yesterday. He was drawing attention to the fact that Republicans have no problem with a federal subsidy to help dairy farmers, while they bristle at a subsidy to help folks buy health insurance.
Humpheys to Hancock: J’Accuse!
David Humphreys, one the half-dozen Republican donors in the state known for willingly and easily making six-figure checks to their favorite political candidates or causes, dove into the Tom Schweich suicide aftermath with a signed affidavit swearing that John Hancock mentioned Schweich’s Jewish heritage in a meeting.
The Post Dispatch reports that both Hancock and another person at the meeting dispute that claim. Read Virginia Young’s story here. And see the affidavit here.
It looks to me like we’re in a public tug-of-war over personal reputations. Team Schweich wants to counter a perception that their boss was going half-mad under the stress of an impending tough campaign; while Hancock is trying to erase the accusation of playing on anti-Semitic undercurrents in the Republican Party.
At some point I think Republican leaders with an eye on 2016 will throw their hands up and tell the interested parties to move on.
For Hancock, it’s becoming a harder sell that he can effectively chair the state party if some portion of major donors feel alienated.
And
Hancock will be back on KMOX this morning – tune in 8:50am to hear his side of the saga.
Hoskins Announces Endorsements
Rep. Denny Hoskins announced the endorsements of six state representatives in his quest to succeed Sen. David Pearce in Senate 21. Pearce is term limited. The reps were: Joe Don McGaugh, Jim Neely, Dave Muntzel, Chuck Basye, Dean Dohrman, and Nathan Beard.
Senate 21 a lean Republican seat; I haven’t heard of any Dems talking about the seat.
And
Running for Hoskins’ House seat in 2016 is Dan Houx. Houx is “Chair Emeritus” of the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce, and an owner of Dorn Homes LLC.
Nixon Appointments
Governor Jay Nixon appointed former Joplin Police Chief Lane Roberts as the new director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, taking the place of Dan Isom who abruptly resigned after a short tenure.
Nixon also appointed Christopher Hughes, of Keytesville, to the Sentencing and Corrections Oversight Commission; and Jo Wanda Bozeman (D), of Manchester, to the St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners.
eMailbag: On Starving the Munis
A Dem: When Bel-Ridge Police Chief Brock comments that many municipalities wouldn’t be able to survive if their budget was limited to only 10% sourced from fines, is priceless. For the first time in my life, I actually agree with Grover Norquist about “starving the beast.” If a municipality can’t survive without nickel and diming its citizens through ridiculous fines, then let it die.
Lobbyist Registrations
Aaron March added Jewel Box Homes LLC.
Patricia Jensen added Tiffany Landing LLC.
Greg Johnston added MGT of America Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Property Casualty Insurers Association of America Political Account - $11,407 from Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.
Missourians for Koster - $10,000 from Anheuser Busch Companies.
Professional Firefighters of Central St. Louis County PAC - $15,000 from West County Firefighters.
Committee to Elect Nancy Good - $5,520 from Missouri REALTORS.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays to… Saturday: Trent Summers (36), and former Rep. Thomas Long (47).
Sunday: Sens. Paul LeVota (47) and Will Kraus (42), lobbyists Nancy Giddens and David Jackson, and former Rep. Steve Hunter (66).