Friday, May 1, 2015
Parson Announces
Sen. Mike Parson announced that he’s in the governor. The backdrop of a packed high school gym in his home town highlighted his rural biography.
The campaign also sent out an advisory that Parson would be making a major campaign announcement today at Noon.
Of note: Eli Yokley’s PoliticMO he has Parson offering some wiggle room on Medicaid expansion. That will be a differentiating stance in the Republican primary. See it here.
Pull Quote: On Medicaid expansion, however, he stands out. Instead of declaring it dead on arrival like Hanaway has, Parson said, “I think there is opportunity down the road, if the reform package is right.” “Medicaid expansion is fine if you have reform with it. I foresee in the future that some state conservative think-tank group will come up with a way to deal with that through the reform end of it,” he said.
Smith Likes the Smoothies
Politico reports today on… Scarves, BMWs, Admirals Clubs: Congress' petty cash problem… It’s not just Aaron Schock. Many lawmakers use campaign funds in ways that seem to have little to do with seeking reelection. See it here.
Pull Quote: Other politicians have favorite dining spots in Washington that they frequent on the campaign dime. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) has gone to Smoothie King in D.C. and Missouri more than a dozen times since June. Josh Haynes, his chief of staff, says Smith “doesn’t drink coffee, and when he meets in the morning with elected officials, donors or staff they oftentimes will get a smoothie.” However, during his campaign last year, Smith set a goal of having coffee with every member of Congress by the end of this term.
Bits
The Senate approved the Geospatial incentives. The bill heads back to House. They can pick it up and pass it or conference with the Senate. Time’s a-ticking but two weeks is a lifetime in the legislative session, so certainly this can get done.
The Senate also passed a gas tax which leaned heavier on diesel fuel used by trucks. See AP’s story here. (My thanks of course to the peerless John Combest for the link).
Governor Jay Nixon vetoed SB 24 which cuts the length that an individual can receive TANF benefits. The legislature appears to have the votes to override his veto.
It appears there are four reporters on the hunt of InternGate, so we’ll see if any of them produce a story this weekend at illuminates why Southern Missouri withdrew their interns.
St. Louis Business Journal reports on the legal troubles of North County powerbroker Elbert Walton… See it here.
KCStar – which has been skeptical on the Sam Brownback’s tax cut – reports that there’s no hard evidence that the cuts have produced any jobs. Read it here.
Lobbyist Registrations
Scott Penman, David Winton, Heath Clarkston and Harry Gallagher added Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.
Adam Blinick added Uber Technologies Inc.
Brent Hemphill added Kaleo Pharma.
$5K+ Contributions
UAW Region 5 Midwest States Political Action Committee - $6,000 from UAW Region 5
Exchange Account.
Greitens for Missouri - $5,001 from Ruthellyn Bobak.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Bubs Hohulin (51).
Saturday: Jac Cardetti, and Scott Dieckhaus (35).
Sunday: Susan Henderson Moore, former Rep. Mike Frame, Sarah Steelman (57), and Roy Temple.