Friday, September 12, 2014
Bits…. In no order….
Onder Interviewing
Sen-elect Bob Onder was in the building over veto session, and used the time to interview prospective staffers…
Roorda Fundys
In the fundraising events below (my thanks to the indispensable Mary Scruggs for letting me cut-and-paste from her newsletter), you’ll see another Rep. Jeff Roorda fundraiser for his Senate 22 bid. In the course of a week, Roorda is doing four separate events – a Kansas City event; a Jefferson City event; an event with Jason Kander; and an event featuring Jay Nixon.
Republicans should worry that their man, Rep. Paul Wieland, is being out-worked in this race.
Veto PQ Different?
One Republican makes the case that the traditional taboo against a Senate PQ (closing debate) doesn’t apply during veto session the way it does during regular session. In this line of thinking, because there’s no amending possible, the process of legislating isn’t really open. It’s a simple question: do you have the votes or not?
Furthermore, some believe that Sen. Jolie Justus “wanted” the PQ. That is, she felt some heat from letting the bill pass during regular session, and so the act of being PQ-ed showed those critics that Republicans can roll anytime they want, and it’s not Dems’ fault when things pass.
Kind of Like Toll Roads
And kind of not…. See the municipalities where police stop lots of people here.
The spotlight of Ferguson crisis led to an expose of the way some small municipalities of St. Louis County use their police force as a profit center, generating tickets and fines to sustain their local City Halls. KSDK compiled a list of the worst offenders…
Most stops per square mile… City of Bella Villa. It’s just beyond the southern border of the St. Louis City. And it issued 974 tickets last year. It only has 724 residents, by the way.
But the most stops per population size goes to the City of Foristell which issued 1,671. Their population is only 505!
Virginia on Nixon “Pummeling”
Post-Dispatch report Virginia Young looks at the “pummeling” that Governor Jay Nixon took in veto session and concludes: The final two years of Nixon’s governorship are likely to be fraught with tension and gridlock unless he can find a way to negotiate with the Legislature.
Peters Exits Black Caucus
Post-Dispatch reports that Rep. Josh Peters resigned from the Black Caucus, “saying he was uncomfortable with the support caucus members gave his opponent in the August primary.” Read it here.
Lynn: Follow Kinder
Democratic consultant Patrick Lynn tweeted yesterday... @patrickalynn: Maybe it's time for Dem senators to give up being buddies with GOP senators and focus on winning seats. It's how @PeterKinder won.
I suspect in the aftermath of the PQ there’s going to be a very spirited discussion about the best way forward for the Democratic minority in the Senate. The pragmatic side has reigned since Victor Callahan, largely following the century advice of Sun Tzu. When confronted with a superior force, you don’t attack directly. And Callahan – and Jolie Justus as well – were largely successful in thwarting any big Republican agenda items. Together with their cunning, Republican in-fighting, a gubernatorial veto pen, and the courts, Republicans’ huge majorities in the legislature rarely translate into anything more than incremental or water-down victories.
But does this line of semi-cooperation doom them to be rolled every once in a while and fated to an eternal minority status? Is it time to take a more war-like position even if it means more legislative failures in the near term? Is that the way out, draw a clear contrast for the voters, show them the consequences which until now have been largely stunted?
Stand Down in North County?
Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal said in their floor speech during veto session that the people of Ferguson would be “voting for Michael Brown” this November.
It’s said that there is a serious effort afoot in North County to channel the anger over Bob McCulloch and the handling of the tragedy into skipping the county executive’s race on the ballot. Former Reps. Steve Webb and Ted Hoskins are said to be spearheading the movement.
We’ll see…
Help Wanted
Missouri Secretary of State's Office seeks Senior Counsel. “This position is responsible for assisting the General Counsel with the legal matters arising from the daily activity of the Secretary of State’s office. This position is primarily responsible for conducting research of legal issues, assessing legislation, and reviewing, coordinating and directing litigation. This position directly reports to the General Counsel…” See the ad here.
New PACs
New feature folks! Every Friday I’ll list the new PACs filed… (I know, I know, you’re waiting for the new feature where I proof-read before sending…)
Conservatives Protecting Our Local Schools. Treasurer: Bill Foster.
Moderates for Missouri. Treasurer: Edward Keenan.
MSU College Republicans. Treasurer: George Husted.
Jefferson County Conservatives. Treasurer: Ken Horton.
Enhancing Community PAC. Treasurer: Joseph Gerwitz Jr.
Fundraising Calendar
Today’s fundraising events from Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Rep. Jeff Roorda Golf – Crescent Farms Golf Club – Eureka.
Rep. Joe Don McGaugh BBQ & Auction – 710 Harvest Hills Dr. - Carrollton – 6:30 p.m.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Gate Way Group website:
Steven R Carroll deleted DDAL.
$5K+ Contributions
Teamsters 245 PAF – $35,000 from Drive Committee.
MO Drive Fund - $85,000 from Drive Committee.
Citizens for Riddle - $7,150 from Missouri Senate Campaign.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from QC Holdings Inc.
MO Democratic State Committee - $10,000 from Republic Services Inc.
MO Democratic State Committee - $25,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $25,000 from Republican Services Inc.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $25,000 from Friends for Munzlinger.
Wieland Now - $9,200 from Missouri Senate Campaign Committee.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays to Congresswoman Ann Wagner (Saturday).
Sunday: Gene McNary (79) and Jon Dalton (53).