Monday, September 15, 2014

Rehearing Request

Late last week, the Post-Dispatch reported that Noranda’s rate reduction case may get a second life in front of the Public Service Commission.  Read it here.

Pull Quote: The Missouri Office of Public Counsel and Noranda Aluminum asked on Friday for a rehearing of the smelter’s request for a lower electric rate… Acting Public Counsel Dustin Allison said in an interview that he wanted the commission to reexamine a compromise proposal his office put forward late in the proceedings. It would have granted the smelter a smaller cut in electric bills than it originally requested. The commission does not have to rehear the case, Allison said...

Sinquefield Adds $1.2 Million to Club for Growth

After tossing $2.5 million into the Grow Missouri committee on Friday, retired businessman Rex Sinquefield added $1.2 million to the Missouri Club for Growth Political Action Committee over the weekend.  Both organizations, almost entirely funded by Sinquefield, will be involved in legislative races this November.

Although Sinquefield has made campaign contributions to Democrats – St. Louis City Mayor Francis Slay, and Attorney General Chris Koster among others – his organizations have a decidedly Republican bent.  They both support politicians who support Sinquefield’s low-tax, less-government agenda, and those are most usually Republicans.

The Sinquefield Premium?

Although Sinquefield clearly is enthusiastic in spending his money attempting to influence legislative races, what impact will his money actually have?  Consider that all the incumbents targeted by his organizations in August survived.  They withstood the huge flood of money – most quite easily.

It raised some interesting questions.

Most intriguing was the ability of the incumbents to use Sinquefield’s involvement as a powerful message – are you going to let a St. Louis billionaire buy this race?

This makes some believe that there is a “Sinquefield premium.”  That is, a price paid by those whom he supports.

In fact one observer believes this was the reason for the demise of the teacher tenure issue.  It wasn’t the issue which polled poorly, this person believes, but probably the message they thought the teachers unions’ would use: Should a St. Louis billionaire run our state’s education policy?

And

Who was that sitting with Sinquefield during the Mizzou football game on Saturday? MOChamber’s Dan Mehan….

Republicans Shore up Wieland Finances - Again

Also in the large contributions below, see $20K from Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, and $150K from the Senate Republicans’ campaign committee hitting the coffers of Rep. Paul Wieland.

Wieland is running in Senate 22 where Democratic Rep. Jeff Roorda has been out-raising him. On their 30 Day After Reports, Wieland showed $175,088 on-hand to Roorda’s $292,998.  The difference is even more stark once you realize that Wieland’s $175K on-hand included a previous $150K from the Senate Republicans.

Florida Finds Flaws

In what may be a preview of campaign messaging, St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds Jennifer Florida, who will be running as an Independent in November, noted some agenda items on her Facebook page.  See it here.  Among tidbits: a “Vital Records breach of security,” “pay raises based on banking 40 hours sick leave,” and no service ratings conducted in five years.  Her opponent will be former Recorder, Democrat Sharon Carpenter, who resigned for violating Missouri’s nepotism law.

Lobbyist Registrations

From the Gate Way Group website:

Kimberly Akin, Heath Clarkston, and Harry Gallagher deleted Computer & Communications Industry Association.

$5K+ Contributions

Lewis & Clark Ozarks Mountain Forum - $15,000 from Mark Gardner.

Ashcroft for Missouri - $5,161 from Missouri Senate Campaign Committee.

Grow Missouri - $2,500,000 from Rex Sinquefield.

MO Cattlemen’s Association PAC - $12,500 from Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.

Mayfield for Missouri - $13,600 from Missouri Democratic State Committee.

Wieland Now - $20,000 from Dempsey for Missouri.

Wieland Now - $150,000 from Dempsey for Missouri.

Friends of Mark Ellebracht - $10,000 from Teamsters 245 PAF.

Missourians for Koster - $15,000 from Holman Schiavone LLC.

Committee to Elect Jeff Roorda - $5,001 from LIUNA Laborers Local 110 Political Fund.

Missouri Club for Growth Political Action Committee - $1,200,000 from Rex Sinquefield.

House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $15,000 from Citizens for Hinson.

House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $15,000 from MADA Dealers Interested in Government.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to Rep. Holly Rehder (45).