Monday, September 8, 2014
See the tentative veto session schedules issued by both chambers to their members. Both say that they may be in session until Friday. But most folks I talk to think that is unlikely. We’ll see…
Tentative House Floor Schedule
Date Convene
September 10 10:45 am Swearing in of New Legislators
11:00 am Veto Session Convenes
September 11 * 9:00 am Veto Session Convenes
September 12 *9:00 am Veto Session Convenes
***Thursday and Friday sessions are tentative but BE prepared to stay until Friday.
Senate Veto Session Schedule
Tuesday September 9
5:30pm – Retirement Reception and Dinner
Wednesday September 10
8am – Employee Recognition Breakfast
9am – Employee Recognition Ceremony
12 Noon – Veto Session
Thursday September 11
9am – Senate Convenes
Friday September
9am – Senate Convenes
Be prepared to stay till Friday. We have heard the House will have to procedurally go line by line for the budget veto items. Which will take time.
Those Line Item Votes
There is a variety of opinions about the proper procedure to override the governor’s line item vetoes. One camp believes that each line item must be voted on separately. That would take hours. Another believes that it is just as acceptable – and much more expedient – to override the line items by bill in a bulk manner.
There are potential implications depending on the path taken. If it is deemed proper to override each line item individually, and the House takes up these budget items first, it may push other bills being overridden into Thursday. On the Senate side, there’s talk of a senator – maybe more – being absent after Wednesday, therefore threatening their ability to override the House bills sent to them.
Pro Tem Tom Dempsey has requested a legal opinion on the matter from Attorney General Chris Koster. So we’ll see how his office weighs in on the question.
Murphy, Dashtaki Off the Hook
Jody Murphy and Cyrus Dashtaki has the ethics charges against them dismissed. The Commission says that the order against the House Democratic Campaign Committee covers their actions. Read Murphy letter here. Read Dashtaki letter here.
Ferguson Bits
Get on the Bus
A tweet from St. Louis City Alderman Antonio French indicates that there could be a large public showing from Ferguson at the veto session… “State Sen @MariaChappelleN is taking busses of citizens to the State Capitol WED to tell their #Ferguson stories. Call 314-503-8484 to go.”
McCulloch Gives Grand Jury Everything
Washington Post reports that County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch, perhaps trying to inoculate himself against accusations that he’s tilting the table, is giving every piece of evidence to the grand jury – an unusual move. Read it here.
MSTA Chips In $260K
In the large contributions, Missouri State Teachers Association contributes over a quarter-million dollars to the opposition campaign against Teachgreat’s teacher tenure ballot issue. The opposition will be outspent by Rex Sinquefield and the “reformers,” and the question is said to poll well. However history has shown that these statewide ballot issues can be stunted with lesser resources if they raise enough questions in the voters’ minds.
Jones and MRL
Speaker Tim Jones and Missouri Right to Life are holding press conferences on the House’s upcoming effort to override the governor’s veto of HB 1307 – the abortion 72-hour waiting period.
Carthage, MO, Jasper County Courthouse, 10:30 a.m., Sept. 8
Springfield, MO, Pregnancy Resource Center, 1:00 p.m., Sept. 8
Jefferson City, Pregnancy Help Center of Central MO, 1:00 p.m. Sept. 9
Senate Minority Leader Race
We’re two months away from the post-General Election caucuses when the chamber will choose their leadership.
On the Senate side, it appears that Sens. Joe Keaveny and Paul LeVota are the two leading candidates for minority leader.
It’s said that the caucus is evenly split between the two. If that’s the case the potential incoming senators – Jill Schupp, Jeff Roorda, Ed Schieffer – would decide who would lead their caucus.
One knock against LeVota is that he’d occupy that office for six years. Keaveny is reportedly telling folks that if elected he would only expect a two-year term at the post, and would willing step aside if the caucus want to switch up
Moody on Budget Numbers
Lobbyist, and former budget director, Jim Moody in a note to clients says not to get too pumped up on the positive August revenue numbers… “Our Rule 1 of general revenue watching is do not get too excited by a single month or single day, particularly early in the fiscal year… Last year July and August revenues were weak (-.8% for the two months), so we are comparing to a very weak July and August 2013… Last year only 14.2% of the fiscal year’s revenues came in July and August receipts. For contrast, last year about 14% of all general revenues were received in April…”
Jones: Ferguson Will Make Agenda
In the Politically Speaking podcast, Rep. Caleb Jones is interviewed by the mighty Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies.
He says a run for Senate 19 “lays out pretty nice.” It’s when Sen. Kurt Schaefer would be termed. But that he “answers to two speakers of the house,” one of which is his wife. So he’s not made a decision yet.
He sees discussion about Ferguson taking a lot of time on the Senate floor, and maybe hurting chances for some overrides – particularly if there are some senators who can only be in the session for one day.
And Jones thinks the legislature will do a lot on Ferguson next session – including education, law enforcement, the fractured governance of St. Louis County, the abuses of the judicial systems in the tiny municipalities there.
Fundraising Calendar
Today’s fundraising events from Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Rep. Jeanie Riddle Golf – Tanglewood Golf Course, Fulton.
“Sip to Save the Art” – House Chamber – 6 p.m.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Gate Way Group website:
Brian D Burnett added Curators of the University of Missouri.
Keith Hazelwood added Lombardo Homes of St. Louis LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Committee In Support of Public Education - $260,000 from Missouri State Teachers Association.
Schmitt for Missouri - $10,000 from Rivertown Enterprises Inc.
Better Schools for Missouri - $10,000 from Guin Mundorf LLC.
Missouri Farmers Care - $10,000 from Missouri Cattlemens Association PAC.
Citizens for Burlison - $10,000 from Bill Burlison.
Friends of Rick Stream - $10,000 from John Danforth.
Friends of Rick Stream - $12,000 from Menlo Smith.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthday to former Rep. John Quinn (64).