Thursday, July 10, 2014
Kraus for SOS
Why wait for the 2014 election cycle to end get your 2016 campaign going? Perhaps startled by Sen. Eric Schmitt’s decision to claim the state treasurer spot, Sen. Will Kraus this morning declared he’d be running for Secretary of State. See his website here.
One Republican derisively texted that champagne bottles were being popped in incumbent Jason Kander’s office on the news. The reason: Kraus is hundreds of thousands of dollars behind other potential SOS candidates, like Speaker Tim Jones.
This can change quickly for Kraus – with Missouri’s no-limits environment. He could land a Rex Sinquefield check for example given that he was the chief proponent of the large tax cuts bills of recent years. He has a Jeff Roe/Brad Lager connection which could bring in Stan Herzog money.
With his $1 million war-chest and rock solid conservative credentials Jones is still the favorite in any Republican primary he chooses (except the governor’s mansion). Still, this will put pressure on him to choose his path sooner rather than later so that he’s not seen as a spoiler in Republican efforts to avoid the primaries that have sabotages their statewide aspirations in the past.
Additionally, Republican Party stalwarts may seek clarity on Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder’s plans, so they can determine whether there’s another opening into which they may plug the ambitious.
And secondary or tertiary candidates Sen. David Pearce, Rep. Paul Curtman are being left behind at the station as the 2016 train…
Nixon Vetoes HB1132
Governor Jay Nixon vetoed HB 1132 which would increase tax credits to food pantries and pregnancy resource centers. His veto message was all about fiscal prudence.
However the $1.5 million price tag was completely lost in the “values” exchange among supporters and opponent of the legislation. Pro-choice legislators like Rep. Stacey Newman cheered the veto of “MO religious PregResourceCenters that lie to women.” While Missouri Right to Life looked ahead to an override: “This law, when passed over the governor's veto, will save babies and protect women, both adults and minors by giving more dollars to pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes to help women in crisis pregnancies. This assistance helps women choose life for their unborn child and protects them from the dangers of abortion.”
And
The House Republicans will caucus on July 14 to start talking about overrides. Bill sponsors of the vetoed bills will begin to make their case to the caucus, but no decisions are expected until their summer caucus event.
O’Connor Plan = Missouri Plan?
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor unveiled her model plan for selecting judges and some Missouri lawyers were noting that it looks a lot like the Missouri Plan which has been sporadically under assault by right-winger over the past decade. See her plan here.
McVey to Labor, Nixon Critics Growl
News that former AFL-CIO topper Hugh McVey is joining the Department of Labor (see it here) brought this response from critics of Governor Jay Nixon… “If they budget is so bad, how are they creating new positions for political friends?”
Translation: Grrrrr.
Stenger’s New Ad
St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger released his latest TV commercial continuing his theme that incumbent Charlie Dooley is mismanaging the County and “ten years is long enough.” See it here.
Meanwhile
Eerily quiet from Rep. Rick Stream…
Greitens Bits
Yesterday on Twitter, possible Republican gubernatorial candidate Eric Greitens took questions. He never alluded to any political ambitions… Q: What am I working on now? A: Writing a book on Resilience. About how people move through pain to wisdom, through suffering to strength… .@awlupton I'm looking at a few options. Big focus right now is finishing Resilience book & preparing to become a Dad!
But as folks start looking into his past, it’s interesting to note he’s one of the few – maybe the only? – Republicans listed on Mayor Francis Slay’s re-election mailer for last year’s Democratic primary… See it here.
And one tipster passed along the rumor that Greitens is already talking with consultants… “He supposedly has already tapped Dave Hageman and Victory Enterprises to work for him. Getting them is a coup in and of itself. I've never meet him but everyone that has says he is the real deal…”
Randoms
Ameren’s Warren Wood and FERAF’s Chris Roepe did back-to-back segments on KMOX to talk about Ameren’s rate increase filing. Listen to them here.
Uber and Lyft’s problem: stories like this… get into a car, jump into a scene from Cops? Read it here.
Jim Anderson, until very recently with the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, is now Vice-President Marketing - Public Affairs, System Administration for Cox Health.
Governor Sam Brownback says if you find yourself in a hole the first thing to do is to keep digging? If re-elected, he’ll… cut taxes. Read it here.
Help Wanted
Missouri Secretary of State seeks Director of Enforcement. “Salary: $5,416.75 to $7,083.50 per month… The Director of Enforcement leads the Enforcement Section in all phases of its work, including complaint intake, investigation, and litigation. This includes reviewing complaints, referrals and tips, and assigning matters to investigators and attorneys… The Director of Enforcement is a key liaison with outside law enforcement agencies and government regulators…” See the ad here.
Missouri Secretary of State seeks Director of Examinations. “Salary: $4,583.50 to $6,250.00 per month… The Director of Examinations coordinates and manages the Division’s registration and ongoing supervision of securities firms and securities professionals…. The Director of Examinations tracks developments in the Broker-Dealer and Investment Advisor registration and compliance fields and suggests policy changes, focused examinations, and industry sweeps, as necessary...” See the ad here.
Department of Conservation seeks Conservation Agents. See duties, benefits, qualifications for agents here. See information to apply here.
Fundraising Calendar
Today’s fundraising events from Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Reps. Eric Burlison & Scott Fitzpatrick Golf – Island Green Golf Club, Republic.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Gate Way Group website:
John M Edgar added Deffenbaugh Industries Inc.
Phillip P Scaglia deleted UGA, LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Committee in Support of Public Education - $60,100 from MO Legislative Impact Committee.
Committee in Support of Public Education - $500,000 from MO National Education Association.
Schmitt for Missouri - $10,000 from Express Scripts Inc.
Missourians for Safe Transportation & New Jobs Inc – $10,000 from Missouri Automobile Dealers Association.
Missourians for Safe Transportation & New Jobs Inc - $100,000 from Western MO & KS Laborers District Council.
Missourians for Safe Transportation & New Jobs Inc – $10,000 from Civic Progress Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce.
Missourians for Safe Transportation & New Jobs Inc - $8,000 from Opies Transport Inc.
Missourians for Safe Transportation & New Jobs Inc – $27,500 from MO Truck PAC.
Missourians for Safe Transportation & New Jobs Inc - $25,000 from Fred Weber Inc.
Missourians for Safe Transportation & New Jobs Inc – $25,000 from Trailiner Corp.
Missourians for Safe Transportation & New Jobs Inc - $10,000 from Rudolph Faber.
Emersons Missouri Responsible Government Fund - $42,000 from Emerson Electric Co.
Committee to Elect Jeff Roorda - $10,000 from Simmons Hanly Conroy.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays to former Rep. Cole McNary (the big 5-0), and PolticMo’s Eli Yokley.