Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Harper to Auditor
It’s said that Paul Harper, former Legislative Director for the Department of Revenue, is now at the Auditor’s Office as General Counsel.
Harper was at Revenue when it went through its difficult time with the legislature over the conceal carry database.
And
Jeffrey Earl has left the Auditor’s office. He’s now registered to lobby for the Department of Corrections.
Englund Kick Off
Look for a formal Vicki Englund kick-off for Senate 1 to happen on July 1st! Englund has previously traded spots with Cloria Brown every other election cycle in House 94. So this is good news for Brown.
Meanwhile one would expect a lot of back room meetings with little actual movement as Dems try to consolidate behind a single candidate and hold Senate 1. Looks like a primary there however with Rep. Genise Montecillo and perhaps others jumping in as well.
Reuter Kick Off
Republican Dan Reuter will have his kick off for House 96 on Thursday, June 25th. Reuter is running to replace termed Rep. Mike Leara. It’s expected to be a contested primary. See Reuter’s bio here.
House 65
Tom Hannegan, publisher of St. Charles’ Streetscape Magazine, writes in the June issue, “as you flip through these pages, you will see that I am running for State Representative of District 65…” And indeed pages later is a full-page ad for Hannegan who boasts of House 65 Rep. Anne Zerr’s endorsement.
Meanwhile Adam Schnelting, also running in House 65 (see the website here), has quite a list of endorsements as well: Sen. Bob Onder, Reps. Kurt Bahr, Robert Cornejo, Kathie Conway, Ron Hicks, Mike Kelley, Mark Parkinson, Randy Pietzman, Tim Remole, and Bryan Spencer.
Bond Hires Hulshof
The press release: Kit Bond Strategies (KBS) is pleased to announce that former U.S. Congressman Kenny Hulshof will join the bipartisan firm as Vice Chairman and Partner…
“I am excited to join KBS. For a dozen years in elective politics, I had the opportunity to work alongside Kit Bond shaping public policy on behalf of our constituents. Today I’m pleased to join Kit’s team to work as passionately on behalf of our clients in the areas of public policy and business development,” said Hulshof.
Prior to joining KBS as Vice Chairman Kenny served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years representing Missouri’s Ninth Congressional District and as a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Most recently, Kenny served as vice chair of Polsinelli’s Public Policy practice.
Yokley to Roll Call
Eli Yokley announced yesterday that he is going to work for the DC political paper Roll Call. From his email… “After traveling thousands of miles across the state – covering dozens of Lincoln and Jefferson Day dinners, union rallies and tea parties, small town parades and community fairs – there is one thing I know for sure: I love my home state.
Because of that, and because I appreciate my colleagues, friends and mentors here; the lessons I've learned; and the support I've received since launching PoliticMO, this next part is bittersweet.
Later this month, I’m headed off to Washington D.C. On June 29, I will join Roll Call as a political writer covering U.S. House and Senate campaigns.
When I clock-in at Roll Call, I’ll hit a pause button on the PoliticMo website, but will still always keep my ear to the Missouri-ground for you from Washington. In the coming weeks, I also plan to begin a new column in my hometown paper, the Joplin Globe, updating people back home on the state of affairs in the nation’s capital.”
Kander Calls for Paid Sick Leave
US Senate candidate Jason Kander seized on the issue of paid sick leave in yesterday’s email blast… “Think about this next time you're out with your family at a restaurant: over 75% of
America's food and hotel service workers clock in to their jobs without the benefit of guaranteed, paid sick leave. It's no wonder that 63% of restaurant workers in one study reported cooking or preparing food while sick. Passing paid sick leave is a common sense idea supported by the vast majority of Americans…. Every Democrat voted yes, and a number of Republicans even joined them. But Missouri's Republican Senator, Roy Blunt, voted no….”
Noranda Watch
The press release: Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation (NYSE: NOR) (“Noranda”) announced today that it has obtained $15 million of project-specific financing that will allow it to complete a state-of-the-art redraw rod mill at its aluminum smelter in New Madrid, Missouri (“New Madrid”). The new rod mill will increase Noranda’s production capacity by approximately 43% and will exemplify the latest cutting-edge technology in the North American marketplace. The rod mill is geographically located in an advantageous section of North America which affords customers shorter transportation distance and lower freight costs. Consequently the Company has already received interest from customers for a majority of the new rod mill’s capacity…. [S]aid Layle K. “Kip” Smith, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The recent ruling by the Missouri Public Service Commission (the “PSC”) to reduce Noranda’s electricity rate for the smelter was a major factor in successfully obtaining financing for the rod mill. The lower rate structure is a key factor that supports the New
Madrid smelter’s viability making New Madrid the appropriate venue for the rod mill.”
eMailbag on Nixon and UAW
Observer 1: Another perspective on the UAW contribution to Nixon--the UAW's role is to protect its members' interests, not those of the Democratic Party. Nixon's emphasis on the auto industry has been critical to the UAW's preservation and growth of jobs in the state. The timing wasn't ideal, but the UAW has plenty of reasons to give to Nixon beyond his RTW veto.
Observer 2: Dems can fume at Nixon all they want but they have shown an extraordinary inability to do anything about it.
Help Wanted
Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations seeks Attorney. “The largest component of the work of attorneys in this position is the preparation of appellate briefs in unemployment cases, arguments in those cases before Missouri appellate courts, and representation of the Department in hearings before administrative tribunals in unemployment tax and benefit matters… Salary $46,000 - $60,000…” See the ad here.
$5K+ Contributions
Local 41 Political Action Fund - $9,176 from DRIVE Committee.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Congressman Jason Smith (35), Reps. Bill White (62), and Bob Burns (67), and John Pelzer.