Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Schweich Funeral Today
AP reports that Jack Danforth will give the eulogy at Tom Schweich’s funeral today. Governor Jay Nixon, and Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill will be in attendance as well as many state legislators. The House and Senate are both having an afternoon start today so that their members may attend the service.
Parson Bemoans Negative Ads
On the Senate floor yesterday Sen. Mike Parson made a plea for more civility in political campaigning, and promised not to support candidates that don’t adhere to a higher standard.
See the Post-Dispatch article here.
Citizens for Fairness Amended Report
Citizens for Fairness in Missouri, the campaign committee which paid for the controversial radio ad against Tom Schweich, amended its April 2014 report the afternoon of Schweich’s suicide. The amended report took off a contribution from the Adam Smith Foundation, as well as expenditures to Axiom’s Candidate Command LLC. The report noted that these items were “already reported” on the 48-Hour reports beforehand.
I’m told that the Adam Smith Foundation has not contributed to Citizens for Fairness since that April report, so they weren’t the source of the funds for the radio ad. But I wonder if we will see the true source of the funds when Citizens for Fairness files their April 2015 report. I’m inclined to bet that we’ll see a non-transparent “non-profit” on that report. If my cynicism proves true, perhaps it will motivate the legislature to finally put some teeth behind their rhetoric of believing in transparency.
From the 19th Century
According to Wikipedia, Governor Thomas Reynolds, Missouri’s seventh governor, died by his own hand while in office. See it here.
Despite all his success Thomas Reynolds was not a well man, either physically or mentally. For several months prior to his death Reynolds was reported in ill health and suffering from melancholia.[2][4] Political opponents in Missouri's Whig party, and certain newspapers under their influence, were particularly harsh in their criticism of Reynolds, his actions and positions as governor.[4] During breakfast on the morning of February 9, 1844 Reynolds asked a blessing, which was not usual for him. Following the meal he locked himself in his Executive Mansion office and drew the shutters closed. Some time later a passer-by heard a shot and upon investigation Reynolds was found dead at his desk with an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.[5] On the governors writing table was a sealed message addressed to his friend, Colonel William G. Minor in which he said "I have labored and discharged my duties faithfully to the public, but this has not protected me from the slanders and abuse which has rendered my life a burden to me…I pray to God to forgive them and teach them more charity."[5]
To lose any leader while they are in office is a shock, doubly so when death comes by their own hand. A large crowd of mourners attended Governor Reynolds funeral and burial at Woodlawn Cemetery in Jefferson City, Missouri. Two years later a large granite shaft was erected at his gravesite. Reynolds County, Missouri was also named in his honor.[2] His greatest legacy however was the public attention paid to the issue of mental illness. Reynolds successor, Governor Meredith M. Marmaduke, urged the creation of a system and building for the care of the mentally ill in his 1844 message to the legislature. This helped lead to the opening of Fulton State Hospital in Fulton, Missouri in 1851.[3]
Bits
In Politico, Larry Sabato pins Missouri’s 2016 Senate race as “likely R,” the rating just below “safe R.” We’ll see….
In Politico’s Influence, the Port of Oakland terminated Gephardt Group Government Affairs as their lobbyist.
February revenue collection was up 4.4% over February of last year. So far, fiscal year to date, net tax receipts are up 4.9%. The bellwether individual income tax receipts continued solid growth up 5.6% for the month.
New Committees
Martha Stevens started a campaign committee to run for House 46 as a Democrat. The current incumbent, Stephen Webber, is termed.
NO MO Common Core PAC was formed. Lloyd Sloan is the treasurer.
Bryan Stalder started a campaign committee (Stalder’s Committee to Make KC Epic) to run for Council Person At Large District 4 City Of Kansas City.
Today’s Events
From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Missouri Health Care Assn. Legislative Reception – Capitol Plaza Hotel, Jefferson City – 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Lobbyist Registrations
Jewell Patek added Lewis And Clark Information Exchange, and Partners for Progress
Rebecca Nace added Checker Cabs; and deleted Dennis Thompson, Walton Construction, Craig Bates, KC Quality Taxicab Alliance, and Alex Harris NACC.
Brent Evans added ECP LLC.
Gerard Keegan added CTIA – The Wireless Association.
Jay Swearingen added Prairie Weed Cultivation & Care Center.
Mary Nelson and David Bradley deleted University Of Missouri Board Of Curators
Shanon Hawk deleted CCRC of Gladstone LLC.
Darrell “Pat” Yokley deleted Community America Credit Union.
Sandie Benen deleted Sandie Benen.
Sam Licklider deleted A-1 Premium Acceptance, Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Teamsters Loca; Union No 688 Political Action Committee - $11,278 from Teamsters D.R.I.V.E. Committee.
MBA River Heritage Region PAC - $6,042 from The Bank of Missouri.
Civic Progress Action Committee - $7,500 from Peabody Investments Corp.
UAW Region 5 Midwest State Political Action Committee - $6,000 from UAW Region 5 Exchange Account.
Freedom Incorporated - $7,500 from Lucas for KC.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays Heath Clarkston, and Brooke Foster.