Friday, January 3, 2014
Another Lawsuit Hits Rex IPs
Yesterday Stinson attorney Chuck Hatfield filed another lawsuit against a different Rex Sinquefield initiative petition. This one takes aim at the IP which would lower the income rate and allow the legislature to substitute lost revenue with a higher sales tax.
The lawsuit has the same plaintiff and backers as Hatfield’s suit last week…
Interesting Bits
Just go to John Combest this morning…
GOP Sues Nixon over Vacancies
AP’s David Lieb has the story of a lawsuit attempting to force Governor Jay Nixon to call special election to fill legislative vacancies. See it here.
Pull Quote: The lawsuit claims Nixon is shirking his duties by not setting special elections and that residents in the districts will be deprived of representation during the 2014 legislative session if the governor does not act soon… The lead plaintiff is Pamela Grow, the chairwoman of the 120th Legislative District Republican Committee, who visited the Capitol in November to deliver a letter pleading with the Democratic governor to set a special election.
Jones Promises RTW Vote
Springfield News-Leader’s Jonathon Shorman reports that Speaker Tim Jones will bring “right to work” up for a vote in the House. See it here.
Pull Quote: During the 2013 legislative session, Jones, while always supporting Right to Work, never allowed the House to vote on a bill. That appears set to change, and would be a significant victory for Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, who has introduced the legislation multiple times. “It is time for Missouri to have the debate as to whether we should become the 25th state that allows their workers to have the ultimate in freedom and choice,” Jones said. “I say that because this is no longer an experiment or an anomaly. When half the country is doing something, you owe it to the citizens and the taxpayers of your state to at least have the debate and have the topic under consideration and allow the elected representatives to vote on that key issue.”
This would result in a major mobilization effort from organized labor, and would potentially eclipse all other issues.
December State Revenues Up Again
The press release: 2014 fiscal year-to-date net general revenue collections increased 2.8 percent compared to fiscal year 2013, from $3.77 billion last year to $3.87 billion this year. Net general revenue collections for December 2013 increased by 5.1 percent compared to those for December 2012, from $722.9 million to $759.6 million.
Kenney Sues Chiefs
According to Casenet, former Chiefs’ quarterback and current Public Service Commissioner Bill Kenney filed suit against the Kansas City Chiefs organization on December 31.
According to a news summary at Courthouse News, it alleges negligence and fraudulent concealment, that the “Defendant failed to warn plaintiffs William Kenney and Thomas Baugh, who are former Kansas City Chiefs football players, of the dangers of repeated head trauma and concussions.”
I recall Kenney being part of a class action lawsuit against the NFL a year or two ago. Not sure how this is different.
More Last Minute Checks
In Senate 2, Chuck Gatschenberger puts in his own cash.
Potential 2016 AG candidates Eric Schmitt and Kurt Schaefer take checks.
And the transportation tax campaign committee adds $45,000.
Oh, and Koster, always Chris Koster on these lists…
$5K+ Contributions
Gatschenberger 4MO - $30,000 from Chuck Gatschenberger..
Missourians for Koster - $7,500 from Fred Weber Inc.
Schmitt for Missouri - $10,000 from Noranda Aluminum Inc.
Missourians for Safe Transportation & New Jobs Inc. - $25,000 from Burns and McDonnell.
Missourians for Safe Transportation & New Jobs Inc. - $20,000 from Crawford, Murphy & Tilly Inc.
Citizens to Elect Kurt Schaefer Attorney General - $20,000 from Otto Maly.
Citizens to Elect Kurt Schaefer Attorney General - $7,413 from Glazer Distributors of Missouri.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Pelopidas website:
Allan Clements, Alexander Hanson, Joel Longanecker, Max Magruder, Meghan McCann, Adam McMikle, James Mendez, Knial Piper II, Dana Shannon added The Associated Students of the University of Missouri.
Shawn Furey added Centene Corporation, and Home State Health Plan.
David Overfelt added Missouri Juvenile Justice Association.
Stephanie Seger added Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Robyn Silvey added Missouri Pharmacy Association.
David Samuel Durbin deleted SSM Health Care.
George H Guidry Jr deleted Koch Companies Public Sector LLC and its affiliates.
Debra Hollingsworth deleted Southwestern Bell Telephone d/b/a AT&T Missouri and its affiliates.
Jim Russell deleted Missouri Agribusiness Association.
Gerald Feller deleted Feller Consulting LLC, and Missouri Association of Municapal Utilities.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to former state senator Dan Clemens (69).
Saturday: Sen. Rob Schaaf (57).
Sunday: former state representative Sara Lampe (65).