Monday, April 7, 2014

Big Week in the House

On the peerless Combest, Missourinet has John Diehl looking to Wednesday for a Right to Work vote on the House floor.  See it here.  This will dominate the week.  It is the marquee event.

The current projection is for right to work to fail narrowly.  Observers have been saying that everything needs to fall into place for it to pass.  All the Aye voters have to be present etc.  Controversial votes often either just barely pass, or miss by a half-dozen votes as people bail when they realize there’s no point to making a “tough vote.”

And Missourinet says that the House will return to the transportation tax proposal on Tuesday.  See it here.

Senate 24: McNary for Ashcroft

John “Jay” Ashcroft’s filed his campaign committee with the Missouri Ethics Commission late last week.  His treasurer is… Gene McNary.  McNary, pops to former state representative Cole McNary, was once a force in St. Louis County politics.  He was St. Louis County Prosecutor from 1967 to 1975, and then became County Executive until 1989.

House 3: Walker’s Challenger Puts in $10K

Rep. Nate Walker is the one “flimsy 15” who appears to have a legitimate primary opponent. He faces John Bailey.  Bailey is an orthopedic surgeon, and in the large contributions (below), Bailey recorded a $10,000 check from his business practice, Mid America Orthopedic and Spine Institute LLC.

House 33: Dem Hick Drops

Chris (C.J.) Hicks withdrew from House 33.  Republican Rep. Donna Pfautsch is the incumbent.  That leaves Democrats is Syed Asif.  Asif ran for Jackson County Legislature in 2010, losing in the primary with 21% against Greg Walters.

MRP Plays in O’Fallon?

For a state party that’s supposedly strapped for cash, there have been some odd large contributions from Missouri Republican Party recorded lately. 

April 2 – Missouri Republican Party sent $14,000 to Citizens to Elect Gatewood.

April 2 – Missouri Republican Party sent $18,000 to Friends of Zoe Gilbert.

Russell Gatewood is running for Ward 5 in O’Fallon Missouri.  It is a non-partisan election.  See committee here.  MEC says it was terminated in April 3.  Laborers Local 42 invited folks to a Gatewood funder in February on their Facebook page.

Zoe Gilbert is running for Ward 5 in O’Fallon Missouri. It is a non-partisan election. See committee here.   Gilbert’s Linkedin profile says she’s the 1st Vice-chair of the Board Republican National Hispanic Assembly.

Then on April 3, Friends of Bill Gardner received $6,566 from “Friends of Zoe.”  This is the same Zoe.  They just left off the Gilbert.   Gardner is running in Ward 1 in O’Fallon.  According to MEC his committee was terminated on April 4.

And then April 4, Missouri Republican Party again sent $9,000 to Friends of Zoe Gilbert.

If you’re like me you’re scratching your head…

SB 652 Stalled?

The fifth telecom bill of the five that Sen. Brad Lager filed after Hammerschmidt court ruling still hasn’t moved.  The other four were signed by the governor.  But the fifth, SB 652, sits on the House calendar as it has for about a month.

Last year it was said that Hawkeye Land Company opposed the measure which deals with utilities using railroad right of ways.   Brad Ketcher is the registered lobbyist with Hawkeye this year.

SB 820 Stalled?

SB 820 which would modify the Master Tobacco Settlement is in limbo in the Senate.  It was passed out of committee, but has yet to be reported out to the Senate.  This is one of those less visible pitfalls in a bills journey to become a law.  After a bill is voted out of committee, but before it makes it onto the calendar where the Floor Leader can call it up for debate, it must be reported out of committee.  The pro tem’s office green lights bills to be reported out, often like a traffic cop, to make sure that there’s not an imbalance in the number of bills coming out of various committees, to make sure that each senator feels that they are getting equal time for their priorities.

SB 820 appears to be waiting at that stoplight…

And

The proponents of the measure have taken to the TV.  See an ad here. The disclaimer says paid for by Fair Trade Missouri and RAI Services Company, the parent of RJR.

Fair Trade Missouri’s website says, “Failure to pass the Allocable Share Amendment means not only will Big Tobacco win, all Missourians will lose when vital programs get cut.”  However they’re clearly in alliance with Big Tobacco.

Bits

Sen. John Lamping appointed to the Education Committee.  He takes Scott Rupp’s spot.

This week the Senate Appropriations Committee digs in on the budget.  Keep track of the various appropriations bills here.

eMailbag: Defending Berry

“Whoever made the comment about TJ Berry clearly doesn't know him.  Look at Berry’s voting record: pro-labor on virtually every big issue (prevailing wage, UI, etc.) that’s come up during his time.  He has been publicly opposed to RTW since he won his first term.  He worked in a union job in the past and believes in organized labor.  His RTW opposition has nothing to do with the tax cut veto.  His district also has a good number of union voters (though fewer after redistricting) so, like many GOP reps, RTW is bad politics in his district.

“As for RTW being an easy GOP vote--not so fast.  Kit Bond, John Danforth, Roy Blunt, even John Ashcroft opposed it while statewide elected officials (though Ashcroft changed his mind when he got to DC).  Not to mention Steve Tilley…”

Fundraising Calendar

Today’s fundraising events from Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:

Rep. Gary Cross Reception & NCAA Basketball Championship – Bone’s, Jefferson City – 7 p.m.

Reps. John McCaherty & Todd Richardson NCAA Watch Party – J. Pfenny’s Sports Grill, Jefferson City – 7:30 p.m.

Lobbyist Registrations

From the Gate Way Group website:

Jeff D Hightower deleted PNC Bank NA.

Tom Loehner deleted            Gallagher Consultants Inc.

$5K+ Contributions

Friends of Bill Gardner - $6,566 from Friends of Zoe.

MO Republicans Party - $10,000 from Anheuser Busch Companies.

Progress KC PAC - $15,000 from Heavy Constructors Association Industry Advancement Fund.

Progress KC PAC - $20,000 from Burns and McDonnell.

Citizens to Elect John Bailey - $10,000 from Mid America Orthopedic and Spine Institute LLC.

Freedom Incorporated - $10,000 from International Union of Operating Engineers.

Friends of Tom Schweich - $5,100 from John Woodside.

Freedom Incorporated - $10,000 from Heavy Constructors Association Industry.

Missouri Early Voting Fund - $25,000 from International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Friends of Zoe Gilbert - $9,000 from Missouri Republican Party.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to API’s Ryan Rowden.

Congratulations

To MO Chmaber’s Jay Atkins and his wife, Haley, on the birth of Emmett Graham Atkins… 7 lbs. 6 oz. and 20.5 in.