Monday, Feburary 24, 2014

Intrigue Brewing in Senate 26?

As I have written about during the past few weeks, there continue to be rumors in the hallways that Sen. Brian Nieves is headed for the exit.

Still, one strong source is certain that Nieves will file for re-election on Tuesday.  However the rumors are loud enough concerning his future that Rep. Dave Hinson may be considering also filing for the Senate seat – just in case Nieves ends up not being a candidate after all. Hinson appeared to indicate as much on Twitter over the weekend: “Lots of decisions to make before Tuesday. What path to go down???”

It’s also assumed that Speaker Tim Jones would have an interest in that Senate seat as well – if Nieves does, in fact, exit public service.

Jaksetic for House 90

Tomorrow at candidate filing, look for Gina Jaksetic to file for Republicans in the swing House 90 district.  Rep. Rick Stream is termed.  And Dems have Deb Lavender running again.  She has run competitively against Stream in the past.  Jaksetic is on Kirkwood’s City Council.  See a candidate bio of her from that race here.

Beard in House 52

Nathan Beard started a campaign committee to run for House 52 as a Republican.  Rep. Stanley Cox is termed.  See a story in the Sedalia News-Journal here.

A Tale of Two Springfields

One observer: “A bad break on timing created unsettling optics Saturday night for the Missouri GOP gathered in Springfield for Lincoln Days 2014. The contrasting stream of parallel-timing social media posts was cringeworthy: Republicans partied and kidded around, while a crowd estimated by the City of Springfield at more than 10,000 marched and conducted a solemn vigil in memory of 10-year-old abduction and murder victim Hailey Owens. The contemporaneous events Saturday night happened only a couple of miles apart, but the frivolity gap was as wide as the Grand Canyon. Of course, the Lincoln Days schedule had been set for months, while the Owens case only unfurled last week. Missouri Republican Party executive director Shane Schoeller mentioned Hailey in remarks at the start of the Lincoln Days banquet and asked for a moment of silence to remember the little girl whose broad daylight abduction and murder rocked the community. But the effect was to make the GOP Lincoln Days parties look boisterously celebratory, as GOPers tweeted that they had a record crowd of 450 at the banquet keynoted by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who made an odd quip about rabbits reproducing and questioned harsh marijuana laws. Nearly simultaneous tweets from two Springfield News-Leader reporters covering the events provide an example of the dissonance:

Christine Temple‏ @ctempleNL    Hearts raised for #HaileyOwens. Crowd singing "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine."

Jonathan Shorman ‏@jshormanNL  Long says he has Andy's Frozen Custard in his suite for ppl stopping by later #LD2014

The side-by-side contrasts continued throughout the evening on social media:

Charlie Puyear ‏@charliepuyear  "You're telling me they haven't even been selling rabbits!?" - Congressman Billy Long #LD2014

Betsey Bruce ‏@betseybruce   http://ow.ly/i/4Grqz Hailey Owens family watching thousands who came to honor her after she was abducted and killed Tuesday

Miles Ross ‏@milescross  Very proud of @Mo4charlieand other legislators who went to the #HaileyOwensvigil tonight and eschewed politics for compassion.

Eli Yokley‏ @eyokley  "When rabbits get together, you get more rabbits," @SenRandPaulsays. #LD2014#biology

Nigel Holderby‏ @girlnigel  My 14yo stands with her candle. A light against the darkness of violence that no child should know. #HaileyOwenspic.twitter.com/DTveuT37OI

Jo Mannies ‏@jmannies  LINC Days banquet crowd told that troopers in room are armed. "If you are packing, so are they," announcer says.”

Lincoln Days Talk

One top Republican source says that the expectation now is that Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder won’t be running for re-election.  It’s thought he’ll be headed to the private sector.  And that spot on the ballot could help relieve some pressure – either from those vying for the gubernatorial nomination, or the AG position.

No toe in the water from Catherine Hanaway, she dove in heads first at Lincoln Days.  It’s “Hanaway for Governor” all the way.

Schweich Announces More Fundys

Team Schweich’s press release on his fundraising schedule:

On March 19, Donn Sorensen, President of Mercy St. Louis, will be hosting a fundraiser at Café Napoli in Clayton. 

On March 30, Gary and Wendy Rust will be hosting a fundraiser in Cape Girardeau.

On April 12, Doug Russell, President of The Durham Company and former Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, will be hosting a fundraiser in Lebanon.

These additions come on the heels of the campaign’s recent announcement of a major fundraiser to be hosted by Ambassador George Herbert Walker III and his wife, Carol, on March 6.

House Hearings of Interest

Monday

Government Oversight and Accountability Committee – Noon in Hearing Room 7

It’s Public Assistance Day with five different bills dealing with SNAP and other programs.

Workforce Development and Workplace Safety Committee – Noon in Hearing Room 5   

Couple more anti-organized labor bills.

Utilities Committee – 2 p.m. in hearing Room 7

Voting out the five Lager telecom bills.

Tuesday

General Laws Committee – Noon Hearing Room 3

Ethics bills from Chairman Caleb Jones as well as Reps. Caleb Rowden, Robert Cornejo, Kevin McManusm Todd Richardson and Randy Dunn.  Plus term limits bills from Reps. Myron Neth, Michael Butler, Chuck Gatschenberger, and Donna Lichtenegger, and Chairman Caleb Jones.

Health Insurance Committee – Noon in Hearing Room 5

Rep. Rick Stream’s HB 1493 would require “all health insurance carriers and health benefit plans to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders.”

Special Standing Committee on Emerging Issues in Health Care – 2 p.m. in Hearing Room 6       

Chair Todd Richardson’s HB1662 would extend managed care.

Senate Hearings of Interest

Tuesday

Rules Committee – 1 p.m. in Senate Lounge

Sen. Jamilah Nasheed and Sen. Will Kraus’ ethics bills will get their hearings.

Wednesday

Education Committee – 3 p.m. in Senate Lounge

Sen. Joe Keaveny’s SB 538 and SB 539 would bring the possibility of state funding for pre-kindergarten programs.

Help Wanted

The Office of Attorney General has an opening in its Cape Girardeau office for an Assistant Attorney General in the Labor Division.  “The attorney will practice workers’ compensation defense and defend the State of Missouri's Second Injury Fund… Applicants who graduated in the top 30% of their law class and have at least two years of workers’ compensation or litigation experience are preferred.”  See the ad here.  

$5K+ Contributions

Citizens for Mason - $10,000 from Hulbery CPA LLC.

Hanaway for Governor - $10,000 from Stephen Brauer.

Dooley for St. Louis County - $7,500 from AT&T.

Citizens to Elect Dennis Broadbooks - $25,000 from Dennis Broadbooks.

MO State Council of Fire Fighters PAC - $9,000 from Citizens Keeping Our Commitment.

Missouri Early Voting Fund - $10,000 from James Nutter Sr.

MO Soybean Association State PAC - $20,000 from Missouri Soybean Association.

Slay for Mayor - $10,000 from Thompson Coburn LLP.

Friends of Caleb Rowden - $5,000 from Friends of Caleb Jones.

Friends of Tom Schweich - $10,000 from Jeff Fox.

Missourians for Koster - $10,000 from David Johnson.

Missouri Early Voting Fund - $25,000 from IUOE Local 513 Political & Educational Fund.

Friends of Kevin Elmer - $5,001 from Caleb Jones.

Fundraising Calendar

From Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:

House Democrats host “Meet the Candidates” – 229 Madison, Jefferson City – 6-8 p.m.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Sen. Jolie Justus (43), Rep. Sonya Anderson, former Sen. Chuck Graham (49), and MO Chamber’s Tracy King.