Monday, January 6, 2013
Boeing Back to Seattle
Seattle’s local machinists union narrowly approved a labor contract. Therefore Boeing will build the 777x there.
This was thought to be the most likely outcome from the beginning. However the closeness of the vote – reportedly 51% to 49% – shows that it was hardly a slam-dunk.
And perhaps the “team spirit” of putting a package together so quickly will carry over into regular session?...
Ludwig Gone from Soybean Association
Following up on the rumors last week, AP’s David Lieb reports that Dale Ludwig, along with JP Dunn, has indeed exited the Missouri Soybean Association. Read it here.
Pull Quote: Ludwig said he was placed on paid administrative leave for about a month before his departure as an audit was underway at the behest of the United Soybean Board. The national board, created by a 1990 U.S. law, oversees about $180 million annually of "check-off" fees paid on all U.S. soybean sales to help promote the industry. Half of that money goes to the national group and half stays with state organizations. Ludwig blamed his departure on pressure from national soybean leaders. "This whole thing has some politics involved," he said…
Both Dunn and Ludwig said they never were shown the audit. But Ludwig said concerns were raised during the auditing process about how the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council used its share of the farmers' check-off fees. Among other things, he said there was criticism for providing research money to private companies and for buying university laboratory equipment… Ludwig said he also was accused of having a conflict of interest for investing in biodiesel facilities, which convert soybeans into fuel, while some of Missouri's merchandising funds were used to promote biodiesel. Dunn also is an investor in biodiesel businesses…
Jones in Senate 24?
One rumor has Republicans trying to recruit Wesley Jones to run in Senate 24 where John Lamping is not expected to run for re-election, and Democrats are backing Rep. Jill Schupp.
Jones is a capitalist of the bow-tie variety... See his bio here. Probably about as good of draw as Schupp could get. It’s said that he lives on the grounds of St. Louis Country Club, not sure if that’s literally true or just a metaphor for his lifestyle…
Devault for House 1
Kathy Devault started a campaign committee to run for House 1 as a Republican. The current incumbent, Mike Thomson, is term limited.
From here bio (see it here): “She is a registered nurse, holds a nursing home administrator's license, and earned a legal nurse consultant certificate from Kansas State University in 2010. Her most recent nursing position has been with the Nodaway-Holt R-VII School District where she has been employed the past 10 years. Kathy is a member of the Missouri State Teachers Association…”
This district should draw a spirited Republican primary.
Session Bits
Dig that car out sometime tomorrow at least… because session starts on Wednesday. This week is formalities and speeches. Still with committees already in place and lots of left-overs from last session, things should move relatively quickly this January and February.
The conventional goal in the legislature is to have a top priority or two passed and on the governor’s desk by Spring Break in March. The biggest possible snafus come in the form of divisive issues train-wrecking the lesser complicated issues. For example will tax credit reform derail other possible economic development bills? Will the establishment/reformer war prevent other education legislation? Will right to work gridlock the Senate?
Governor Jay Nixon will “detail legislative, economic priorities during 2014 State of the State Address at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21.”
Steve Kraske is not optimistic about this session. Read it here.
eMailbag: On Bill Kenney’s Lawsuit
“Gotta love Republicans who are for tort reform -- right up until they have an injury...”
$5K+ Contributions
Missourians for Fair Taxation - $40,000 from Missouri Association of REALTORS.
Missouri Farmers Care - $10,000 from Missouri Corn Merchandising Council.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Pelopidas website:
Greg N Johnston deleted Major Brands Premium Beverage Distributors, Y2Payment Systems Inc., Immunophotonics Inc., Ferguson Consulting Inc., Health Management Associates Inc., and Northside Regeneration LLC.
Steve Murray deleted Missouri American Water.
Kimberly Akin, Heath C Clarkston, and Harry Gallagher added Nextera Energy Resources LLC, and Multistate Associates Inc. on behalf of Sanofi Pasteur; and deleted American Wind Energy Association.
Daniel Allen, and Kevin Thompson added Raymond James & Associates; and deleted Morgan Keegan & Company Inc.
Elizabeth Lauber added JG Foundation.
Hallie Maranchick added Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Richard M Aubuchon, Rodney Gray, Tami Holliday, and Susan Henderson Moore deleted Trails Properties II Inc., and Alliance for Childhood Education.
C.K. Casteel, Jr. deleted St. Louis Regional Chamber.
Norbert Plassmeyer deleted American Wind Energy Association.
Elaine West deleted Missouri Association for Community Action.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Genise Montecillo (51), former Reps. Mike Daus (40), and Bob Onder (52), and Keaveny’s Stacy Morse.