Monday, March 3, 2014
Game On in Senate 26
Rep. Dave Schatz donated $250,000 to his campaign committee. Last week Schatz surprisingly filed to run for Senate 26 where incumbent Sen. Brian Nieves has been squirrely on his intentions. Nieves filed, but has sent mixed signals about whether he would be actually be on the ballot in November pending a potential business opportunity.
In addition to the quarter-million contribution, Schatz also landed $40,000 in checks from friends and family.
It’s said that Speaker Tim Jones has an interest in the Senate seat – should Nieves not run. Jones has an enormous $1 million-ish war-chest. But it’s presumably awaiting his 2016 statewide bid. How much of that would he be willing to spend to win the Senate seat for two years beforehand?
The Schatz move ups the ante significantly in this game of poker.
And Here Comes Cunningham?
Jo Mannies reports on the possibility that former state senator Jane Cunningham would be interested in the Senate 26 seat – again, with the caveat that Nieves isn’t running. Read it here.
More intriguing is the potential Cunningham for County Executive rumor in the article…
Pull Quote: She also is meeting Saturday with St. Louis County Republican party leaders who want her to consider running for county executive. So far, two lesser-known Republicans have filed for the post, now held by Democrat Charlie Dooley…
Ice, Sleet, Snow
Legislative committees and session were cancelled today because of the storm. And Governor Jay Nixon postponed his trade mission to Canada.
And I skipped going to the gym this morning….
Baker Back to Graves
In the lobbyists’ registrations, Aaron Baker deleted his Axiom Strategies registration. He’s back staffing Congressman Sam Graves. But he may return to Axiom to aid lobbying in the future.
Rumor of the Morning: Guernsey for Soybean Association?
Who knows if it’s true, but it makes sense…. Rep. Case Guernsey who recently declined to run for a state senate seat everyone thought he would run s reportedly interested in the Missouri Soybean Association job which was vacated by Dale Ludwig.
It’s a nice paying job and Guernsey had an ag pedigree and close ties to the Richard Fordyce, the current director of Department of Agriculture.
Nixon Releases More Money
Form the press release: Citing continued improvement in the state's economy, Gov. Jay Nixon today released the remaining expenditure restrictions of $132 million for the current fiscal year.
The Governor directed the Office of Administration to use the resources to continue to consolidate and improve the efficiency of state facilities… The expenditure restrictions that were released today include $28.5 million to extend the life of Missouri's State Capitol building, $12.5 million to improve State Parks for visitors in all regions of the state, $38 million to improve the efficient use of state buildings and $53 million for priority maintenance and repair projects for facilities statewide.
eMailbag: Get Your Shows Straight
“Someone should let Drebes know that Neal Boyd won America’s Got Talent – American Idol. He’s made that mistake more than once. Significant difference. If you win Idol you run for Congress – See Clay Aiken. America’s Got Talent, you get 30% in a state rep race…”
Help Wanted
Missouri Commission on Human Rights seeks attorney. “This is a professional position providing legal work, investigating and litigating civil rights complaints alleging discrimination in housing, and participating in fair housing outreach and education….” See ad here.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Gate Way Group website:
Dave Berry, Deanna Hemphill and David Jackson added RAI Services Company.
Aaron Baker deleted Axiom Strategies.
David Shorr deleted Con-Agg of MO LLC.
Steve Tilley deleted Bryne & Jones Construction.
$5K+ Contributions
Citizens for Torpey - $10,000 from David Ketchmark, McCreight & Iver PC.
CWA District 6 Political Education Committee - $37,350 from CWA COPE.
Kander for Missouri - $10,000 from Gori, Julian & Associates PC.
Kander for Missouri - $10,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Lewis & Clark Regional Leadership Forum - $12,000 from Cole & Assciates Inc.
SEIU Missouri State Council PAC - $15,000 from SEIU Missouri/Kansas State Council.
Missouri Early Voting - $10,000 from AFSCME MO.
Missouri Early Voting Fund - $25,000 from Carey & Danis LLC.
Missouri Early Voting Fund - $25,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Missourians for Koster - $25,000 from Carey & Danis LLC.
Citizens for Schatz - $10,000 from Peterson Oil Company.
Citizens for Schatz - $20,000 from Shirley Schatz.
Citizens for Schatz - $5,100 from Don Schaefer.
Citizens for Schatz - $5,000 from Don Peterson
Citizens for Schatz - $250,000 from Dave Schatz.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Brooke Foster (35), John Hancock (the big 5-0), and Heath Clarkston.
Congratulations
To Missy and Jeff Roe on the birth of their daughter Remington Anna Jeane Roe. She weighed 6 lbs, 8 oz and was 20 1/4 inches long.