Monday September 16, 2013
Discontent with Jones
KC Star columnist Steve Kraske hammers Speaker Tim Jones for “campaigning more than leading.” See the hit here. Kraske is not alone in this assessment.
One of the exhibits of evidence is Jones’ post-veto session with Dana Loesch. Hear it here. Obviously when you go on a far-right wing talk show you’re going to be baited into say things that are provocative. Still, Jones basically was throwing caucus-members under the bus.
What happened on HB 253? “Dana we found out how many true hard-core fiscal conservatives who want to grow Missouri’s economy we really have. And Dana we have 94… Now Dana these folks are going to have to go back home and explain why they voted against the first broad-based tax relief package in nearly a century…”
New Litmus Test for Recruiting? “The government educrats at the trough scared the heck out of these people. And they succumbed to the fear, Dana. And you can’t have legislators who are going to move common sense fiscally conservative measures forward who are going to be beholden to the government school establishment. Dana, that is the common thread. We’re going to have to do a better job of recruiting and funding candidates in the future that are not going to be shackled to their government school educrats…”
Will Republicans Who Voted Against HB 253 Lose their Chairmanships? “We’re going to take a hard look at everything…”
Jones Opens LLC Books to Beacon
St. Louis Beacon reporter Jo Mannies gets the exclusive… She sits down with Speaker Tim Jones who opens up the books on his LLC that was the heart of questions of potential conflicts of interest. Bottom-line: everything’s kosher. See it here.
HB 611 Confusion
There’s confusion – and some fear – over the consequences of not enacting HB 611. On the floor Rep. Sheila Solon assured the chamber that there was a reprieve from the possible loss of millions of federal dollars by falling out of compliance with their labor requirements.
But instead of a federal waiver, it appears that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations filed emergency rules.
I think these are what they filed: See it Here. And also here.
Now, the question is: does DOLIR have the statutory authority to do so? If so, why did they go to the trouble of doing a bill in the first place?
And – if so, does this jeopardize the businesses’ status? One business source quivers at the possible result: “As a result, despite Rep. Solon’s pronouncements, Missouri businesses are facing a $420/employee federal tax increase on October 1st and the state is set to lose $217 million in TANF money.”
The best guess here is that the Feds recognize a good faith effort to comply (i.e. promulgating emergency rules), but it certainly adds to the urgency for the legislature to resolve this next session.
Schieber Draws a Primary
Josh Catton started a campaign committee to run for House 14 as a Republican. The current incumbent is Rep. Ron Schieber.
Catton doesn’t have a website up yet, but says that he’s a “millennial” who would be a more independent-minded conservative than Schieber, and less of go-along, get-along legislator.
Rumorville: Zweifel to DC
It’s said that Treasurer Clint Zweifel will travel it Washington DC this week. Would love to see his schedule to see if there’s any time allotted to meet with the Dem Senate Committee about a possible 2016 Roy Blunt match-up.
Obama to KC
From the White House Press Schedule: “On Friday, the President will travel to the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant where he will continue to highlight the progress we have made since the beginning of the financial crisis five years ago and the work that lies ahead to continue strengthening our economy and deliver a Better Bargain for the Middle Class…”
Missouri Solutions
A new political action committee was started last week with ties to former state senator Tim Green. It’s called “Missouri Solutions.” See the filing here. Green is listed as the president and his address and phone are being used for the committee. It’s unclear what the goal of the committee is. Stay tuned...
Bits
Yet another Missouri Ethics Commission consent order involving the ill-fated Regional Growth Consultants, the Cass County Board members were each fined $1,100 for using public funds, no “paid for” disclaimer and no reporting on time. See it here.
Among Governor Jay Nixon’s board and commission appointments last week… MO Primary Care’s Joe Pierle was appointed to the Missouri Electronic Prior Authorization Review Committee, and St. Louis judge Marvin Teer was appointed to the Administrative Hearing Commission.
Missourians for Tax Justice merged with the Economic Justice Task Force of MASW earlier this year, and they’re committed to offering expertise on creating a more modern, adequate, and fair tax system as the tax reform debate continues. One area of focus: “Missouri is one of only six states that allows a deduction for federal income taxes paid, a poorly constructed tax feature that costs Missouri at least $400 million annually (with 83% of the benefit going to the wealthiest 40% of Missourians). Yet it would only cost a little over $200 million to create a refundable earned income tax credit to bring needed cash into the homes of low-wage workers in our state…”
eMailbag: Get Over It, House Dems
“Yes, yes, Nixon is a selfish King of the Mountain but the House Dems need to get over him not helping them. They’re failure is their own fault. The sooner they realize they caused their own problems, i.e. not standing together on Doe Run and the sooner they get some courage, the sooner they’ll earn some respect. The only messaging they provided all summer was ‘gun nuts, pot smokers and clowns.’ That doesn’t rile up your base or raise money. House Ds look like a bunch of whiny wimps.”
eMailbag: Results
I got innumerable snarks at the Rex Sinquefield consultants getting thumped on HB 253. Here’s the wittiest: “No mention of those smartly wrapped ‘Grow Missouri’ vans? Perhaps King Rex should ask Doe Run how it's done!”
Help Wanted
Communication Specialist with DESE… See it here.
Department of Social Services seeks staff attorney… See it here.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Pelopidas website:
Christopher D Sutherland deleted Missouri Association of Counties, Missouri Municipal League, and The Rhoads Company.
Bob Quinn added AFT-Missouri.
$5K+Contributions
Schupp for Senate - $10,000 from Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC.
A Better Missouri With Governor Jay Nixon - $25,000 from Davis, Ketchmark, McCreight & Ivers, PC.
A Better Missouri With Governor Jay Nixon - $10,000 from Gregory Wendt.
A Better Missouri With Governor Jay Nixon - $25,000 from Carey & Danis LLC.
Committee for Research Treatments and Cures - $25,000 from Kansas City Power & Light.
Committee for Research Treatments and Cures - $10,000 from St. Luke’s Health System.
Committee for Research Treatments and Cures - $10,000 from L Patrick James.
Engler for Missouri - $6,000 from US Tool Group.
Lewis & Clark Ozarks Mountain Forum - $15,000 from Neal Ethridge.
Lewis & Clark Ozarks Mountain Forum - $25,000 from John Gentry.
Lewis & Clark Ozarks Mountain Forum - $15,000 from James Combs.
Clint Zweifel for Missouri - $10,000 from Simmons Attorneys At Law.
Missouians for Koster - $50,000 from Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Joan Bray (68), Nicole Brown (28), and Jim Kottmeyer.