Tuesday, January 14, 2014

New Republican Senate Campaign Committees?

Word is that the Republican Senate’s campaign committee may be establishing a couple of regional continuing committees to focus on specific races. 

According to this rumor there would be a committee aimed at the western side of the state, specifically defending the Springfield district (Senate 30) of Sen. Bob Dixon, as well as an eastern side committee which would be targeting Jefferson County’s Senate 22.  Ryan McKenna recently vacated that seat.  Reps. Jeff Roorda (Democrat) and Paul Wieland (Republican) are expecting a fierce battle for that seat.

One potential objective in creating the new committees is to make a demonstration of support.  Roorda has been outraising Wieland early on (we haven’t seen this quarter yet), and Dixon – while having built important crossover relationships with labor – isn’t a big fundraiser (see below).

Look for the new committees to be seeded with funds from the Missouri Senate Campaign Committee.

January Quarter Watch

Senate 10 – Rep. Ed Schieffer raised $8,695 and spent $8,752, and has $9,789.  Incredibly raising very little and spending even more, this is a recipe for a sure loss against the hard-working Rep. Jeanie Riddle.  Schieffer also spent some money at Walmart – which is usually a no-no for Dems who court labor support.

Senate 30 – Sen. Bob Dixon raised $30,350, and has $58,858 on-hand.  Democrats have no announced candidate yet to oppose Dixon.

House 56 – Jack Bondon, running as a Republican to replace Rep. Chris Molendorp, raised $5,175, and has $13,669 on-hand.  Bondon works for the family business, a liquor store chain named Berbiglia.  He received $500 from Glazer’s PAC this quarter.  No one else has started a campaign committee in that district.

OA Announces Disparity Study Public Meetings

The release: “The State of Missouri Office of Administration (OA) is holding a public meeting on January 29, 2014 regarding the State of Missouri's Disparity Study for minority and women owned business enterprise (M/WBE) program… The public meeting will allow for the gathering of input from businesses, community organizations and individuals regarding their experiences in doing business with the State through its M/WBE program, and to help identify barriers to the full and fair inclusion of all firms in State contracting opportunities. The meeting will also include a presentation on the study's elements and will provide an open forum for comments and questions regarding the study process.

“The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 29, 2014, in Room 510 of the Harry S. Truman Building in Jefferson City…”

Right to Work Hearing

The House held a hearing on one of Speaker Tim Jones’ top legislative priorities, right to work.  The Post-Dispatch has a summary article here.

Pull Quote: Mike Louis, a lobbyist for Missouri AFL-CIO, said his comparison of states with and without right to work showed workers made less and fewer employers funded healthcare insurance for workers… Vincent Vernuccio, director of labor policy for Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a Michigan-based free-market think tank, said right to work legislation has been shown to have economic benefits, including higher wages when the cost-of-living is factored in.

AFP’s Yellow Pages Test

Americans for Prosperity will be at the Capitol today – with Yellow Pages in hand…

The press release: Today Americans for Prosperity MO launched its Path to Prosperity project at the Missouri State Capitol… For more information on our Path to Prosperity and what our members have prioritized for the 2014 legislative session please go to www.moafp.org.  AFP-MO will highlight its first of nine Legislative areas – Prosperity and Freedom by delivering 200 yellow pages to State Representatives and State Senators at the MO Capitol.  AFP-MO wants lawmakers to review state government priorities by applying the Yellow Pages Test:  “If it’s in the Yellow Pages government should consider not doing it.”

Senate Committee Hearing Schedule

Here’s the hearing schedule for this session – looks about the same as last session.

Monday

12:30pm Appropriations (SCR2)

2:30 pm - Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections (Senate Lounge)

7 pm – Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence (Senate Lounge)

Tuesday

8am – Appropriations (SCR2)

8:15 am – Seniors, Families and Pensions (SCR 1)

1 pm – Small Business, Insurance and Industry (SCR1)

1 pm – Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics (Senate Lounge)

3 pm – Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment (Senate Lounge)

3pm – General Laws (SCR1)

Wednesday

8am – Appropriations (SCR2)

8am – Transportation and Infrastructure (SCR1)

8:30 am – Gubernatorial Appointments (Senate Lounge)

1pm – Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government (Senate Lounge)

1pm – Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources (SCR1)

2 pm – Progress and Development (SCR2)

3pm – Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight (SCR1)

3pm – Education (Senate Lounge)

Thursday

8:30 am – Ways and Means  (SCR1)

8:30 am – Veterans’ Affairs and Health (Senate Lounge)

Bits

It’s Cable Day at the Capitol today.  Comcast’s Tom Krewson tweets that Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers will be in town to help celebrate.

The St. Louis Police Chief said that red light camera have “changed behavior.”  See the Post-Dispatch article here.

MOWonk’s Linda Rallo crunched some campaign finance numbers.  According to Rallo’s research from 2011 to 2013 Missouri donors wrote 186,894 checks totally over $130 million dollars!  See her report here.

$5K+ Contributions

Missourians for Safe Transportation & New Jobs Inc. – $10,266 from Associated General Contractors of Missouri Inc.

Stand Up Missouri - $16,500 from Brundage Management Company Inc.

Lobbyist Registrations

From the Pelopidas website:

Parker J Bena added Bena & Smiley LLC.

Ryann L Summerford added Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri.

Paul Snider deleted Kansas City Power & Light; and added Brightergy.

Andrea G Bough added Kansas City Streetcar Authority, and Red LSE LLC.

Suzanne (Suzy) E Day added Missouri Family Health Council Inc.

Deirdre K Hirner added Madsen & Wright Inc., and Hirner Associates LLC.

Tricia Workman and Mike Gibbons added Peabody Energy.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Rep. Mike Cierpiot (61), and former Rep. Margaret Donnelly (60).