Wednesday, February 12, 2014
I Spy
SPOTTED… 2:30pm… One Peter Herschend clearing his throat and then entering Room 330… the office of Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal… Herschend is on the State Board of Education. Earlier that morning Chappelle-Nadal and other senators across all ideological stripes spent some time on the floor railing against the Board for moving on student transfers without legislative input. The meeting lasted about 45 minutes, no audible shouting emerging from the office… Herschend’s next visit? Second floor, governor’s office.
Later in the hallway, Sen. Jamilah Nasheed – also upset with the State Board of Education – talking about filing a bill to repeal part of last year’s SB 125 in order to rein in the Board…
A Different Kind of Cap
Unlike other bills this session which have focused on capping the damages a jury could award, Senate Floor Leader Ron Richard filed a bill which would cap attorney fees. Read the bill (SB 846) here.
Here’s Richard’s proposed fee schedule:
33% on the first $50,000
25% on the next $50,000
15% on the next $500,000
10% on anything over $600,000.
For those who guffaw that Republicans are supposed to support free markets and not legislate what price people charge, maybe think of this as being in the tradition of Richard Nixon’s price and wage controls?…
Hubrecht in House 151
Tila Hubrecht will be the Republican nominee in House 151. That’s the district where Dennis Fowler resigned, but failed to win approval for his appointment. Governor Jay Nixon recently called a special election for August 3.
It’s said that Hubrecht will make a down payment on her campaign with a $10,000 self-contribution once she sets up a committee.
It’s a heavy Republican district.
Rumorville: Hamill in House 40
Democrats are said to be recruiting in House 40. The current incumbent is Republican Rep. Jim Hansen. But the district is a swing district, and previously it was represented by a Democrat (Paul Quinn). Hansen’s in his first term so he’d be most vulnerable this cycle.
The name being mentioned for Dems is Eddie Hamill. He was “appointed in July 2009 by President Barack Obama to serve as State Executive Director for the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Missouri. Eddie has spent his entire life in Ralls County, operating a family farm that now consists of 1200 acres of cropland and pasture for a cow- calf herd…” See his bio here.
Peter Kinder, Chris Kelly to Debate
Columbia Daily Tribune’s Rudi Keller reports on a twitter exchange gone crazy…
Pull Quote: State Rep. Chris Kelly and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder will debate federal control of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways at the Shannon County Courthouse, Lincoln-Douglas style, at a date to be determined and the loser buying Booches’ burgers. The debate format and place were settled in a Twitter exchange that began with Kelly’s response to Missouri “taking back control” of the riverways now under the care of the National Park Service.
“Yes!! Let's put it back like it was......with Dodge trucks caught in the root wads. The oil in the water made neat rainbows,” Kelly tweeted.
And
One observer on the odd couple: “Those two are simply opposites in so many ways. But both are smart, given to animation and fearless to the point of abrasion…Wouldn’t Kinder versus Kelly for 2016 Lite Gov be a barn-burner?”
Citizens for Fairness
A new committee, Citizens for Fairness in Missouri, was formed. See it here. There’s no hint from the filing what the “fairness” the “citizens” of this committee are for. But the deputy treasurer for the committee is James Thomas III who has done work for political consultant Jeff Roe in the past. So a guess would be that it’s a vehicle to support a ballot initiative on which Roe is working.
Tweet of the Day
Former state senator Jane Cunningham weighs in on Hanaway announcement… “@JCunninghamMO: Catherine Hanaway needs 2 think of 2014 candidates & not distract from their campaigns. Entire Capitol changed hands since she was there.”
Bits
Multiple people in the building report receiving calls from Rep. Delus Johnson, showing that he’s serious about the Senate 12 run. There had been some speculation that he could be “talked down” from running. That does not appear to be the case. So far.
In the Senate halls… why Medicaid expansion truly is dead this session… “Even if three or four change their vote with some kind of reform ‘Missouri solution,’ aren’t there at least four or five that will cheerfully filibuster anything that looks like Medicaid expansion? Yes.”
Thought Experiment… If you have a three-way primary for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, and Chris Koster pulled a page from Claire McCaskill’s playbook and ran early ads to help pick his opponent, who does he want? Concealed carry opponent Catherine Hanaway? Nerdy Tom Schweich? Or the guy who spent millions and couldn’t beat Akin, John Brunner?
Potrepreneurs? Read it here.
Fundraising Calendar
Today’s fundraising events from Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Missouri Restaurant Association Lobby Day and Taste of the Rotunda.
Reps. Marsha Haefner, Sheila Solon, Kathie Conway & Diane Franklin Reception – 223 Madison St., Jefferson City, 6-7:30pm.
Missouri Press Association Legislative Reception – DoubleTree Hotel, 5-7pm.
$5K+ Contributions
Stand Up Missouri - $45,000 from National Installment Lenders Assoc.
Eastern Missouri Senate PAC - $100,000 from Missouri Senate Campaign Committee.
Southwestern Missouri Senate PAC - $100,000 from Missouri Senate Campaign Committee.
Citizens for a Stronger Missouri - $10,000 from David Spence.
Citizens for a Stronger Missouri - $10,000 from William Holekamp.
Notes on Money
The Republicans’ Senate Campaign Committee is seeding their two regional committee with $100K each.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Gate Way Group website:
Margaret Boyko added Luekemia & Lympoma Society.
Steven R Carroll added Kansas City Metro Tactical Officers Association.
Tim Freeman added American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Scott Swain added Steven Carroll & a+Associates.
Edward D Watkins added Trail’s End.
Jon Dolan added National Health Corporation, and Healthline Homecare Agency LLC.