Monday, July 8, 2013
Campaign Coming on HB253
Rumors are that supporters of the tax cut bill – HB253 – which was vetoed by Governor Jay Nixon are talking about launching a media campaign to press for an override.
Those who would pony up for the radio and TV ads might include traditional business groups like chambers of commerce, as well as advocacy groups like MO Club for Growth. If past efforts are any guideposts, the buys would target specific weak-kneed Republicans, imploring their constituents to call and “remind” them why they sent them to Jefferson City: lower taxes.
Most observers see an override in the House as an increasingly slim possibility, but Republicans and business leaders who see lower taxes as a core issue are reluctant to let Veto Session pass without a fight.
By the Way
NYTimes reports on political ads fueling valuations of television stations. “The increasingly expensive elections that play out across the country every two years are making stations look like a smart investment, with the revenue piling up each time a candidate says ‘I approve this message.’” Read it here.
Nixon Signs and Vetoes
Last week Governor Jay Nixon continued chugging through the bills. Two significant bills signed were HB345 which the telecom companies wanted to help with their cell attachments, and SB23 which is a local government hodge-podge. It includes Sen. Mike Kehoe’s effort to fix the auto sales tax.
Nixon also vetoed the “Second Amendment Preservation Act” which he says would violate the U.S. Constitution. See veto letter here.
Five Years
Midwives cheer the five-year mark since their profession was decriminalized.
The press release: “In June 2008, Missouri’s state Supreme Court announced a ruling that decriminalized Certified Professional Midwives in the state, bringing an end to the previous status as felons. According to statistics just released by the Department of Health, while the state’s birth rate has dropped 8% since 2007, out-of-hospital birth has increased by 68%, with births attended by Certified Professional Midwives doubling between 2010 and 2012. 1,420 out-of-hospital births were recorded in Missouri in 2012, with more than 1,000 of those births attended by midwives.”
Now Parkinson Wants to Fix Turner
Last week, Rep. Mark Parkinson – apparently in an effort to defuse angry constituents – called for a special session to deal with the impending student transfers into his district’s Francis Howell school district. Read the Beacon article here.
The retort to Parkinson’s call from one education combatant, “Interesting how calls are being made for a special session to address the student transfer issue by some of the very same legislators that held up Turner Fix legislation in 2012...which would have set up most of the needed parameters they now want!”
And
DJ Wilson pens a piece in St. Louis Magazine, “schools will open, students will transfer and the sky will not fall.” See it here.
Final Fiscal Year Numbers
“State Budget Director Linda Luebbering announced 2013 Fiscal Year net general revenue collections increased by 10.1 percent compared to 2012, from $7.34 billion last year to $8.08 billion this year.
Individual income tax collections increased 9.0 percent for the year, from $5.84 billion last year to $6.37 billion this year.
Sales and use tax collections increased 1.3 percent for the year from $1.87 billion last year to $1.90 billion this year.
Corporate income and corporate franchise tax collections increased 4.5 percent for the year, from $502.9 million last year to $525.7 million this year.
All other collections increased 18.2 percent for the year, from $398.4 million last year to $470.9 million this year.
Refunds decreased 7.8 percent for the year, from $1.28 billion last year to $1.18 billion this year.”
If Not Lamping…
Are Republicans starting to get serious about life after Lamping in Senate 24? The mighty Jason Rosenbaum has a look at who might take his spot on the ballot, if he doesn’t run. See it here. On the Baum’s list: Councilwoman Colleen Wasinger, Rep. Sue Allen, former Rep. Cole McNary, Bill Corrigan, Dave or Suzie Spence, and John Brunner.
Randy To Return
Randy Turner, the former Joplin school teacher who blogs The Turner Report, announced that he is starting a more ambitious blog/online paper: Inside Joplin. It will have – including Turner – three full-time reporters and cover Joplin as well as state politics and education issues. See the announcement here.
Bootheel Conservatives Unite!
A new political action committee was formed last week… Bootheel Conservative Republicans. The treasurer is Andrea Wilkerson, and the deputy treasurer is Myrna Cheek. Most of these committees don’t end up doing much. We’ll see…
Bits
Former state senator Gary Nodler says on Facebook that “tonight ‘The Ozarks Mafia’ will hold a reunion at the Springfield Cardinals game. This is a group of guys that all had a connection with the late Congressman Gene Taylor when we were young. The name ‘Ozarks Mafia’ was coined by the late Fran Watkins who served as Gene’s secretary in Washington D.C.. We enjoy getting together to reminisce.”
NYTimes says, “Rex Sinquefield has almost single-handedly turned St. Louis into the American chess capital.” See it here.
Sen. Ed Emery laments the Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage in his Capitol Report. “Pandering to a mere 3 percent of the U.S. population (estimates can range from 2 to 5 percent who practice sodomy), a 5:4 opinion has overturned moral absolutes that have endured in this nation for 237 years and transformed what is contrary to natural law into government-sanctioned behavior.” See it here.
$5K+Contributions
Friends of Tom Schweich - $10,000 from Steven Roodman.
Missourians for Koster - $20,000 from Kansas City Power & Light Company.
A Better Missouri With Governor Jay Nixon - $10,000 from Kansas City Power & Light Company.
Notes on Money
Roodman is listed as anesthesiologist from the Anesthesia Associates of Southern Illinois. Among the various medical specialists, anesthesiologists tend to be more politically active than others.
And notice that KCPL gave more to the 2016 gubernatorial candidate than the sitting governor. It’s in line with the practice to always be looking to the future, but also an early indication of Nixon’s approaching lame-duckness.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Pelopidas website:
Lou Edwards deleted Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics.
Daniel W McCarthy deleted Veolia Water North America Operating Services LLC.
Shanon M Hawk added Prive’ Living Well.
Richard Wiles deleted Prestige Powers.
Notes on Registrations
Prestige Powers is Daryl Duwe’s lobbying firm.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Rep. Marsha Haefner (62), and Richard Martin.