Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Grisamore Leaning Against Override
Rep. Jeff Grisamore says that he’s officially undecided on how he will vote on the HB 253 (tax cut) override. But that he’s “leaning against the override.” Although he supports tax cuts as a way to compete with the Kansas border, he has “grave concerns” about the potential negative impact the bill might have on what he considers his top priority – taking care of Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens.
While Grisamore’s concerns are good news for Governor Jay Nixon’s effort to sustain his veto, he’s hardly in the tank for the governor. He said that he found it “disgusting” that the second floor was using people with disabilities as “human shields” in this battle over HB 253, and he looked forward to direct talks with the governor’s office as he determined how he would vote in September.
Grisamore missed the final House vote on HB 253 because he was one the Senate side of the building.
Other Override Rumors
One hallway source says that Republicans are talking like they have secured a Democrat defector. The Democrat considered most likely to defect is Rep. Penny Hubbard who clashed early in the session with Minority Leader Jake Hummel and found an ally in Speaker Tim Jones.
But if Rep. Nate Walker’s talk on the override holds (see it here), Republicans will need two Dems.
And Walker’s new chummy relationship with Nixon has some imagining that he could receive a gubernatorial appointment at some point…
Meanwhile Dueling Nixon, Jones Duel Over HB 253 Impact
The governor’s office sent out a spreadsheet earlier this week detailing how potential budget shortfalls from HB 253 would impact various school districts as the foundation formula funding decreased. It’s an ugly and frightening sight.
Yesterday Speaker Tim Jones and House Budget Chair Rick Stream fired back.
Jones: “Even more outrageous is the false choice the governor has fabricated that pits the tax cut against funding for education, and that he makes this weak argument while our state has a surplus in the hundreds of millions. Missourians need to be aware that they can benefit from a reduced tax burden without in any way jeopardizing the record levels of funding we continue to provide to our system of education.”
Stream: “The bottom line is that the governor is using inaccurate projections to mislead Missourians about the true impact of HB 253. The truth is that our state is experiencing a healthy level of growth and Missourians deserve to have a portion of their hard-earned dollars returned to them in the form of a tax cut. Keep in mind that at the close of the 2013 fiscal year Missouri had collected $742 million dollars more than it had in FY2012 and had sustained 10.11 percent growth. This picture the governor has attempted to paint with Missouri teetering on the edge of a fiscal cliff is completely fabricated and blatantly false.”
Correction on Guns Bill
The Veto Cheat Sheet has been updated (see it here), but yesterday morning it incorrectly showed that no Republicans voted against HB 436 (the gun bill). In fact, one did: the fearless Rep. Jay Barnes.
On these overrides, every single vote may count. So the straying Barnes together with Democrats standing by their governor’s veto may make an override on this bill difficult.
And there are two other influences weighing against an override. First, NRA lobbyist Whitney O’Daniel needs to be careful not to put himself out of a job by getting every-single-frickin-thing done in a single session.
Finally, one observer wonders if Speaker Tim Jones – thinking about a 2016 general election for attorney general – might have second thoughts on the radical bill. “Does he really want to be on the record saying that policemen who enforce the 1934 National Fire Arms Act are committing a crime?” See summary of National Fire Arm Acts here.
The Bill
“All federal acts, laws, orders, rules, and regulations, whether past, present, or future, which infringe on the people's right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 23 of the Missouri Constitution shall be invalid in this state, shall not be recognized by this state, shall be specifically rejected by this state, and shall be considered null and void and of no effect in this state. Such federal acts, laws, orders, rules, and regulations include, but are not limited to: The provisions of the federal Gun Control Act of 1934…”
Trupiano Leaves Planned Parenthood
Michelle Trupiano deleted her lobbyist registration for Planned Parenthood Missouri a few days ago. It’s said that she’s headed to go work for Medicaid expansion. And that PP is still looking for her replacement to lobby in the building.
Ross for Martelly
Democratic consultant Jim Ross is working for Marcelle Martelly in her Florida Congressional bid. Ross works in several states. In Missouri, among his many clients are Rep. Jill Schupp and St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman.
Marcelle incidentally is the sister of Michel Martelly, the President of Haiti.
Schupp No Shoo-in
Republicans are unconcerned about the limbo situation in Senate 24 where Sen. John Lamping appears to be months away from a final decision. As one says, “Nobody knew who John Lamping was in October of 2009.” Translation: they have plenty of time to find their candidate and make him or her a household name.
And
Count former senator Jane Cunningham out of that name game. She’s having fun and fully engaged in the Monarch Fire District Board and isn’t interested in running in Senate 24.
Nutter Pens Plea for Gordon Parks
Kansas City heavy James Nutter Sr. writes an op/ed in today’s Kansas City Star (See it here.)
“Children arrive at Gordon Parks as witnesses to worlds of chaos. They mostly come with limited and tainted vocabularies and stunted math and social skills. About 98 percent of the students qualify for free- or reduced-price meals… The Missouri State Board of Education recently voted against renewing the state charter for Gordon Parks. I believe this was a terribly wrong decision. Closing the school will spell hell for a generation of kids who have a chance to learn and grow and succeed at Gordon Parks. We simply cannot allow these kids to fall back through the cracks, and back to chaos. These kids need Gordon Parks.”
St. Louis City Treasurer Jockeying
With Mike McMillan vacating the license collector’s office, the jockeying among St. Louis aldermen to win the replacement appointment from Governor Jay Nixon is ramping up.
Alderman Jeffrey Boyd is said to have the backing of Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, and Reps. Penny Hubbard, Josh Peters and Karla May.
Alderman Terry Kennedy, meanwhile, is said to have the support of Congressman Lacy Clay.
Darrough to Linn State
Former state representative Bruce Darrough was appointed to the Linn State Technical College Board of Regents by Governor Jay Nixon.
$5K+Contributions
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from James McDonnell III.
Missourians for Koster - $10,000 from The Accurso Law Firm.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to the Reps. Shelley Kenney and Kevin Austin (48), former speaker Jim Krieder (58), former Sen. Jim Lembke (52), and the Courts’ lobbyist Besty AuBuchon (38).