Thursday, May 30, 2013

Advantage Capital Steps Back

In the lobbyist registrations, there have been a number of lobbyists deregistering Advantage Capital recently.  This comes on the heels of the legislature’s inability to renew the New Markets tax credits.  It looks like Advantage Capital is taking a step back from Missouri. 

The Senate passed the New Markets tax credit renewal (with lower caps), after some detailed hard-nosed analysis by the “hawks” including Sen. John Lamping.  Lamping – no fan of corporate giveaways concluded that the program probably worked, and in the worst case scenarios the state doesn’t lose money. 

After it (SB 112) passed the Senate, the bill was loaded up in the House and treated as an omnibus ecodevo vehicle as happens to bills in the final weeks of session.  It died.

One observer sums it up, “The failure to reauthorize the program has caused Advantage Capital to focus its resources in other states…”

Sporting Event Tax Credit Paying Off Already?

From the Post-Dispatch: “St. Louis is expected to be awarded the 2017 Southeastern Conference men’s basketball tournament, ESPN reported from the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Fla., citing an anonymous source. The Scottrade Center is expected to be the host venue.”  See it here.

It’s said that in their pitch St. Louis took the sporting events tax credit bill to Nashville to help close the deal…

Curtman’s Brush with Crush

From Rep. Paul Curtman’s Facebook:

“Thank you everyone for praying for me, God is good! Everything is working out now. I will be fine and Gods Grace shown bright today. Thank you again!!!

“Without going into too many details, I thought I had broken and crushed my leg (with 500 lbs) in a couple places. I was alone in and no one was around to see or hear me. Being a Marine and knowing that it was not a like or death scenario, I didn't call an ambulance, I figured others needed them more than I did although the crushing sensation and the fact that my left leg was entirely out of service due to the extent of the blood and swelling in the middle of my shin and all around my ankle was really making me nervous.

“I sent out a tweet for prayer, then I called a couple of friends to take me to the hospital, they said it took them 25 minutes to find me (I was afraid hey wouldn't find me at all for awhile) but according to my iPhone it only took them 6 minutes. ???

“At the hospital I explained to the doctor that I felt things in my leg crushing my leg below the knee was swollen severely and I couldn't stand on it and when I did pain shot up my leg close to my hip and I would just fall. She nodded that it was likely a bad break as I was finishing up the last X-ray.

“THEN after about an hour lying on a bed in a lot of pain, the doctor came back and said that i would be in a tremendous amount of pain for the next few days but there was NO damage to the bone. PRAISE GOD!

“Thank you for your prayers! Having been alone and laying on the ground wanting for help in that kind of pain isn't a good feeling but I'm thankful that God was there and that he blessed me with such great friends to pray for me, so much so that all indications of a traumatic break in a couple of places turned out to be no break at all. THANK YOU AGAIN!”

Schupp Follow-Up

Someone sent me Rep. Jill Schupp’s invite for her June 13 kick-off.  The must be two hundred names on the invite.  If they’re all good for $500, that’ll be a cool $100K to add to her war-chest over a year out…

Dooley Fundraising

And eyes will be on St. Louis County Executive Charles Dooley’s July campaign finance report.  So far this year he’s only recorded three checks in excess of $5K.  Four years ago Dooley’s July 1999 report showed $429K on-hand.  As of last quarter Dooley currently had $22K on-hand.

Any weakness in Dooley’s fundraising will likely embolden his expected primary challenge from St. Louis County Councilman Steve Stenger.  Stenger’s cash on-hand last quarter was $179K.

St. Louis Business Journal 2013 Legislative Awards

“For the 11th year in a row, the St. Louis Business Journal will honor the top lawmakers in Missouri with the 2013 Legislative Awards.  This honor recognizes legislators for their continued efforts in their districts as well as making Missouri a better place to live.  Here are the 2013 honorees: Rep. Jay Barnes, Rep. Mike Cierpoit, Sen. Tom Dempsey, Rep. Marsha Haefner,    Sen. Jolie Justus, Sen. Mike Kehoe, Rep. Rocky Miller, Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, Rep. Todd Richardson, Sen. Scott Rupp.”

Eyeballing this, it looks like those who voted against the transportation tax ballot issue were shut out this year…

$5K+Contributions

Central Bancompany-PAC - $12,500 from Central Bancompany.

Lobbyist Registrations

From the Pelopidas website:

Rodney Boyd, Brian Grace, Kelvin Simmons, Jessica Hodge, Jim Moody and Chris Moody deleted Advantage Capital Partners.

Jessica Hodgedeleted American Red Cross Mid-Missouri Chapter.

Jim Moody and Chris Moody deleted Appriss.

Kelvin Simmons deleted Summit on Pryor Development LLC.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Rep. Galen Higdon (59).

Saturday: Reps. Steve Lynch (59), and John Wright (37).

Sunday:  Rep. Dean Dorhman and Dick Burke.