Friday, February 1, 2013
GOP Dings Nixon on Contributions
Yesterday the AP ran a story on Governor Jay Nixon’s practice of accepting large contributions, even as he calls on a change in legislation to outlaw them. Read it here. (Thanks to the peerless Mr. Combest)
This “hypocrisy” has long been a talking point for Republicans. Political realists of course don’t expect one side to disarm even if they disagree with the operating arms treaty.
But the hit reminded me of a tweet by former Nixon staffer, Jeff Mazur, following Speaker Tim Jones’ rebuttal of Nixon’s state of the state. @jmaz: “Just read Tim Jones' speech. Strikes me as a political failure/missed opportunity. Uses its energy to hit a popular Gov who can't run again.”
And it does call the political question: why is the state GOP hitting a term-limited governor? Instead of say, a future gubernatorial candidate like Chris Koster?
Anyone want to hop on the presidential campaign conspiracy and imagine it’s a top-down decision to start to soften Nixon ahead of his Iowa explorations?
The Old Normal
With the success in cranking some tax credit legislation through the Senate, one is wondering if there will be no enduring legacy left from the “Jason Crowell years.” In a little while we may look back and just consider them a blip of abnormality.
Another indication of this view is the return of the consent calendar in the Senate. Sen. Brian Munzlinger’s SB16 – exempting farm work from child labor laws – is the first bill on that calendar. Crowell moved like a tornado through the consent calendar during previous sessions, knocking off bills left and right.
Clark to Dive Deeper Into Education Reform
The St. Louis Business Journal reported that Bear-a-Bear CEO Maxine Clark is retiring from the company – and will spend more time on her other passion: education reform. Read it here.
Pull Quote: A board member of KIPP: Saint Louis, Clark intends to devote more time to the public charter school organization. KIPP plans to open another five schools in the area in the next seven years, an endeavor Clark said will require fundraising and strategizing... Clark is also a member of the Teach For America national board and the local St. Louis regional board.
House Bits
The House is starting to get into gear. 100 bills were referred to committee on Thursday, filling the pipeline so we can move out of the informational committee meetings and start hearing bills.
Still waiting on the Senate to refer Rep. Jason Smith’s lieutenant governor special election bill to committee… surely it will be headed to Sen. Jay Wasson’s Elections Committee, but it has to be sent there first.
It’s unclear whether doing technical sessions saves any money when so many Reps stick around for committees or other business. 92% of House legislators picked up their per diem Wednesday and 71% Thursday.
Rep. Mike Leara passed out HB169 out of the Pensions Committee. It’s sponsored by his former rival, John Diehl.
Rep. Jim Hansen was added to the Committee on Emerging Issues in Agriculture
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Pelopidas website:
Joe Maxwell added Humane Society of the United States.
Tim Swinfard deleted Missouri Coalition of Community Mental Health Centers; and added Pathways Community Health.
Richard M Aubuchon, Rodney Gray, Tami Holliday, Susan Henderson Moore, and Michael Moorefield deleted Google Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
A Better Missouri With governor Jay Nixon - $25,000 from RightCHOICE.
MO Democratic State Committee - $10,000 from Ameren Missouri.
Slay for Mayor – $20,000 from Peabody Investments Corp.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays tomorrow – to Reps. Diane Franklin (57) and Steve Hodges (64), and lobbyists Jim “Boo” Foley (49) and Otto Fajen (the big 5-0).
Sunday: Reps. Kent Hampton (65), Dave Hinson (41) and former state senator Jason Crowell (41).