Thursday, February 28, 2013
Schoeller for MRP Executive Director
Former Rep. Shane Schoeller will be named the new Missouri Republican Party executive director. Schoeller is a solid conservative in good standing with some of the party’s heavy donors – Humphreys, Sinquefield – as well as the Tea Party grassroots… and it’s as good a place as any for Schoeller to stay relevant for his expected 2016 secretary of state's race.
Very Short, Very Soon?
With Kevin Gunn set to exit from the Public Service Commission, the rumor-mill wastes no time in churning out possible replacements. It’s said that the replacement list is very short, and that the announcement could be very soon.
We’ll see…
SB207 Forth and Back
“Tracker” Not in PSC Analysis
Pushing back against the Public Service Commission analysis that showed ISRS costing consumers no more (over time) than non-ISRS, opponents of the legislation pointed to Gunn’ letter which indicated that their analysis did not included all parts of the proposal – just the ISRS part. Opponents claim that the “tracker” part of the legislation is ripe for potential cost over-runs hitting consumers.
Would both sides agree to some ISRS-only legislation?
MBEF TV Spot
The pro-utilities group, Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future, released their response ad to FERAF.
“Seen this ad? That argument’s as old as our hundred year old energy regulations…” See it here.
Medicaid Bits
Barnes to Obama: Get Serious on Red State Solutions
Rep. Jay Barnes gets ink in Governing this morning. See it here.
Pull Quote: “Barnes also included one other provision that could complicate things: he wants the 100 percent federal funding match for everybody enrolled in Medicaid under his plan. That was part of the sweetened deal that was supposed to persuade states to expand the program under the ACA, but HHS has previously said that states could receive the enhanced funding only if they expanded Medicaid eligibility to 138 percent of the poverty line… If the White House is serious about expanding health coverage and controlling costs, he says, they’ll reconsider. And if Missouri doesn’t get that money, he’ll drop the plan and fewer people will be insured.
“‘The Obama administration is going to have to get serious about working with red state solutions….’”
2014 Bits
Rep. Paul Wieland is expected to be the Republican nominee in Senate 22, facing off against Rep. Jeff Roorda. This will be one of the battleground districts in 2014.
Rep. Vicki Englund is closing on a house. It’s in House 94, but also – for those that want to gaze out into 2020 – in Senate 1….
And Rep. Keith English’s pro-life stance – as embodied in his HB298 which “requires an ultrasound to be conducted and reviewed with the pregnant woman prior to the 24-hour waiting period for an abortion” – has pro-choice Dems looking for a primary alternative.
Bits
Paul Wagner is the new executive director of the Council on Public Higher Education (COPHE). It’s the association of the 13 public universities in Missouri. Brian Long formerly held this position.
Sen. Mike Kehoe’s one-cent sales tax proposal (see it here) passed out of his committee yesterday by a vote of 6-1. The lone No vote was cast by Sen. John Lamping who said he felt the state hasn’t done enough to find efficiencies and cut waste before going to the people to ask for more money.
Lembke Would Have Been a No
Jim Lembke on Facebook thrashes the tax credit reform bill – somehow missing the $700 million positive fiscal note…
“Your state senator needs to hear from you! This morning around 3:30 am the gave first round approvel (perfected) SB120. This bill is taking our state down the same rocky road and failed tax policy that is keeping jobs from being created in Missouri. This mis-guided piece of legislation creates 4 new targeted tax credit programs that will be added to the 61 give-a-way programs already in place…”
eMailbag: Brownback Poll Numbers
“Interesting poll numbers for Kansas Governor Sam Brownback. He is really betting on the come. He is up for re-election in 2014 so it better hurry up and come. I give Brownback credit for not playing things safe. He is really trying to reform the state from top to bottom, big gamble, huge reward if it pays off.......interesting contrast with Jay Nixon.”
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Pelopidas website:
Anne Clouse, Scott Penman, and David Winton added Missouri 911 Directors Association, Missouri Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association, and Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials; and deleted Glazer’s Family of Companies.
$5K+ Contributions
A Better Missouri With Governor Jay Nixon - $10,000 from MHA Political Action Committee (HealthPAC).
Birthdays
Happy birthday to blogger Randy Turner (56).