Thursday, January 17, 2013
Gunn to Step Down from PSC
In a surprise move, Kevin Gunn announced he would step down from the Public Service Commission in March. See the Beacon’s report here.
Gunn is chairman, so there was some talk yesterday about who the governor would lift into that spot in his absence. The consensus appears to be Robert Kenney who has had more time on the commission than Steve Stoll. However nothing’s a given.
Gunn resignation will give Nixon yet another appointment to the powerful commission.
30 Day Numbers
It looks like the January campaign finance reports after the November General Election are voluntary. Some folks filed the paperwork, others didn’t. Go to Special Reports to see the latest run-down of legislative cash on-hand. See it here.
Top Senate Cash On-Hand
Eric Schmitt - $504,481 (30 Day After)
Mike Parson - $318,048
Ron Richard - $241,496
Tom Dempsey - $202,486 (30 Day After)
Jay Wasson – 190,637
(Top Democrat is Ryan McKenna at $92,038).
Top House Cash On-Hand
Tim Jones - $675,910 (30 Days After)
John Diehl - $301,413 (30 Days After)
Caleb Jones - $107,900 (30 Days After)
Jeanie Riddle - $88,929 (30 Days After)
Eric Burlison - $60,341
(Top Democrat is Jill Schupp at $56,318).
Guns
Republicans filed bills in both the House and Senate to say that Missouri would ignore any executive orders on gun control. See it here.
Schaaf Prescription
Sen. Rob Schaaf filed a prescription drug monitoring bill yesterday. See it here. It’s unclear if this was a “consensus building” move intended to show Pro Tem Tom Dempsey that he’s open to working on issues against which he holds deep reservations. This bill would require that the program goes to a vote of the people before being implemented. That was in the perfected language last year.
McNary, Cunningham for Fire District?
The talk in the building yesterday was that former legislators Jane Cunningham and Cole McNary were poised to face off in a contest to get elected to a local fire district. Paging Ed Martin! Can the new Republican Party Chairman step in and prevent these two allies from going blow-for-blow in the Monarch Fire District?
And
In Steve Tilley’s January Report there was a large expenditure - $40,000. It was a donation to the Perryville Optimists Club, and will go toward the improvement of a park.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Pelopidas website:
Vanessa Crawford Aragon added Missouri Immigrant and Refugee Advocates (MIRA)
Susan Brown added Brightergy Solar.
Rodney D Gray, Tami Holliday, Susan Henderson Moore, and Michael Moorefield added Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Jessica Hodge added Missouri Recycling Association.
Phil LeVota added The Show-Me Council, Professional Properties & Investments, and Sureflex Inc.
Rachel Payton and Patrick Werner added Americans for Prosperity.
$5K+ Contributions
Missourians for health and Education - $77,039 from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Missourians for health and Education - $18,000 from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Missourians for health and Education - $6,873 from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Missourians for health and Education - $57,399 from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Missourians for health and Education - $6,325 from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Civic Progress Action Committee - $20,000 from The Laclede Group Inc.
Civic Progress Action Committee - $20,000 from Coin Acceptors Inc.
Civic Progress Action Committee – Centene Management Company LLC.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Sen. Mike Kehoe (51).