Wednesday, December 26, 2012

MOScout Readers 2012 All-Star Political Consultants

General Consultant:  Jeff Roe (Anti-tobacco tax), 51.1%

Statewide Campaign Manager:  Abe Rakov (Jason Kander), 36.2%

State Senate Campaign Manager: David Chilenski (Jamilah Nasheed primary, Scott Sifton general), 39.1%

Campaign Committee:  Kit Crancer (Senate Campaign Committee), 52.3%

Fundraising Consultant: Donna English (Missouri Senate Campaign Committee), 47.8%

PR/Media Consultant: Scott Charton (Missourians for Fair Taxation), 32.6%

General Vendor:  Victory Enterprises, 40.5%

Ballot Issue: Ron Leone (Anti-Tobacco Tax), 65.2%

Influential PAC:  Whitney O'Daniel (NRA), 47.5%

Tomorrow’s poll will be “All-Star Lobbyists,” feel free to email me your suggestions for nominees.

Nixon Appoints Ruzicka to Parole Board

Governor Jay Nixon appointed Rep. Don Ruzicka to the Board of Probation and Parole.  Read it here.

That puts a vacancy in the state House and lowered the Republican majority to 109.  And it may very well presage another such move in the coming weeks…  “If Nixon were really cunning, he wouldn’t pick Nolte for the PSC slot.  Instead, he’ll find a third or fourth-term Republican House member - which, combined with Ruzicka's appointment, will eliminate the veto-proof majority.”

Nixon Opposes Plan for Armed Teachers

Governor Jay Nixon announced he would oppose the bill put forth by Rep. Mike Kelley to allow teachers to carry concealed handguns.  Read it here.

This means two things.  First, it probably polls terribly.

Second, might it be yet another in a long series of moves to tack back to the left for the sake of a presidential primary?  (The first move would be support for Medicaid expansion.) He still has to run as a centrist Democrat who “can get things done,” but he could also use two to three years of shoring up liberal credentials after governing as a pro-labor DINO his first-term.

And

If it’s the case that Nixon wants to move from center-right to center-left, he’ll follow through on the original plan to scuttle the Rush Limbaugh bust.  Unless he wants the House Dems to continue to claim his administration has reneged on a promise to protect the conservative icon.  Read it here.

Lobbyist Registrations

From the Pelopidas website:

Emily Kalmer added Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions, and Professional Registration.

Patrick A Lynn deleted Missouri Department of National Resources, and added Missouri Department of Social Services.

Terry McCurren added Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.

Joy Sherard added Missouri State Teachers Association.

Ryan Stauffer added StudentsFirst.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Reps. Stan Cox (63) and Todd Rochardson (36).