Monday, December 3, 2012
Big Rumor!
I have been told that Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson will announce her retirement from Congress.
My reaction was “huh?” because it makes no sense to me.
In fact there are many things reasons to disbelieve. For starters, Emerson just won re-election. It’d be odd to abdicate the very next month.
I have no ability to confirm the rumor. Yet, I pass it along because in my efforts to confirm it, I have come to believe it – even though, as I now repeat, I have no confirmation.
If it is true, I expect we will know sometime this week.
So…
If It’s True…
If it’s true there will probably be a furious tumble of names and trial balloons floated. I think that Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder would be an obvious front-runner for the position. Former state senator Jason Crowell would also be a name I would expect to hear.
But given the fact that we’d be looking at a primary and general next year – 2013 – therefore off-cycle for everyone, there could be a lot of folks who take a flyer with nothing to lose.
And
Again, if this is true, it would be a nice reward for Crowell who went to the mat during the redistricting process to keep Cape Girardeau as the biggest population base of the district.
House Will Likely Counter Nixon’s Medicaid Proposal
The initial reaction from House Republicans – where the budget starts – is that Governor Jay Nixon’s inclusion of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act is dead on arrival.
But there may be a clutch of representatives who will work to craft an alternative proposal. They would include Reps. Chris Molendorp, Jay Barnes and Keith Frederick. Molendorp is likely the chair of the Insurance Committee next session; Barnes has displayed a knowledge of the issue and willingness to speak the truth; and as a doctor, Frederick would bring real world credibility.
Their counter offer to the governor will likely call for the state to ask for a waiver from the federal government so that Missouri could create a much different Medicaid program in Missouri. It is possible that the emphasis of such a program would not be expanding the pool of Medicaid recipients. If so, it would likely be unappealing to Democrats.
Truman Extends Discrimination to Sexual Orientation
From the PROMO press release: “Following a 6-1 vote from the Truman State Board of Governors, Truman State University has added sexual orientation to their nondiscrimination policy. PROMO, Missouri's statewide advocacy group for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, applauds the decision made by the Truman State Board of Governors today…
‘I’m very excited to hear the news today that Truman State University passed a new nondiscrimination policy to include sexual orientation,’ said outgoing State Representative Zach Wyatt. ‘This is yet another win for equality, and I hope to see successes like this happen.’”
Brownlee Leaves Polsinelli
In the lobbyists’ registration changes below, it appears that Richard Bownlee has left Polsinelli, taking some of the firms’ insurance clients. It’s said that Brownlee will be hanging out a shingle as early as today…
Bits
AP runs an article on bonding. Read it here.
Questions about incentives in the New York Times over the weekend. Read it here. Hallmark CEO Donald Hall is quoted and the Kansas Missouri “border war” gets a mention.
The Rex-funded Show Me Institute issued an essay arguing that Missouri should eliminate development tax credits and use the savings to eliminate the corporate tax. Read it here.
See the list of Senate prefiled bills here. The bills themselves aren’t uploaded yet, so all we have are subject matters.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Pelopidas website:
Justin Short deleted Equipment Leasing an Finance Association.
Jane Dueker and Michael Gibbons deleted Peabody Energy.
Richard S Brownlee III deleted Piper Jaffray, Heavy Constructors Association of Greater Kansas City, Lockton Inc., Polsinelli Shughart PC, Scientific Games International, The University of Kansas Hospital Authority, Redflex Traffic Systems Inc, JE Dunn Construction, Amerigroup Corporation, Trails Properties II, Inc., Fairpay Solutions Inc, Transystems, Google Inc, National Strategies Inc., Service Contract Industry Council, Truman State University, Treanor Architects P.A., Sheriff’s Retirement System, General Motors LLC, Construction Delivery Coalition.
Rodney D Gray, Tami Holliday, Susan Henderson Moore, and Michael Moorefield deleted Missouri Insurance Coalition, Environmental Federation of Missouri, Time Insurance Company, Missouri Limestone Producers Association, Federal Warranty, American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida, American Bankers Insurance Group, MOSFA PAC Inc., IESI Corporation, American Insurance Association, American Memorial Life Insurance, State Farm Insurance Companies, Assurant Inc.
Melanie D. Withrow deleted Public Relations & Media Consultants, Excengin Worldwide, MW Public Affairs Consultants LLC, and The Barklage Company.
Bradley J Ketcher deleted Linq3.
$5K+ Contributions
Midwest Region Laborers’ Political League Education Fund - $5,257 from Laborers Supplemental Dues Fund.
Midwest Region Laborers’ Political League Education Fund - $30,000 from Eastern Missouri Laborers Educational and Benevolent Fund.
Montee for Missouri - $27,000 from Susan Montee.