Thursday, February 9, 2012
Rumor: McClure for PSC?
In the halls the last few days have been the rumor that Ken McClure will be Governor Jay Nixon’s pick to take the seat vacated by Jeff Davis on the Public Service Commission.
McClure was Matt Blunt’s chief of staff, and served on the PSC in the 1990s. After that he went to work for City Utilities in Springfield.
McClure was in the building yesterday testifying on education matters. He is currently a vice president with Missouri State University.
US Chamber Ad Attacks McCaskill
“Obamacare will kill jobs. So why did Claire McCaskill casta deciding vote for Obamacare in DC?” See it Here.
What It Means
McCaskill may be lapping her would-be opponents in fundraising, but there will be plenty of money (and advertisements) against her. She is vulnerable regardless of the dwarfishness of the Republican field.
FERAF Ad Attacks Ameren
“Their $115 million bailout would raise rates even more… After $810 million in rate hikes, Ameren wants you to pay for a bailout.” See it Here.
What It Means
That compromise from the last day of last session? We’re not getting anywhere near there this session. The atmosphere is more poisonous than ever. The guess is that Ameren will imagine that they will have a more accommodative legislature next year. And their enemies (aka their customers) are prepared to take their case to directly to the people.
Bits
In the $500+ contributions yesterday Bert Walker sent $1,000 to Sen. Scott Rupp’s secretary of state campaign.
From the peerless John Combest comes this clip (See it Here) of ambush-journalist Eliot Davis outraged, outraged that St. Charles County pays its lobbyist, Stinson Morrison Heckler’s Mike Gibbons and Tricia Workman, $30,000.
From the twitterfeed of Mayor Francis Slay’s chief of staff Jeff Rainford: “Housing rehab is picking up in STL. It's already surpassed each of the last three years, and we're barely halfway through the fiscal year.”
Jeremy Lafaver, running in House 25, reports he’s knocked his 1000th door, and raised $20K, half his budget. He faces Chris Miller in the Democratic primary to take Rep. Jason Kander’s seat.
In the large contributions below Rep. Mike McGhee loaned himself $100K for his state senate campaign. Obviously there’s a lot of uncertainty on the map at this point, and whether he would be in Senate 21 where he is currently located. In the invalidated map, he was drawn into Senate 8.
Sen. Jack Goodman’s efforts to reform the probations and parole system to save money and cut recidivism took a step forward yesterday. The director of the Department of Corrections testified in favor a sign that the approach is favored by the Nixon administration and that the public policy arguments won’t victim to election year politics. Read Virginia Young’s article Here.
eMailbag
Why Cooper Matters
Regarding Sen. Kurt Schaefer’s Senate 19 getting Cooper County instead of Howard, it’s 1,800ish voters or 2% of the projected electorate difference.
Lobbyists’ Principals Changes
From the Pelopidas website:
Lea Crusey, Timothy Melton and Michelle Rhee added Students First.
Phyllis Quigg Edson deleted Edson Consulting.
Andrew Paul Engler deleted Missouri Dental Association, Missouri Pharmacy Association, and American Traffic Solutions Inc.
R Dale Findlay deleted Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety.
Don Koonce deleted AmerenUE.
Keith Teel deleted Altria Client Services Inc.
Cherisse Thibaut deleted Missouri Kids First.
John Desser deleted EHealth Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Missourians for Ed Martin - $10,000 from August Busch III.
McGhee for Senate – $100,000 loan from Mike McGhee.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc. - $10,000 from Citizens for Timothy Jones.