Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Groggily returning from a three-day weekend…
Where We Are
Session runs a little late this year. The final day is Friday May 18. That’s five weeks from this Friday.
In the hallways, most lobbyists comment about the general lethargy of this session. Very few pieces of legislation seem to have much momentum. Many blame the disastrous special session over the summer for sapping the energy from the legislatively ambitious.
Education is one of the few policy areas where there’s sustained attention, and each of the components gets snagged and falls into a two steps forward, one step back pattern. Or worse, a one step forward, two steps back.
The next immediate drama begins with the budget hitting the Senate floor. But after that passes, the question is whether the legislature will drift to the finish line, or if they can muster some resolve to put some points on the scoreboard.
Lampe Passes on LG Quarter
Rep. Sara Lampe filed her April quarter showing very little activity - $1,350 raised and $5,199 on-hand. The one bright spot was the addition of former state representative Barbara Fraser as her treasurer. Fraser would theoretically help Lampe find liberal women supporters in St. Louis County.
Because Lampe has the smallest base (Springfield, compared to Judy Baker’s Columbia ties, and Susan Montee’s St. Joe and St. Louis connections), without money, she really has absolutely no chance. If she doesn’t show some large checks soon, she’ll enter the summer as a CINO (candidate in name only).
Rallo to Drop
Word is that Linda Rallo will drop her rebel campaign for state representative against Rep. John Diehl. She is expected to take a position with Rep. Cole McNary’s campaign for state treasurer.
Senate Primary Bits
Senate 31
Rep. Scott Largent has been considered the frontrunner in this primary. But former Rep. Ed Emery might be making things interesting, as he logged a $50K check from rightwing checkwriter Ethelmae Humphreys in the large contributions (below). The Humphreys have been energetic supporters of the free market philosophy that Emery espoused during his time in the legislature.
Senate 33
Rumors have Rep. Mike Cunningham showing a poll which shows him with surprisingly high name ID in this new senate district. Rep. Ward Franz has been considered the front runner here. But like Emery, Cunningham is showing some good money in the large contributions - $100K from family sources (including himself).
I hope to have a “Senate Primaries Special Report” out sometime next week.
StudentsFirst Poll
StudentsFirst, an education reform organization, released a poll to support their claim that Missourians want their educational agenda.
“72 percent of voters support reforming tenure for new teachers.
73 percent believe layoffs should be determined by evaluations not seniority.
75 percent of voters think teachers need to be evaluated and 70 percent believe principles should also be evaluated.
69 percent of voters said they would support expanding charters outside of St. Louis and Kansas City School Districts.
“The poll, conducted by Strategies 360 and commissioned by StudentsFirst, surveyed over 600 Missouri voters who had indicated they were likely to vote in the 2012 General Election. Interviews were conducted February 23 – February 27, 2012.”
Don’t Count Claire Out
According to one Democratic observer, it’s important to remember that the presidential turn-out we’ll see this November will favor Democrats in Missouri.
A presidential cycle – with its enormous campaign budgets and free media – will bring a turnout spike, from high 50s up to low 70s. That will do marvelous things for vulnerable Democrats like Sen. Claire McCaskill because those extra voters will be disproportionally from Democratic constituencies of more urban, and more impoverished areas.
Watch the Women
President Barack Obama leads Mitt Romney by 19 point on women’s issues. See it Here.
St. Chuck Mulligan
The controversial and unconsummated St. Charles Republican Presidential Caucus will get its do-over tonight at 7pm.
Fascinating Brooks on Economy
Sectors that face global competition have exhibited great dynamism (“Two years ago, President Obama promised to double exports over the next five years. The U.S. might actually meet that target.”). And then there are other sectors that don’t face competition (“On the other hand, there is a large sector of the economy that does not face this global competition — health care, education and government. Leaders in this economy try to improve productivity and use new technologies, but they are not compelled by do-or-die pressure, and their pace of change is slower.”).
Lobbyists’ Principals Changes
From the Pelopidas website:
David J. Klarich added Cory Kraft.
Trina Ragain added March of Dimes, Greater Missouri Chapter.
Michael A Dallmeyer deleted American Insurance Association.
Rodney R Hubbard deleted Dankar Enterprise Inc.
Richard Murray Jr deleted Morgan Keegan & Company Inc.
Brian Bernskoetter added City of Pine Lawn.
Randy J Scherr added City of Pine Lawn.
Cheryl B Schrader added Missouri University of Science & Technology.
$5K+ Contributions
Friends of Mike Cunningham - $50,000 from Charles Cunningham.
Friends of Mike Cunningham - $45,000 from Mike Cunningham.
Unite Here Tip Missouri State and Local Fund - $15,000 from Unite Here.
Friends of Mike Cunningham - $25,000 from Citizens for Jay Wasson.
Montee for Missouri - $10,000 from Missouri State Council of Machinist PAC.
Lewis & Clark Regional Leadership Forum - $12,000 from Murphy Group Holdings Inc.
Lewis & Clark Regional Leadership Forum - $12,000 from Certified Processing Corp.
Your Vote Counts - $8,63 from The Humane Society of the United States.
Citizens for Ed Emery - $50,000 from Ethelmae Humphreys.
Jay Nixon for Missouri - $5,000 from Prewitts Highway 54 Enterprises, LLC.
Jay Nixon for Missouri - $5,000 from Wayne Morelock.
Friends of Mike Cunningham - $5,000 from Charles Cunningham
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Judy Baker (52).