Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Good morning 2012…

MEDA Beats the War Drum

Over the weekend the Missouri Energy Development Association declared war on Renew Missouri’s legislative agenda.  According to the press release, MEDA “will propose renewable energy legislation during the next session of the Missouri Legislature in January in response to the recent renewable energy initiative petition filed by Renew Missouri.  MEDA is also evaluating filing its own renewable energy ballot initiative.”

MEDA will take aim not only at the overall cap for rate increases under the Renew Missouri proposal, but also the structure: “Different groups of customers pay significantly different amounts under Renew Missouri’s proposal.  Large industrial customers would pay only a fraction of what families and small businesses pay as a result of the rate subsidies built into Renew Missouri’s proposal.”

In past sessions, the renewable energy debate have been knotted up with the Early Site Permit legislation.  Assuming that tangle remains, this is clearly headed to the statewide ballot.

Davis Resigns from PSC

Late last week PSC Commissioner Jeff Davis submitted a letter of resignation to the Nixon administration.  His last day will be January 16.

Davis is one of two Republicans on the Public Service Commission.  With three of the commissioners – Robert Kenney, Steve Stoll (not yet confirmed) and Kevin Gunn – all from the eastern side of the state and none from the western side, there may be a push to for some geographic balance.

One name mentioned would be termed Sen. Luann Ridgeway.  But it also wouldn’t be a surprise to see Nixon turn southwest to the Springfield / Joplin area on which he has lavished his attention.

Scooplettes

Last week at Shane Schoeller’s St. Louis fundy, Ann Wagner offered that she expected to “hit her number” for the January quarter.  She laughed off my question about what that number is, but her making her target in the tough 4th quarter can’t be good news for Ed Martin.

In lobbyists’ principal changes below Carl Bearden deletes his affiliation with Pelopidas, and all his affiliations in fact, except United for Missouri.

New on twitter… Jorgen Schlemeier (@molobby).

Herzog Hands Lager Fresh $250K

Sen. Brad Lager reported another batch of large check late last week.  The biggest was $250K from Herzog Contracting Corp.  This should put his January quarter bottom-line around $750,000 in the bank.    That’s still half of Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder’s $1.5 million, but might be enough to start to give the incumbent second thoughts.   Filing opens February 28….

Ward Writes Himself a $50K Check

Rep. Ward Franz wrote himself a New Year’s eve check of $50K.  He’s running in Senate 33 where his primary opponent businessman Doug Libla is expected to be writing himself bigger checks.  Is the check an indication that Franz’ fundraising was lagging?  Or a symbol that he too is willing to bet on himself?

The Case for a Toll on I-70

In today’s Post-Dispatch, Show-Me Institute’s Dave Stokes argues for a user-based model in funding roads.  Read it Here.

Pull Quote: “A Missouri driver, using baseline assumptions of driving 20,000 miles per year in a car getting 25 miles per gallon, would pay $120 more per year in gas taxes after a 15-cent increase. That would equal eight trips on I-70 if we estimate a $15 toll to cross the state. However, all Missouri motorists and anyone else buying gas in Missouri would pay that tax increase, whether they use I-70 or not. Truckers and frequent highway travelers would likely have to pay more with a toll than with a gas tax increase. There is nothing unfair about that because they are the people choosing to use the asset and drive the road.”

Bits

Caleb Rowden announced for House 44.  This is a Columbia district.  He’s a Republican, and a professional musician.  See the Website Here.  Rowden ran unsuccessfully for Collector of Revenue in 2010.  Ken Jacob is set to run on the Democratic side.

Rep. Jamilah Nasheed has a press conference today to announce her entry into the Senate 5 race.  Eyes will then turn to Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford who is pondering her possible campaign.

Last week, as predicted by the MOScout parking space monitor, Jason Hall was named the director of the Department of Economic Development.

Who Wins Iowa?

Finally, after all the talk, Iowans caucus to kick off the the first real voting of the presidential primary.  Missouri pols by far back Mitt Romney.  It’s a reflection of the depth of his organization, and the muscle of the Sam Fox wing of the Missouri Republican Party.

Big MO names endorsing Romney: Senator Roy Blunt, former senator Jim Talent, Auditor Tom Schweich, Speaker Steve Tilley, Floor Leaders Tom Dempsey and Tim Jones, Sens. Ron Richard, Mike Kehoe, Reps. John Diehl, Sue Allen, Scott Dieckhaus, and donor Bert Walker.

Rick Perry meanwhile gets the solitary Congressman Sam Graves.  And I can’t find anyone on record endorsing the rest of the scrum, though Ron Paul is clearly the Tea Party favorite.

Lobbyists’ Principals Changes

From the Pelopidas website:

Mark J Rhoads deleted Bluecross Blueshield of Missouri and Jim Russell & Associates.

Carl Bearden deleted St. Louis Science Center Foundation, Missouri Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, SUJVL Inc., Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists, American Academy of Dermatology, The Brown Lobby Firm LLC, Missourians for a Better Economy, Astellas Pharma US Inc., Pelopidas LLC, AT&T, Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield, Metro Heart Group of St. Louis Inc., Signature Health Services, and Mid America Medical Affiliates.

Neal English added Discount Smoke Shop Inc., and deleted Retailer for Allocable Share.

Polsinelli Shughart deleted Reinsurance Association of America.

Andrew Blunt and Jay Reichard added Affiliated Computer Services Inc., a Xerox company and its affiliates.

$5K+ Contributions

Citizens to Elect Rocky Miller - $6,000 from Rockne and Della Miller.

Friends of Peter Kinder - $10,000 from James McDonnell III.

SEIU HCII Missouri PAC - $50,000 from SEIU Healthcare IL IN.

Site Improvement Association of Missouri PAC - $16,414 from SITE Improvement Association of Missouri.

Smith for Missouri - $6,000 from Clem Smith.

Spence for Governor - $10,000 from Gary Seeman.

Spence for Governor - $25,000 from Carol McLerran.

Teamsters 245 PAF - $20,000 from DRIVE Committee.

Citizens for Brad Lager - $25,000 from Citizens for Will Kraus.

Citizens for Brad Lager - $250,000 from Herzog Contracting Corp.

Citizens for Brad Lager - $5,001 from Friends for Munzlinger.

Citizens for Brad Lager - $10,000 from Nodaway Valley Bank

Committee to Elect Ron Richard - $30,000 from Southwest Missouri Leadership PAC.

Friends of Glen Kolkmeyer - $8,128 from Kolkmeyer for Senate.

House Republican Campaign Committee Inc. - $12,500 from Schnuck Markets Inc.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $12,500 from Schnuck Markets Inc.

Schmitt for Senate - $7,500 from MO Freedom.

Montee for Missouri - $10,000 from Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $20,000 from Benchmark HM LLC.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $50,000 from Rex Sinquefield.

Jay Nixon for Missouri - $20,000 from Teamsters 245 Political Action Committee.

Jay Nixon for Missouri - $15,000 from Thompson Coburn LLP.

Jay Nixon for Missouri - $10,000 from Michael Ketchmark.

Friends of Peter Kinder - $15,000 from Friends of Tilley.

Friends of Ward Franz - $50,000 from Ward Franz.

Birthdays

Former state senator Dan Clemens is 67 today.