Friday, February 18, 2011
New Majority Fund Coming?
It’s said that the Senate’s Majority Fund which helps elect Senate Republicans is mulling a transformation. On one side, it may be the beginning of a power consolidation by new Floor Leader Tom Dempsey; on the other side, it’s said the campaign committee needs a “re-branding” after it was involved in contentious primaries.
David Barklage has had an amazing, indisputable track record with the Majority Fund, taking the Republicans to 26 seats. But there are also hard feelings among some senators who saw the Majority Fund support a primary opponent.
The Lege Strikes Back
Against a feeling that Governor Jay Nixon has ordered a slowdown in processing tax credits, House Appropriations for Transportation and Economic Development this week cut $750,000 from the Department of Economic Development’s budget. The reasoning: if they’re not doing their job, maybe they don’t need so many people. Rep. Denny Hoskins chairs that committee.
Local Control
HB 71 was perfected in the House with ease, 123-34. Part of the momentum behind the bill was added by the NRA who liked these provisions added to prevent sting operations of gun dealers.
10. Any officer, employee, or representative of said department who knowingly solicits, persuades, encourages or entices a licensed dealer or private seller of firearms or ammunition to transfer a firearm or ammunition under circumstances which the person knows would violate the laws of this state or the United States is guilty of a class D felony.
11. Any officer, employee, or representative of said department who provides to a licensed dealer or private seller of firearms or ammunition what the persons knows to be materially false information with intent to deceive the dealer or seller about the legality of a transfer of a firearm or ammunition is guilty of a class D felony.
Voter ID
After the Senate quickly moved passage of the Voter ID bill this week, there’s been some consternation among Democrats about the ease with which Republicans rolled the issue.
But word is that a bi-cameral deal has been brokered. Those who were said to have hammered out and/or signed off on the deal include House Judiciary Committee chair Stanley Cox, House Rules chair John Diehl, Senate Elections chair Kevin Engler and Minority Leader Victor Callahan.
The plan, according to this rumor, is that the House will take the Senate’s Voter ID bill and add “early voting” to it before sending it back.
Early voting makes the Voter ID pill easier for Dems to swallow.
Dan Clemens, Lobbyist
Below in the New Lobbyists registrations, former state senator Dan Clemens joins the lobbying ranks for the Larson Group.
In Tom Smith’s Defense
After I wrote yesterday about concern among some Republicans that staffer Tom Smith’s political consulting business creates the appearance of conflicts of interests, I received feedback in his defense. It seems to boil down to this: others do it too.
Specifically, Nicole Brown, former Rod Jetton assistant, now works for Sen. Luann Ridgeway, and she recently worked on Sen. Rob Schaaf’s campaign. And Gus Wagner, when he worked for Sen. Dan Clemens previously also ran the Rocket Group which specializes in social media for politicians.
Lobbyist Principal Changes
From the Pelopidas website:
Nimrod Chapel added Mid Amer Const Management LLC.
Dan Clemens added the Larson Group.
Janet Engelbach added Missouri Eagle Forum.
Gregory Porter added the Catalyst Group.
Tim Rickey added American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
$5k+ Contributions
Citizens for a Stronger St. Louis - $10,000 from AFSCME.
Birthdays
Saturday, Rep. Rodney Schad turns 57. And Jay Kanzler, former Republican Auditor candidate, celebrates the big 5-0.
Sunday, former state senator Matt Bartle turns 46.