Monday, January 24, 2011
Rex Hearts Local Control
Yesterday Rex Sinquefield contributed $300,000 to A Safer Missouri, a committee dedicated to passing a statewide constitutional amendment asserting the right of every city to control their police force.
The group will begin the initiative process today with the Secretary of State’s office.
The language is said to be simple and straightforward, but will also include a provision aimed at assuaging concerns from the St. Louis Police Officers Association that their pension would be affected by the change.
The House has already passed a local control bill out of committee and it looks to be fast-tracked in that chamber. The best guess now has the measure looking at a floor fight in the Senate.
This initiative effort will run concurrent with the legislative process and should provide the police union with an incentive to seek and find a legislative compromise during the upcoming months.
The mayor’s office had offered some sweeteners during this debate last year – recognizing SLPOA for collective bargaining, for example – which wouldn’t be on the table (or even in the room) should this issue be decided by voters across the state.
The $300,000 ante could be viewed from that perspective as a bluff designed to nudge the opposing forces to some acceptance of local control. But Sinquefield’s recent $11 million expenditure on a statewide campaign has at least bought him some credibility that it’s not merely a bluff. He hasn’t shown any real price sensitivity when spending money on public policy issues.
For Sinquefield and his Pelopidas group, the $300k may move the needle on public opinion in St. Louis where his determination to end the earning tax has earned him ire for being high-handed and oblivious to popular concerns.
Coming Wednesday: The Thunda in the Rotunda
Board President Lewis Reed sent an email calling on local control supporters to hit the Capitol this week…
“Senator Joe Keaveny is the Senate sponsor of the companion bill, Senate Bill 23 and he will have a hearing on SB 23 Wednesday January 26th at 2:00 in the State Capitol. I plan on traveling to Jefferson City to testify about the importance of Local Control. Many St. Louis residents are joining me at the Capitol that day to talk to legislators about the importance of this issue to St. Louis neighborhoods and the people who live in them. Will you join us?... A box lunch will be provided to you before the hearing…”
And the Police org sent this…
The hearing for the Senate’s local “politician” control bill, SB23, is set for next Wednesday, January 26th. I would like as many members as possible to travel with your SLPOA leadership to attend this hearing… If the House bill has been heard, we can focus our efforts in the Senate. We have some strong allies in the Senate, but it will be important to speak with every Senator to explain our opposition to these bills… If you are available to attend, arrangements will be made to provide transportation to and from the Capital. We will not have a space reserved at the capital for lunch but arrangements will be made for food.
Where’s Purgy?
Thanks to the gov relations exec who alerted me to the fact that Sen. Chuck Purgason hasn’t been seen in the Capitol since Pro Tem Rob Mayer announced his committee chairs. In fact the word around the Senate Republicans is that Purgy left after not getting the Appropriations chairmanship, and he hasn’t been back since. A good source confides, “I have heard he will be back though. He was contemplating resigning all together…”
What it Means
Hate to be the jerk here, but I mean just because you get 13% in a Senate primary, it’s not like you’re suddenly some superstar who’s entitled to Appropriations chair of the $20 billion budget. The dude’s going to be a problem as chair of Fiscal Oversight.
Dave Drebes for Senate?
Dozens of people, hungry for change, have approached me about running for senate. Frankly, I’m flattered. And I at least owe them the courtesy of listening, and thinking about it. As humbled as I am by their suggestion, I know I must pray on this, and of course talk to my family, before I come to decision sometime in the next few weeks – after I call every major donor and try to feel out whether they’d be with me or not.
In the meantime, Ann Wagner is the latest to offer up that she is meditating on a possible Senate race. Jim Talent, Sam Graves, Ed Martin… please this is becoming a tired bit. Making me like Sarah Steelman more and more. At least she had the guts to jump in. The coy crowd can go shake the eight-balls together.
Bottom Line for Now
Steelman gets a primary of some kind. Good news for Claire McCaskill.
More Budget Response
MSTA – Governor Uses Fuzzy Math for Education Budget.
MO Budget Project – General Revenue as a Percentage of Person Income is Lowest in 35 Years.
Sen. Kurt Schaefer – Time to Raise the Cig Tax.
$5k+ Contributions
A Safer Missouri - $300,000 from Rex Sinquefield.
Schweich for Auditor - $10,000 from Peter Herschend.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Crystal Williams.