Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Cleaning out the in-box after a longgggg weekend.
Hatfield Recovering
From Brenda Hatfield’s Facebook…
December 29: It has been an eventful couple of days. Chuck Hatfield suffered a heart attack last night. Luckily we were already in Columbia for a family outing. The staff at the University Hospital determined what was wrong, performed a cath, added two stents to his heart and had him in CICU in less than 100 minutes. While he has much recovery ahead we are thankful for the smart, talented people who worked tirelessly to ensure that the widow maker heart attack he had did not make me a widow. Chuck is resting now and we hope to be back home in a couple of days.
December 31: Chuck Hatfield update the doctor has spoken and we are allowed to go home today. Lots of Meds and some rehab. But thankful we will be heading home today. Of course the speed of dismissal is likely to vary greatly from the speed with which we were admitted. We hope to head home in a few hours.
Humphreys Complaint Dismissed
The Missouri Ethics Commission dismissed the ethics complaint against David Humphreys which alleged that he knowingly employed someone to lobby without being registered to lobby. The Commission says (see it here) that they couldn’t know for certain that Humphreys knew that Paul Mouton was lobbying for him.
And
MEC fined MD Rabbi Alam $1,330 for various violations. Alam ran for secretary of state as a Democrat, getting 6% against Robin Smith. See it here.
Hit Contract on Harris?
From Columbia Tribune (see it here): Mehrdad Fotoohighiam offered to pay two inmates at the Boone County Jail to kill a circuit court judge identified in a probable cause statement only as "J.H.," who was set to hear his arson case, as well as someone the statement calls "H.F." Circuit Judge Jeff Harris is the only judge in the 13th Judicial Circuit with the initials J.H. Records on Missouri Casenet indicate Harris was presiding over Fotoohighiam's arson case until September…
Democracy Runs on Its Stomach
A tipster says there may be a harrowing surprise awaiting the legislature when it returns this week… “There isn’t food service in the Capitol anymore. They re-bid the contract and no one bid.” Word is they are trying to get is sorted out but nothing’s been figured out yet. If there is no food to purchase in the cafeteria does that make lobbyists gift ban harder to pass?..
Greene County
The drip drip drip out of the Greene County Commission’s hemming and hawing, and trying to wiggle out of letting Auditor Nicole Galloway investigate whistleblower allegations into misdeeds continues. Read the latest here.
Will the appearance of corruption and unwillingness to address it diminish Greene County Republicans’ confidence in their government?
We’ll see….
DeStefano Gets Bigger Role in White House
Johnny DeStefano – brother to Melissa DeStefano Furey, former legislative assistant Scott Rupp – is taking a larger role in the Trump White House. See it here.
Pull Quote: [DeStefano will] temporarily oversee four West Wing operations: the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Presidential Personnel and the Office of Public Liaison, a White House official confirmed Thursday. DeStefano is likely to soon get help with this broad portfolio, which was first reported by Axios, with additional staffers coming in to run the offices but still possibly reporting to him, several people with knowledge of the move said.
Driving the Day
The 21st Century Missouri Transportation System Task Force will present its final recommendations during a press conference that will take place Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 1:30 p.m. in the House Lounge in the State Capitol building. State Rep. Kevin Corlew, who chairs the Task Force, will give an overview of the group's findings and discuss bills that have been and will be filed pursuant to their recommendations…
And
“House Democrats will hold on news conference on Tuesday to discuss a comprehensive package of legislative reforms aimed at improving the accountability and integrity of Missouri’s state government. The news conference will begin at 1 p.m. in the House Lounge…”
“A Corner of Missouri”
The Chronicle of Higher Education has a long essay on the Bootheel. It’s a pretty depressing look at how the area has suffered from the effects of poverty, and a lack of education in a changing global economy. Former Rep. Phil Britt of Kennett gets a cameo as a drug court commissioner. See it here.
Pull Quote: Some of the Bootheel’s problems seem like a step back in time. Many mothers don’t get needed prenatal care. Premature-birth rates are high and birth weights low. In Pemiscot County, 11 of every 1,000 babies die before their first birthday, far above state or national averages. In Dunklin, the rate is only marginally better, 10 out of 1,000.
DESE Corrects Gubby Spox
This December 26 Missourian article (see it here) pits two state government communication officials against each other to try to uncover the truth. The governor’s man, Parker Briden, gets schooled.
Pull Quote: Briden said there has not been a performance increase to match the funding increase. So we looked at data for student performance on standardized tests. Sarah Potter, the communications coordinator for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, said Briden is wrong. Missouri Assessment Program, or MAP, is the primary measure for K-12 schools in Missouri. MAP scores actually increased in all content areas between 2016 and 2017. English language arts saw a 1 percent increase, math saw a 1.4 percent increase, science saw a 2.1 percent increase, and American government saw a 1.7 percent increase….
Swan Joins Chorus of Critics
Rep. Katy Swan joins the chorus of legislators who aren’t happy with the governor’s State Board of Education appointees taking big votes before being confirmed by the Senate. See it here.
Pull Quote: State Rep. Kathy Swan said she plans to introduce a bill in the 2018 legislative session that would seek voter approval of a constitutional amendment that would prevent future actions such as the that taken earlier this month by the state Board of Education… Swan said board members should not be allowed to vote until they are confirmed. Otherwise, she said there is no point in requiring board members be confirmed by the Senate…
MOScout Readers Poll Results: Lobbyists
Quiet But Effective Lobbyist (Contract)
Tricia Workman: 31.25%
Sammy Panettiere: 23.86%
Rich AuBuchon: 19.32%
Brent Hemphill: 14.20%
Mike Grote: 11.36%
Reader comment: “Who says Hemphill is quiet?”
Quiet But Effective Lobbyist (In-House)
Mike Talboy: 31.61%
Shawn Furey: 26.44%
Josh Haynes: 16.67%
Brian Bunten: 12.64%
Christine Page: 12.64%
If Your Lost Cause Is Going to Have Any Chance, Hire...
GibbonsWorkman: 26.63%
Dentons: 25.44%
Catalyst Group: 23.08%
Giddens Group: 13.02%
Penman & Winton: 11.83%
If you absolutely, positively, have to kill something, hire...
Axiom / Clout: 28.34%
Gamble and Schlemeier: 28.34%
Bardgett & Associates: 20.32%
Jewell Patek: 19.25%
Heath Clarkson: 3.74%
Up & Coming Lobbyist
Jeremy LaFaver: 37.34%
David Willis: 29.75%
Rachel Hassani: 18.35%
Tony Dugger: 14.56%
Best Team Player Lobbyist
Aaron Baker: 34.29%
Kate Casas: 31.43%
Jim Foley: 21.71%
Sarah Topp: 12.57%
Biggest Lobbying Accomplishment 2017
SB 43 – MOChamber: 36.87%
TNC – Catalyst / Denton’s: 23.46%
HCB 3 – Gamble & Schlemeier: 21.23%
RTW - Humphreys/Mouton: 18.44%
Bits
Frank Plescia is the registered agent of a new corporation… State Government Strategies Inc.
Jason Kander is listed among Politico’s “Why-Not-Me” caucus of those who think they can be president. Read it here.
Doorman Bell Passes
From the obituary: Alexander Graham Bell Sr., 99, of Jefferson City, died Tuesday, December 26, 2017, at Villa Marie Skilled Nursing Facility… He served as a doorman at the Missouri House of Representatives for 23 years. Highly respected in the African American community, Mr. Bell was a member of Second Baptist Church for 67 years where he served as Deacon, Trustee, Sunday School teacher, and Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop 15 troop… Funeral services will be 12 noon on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at Second Baptist Church with the Rev. Cornell C. Sudduth officiating. Burial will be in Longview Cemetery. Visitation will be 10-11:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 2, at the church, with Masonic Rites conducted by Capitol City Lodge No. 9, Free & Accepted Masons, at 11:30 a.m. Memorials are suggested to Second Baptist Church, 501 Monroe Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.
New Committees
Kevin Nelson formed a candidate committee (Nelson for Missouri) to run for House 60 as a Democrat. This is termed Rep. Jay Barnes’ seat. Nelson ran in 2016 taking 35% of the vote against Barnes.
Jason Shaffer formed a candidate committee (Committee to Elect Jason Shaffer) to run for House 140. The current incumbent is Rep. Lynn Morris.
Lobbyists Registrations
Dan Pfeifer, Becky Lohmann and Alex Eaton added MASMIW (Missouri Alliance for Severe Mental Illness Exclusion), MADP (Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty), and Ygrene Energy Fund.
Brydon Ross added Consumer Energy Alliance.
Jeff Aboussie added City of St. Louis.
Ronald Berry added BK Public Policy Group, Wickham And Wood LLC, AARP, AFT Missouri.
Alexander Munyard added Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO.
Elizabeth Johnson added Missouri Attorney General’s Office.
Rachel Hassani added Missouri Restaurant Association, Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons, Missouri American Water, Hahn O'Daniel LLC,
Rodney Gray, John McGurk, Tami Holliday, Susan Henderson Moore, and Roxsen Koch added Rebuild MO.
Joyce Flatt deleted Trinity Highway Products LLC.
Dustin Brighton deleted Internet Association.
Rodney Gray, Tami Holliday and Susan Henderson Moore added KC Tech Council; and deleted Faultless Linen.
Shannon Cooper and Nancy Giddens deleted Steven R. Carroll & Associates, St. Louis County & Yellow Cab.
John McGurk deleted Uber Technologies Inc, and Hardage Hotels I LLC.
Korb Maxwell deleted Northpoint Development.
Scott Swain deleted OpenGov.
Kristin Czubkowski deleted KC Hotel Property Owner LLC, and Development Associates LLC.
Jewell Patek deleted Continental Casting LLC, SF Industries LLC, and Missouri Amusement Machine Operators Association.
Chase Simmons deleted American Royal Association, Polsinelli PC, Plaza Hotel LLC, Valent Aerostructures, Faultless Laundry Company, Farmer Holding Company, Stone Ridge, and Lockton Companies.
$5K+ Contributions
Catalyst PAC - $15,000 from American Legal Finance Assoc Inc.
Raise Up Missouri - $75,000 from Missouri Education Association Ballot Issue Crisis Fund.
Missouri Insurance Political Action Committee - $30,000 from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.
Freedom to Work - $50,000 from Steven Craig.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $10,000 from Ash Grove Cement Company.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $12,500 from Drury Development Corporation.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $25,000 from AT&T Missouri.
Citizens for Steve Stenger - $10,000 from POL PAC.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $14,780 from AT&T.
Phil Glynn for Mayor - $25,000 from Philip Glynn.
Committee to Elect Raleigh Ritter - $21,000 from Raleigh Ritter.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Association of Dental Support Organizations.
Wright for Missouri $22,550 from Dale Wright.
Patterson for Oakville - $10,000 from Kate Patterson.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Lyle Rowland, and Brittany Burke.
