July 25, 2018: Transparency Hurting Pool og Judicial Applicants?
Right to Work Bits
We Are Missouri
The anti-RTW campaign is now approaching $16 million raised. With yesterdays’ $250,000 check from the Carpenters union, We Are Missouri has raised $15.8 million…
And
The Post-Disatch reports that actor John Goodman has cut a radio spot saying that right to work would “hurt the middle class.” See the article here.
What It Means
Polling suggests that right to work will be rejected by Missouri voters next month, but the margin of victory is important to labor because it could temper an impulse by some Republicans to simply pass the measure again despite the vote.
Also This
From a Republican: I was having a conversation yesterday about the prop A campaign, halfway through the conversation the Republican voters I was speaking with forgot that conservatives were supposed to be a Yes. Made me think that many conservatives are conditioned to vote No on everything presented at the ballot. There is a contingent of conservatives that just automatically vote No…
Transparency Hurting Pool of Judicial Applicants?
With the latest release of folks applying for a judgeship comes an interest commentary from Chief Justice Zel Fischer.
The release concerns a vacancy on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, created by the retirement of Judge James E. Welsh. There were 15 applicants: Shane T. Alexander, Thomas N. Chapman, Jacqueline A. Cook, Ellen H. Flottman, W. Ann Hansbrough, Douglas B. Harris, Shaun J. Mackelprang, Tracey A. Mason-White, James R. McAdams, Joseph D. McGaugh, Terrence M. Messonnier, Jeff A. Mittelhauser, Jeremiah J. Morgan, Cheryl A. Caponegro Nield, and W. Douglas Thomson.
From the release: Chief Justice Fischer said he was “not surprised” by the number and demographics of applicants. “It has been and continues to be my personal opinion that the decision to make public the names of those being interviewed and the interviews themselves reduces the number of applicants,” he explained. “This is true for judges who may be facing reelection in their local communities, attorneys in private practice who may fear losing clientele, and prosecutors or public defenders who may be concerned about not appearing fully committed to those they serve.”
Dunklin Tax Increase for Health Care
In the large contributions today, you’ll see a couple of big checks going into the Citizens for Healthcare In Dunklin County committee. That’s a committee supporting a tax increase in Dunklin County to support the operation of a hospital. It’s on the August ballot there.
Dunklin County is in the bootheel. It’s represented by Sen. Doug Libla, Speaker Todd Richardson and Rep. Andrew McDaniel.
Duck Boat Regs?
Sen. Claire McCaskill announced in a speech that she will seek greater regulations for duck boats following the tragedy at Table Rock.
I haven’t heard the same call (yet) from Missouri politicians. It’ll pose a bit of a test for Republicans who eschew government involvement as a solution of first resort. We’ll see….
File Under: Be Afraid
Wall Street Journal reports (see it here) that “hackers working for Russia claimed ‘hundreds of victims’ last year in a giant and long-running campaign that put them inside the control rooms of U.S. electric utilities where they could have caused blackouts, federal officials said. They said the campaign likely is continuing… ‘They got to the point where they could have thrown switches’ and disrupted power flows, said Jonathan Homer, chief of industrial-control-system analysis for DHS…”
MOChamber Picks
The Missouri Chamber PAC endorsed Tony Luetkemeyer in Senate 34, and Dave Griffith in House 60. Both are running in Republican primaries.
Evans Tapped by NCSL
Press release: State Rep. Jean Evans will serve on the board of a professional development organization that includes every female state legislator in the United States. Evans was recently selected by the nominating committee as the incoming At-Large Republican member on the Executive Board of the Women’s Legislative Network of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
Help Wanted
SEIU Local 1 seeks Digital Communications Organizer. “SEIU Local 1 is growing its dynamic and energetic team and is seeking an effective Digital Communications Organizer to help us build our online community and support our online-to-offline lead-generation efforts in our higher education campaigns. This position uses new media and digital tools to organize, advocate on our issues, and increase member and community engagement. It is a public-facing position involving direct communication with our members, supporters, and the public via multiple online platforms. The Digital Communications Organizer will work collaboratively across Communications, Field, and Political staff, and leverage technology to expand our reach, build support for our campaigns, and drive fundraising and offline engagement while enhancing the member and supporter experience. The ideal candidate has organizing experience, is already personally active on social media, and is passionate about things like ladders of engagement and moving people from online to offline activism (and vice versa)…” See it here.
Today’s Events
Ron Finley (Dem, Jackson County Legislature) 6320 Manchester, Kansas City – 5PM.
$5K+ Contributions
We Are Missouri - $22,581 from UFCW Local 21 General Fund.
We Are Missouri - $25,000 from International Union of Operating Engineers Local 14-14B General Account.
We Are Missouri - $10,240 from Operating Engineers Local AFL-CIO.
Missourian for Freedom to Work - $33,000 from The National Right to Work Committee.
Missourians for Freedom to Work - $50,000 from GJ Grewe Inc.
Missouri Federation for Children PAC - $5,105 from Rivertown Enterprises, Inc.
Team Justin - $5,105 from Rivertown Enterprises, Inc.
Missouri Senate Conservatives Fund- $50,000 from David Humphreys.
Missouri’s Future - $10,000 from Davis, Bethune & Jones LLC.
SaferMO.Com - $10,000 from Missouri Concrete Association Inc.
Committee to Elect Tom Johnson - $10,000 from The Johnson Family Living Trust.
Professional Firefighters of Tri-County PAC - $6,790 from High Ridge Firefighters Community Outreach Fund.
We Are Missouri - $250,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Citizens for Steve Stenger - $10,000 from SHC PAC.
Association of MO Electrictal Cooperative PAC - $10,000 from SHO-ME Power Electric Cooperative.
Democratic Campaign Committee of St. Louis City - $7,000 from Missouri AFLCIO.
Citizens for Healthcare In Dunklin County - $10,000 from First Missouri Bank.
Citizens for Healthcare In Dunklin County - $10,000 from Kennett Trust Bank.
Committee To Elect Raleigh Ritter - $35,000 from Raleigh Ritter.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Charlie Shields, Jay Atkins, and St. Louis Alderwoman Megan Green.