MOScout Daily Update: New Gov Staffers - Koster for CMC - Victory, SCC Get Cole Contract - Readers on CD2 and more...
Koster to Host Fundy for CMC
Former attorney general Chris Koster will hold a fundraiser for Claire McCaskill next month. Koster, now an executive with health giant Centene, has kept a low political profile since his loss to Eric Greitens in the 2016 gubernatorial race.
The event is October 5 at Koster’s Clayton home.
From the invitation: The first $2,700 of each contribution from an individual and the first $5,000 from a multicandidate committee will be allocated to McCaskill for Missouri for the 2018 General Election. The next $10,000 of each contribution from an individual and the next $5,000 of each contribution from a multicandidate committee will be allocated to the Missouri Democratic State Committee. The allocation formula above may change if any contributor makes a contribution that, when allocated, would exceed the amount that the contributor may lawfully give to any participant.
And
NYTimes reports on MO Senate race. See it here. “Ms. McCaskill, 65, is playing to tough audiences these days as she faces the political fight of her life. She’s come a long way from the McCaskill & Son feed mill her family once operated in the southern part of the state, moving up the ranks of Democratic politics in Missouri and then to Capitol Hill, where she has served for nearly 12 years. Along the way, she also became wealthy by virtue of her second marriage to a St. Louis developer. Now her opponents are seizing on that wealth, pouring millions of dollars into one of the most hotly contested races of the midterms in an effort to paint Ms. McCaskill as out of touch with Missourians, co-opted by the liberal Democratic establishment and corrupted by the business arrangements of her husband. Everything from her Washington condo to her use of a private plane is under attack…”
CLEAN Back On – For Now
From the Post-Dispatch (see it here): A state appeals court has put an ethics reform package back on the November ballot. The Missouri Western District Court of Appeals ruled that the so-called “Clean Missouri” initiative can stay on the ballot pending future court decisions. That’s a win for the good government groups that are backing the referendum known as Amendment 1. But, opponents still have a Thursday appellate court hearing and, possibly, a Supreme Court hearing, to try and knock the initiative permanently off the Nov. 6 ballot….
And
Medical marijuana advocate Eapen Thampy tweets “Missouri Western Court of Appeals affirms the circuit court dismissal of Brad Bradshaw's challenge to New Approach Missouri medical marijuana initiative petitions. Officially, this means we will see 3 options on the November ballot…” See that court opinion here.
New Gov Staffers
A look at the Missouri Accountability Portal shows new staffers added to the governor’s office over the summer.
Jessie Eiler – previously with house Research Staff – is deputy general counsel.
Neal Wright – formerly director of marketing and tourism in the Lieutenant Governor’s office – is now “manager special projects” for the governor.
Chris Moreland – formerly with House Communications – is now “communications specialist” for the governor.
Stephanie Whitaker – previously performing “office outreach for the Secretary of State’s office” – is “communications assistant.”
Kevin Spaulding has the title of “SW Regional Office Director.”
Benjamin Terrell is “Director of Advace.”
Hannah Ankenbauer is “Constituent Services Liaison.”
Lakin, Tilley Cos Get Cole Contract
From KRGC: “The Cole County Commission Tuesday voted to award an economic deal to two consulting companies - effectively ending a partnership with the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce for 2019. Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman cast the 'no' vote on the deal. He said the partnership with the JCACC had lasted more than a decade… Commissioner Kris Scheperle voted 'yes' to the deal with Victory Enterprises and Strategic Capitol Consulting… The two companies will be awarded $120,000 to foster economic development within Cole County. The partnership with JCACC will end Dec. 31…”
Political Non-Profits Must Open Up
Washington Post reports that “advocacy groups pouring money into independent campaigns to impact this fall’s midterm races must disclose many of their political donors beginning this week after the Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to intervene in a long-running case. The high court did not grant an emergency request to stay a ruling by a federal judge in Washington who had thrown out a decades-old Federal Election Commission regulation allowing nonprofit groups to keep their donors secret unless they had earmarked their money for certain purposes. With less than 50 days before this fall’s congressional elections, the ruling has far-reaching consequences that could curtail the ability of major political players to raise money and force the disclosure of some of the country’s wealthiest donors….”
eMailbag on 2-CD: Wagner Got Game
Wagner has no ground game? Are you kidding?? Just because she’s a pro who doesn’t put yard signs out until mid October? Wagner’s campaign staff is the best I’ve seen, and her people are out every day. They’ve knocked tens of thousands of doors. On Saturdays there are more volunteers than her caBmpaign office can hold. Ann is all over the district, touring businesses, walking in parades, and knocking doors. All the polling I’ve seen has her over 50%. Cort’s poll did not release his methodology, which is suspect. Wagner turned down national help, so it’s doubtful she’s in trouble.
eMailbag on 2-CD: Year of the Woman
I wouldn’t call an attempted rape “high school hijinks.” Toilet papering your biology teacher’s house is high school hijinks. An alleged attempted rape that was only thwarted because the victim had on a one-piece bathing suit is assault. Men calling it hijinks is exactly why I think women are going to be more inclined to vote for women regardless of political party. I don’t know that it definitely means she will win, but I think if she were a man in the exact same political environment and her opponent were a woman, the seat would most definitely flip. In other words, I think she is helped by the fact that she is a woman in this environment. Is she definitely safe? I don’t know.
Events
HRCC and Shamed Dogan fundraiser, hosted by David Steward with special guests Elijah Haahr, Ann Wagner, and Rob Vescovo at Saint Louis Club – 5:30PM.
Help Wanted
St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District seeks Manager of Public Affairs. “Under general direction, perform work of considerable difficulty in developing and implementing a comprehensive public information program to create and communicate the District's reputation and value to the stakeholders… Provides leadership and manages the daily operations of the public information staff… participates in strategic planning for the entire District, offering a public outreach perspective to the process; understands the District's industry, its relationships with federal, state and local governmental bodies, and the stakeholders' expectations for District performance.; assists in preparing and monitoring area's budget; maintains records and prepares reports; directs the work of administrative support and public information personnel… Salary: $71,400.00 - $109,800.00 Annually…” See it here.
New Committees
Missouri Rural Action PAC was formed. Its treasurer is Timothy Gibbons.
Lobbyists Registrations
Noel Torpey added Missouri Health Connection, and Ygrene Energy Fund.
Rodney Gray, Tami Holliday and Susan Henderson Moore deleted Clean Line Partners, and Missouri Health Connection.
$5K+ Contributions
SEIU Missouri State Council PAC - $15,000 from SEIU MO/KS State Council.
HealthPAC - $10,700 from Health Care Leadership Committee.
SaferMO.Com - $10,000 from Ash Grove Cement Company.
SaferMO.Com - $25,000 from NB West Contracting Co Inc.
SaferMO.Com - $10,000 from Bill Gautreaux.
Midwest Region Laborers' Political League Education Fund - $8,314 from Laborers Supplemental Dues Fund.
New Approach Missouri - $33,500 from Drug Policy Action.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rachel Bringer, Michael McGhee, and Alex Salsman.