MOScout Daily Update: Webber Returns to MO - First Look at Pre-files - Chambers Criticized and more...

Webber Returns to MO

Jake Hummel on Facebook announces… “The National AFL-CIO has started a new program to recruit and train union members to run for political office. It has been extremely successful so far. We are happy to expand this program to Missouri. To that end I’m excited to announce that we have hired Stephen Webber as our new Path to Power coordinator! As an AFSCME member, former state representative and former chair of the Missouri Democratic Party we know he will do an amazing job. He’s fresh off of the victories in Virginia and Louisiana. So if you are looking to run for office please reach out to him…”

See more about the program here.

What It Means

For all the data showing that organized labor makes up an increasingly smaller share of the overall workforce, they remain a potent force in Missouri politics.

·         They thumped right to work last year when it came to a voter referendum.

·         Several unions have among the largest political accounts in the state. Carpenters ($1.5 million), Eastern Missouri Laborers ($1.1 million) MO National Education ($561K), We Are Missouri ($395K).

·         The House Republican supermajority contains a number of labor-friendly seats that could be in play if Democrats wooed union members in those districts.

Pre-Files

272 Senate bills were pre-filed and 315 House bills.

·         See the Senate bills here.

·         See the House bills here.

First Glance -Files

·         First in line is Sen. Kiki Curl’s SB 519 relating to expungement of criminal records.  Curls’ SB 1 last session also dealt with that subject and was passed and signed into law.

·         Sen. Dan Hegeman is back working on finding a path restore the state’s LIHTC program with SB 549.

·         Pro Tem Dave Schatz returns to his efforts on gaming with SB 557.

·         Sen. Jill Schupp has a Medicaid expansion bill which she touted in a press release.  It could be a centerpiece of her stump speech as she takes on Congresswoman Ann Wagner.

·         Sen. Denny Hoskins brings back his twin bills dealing with video lottery and sports betting.  Those topics could occupy a lot of floor time this session.

·         No pre-files from Sens. Caleb Rowden (traditionally the floor leader doesn’t carry much if any legislation); Minority Leader Gina Walsh (which may foster more talk that she is headed to a resignation for her new job); Sen. John Rizzo (could be focusing this session on playing defense against Republicans), and Sen. Brian Williams.

·         At least five House members pre-filed bills which take aim at texting while driving.

·         One sure-fire hot-button pre-file… Rep. Ben Baker’s HB 1346 “requires school districts to display ‘In God We Trust’ in prominent locations in all schools.”

·         Interestingly, after the all the press about vaping deaths, I didn’t see any legislation attempting to regulate the e-cigarette industry more rigorously. 

Chambers Criticized

I think this was the most widely circulated article yesterday.  Austin Chambers didn’t make many friends during his brief stint in Jefferson City as Eric Greitens’ boy wonder.

From Politico (see it here):

The Republican State Leadership Committee has seen an exodus of top staff in recent months, has lagged behind its Democratic counterpart in fundraising and is struggling to explain why its new president, Austin Chambers, was also moonlighting as a general consultant for Louisiana businessman Eddie Rispone's failed bid for governor…

[S]ome elected GOP officials, donors and party strategists are questioning the RSLC’s leadership. Complaints grew loud enough that committee officials convened a conference call the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in which Chambers and Bill McCollum, the chairman of the RSLC board, took questions from state lawmakers perturbed by Chambers’ outside work, which many were unaware of until after the Louisiana elections.

“Viewed in the most favorable light, these actions create terrible optics at a crucial point in the redistricting cycle,” said a Republican operative close to the committee. “Not only do RSLC employees not have time for moonlighting — moonlighting undermines the confidence of the legislators involved in the organization and potentially some of its donors, too.”

STL To Seek Soccer $$$

Post-Dispatch reports that “a state board is poised to debate the first round of state aid that will help pay for St. Louis' new Major League Soccer stadium.  In an application submitted to the Missouri Development Finance Board, the city is asking for $15 million in tax credits that will help pay to prepare the sprawling downtown site….  The board will meet in a special session Tuesday and could vote on the tax credits at its regular meeting on Dec. 17. A second application for another $15 million is expected to be submitted next month. Construction could begin as soon as January, the application notes…”

Birk Passes

Former Ameren lobbyist Joe Birk passed away. 

Services: Funeral Mass Thursday, December 5, 10 a.m. at Annunciation Catholic Church. Interment private. Visitation Wednesday 4-8 p.m. at Bopp Chapel. see http://www.boppchapel.com.

Bits

·         The November 5 special elections were certified.

·         Post-Dispatch reports that the number of people attaining medical marijuana cards is exceeding projections.  See it here.

Lobbyists Registrations

Russell Runge and Bruce Slagle added City of Mexico.

Matthew Hedberg added Mead Johnson Nutrition Company.

Jasmine Wells added Catalyst and all their clients.

$5K+ Contributions

Uniting Missouri PAC - $19,700 from Rudolph Faber.

Health Care Issues Committee of the Missouri Hospital Association - $13,200 from Southeast Health.

Health Care Issues Committee of the Missouri Hospital Association - $173,745 from BJC HealthCare.

Health Care Issues Committee of the Missouri Hospital Association - $128,287 from Mercy Accounts Payable Shared Services.

Health Care Issues Committee of the Missouri Hospital Association - $43,725 from St. Luke's Hospital.

Health Care Issues Committee of the Missouri Hospital Association - $13,365 from Hannibal Regional Healthcare System, Inc.

Health Care Issues Committee of the Missouri Hospital Association - $7,260 from St. Luke's Hospital.

Health Care Issues Committee of the Missouri Hospital Association - $67.980 from Saint Luke’s Health System.

American Property Casualty Insurance Association Political Account - $7,173 from American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Jill Ott.