MOScout Daily Update: Kelly Gives $100K in Senate 33 - Roberts Unveils Endorsements in Senate 5 - Green Light for Bonding - Loudons Back in Spotlight and more...
Senate 33: Kelly Antes Up
In the race to succeed Sen. Mike Cunningham, Van Kelly put $100K into his campaign committee. Kelly is a former state representative. Follow him on Twitter here.
He faces Rep. Robert Ross (see his bio here) in the Republican primary.
What It Means
· There’d been some question whether Kelly would take the plunge. He’s talked about other races without pulling the trigger. But this seems to confirm that Kelly will be running.
· With campaign contribution limits, self-funders are very popular with campaign consultants. It’s not easy to fill out a robust Senate campaign budget with the contribution limits.
· Ross hasn’t been a big fundraiser. He raised $3K last quarter and has $87K on-hand. This puts some pressure on him to step up his game.
Senate 5: Roberts Unveils Endorsements
Rep. Steve Roberts announced a “first wave of endorsements.” Among the St. Louis City names lining up behind Roberts: President of the Board of Aldermen Lewis Reed, Sheriff Vernon Betts, Sen. Karla May, Rep. Wiley Price, Aldermen John Collins-Muhammed, Pamela Boyd, Jesse Todd and Marlene Davis.
What It Means
· Roberts has been taking advantage of his head start in this race. He’s holding fundraisers and nabbing endorsements.
· Michelle Sherod will have the firepower of Sen. Jamilah Nasheed behind her, but the longer she waits for a formal announcement, the more ground she’ll have to catch up.
Parson’s Bonding Moves Forward
KC Star reports… “Missouri will issue $301 million in bonds to fix 215 bridges, now that it has secured an $81 million federal grant to repair a major bridge along Interstate-70. The plan to issue bonds was triggered by winning the federal grant… Parson, along with the Missouri congressional delegation, announced that the state won a $81 million grant Monday to repair the Rocheport bridge, 11 miles west of Columbia… The Rocheport bridge, built in 1960, fords the Missouri River and links St. Louis and Kansas City. If it was rehabilitated for a fourth time, instead of fully replaced, MoDOT predicted it would have only lasted for 10 years. The grant will partially fund a $240 million project to replace the four-lane bridge with a six-lane span to its south and rebuild an interchange on the east, meaning minimal traffic delays. Columbia and Boonville, as well as Boone and Cooper counties, have committed a combined $4.2 million…”
What It Means
· It’s another nice win for the governor, again returning him to the central agenda item of his tenure: ecodevo.
· After a month of nothing but abortion, Bayer and bonding have given him a chance to talk about jobs and infrastructure.
And
· MOScouter… This line in the governor’s release demotes Hawley to Representative. It’s a goof, but actually shows the clout of Blunt and Graves for this project… “Senator Blunt and Representatives Graves, Hartzler, Hawley, and other members of the Missouri Congressional delegation are to be commended for keeping the project top of mind in the nation’s capital.”
Follow-Up on Voting IP… Loudon!
Yesterday I wrote about this initiative petition in Missouri. It’s happening across the country and former Missouri State Senator John Loudon is in the mix!! Washington Post reports….
A network of out-of-state political consultants, secret donors and activists with close ties to President Trump is behind an effort to change the Florida constitution to explicitly state that only citizens may vote in elections, a measure that would amplify the issue of immigration in the 2020 battleground state…
The exact legal effect the amendment would have remains unclear. While federal law explicitly bars noncitizen voting, the language in the Florida constitution — like that of many states — says that “every” citizen who is 18 may vote. The proposed amendment would change the language to say “only” a citizen may vote. Supporters of the amendment said the current phrasing is vague and leaves the door open to laws allowing noncitizens to cast ballots in local elections, now permitted in about a dozen jurisdictions around the country…
The initiative is being publicly championed by a West Palm Beach couple who are members of the president’s private club and have been associated with Trump’s political operation…
John Loudon, a former state lawmaker from Missouri and the chairman of Florida Citizen Voters, the Florida-based political committee sponsoring the proposed amendment, said the group has disclosed all that is required under the law. He said there is no foreign money behind the effort. Updating the constitutional language is necessary to challenge any future local laws that allow noncitizens to cast ballots, he said. “It needs to be in the constitution,” Loudon said. “You have to be a citizen to vote.”
Noncitizens can cast ballots in local elections in about 10 Maryland towns or cities, such as College Park, and in local school elections in San Francisco and Chicago. Some Massachusetts towns also have passed resolutions supporting such laws. Supporters say immigrant voting, which was permitted in much of the United States through the 19th century, helps promote civic participation among all residents.
Loudon also chairs Citizen Voters Inc., a nonprofit organization promoting the issue across the country, and is serving as the public face of the effort along with his wife, Gina…
The couple, who bought a house in South Florida in 2017, are members of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club. “Lovely to see @realDonaldTrump relaxed and happy,” Gina Loudon wrote in a tweet last year along with a photo she posted of herself, her husband and the president at the club.
John Loudon served briefly in 2017 as an adviser to America First Policies, a nonprofit advocacy group that promotes Trump’s agenda. Gina Loudon, a radio talk-show host known as Dr. Gina, is a member of the Trump campaign’s media advisory board, a group of about 30 surrogates, according to the campaign. Last year, she published a book that described Trump as “the most sound-minded person to ever occupy the White House.”
Clemens Passes
From KY3: Fraker Funeral Home in Marshfield, Mo. announced the death of former State Senator Dan Clemens. He was 74-years-old.
Clemens served two terms in the statehouse representing District 20 beginning in 2002. He also served as the president of the Marshfield School Board.
The lifelong Webster County native attended the University of Missouri.
Memorial services will be held on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Marshfield.
Branson Cameos in Commerce Chaos
Politico reports on “chaos” in the Trump Commerce Department. Missourian Ross Branson makes a cameo. See it here.
Constant infighting among top officials. Sudden departures of senior staffers without explanation. A leader who is disengaged and prone to falling asleep in meetings. The Commerce Department has reached its apex of dysfunction under Wilbur Ross, according to four people with knowledge of the inner workings of the department. The 81-year-old Commerce secretary, who has for months endured whispers that he is on the outs, spends much of his time at the White House to try to retain President Donald Trump’s favor, the sources said, leaving his department adrift… Ross Branson, who had been deputy assistant secretary of legislative affairs and was Platt’s deputy, also left Commerce on Friday, according to two people familiar with his departure. He had become “collateral damage,” according to one of the people, and was told that he had to look for a new job. He starts on Monday as head of legislative affairs at the Export-Import Bank, a position that a Commerce official described as “definitely a promotion.” Branson and the Ex-Im Bank did not respond to a request for comment…
Court WannaBes
The 22nd Circuit Judicial Commission announced the applicants for the associate circuit judge vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Madeline O. Connolly to circuit judge… Steven J. Capizzi, Mary Pat Carl, Francisco J. Carretero, Michael J. Colona, Micah D. Hall, Bridget L. Halquist, Heather J. Hays, Paul F. Horgan, Connie L. Johnson, Jessica W. Kennedy, Richard T. King, Michael P. Mahon, Matthew C. Melton, Patrick L. Mickey, Patrick J. Monahan, Deborah L. Price, James A. Pudlowski Jr., Patrick E. Richmond, Kristyn E. Skelly, Larry D. Thomason Jr., Michael L. Walton, Lisl E. King Williams, and Rochelle M. Woodiest.
Help Wanted
The Housing Partnership, Inc seeks Executive Director. “The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of our organization, ensuring that we operate efficiently and effectively to meet our goals. We are seeking a results-oriented individual to help shape and implement our organization’s strategic direction with passion, creativity and a lot of energy while overseeing all aspects of the organization including operations, fundraising, finances, marketing and outreach…” See it here.
Health Forward Foundation seeks President & Chief Executive Officer. “Ideal candidates will be individuals from a broad range of backgrounds, but experienced in leading a complex organization with a multiplicity of constituents and competing priorities. This leader needs to be comfortable in public settings, advocating for the most vulnerable and successfully navigating complex political and social landscapes. Guided by their personal values and unwavering integrity, the CEO will have a passion for and be driven by the mission: focusing on those most in need…”
Lobbyists Registrations
Jeremy Milarsky deleted Missouri Child Care Association DBA Missouri Coalition of Children's Agencies.
$5K+ Contributions
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $15,000 from Ameren Missouri.
We Support Pets and Police - $7,500 from Independence EDC.
Van Kelly For Missouri - $100,000 from Van Kelly.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Tom Krewson, Darrell Pollack, and Bob Quinn.