MOScout Daily Update: More Wieland Appt Talk - Post-Romine Senate - More Jan Quarters and more...
More Wieland Talk
Yesterday’s rumor that the governor’s office was considering offering an appointment to Sen. Paul Wieland got some legs.
· One good source said emphatically that “Wieland has been offered an appointment to Probation and Parole.”
· It’s not clear if Wieland has made a decision, but folks are already gaming it out…
The Why
· The 2nd floor’s motivation for this course of action appears to be a desire to minimize the amount of time that they have to deal with Floor Leader Rob Vescovo. If things run their normal course, he’ll be speaker for two years and then likely become senator for eight years after that. With this chess move, they’d be forcing him to choose between the two: 6 years as a senator or 2 as speaker.
· No one offered odds that Vescovo would drop his certain speakership to become a rank and file senator…
The IFs
· If Vescovo wants it, and is willing to forgo being speaker, he gets the nomination without much trouble. But if Vescovo opts to stay in the House, expect Reps. Dan Shaul, Becky Ruth, and Mary Elizabeth Coleman to look at it.
· One lobbyist wryly remarked, “Several Jefferson County reps were inquiring about the state senate today…”
· Another says “MEC would aggressively pursue the Wieland seat. She'll have a decent story to tell…”
The Case for MEC
· Passed a few bills already, including an anti-sex trafficking bill.
· Had a lead role on the heartbeat bill.
· Gets along with establishment and grassroots factions.
· In a district that was swing not that long ago, the committee people will understand the importance of nominating someone who can raise enough money to run an effective general election campaign. Coleman has been on the conservative side of labor reform and school choice and should be able to raise considerable sums from those constituencies.
UPDATE: SOURCE IN GOV’S OFFICE: NO WIELAND APPT COMING
Per a source in the governor’s office “I can authoritatively say that [the rumors of Wieland getting an appointment] isn't accurate info. He hasn't been offered a spot, nor is the administration interested in creating any special elections in the near future. Closer to the end of his term, I guess anything is possible. But I can say the info on Senator Romine… is true…”
Post-Romine Senate
Meanwhile, if the other appointment rumor is true and Sen. Gary Romine is headed to the Tax Commission within the next few weeks, that could alter the Senate landscape on a few issues.
· Romine’s departure will remove a stalwart ally of the educational establishment from his post as chair of the Education Committee.
· It benefits publicly owned utilities; Romine had sparred with them over the years.
· And it weakens Sen. Doug Libla. Romine was his reliable dance partner on several mini-filibusters the last couple of years.
More January Quarters
Here’s a few more January quarters I missed yesterday…
Treasurer
State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick raised $35,270 and now has $261,493 on-hand. His Democratic challenger, Vicki Englund, raised $15,559 and now has $14,952 on-hand.
Secretary of State
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft raised $47,230; and now has $293,388 on-hand. Yinka Faleti, the Democratic candidate, raised $107,193 and now has $70,283 on-hand.
Senate 5
In the Democratic primary to replace termed Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, Rep. Steven Roberts kept his money lead. He raised $30,785 and has $79,979 on-hand. Nasheed-endorsed Michelle Sherod raised $19,224 and has $57,007 on-hand. And St. Louis Alderwoman Megan Green raised $15,123 and has $28,386 on-hand. McFarlane Duncan hasn’t filed his January quarter yet.
And
One reader notes that I didn’t mention the pro-Holly Rehder PAC, Holly PAC. It has $63,200 cash on-hand, and contributes to her money advantage over Rep. Kathy Swan.
Bits
· With his resignation, Jason Holsman handed off sponsorship of two pieces of his legislative agenda to other senators. Sen. Lauren Arthur is now the sponsor of SB 544 which would create a fund for homelessness services to which people can donate via text. And Sen. Bill Eigel is the sponsor of SJR 36, a constitutional amendment to exempt from taxes personal property older than ten years.
· Rep. Mike Moon withdrew his HB 1911 which said “the state of Missouri shall not remit any taxes including, but not limited to, federal withholding taxes, to the federal government of the United States unless the federal government prohibits the use of any federal funds for abortions. This prohibition shall include abortions resulting from rape or incest and abortions performed to save a person's life.”
eMailbag on Filling Vacancies
The way KS fills seats is absolutely awful. Every person resigns before their term is up and they bequeath the seat to someone of their liking. It nearly eliminates elective democracy and it absolutely sucks…. In MO, the committees are filled with mouth breathers who don't understand public policy from a hole in the ground. We absolutely should let real voters choose their elected officials not party committees with no accountability.
New Committees
Mechanical Contractors Association of Kansas City Continuation Committee was formed. It’s a PAC. Its treasurer is William Alexander. According to the paperwork filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, the PAC is in support of Mike Parson. See it here.
Lobbyists Registrations
Gary Gates added Missouri Park and Recreation Association.
Jim Gwinner deleted Appriss Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $7,000 from Caremark RX Inc.
KC Forward Progress - $15,000 from Civic Council of Greater Kansas City.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe.
Saturday: Shawn Rhoads, Bill Lant, Carl Bearden, and Robert Knodell.
Sunday: Scott Faughn, Michael Butler and Michele Kratky.
MOScout Schedule
Long Weekend alert! The legislature is off on Monday for Martin Luther King Day. So am I. No Weekender tomorrow. See you Tuesday….