MOScout Daily Update: Labor Adds $120K for Webber PAC - Who's Not Before Gubby Appts This Morning - Black Gets Approps Seat - Latest JwJ IPs and more...

Gubby Appts Committee

There’ll be some familiar faces at this morning’s Gubernatorial Appointments Committee.  Folks who are on the list to be vetted for Senate confirmation include…

·       Former Rep. Allen Andrews – Division of Employment Security for the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

·       Former Rep. Kathy Conway – Missouri Ethics Commission.

·       Former Sen. David Pearce – Midwestern Higher Education Commission.

·       Ameren’s Tina Shannon - Lincoln University Board of Curators.

But it’s also interesting to see who’s not on this morning’s list… Brian Treece and Warren Erdman, both appointees to the high-profile State Highway and Transportation Commission.  One Senate-side source says no one expects a problem with either nomination, it’s just that “everyone wants [Patrick] McKenna fired,” so there’s a lot of interest in them.

·       You might recall this letter sent by several Republican senators last year (including Floor Leader Cindy O’Laughlin) saying McKenna should “either resign or be fired.”

Latest JwJ IPs

Jobs With Justice has filed several more initiative petitions with the Secretary of State. These appear to be combinations of two previously filed IPs – those dealing with increasing the minimum wage and those dealing with guaranteed paid sick leave. 

It appears that rather than focus on one or the other issue, they are now considering a broader, “worker’s rights” package in a single initiative petition.

We’ll see…

More on Senate Committees

A few thoughts…

·       Sen. Rusty Black is the only freshman to gain a seat on the powerful (and very large) Appropriations Committee.

·       As expected, Sen. Lauren Arthur was tapped to chair the Democrats’ committee, Progress and Development.

·       I think you could see Sen. Elaine Gannon vote with Dems on some school issues.  That would mean – depending on the issue – that Education Chair Andrew Koenig will have to make sure all Republicans are present when voting items out.

Webber PAC Records First Contributions

Democrat Stephen Webber’s bid to win Senate 19 is off to a nice start.  In the large contributions (below) Homefront PAC, the PAC supporting Webber, recorded three checks from organized labor totaling over $120,000 – and another $10K check from Joseph “Mr. McCaskill” Shepard.

Berne Seeks Recount

Democrat Cindy Berne filed a petition for a recount with Speaker Dean Plocher.  See it here. Berne lost to Republican Rep. Adam Schwadron by 99 votes.

No Basye on School Board Ballot

I haven’t really been following the saga of former Rep. Chuck Basye who waited until the last day to file for Columbia School Board, and found the office was closed.   Catch up on the story here.

·       SuperLawyer Chuck Hatfield weighs in on Twitter: The Bayse issue is actually fairly common. Filing for school board occurs at board offices, which are not open at the end of filing. CPS policy is similar to other districts.

Pro-Schwartz PAC Formed

SchwartzPAC was formed (see the paperwork here).  It’s in support of Mark Schwartz. He’s running for Jefferson City Council (see an article here.)

Schwartz is Vice President of Government Affairs for Missouri Behavioral Health Council. That puts him in a situation similar to lobbyist Erika Leonard when she ran for school board.  Lobbyists are prohibited from having campaign committees. As a result, Schwartz, like King, will have to rely on an independent PAC for which he can raise money, but of which he won’t be able to direct the expenditures.

Farm Bureau Seeks Director of Policy Affairs

On the Farm Bureau website, it looks like they’re still looking for their replace for Eric Bohl.  See the job listing here.

The Director of Public Affairs will develop the strategy for all communications, website, and public relations messages to consistently articulate Missouri Farm Bureau’s mission. Responsible for developing and directing the operations, procedures, plans, and programs governing Missouri Farm Bureau’s public outreach. Make recommendations to the President and Chief Administrative Officer in determining the overall Federation objectives, policies, and plans regarding communication.

Lobbyists Registrations

Candice Brown added Amerenue, Ameren Services, and Ameren Corp.     

Ryan DeBoef added State Technical College of Missouri.

Zoie Antoinette Francisco added Missouri Bankers Association. 

Paul Mouton added Downstream Casino Resort and Petland, Inc.

$5K+ Contributions

Homefront PAC – $100,000 from Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Missouri-Kansas Area PAC.

Homefront PAC – $10,000 from UFCW Local 655.

Homefront PAC – $10,036 from Sheet Metal Workers International Association.

Homefront PAC – $10,000 from Joseph Shepard.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Judy Morgan, and Scott Intagliata.