Curchin Joins Speaker’s Staff
Alex Curchin has joined Speaker Todd Richardson’s staff as “senior counsel to the Speaker.” Curchin had served as chief of staff to Mike Cierpiot when he was floor leader, and before that chief of staff under John Diehl when he was speaker.
Originally in January 8 MOScout.
Sessions Fuels MMJ Uncertainty
AP reports that “Attorney General Jeff Sessions… is going after legalized marijuana. Sessions is rescinding a policy that had let legalized marijuana flourish without federal intervention across the country…. The move will leave it to U.S. attorneys where pot is legal to decide whether to aggressively enforce federal marijuana law. The move likely will add to confusion about whether it’s OK to grow, buy or use marijuana in states where it’s legal, since long-standing federal law prohibits it….”
And
Rep. Shamed Dogan responds tweeting… This is a waste of law enforcement resources and a slap in the face to voters and legislators around the country. Thank you @SenCoryGardner for standing up for federalism against Jeff Sessions' federal tyranny.
Also
Speaker Todd Richardson says that the legislature is the “best place” for medical marijuana to be decided. Listen to him here.
Originally in January 5 MOScout.
Richard Cautious on Taxes
At his post-adjournment press conference Senate Pro Tem Ron Richard sounded a note of caution about tax reform and tax cut bills.
“I like low taxes too but I’m going to be very careful to make sure we’re not endangering this institution, this building, the taxpayers after I’m gone beyond repair. I don’t want a Brownback thing.”
Originally in January 4 MOScout.
Hoover to Hang Out a Shingle
Cara Hoover will be leaving KCP&L government affairs in-house team after 9 years with the company. She will be opening her own contract lobbying firm, Heartland Policy Advisors, where she will still represent KCP&L, among others, in Jefferson City
Originally in January 4 MOScout.
A Sunday List: Black Swans of 2018
Earlier this week, I wrote about events that folks expect to influence the coming year. Here’s a list of contarian guesses. Things that are very unlikely to happen yet could shake things up if one of them did materialize.
- Josh Hawley drops out of U.S. Senate race and Governor Eric Greitens quickly becomes the consensus Republican nominee.
- Rex Sinquefield forcefully re-enters political giving arena with a huge independent expenditure on behalf of Rep. Paul Curtman’s auditor bid.
- Scandal grips the governor’s office (pick your scenario: Misson Continues donor list investigation, Confide investigation, a tragedy while Greitens is out of state attending a political function), and talk starts about a 2020 primary challenge.
- Sen. Rob Schaaf (and others) shut down the Senate. It changes the narrative of the Senate pro tem race, as Republicans decide it’s time to change the Senate rules to prevent a minority of senators from slowing chamber proceedings.
- Several unrelated factors (pension liability, fed tax cut hit, state tax cut phase-in, stock market correction) unexpectedly combine to create a budget crisis and move credit rating agencies to put Missouri’s AAA rating on downgrade “watch.”
DESE Corrects Gubby Spox
This December 26 Missourian article (see it here) pits two state government communication officials against each other to try to uncover the truth. The governor’s man, Parker Briden, gets schooled.
Pull Quote: Briden said there has not been a performance increase to match the funding increase. So we looked at data for student performance on standardized tests. Sarah Potter, the communications coordinator for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, said Briden is wrong. Missouri Assessment Program, or MAP, is the primary measure for K-12 schools in Missouri. MAP scores actually increased in all content areas between 2016 and 2017. English language arts saw a 1 percent increase, math saw a 1.4 percent increase, science saw a 2.1 percent increase, and American government saw a 1.7 percent increase….
Mantovani to Self: Happy New Year
Businessman Mark Mantovani who’s waging an insurgent campaign against incumbent Steve Stenger for St. Louis County Executive put $250,000 into his campaign account on New Year’s Eve – the final day of the fundraising quarter. This bring his total self-funding investment in the campaign to $750,000.
Originally in January 3 MOScout.
MCN Still Off Committees
At her post-adjournment press conference Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh said that she’s not putting Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal back on committees. Chappelle-Nadal was removed after her Facebook post hoping for President Donald Trump assassination. “Why would I put her back on… I have the support of my caucus…”
Originally in January 4 MOScout.
MEC Cases
The Missouri Ethics Commission dismissed separate complaints against St. Louis County Executive candidate Mark Mantovani (see it here) and St. Louis County Councilmember Ernie Trakas (see it here).
Originally in December 26 MOScout.
Haahr on Priorities
Speaker-elect Elijah Haahr on Forbes.com previews legislative priorities. See it here.
On Tax Reform
First, we need to simplify the code. Remove the countless loopholes and reduce the credits that only benefit a select few while cluttering up the code with so many rules and regulations that most Missourians needs an accountant to prepare their return. Second, eliminate the lowest levels of tax rates by shrinking the current brackets from ten down to three, while increasing the income level at which the maximum rate applies, so our tax system does not unfairly penalize the lowest earners. Third, lower the overall rates on both families and businesses to spur further investment in our economy and allowing taxpayers to keep and spend more of their earnings.
On Other Priorities
We will work to eliminate occupational licensing restrictions on those workers willing and able to enter the workforce and to eradicate antiquated barriers on individuals wishing to use their cars to provide transportation or their homes for lodging.
The state of Missouri also stands at the crossroads of the nation. With the 7th most miles of any state funded road system, we need to find a long term solution to repairing and repaving those miles so our farmers and truckers can move their product to market. And we must find a 21st century solution to our state’s aging utility grid.
Finally, Missouri needs to prioritize our human capital. We must produce a generation of workers with the highest level of educational skills rivaling any state in the nation…
Originally in December 21 MOScout.
Meet Missouri Values
Missouri Values was formed. It’s a campaign committee which supports various initiative petitions which would likely appeal to the Republican base voters.
They are: an anti-sanctuary city petition, a “right to remember” petition which appears to be crafted to address the current controversy over confederate memorials by changing the constitution to make them only removable by an act of the general assembly, and election of justices to the state supreme court and court of appeals.
Pat Thomas filed the petitions which haven’t been approved for circulation yet. Thomas is treasurer of the Missouri Republican Party.
Originally in December 19 MOScout.
Another Amendment 2 Update
The MEC updated its Amendment 2 advisory adding “A political action committee/continuing committee may receive contributions from a federal PAC (see Art. VIII, Sec. 23.3(12)).” See it here.
Originally in December 21 MOScout.