“New Approach Approaching Target” is locked New Approach Approaching Target
According to WeedNews, New Approach passed a signature milestone in its efforts to put medical marijuana on the ballot. See it here. “After pushing through some bad weather the first couple weeks of the year, our petition drive to place medical cannabis on the November ballot has rocketed into 2018. Last week, our paid petitioners posted their best week of the campaign so far, and we have now collected more than 175,000 signatures of the roughly 280,000 we will need to submit! Equally impressive, nearly 100,000 of those signatures were gathered by volunteers!”
Originally in February 1 MOScout.
Help Wanted
The Conservation Federation of Missouri seeks Director of Development. “The Director of Development is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the Conservation Federation’s fundraising, including: the major gifts program, planned giving, Business Alliance, select donor events and capital campaigns. The Director of Development reports to the Executive Director and works closely with the Board of Directors in all development and fundraising endeavors… Starting Salary: $50,000…” See it here.
The Conservation Federation of Missouri seeks Membership Development Coordinator. “Develop, execute, and measure promotional plans and campaigns intended to engage, recruit, and retain members/membership; lead membership marketing strategy, development and execution; Track and identify opportunities, through research and analytics to increase future campaign success, engagement of members and the public; use data to develop appropriate membership acquisition and retention strategies by identifying potential membership markets, and monitoring trends… Salary Range: $35,000 – $40,000…” See it here.
Originally in February 1 MOScout.
Cort Goes Indy in Senate 30
The press release: David Cort, a candidate for Missouri’s 30th State Senate District, has announced a formal break from the Republican Party. Cort will run for the Springfield State Senate seat as an Independent… The move leaves Greene County Commissioner Lincoln Hough as the only candidate who has declared for the Republican nomination for this seat… Mike Moon, Republican Representative from the 157th District, said of Cort, “He is a thinker. Dave understands the problems facing our state and will work hard to find appropriate solutions. I look forward to working with Dave Cort in Jefferson City. I must say that this has been a hard decision to make. But I know it’s the right thing to do, it’s the principled thing to do. You cannot identify the Republican Party as part of the problem and then ask to become part of the problem.”
Originally in February 7 MOScout.
New Committees
Adam Schwadron formed a candidate committee (Friends of Adam Schwadron) to run for St. Charles County Director of Election as a Republican.
Sara Lampe formed a candidate committee (Sara Lampe For Greene County) to run for Greene County Presiding Commissioner as a Democrat. Lampe is a former state representative.
Southern Missouri Conservative Fund was formed. It’s a PAC. Its treasurer is James Murphy, Sen. Paul Wieland’s chief of staff.
Matthew Becker formed a candidate committee (Becker For Prosecutor) to run for Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney as a Republican
Originally in February 6 MOScout.
Dungan to GSA
Judy Dungan, lobbyist for Missouri Children’s Leadership Council, was appointed by President Donald Trump to be Senior Advisor to the Regional Administrator for the GSA.
Originally in February 6 MOScout.
SLBJ Endorses Wiemann’s Bill
St. Louis Business Journal endorsed Rep. John Wiemann’s HB 2242 to put municipal financial information on a public website.
From the editorial: Here’s a basic tenet of good government: If you spend taxpayer money, you should be able to account for it. Yet so many Missouri city officials won’t. Of 152 cities contacted by the Business Journal and Show-Me Institute, only 47 said they’d provide information about five years of payments for free. The city of Battlefield tried to charge us $35,101. Northwoods, in north St. Louis County, was essentially unreachable… Fortunately, state government can force the hand of its subdivisions. Legislators should pass, and Gov. Eric Greitens should sign, John Wiemann’s bill, which would establish the "Missouri Municipality Government Expenditure Database." It would include the amounts spent in each fiscal year beginning on or after June 1, 2019. Cities that don’t comply with the Missouri bill could be fined $100 a day…
Originally in February 1 MOScout.
Chappelle-Nadal “Injects”
Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal knocked SB 574 off the consent calendar. It’s Sen. Wayne Wallingford’s bill on mandatory reporting of nursing home neglect.
Chappelle-Nadal’s letter… “Pursuant to Senate Rule 45, please remove the SCS/SB 574 from the Consent Calendar and return such to the Seniors, Families and Children committee. While I take no issue with the underlying public policy of the legislation, (in fact, I wholeheartedly support increasing reporting requirements for sexual assault victims in long-term care facilities) I do take issue with the sponsor, who elected to interject himself into a public health matter situated wholly within my Senatorial District. Specifically, the bill’s sponsor, despite living 126.2 miles away from the radioactive West Lake Landfill, signed a letter, dated October 1, 2017, to the Environmental Protection Agency that stated, in part, that there is “no evidence of health risks to individuals living or working in the vicinity of the (West Lake) landfill.” Further, the letter expressed opposition to properly remedying this public health disaster that has killed, is killing, and, unless properly alleviated, will continue to kill my constituents. For this reason, I choose to inject myself into this Senator’s business, which includes the consent status of the SCS/SB 574…”
Originally in January 31 MOScout.
IPs Filed For Fuel Tax
Seven initiative petitions dealing funding for transportation were filed. See them here. Some are straight fuel taxes, but a couple of them are quite clever. They propose a new sales tax for law enforcement, not roads. That is, they would designate the new money for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. In 2017, the MSHP spent about $240 million from MoDOT’s budget. But freeing that up, there would be more money available for roads. And presumably a law enforcement tax polls better than a roads tax – which has been unsuccessful in the past.
The petitions were filed by Terry Briggs, executive director of SITE Improvement Association.
Originally in January 31 MOScout.
CMC for MMJ
According to Weed News, US Senator Claire McCaskill has come out in favor of medical marijuana. See it here. “I support medical marijuana in Missouri. I think it’s the right way to go.”
Originally in January 31 MOScout.
Bits
Treasurer Eric Schmitt is “St. Louis University's newest adjunct faculty member. He will come to campus in a few weeks to teach a special topics class in the philosophy department called ‘21st Century American Civics.’” See it here.
Secretary of State John Ashcroft joined an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the Pennsylvania gerrymandering ruling because it “will cause chaos in their states.” See it here.
The Twenty-First Circuit Judicial Commission announced the panel of three nominees to be submitted to Governor Eric Greitens to fill the circuit judge vacancy in St. Louis County created by the retirement of Judge Carolyn Whittington. Those nominated by the commission are: Judge Joseph L. Green, Peter W. Gullborg, and Judge Mary Elizabeth Ott.
Originally in January 30 MOScout.
New House Subcommittees
Speaker Todd Richardson created several new subcommittees: The Subcommittee on Agriculture Education will report to the Committee on Agriculture Policy, and be chaired by Rep. Hannah Kelly; The Subcommittee on Creation and Appointments will report to the Committee on Insurance Policy, and be chaired by Rep. John Wiemann; The Subcommittee on Scope of Practice will report to the Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing, and be chaired by Rep. Chrissy Sommer; The Subcommittee on Second Amendment Preservation will report to the Committee on General Laws and be chaired by Rep. Chuck Basye; The Subcommittee on Tax Credit Review will report to the Special Committee on Government Oversight, and be chaired by Rep. Jered Taylor; and the Subcommittee on Mandatory Minimums. It’s being chaired by Rep. Tom Hannegan, and will report to the Committee on Crime Prevention and Public Safety.
Originally in February 2 MOScout.
White Houser Johnny DeStefano
Washington Post reports that KC native Johnny DeStefano (brother-in-law to Centene lobbyist Shawn Furey) is thistight with Trump’s chief of staff John Kelly. See it here.
Kelly’s views on personnel and policy are shared only with a group of people he trusts, including Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen; Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, also a former general. At the White House, he confides in White House aide Johnny DeStefano, deputy Joe Hagin and Rob Porter, the president’s staff secretary.
Originally in January 26 MOScout.
Onder Pounds Anthem
On Twitter Sen. Bob Onder continues his criticism of Anthem wheich he began on the Senate floor a few days ago. See it here. “Anthem expands unconscionable policy of denying ER claims and discouraging needed care in doctors’ offices. That’s why I filed #SB928 to protect patients and ensure needed care. #moleg”
Anthem’s lobbyists in Jefferson City are: Nikki Strong, Katherine Casas, Scott Swain, David Smith, Brian Grace, Rodney Boyd, and Kelvin Simmons.
Originally in January 26 MOScout.
Neely MMJ
Rep. Jim Neely’s medical marijuana bill was referred to General Laws Committee. That’s a good path for them. The committee will likely be sympathetic to the bill as the chairman, Rep. Robert Cornejo, is a co-sponsor of the bill.
Originally in January 25 MOScout.
New Committee
James Murphy formed a candidate committee (Citizens For Murphy) to run as a Republican for House 94. This is the father of Jamie Murphy who works for Sen. Paul Wieland.
Originally in January 24 MOScout.
Help Wanted
The Missouri Department of Social Services seeks Missouri Medicaid Director (MO HealthNet Division Director). “This position will make key policy decisions and shape administrative strategies to enhance the operating efficiency of Medicaid and related initiatives across the state. This position requires significant interaction with Missouri’s General Assembly, Missouri health care providers and health plans, other state departments, and numerous local and federal government agencies. Excellent communications skills and the ability to effectively engage stakeholders on important policy matters are essential. Strong leadership and creative problem-solving skills are critical…” See it here.
Originally in January 23 MOScout.
The Missouri Department of Social Services seeks Missouri Medicaid Director (MO HealthNet Division Director). “This position will make key policy decisions and shape administrative strategies to enhance the operating efficiency of Medicaid and related initiatives across the state. This position requires significant interaction with Missouri’s General Assembly, Missouri health care providers and health plans, other state departments, and numerous local and federal government agencies. Excellent communications skills and the ability to effectively engage stakeholders on important policy matters are essential. Strong leadership and creative problem-solving skills are critical…” See it here.
Originally in January 23 MOScout.