From Catherine Hanaway’s “How to become Governor of Missouri” checklist:

1. Goal: Find a simpatico billionaire to pave the roads with gold.

Achievements to date:

— Nearly $1 million dollars from one donor, megabucks political meddler, Rex Sinquefield.

Next steps:

— Ask Rex what he wants; submit bill.

2. Goal: Make nice with GOP crazy wing.

Achievements to date:

— Channeled the spirit of Todd Akin; attributed poverty, depravity and pedophilia to female sexual autonomy.

— Kudos from Constitutional Party, holly-rollier-than-thou, Cynthia Davis who responds to the Akin imitation with thanks to “brave women, like Catherine Hanaway, for having the courage and moral fortitude to speak the truth” about the sluts who “who have been beguiled into making their bodies available to men outside of Holy Matrimony.”

Next steps:

— Continue talking about keeping the sluts barefoot, pregnant and under Big Daddy’s thumb.

— With the understanding, of course, none of that talk applies to educated, rich Republican women who run for office.

3. Goal: Make nice with Missouri GOP power-brokers.

Achievements to date:

Endorsements:

— Former Missouri Governor and U.S. Senator Kit Bond – will put loyalty to former employees and friends over policy differences.  

— Former GOP National Committee Missouri member Ann Dickinson – goes where Kit Bond leads.

— Very connected U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner – all in for Hanaway – and why not since she’s the GOPs A-1 talent scout for women who can mouth the Republican anti-women line without retching.

— State Rep. Ed Emery, ALEC’s main man in Missouri.

Next Steps:

— Take a loyalty oath to ALEC.

— Hit the country club circuit.

4. Goal: Squash the other main GOP primary contender, Tom Schweich, like a bug.

Achievements to date:

— Long Version: Read former U.S. Sen. John C. Danforth’s eulogy for Tom Schweich to get the whole story.

— Short Version: Read TPM’s description of the way the old, political one-two works – or what Hanaway supporters and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Bill McCellan want to call politics as usual.

— Issued statement after announcement of Schweich’s suicide about what a mensch he was … oops! Make that what an “extraordinary man with an extraordinary record of service to our state and nation.”

Next Steps:

— Suspend campaign, lie low and maybe State GOP Chair and former Hanaway oppo researcher John Hancock will take all the heat.

* Edited slightly; inadvertently omitted text added back under achievements on 4th point.

Here is John Hancock’s home page on Twitter.

You will find the following as his self-description:

John Hancock

@johnrhancock

Christian, Husband, Father, Committed Conservative, GOP operative, piano player

The order is interesting: husband before father?

No wonder it is important for him what a politician’s religious affiliation is.  

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C151053 03/06/2015 GREITENS FOR MISSOURI Frank Kavanaugh 120 Vantis Ste 300 Aliso Viejo CA 92656 Venture Capitalist 3/4/2015 $50,000.00

C151053 03/06/2015 GREITENS FOR MISSOURI Ken Harbaugh 661 W Palm Ave El Segundo CA 90245 Team Rubicon Chief Operations Officer 3/4/2015 $5,001.00

C151053 03/06/2015 GREITENS FOR MISSOURI August Busch III 1 Mid Rivers Mall Dr. Suite 210 St Louis MO 63376 Retired 3/5/2015 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

That’s over $200,000.00 in the last two weeks. That last one is very interesting.

In 2014:

C141055 06/30/2014 HANAWAY FOR GOVERNOR August Busch III One Busch Place St Louis MO 63118 Retired Retired 6/30/2014 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

Last month:

C031159 02/25/2015 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER August Busch III 1 Mid Rivers Mall Drive Suite 210 Saint Peters MO 63376 Retired Retired 2/23/2015 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Then again, we’re not certain if Eric Greitens is running for Governor in 2016.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: There is another? (February 25, 2015)

Campaign Finance: a little bit more (February 26, 2015)

There are cities in Missouri’s 4th Congressional District which are served by Amtrak.

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) in (ironically) Sedalia, which is served by Amtrak [2014 file photo].

Yesterday the House of Representatives voted to pass HR 749 which would reauthorize federal support for Amtrak (and, thus, enable passenger train service to continue in various cities and towns across the country, including in Missouri’s 4th Congressional District).

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 112

     H R 749      YEA-AND-NAY      4-Mar-2015      3:05 PM

     QUESTION:  On Passage

     BILL TITLE: To reauthorize Federal support for passenger rail programs and for other purposes

—- YEAS    316 —

Clay

Cleaver

Graves (MO)

Luetkemeyer

Wagner

—- NAYS    101 —

Hartzler

Smith (MO)

—- NOT VOTING    15 —

Long

[emphasis added]

Well, there was plenty of bipartisan support for the bill to keep funding Amtrak and passenger rail service for four more years. Except… Representative Hartzler (r) didn’t see fit to vote to support passenger rail service which directly serves the people in her district. Why would that be the case?:

House Approves Amtrak Funding, Rewrites Rules To Allow Furry Riders

March 04, 201511:08 PM ET

The Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act passed on a vote of 316 to 101 (132 Republicans joined 184 Democrats in voting for the bill; 101 Republicans voted against). It keeps spending for Amtrak at nearly current levels – about $1.4 billion a year – for the next four years, and includes other reforms aimed at improving the railroad’s fiscal performance.

That disappointed some of the passenger rail service’s supporters, who had hoped for increased funding to help Amtrak improve its deteriorating infrastructure and update aging rail cars and equipment.

But many Republicans, backed by conservative groups including Club for Growth and Heritage Action, say the overall federal passenger rail subsidy of $7.2 billion is too much. The groups argue the spending reforms don’t go far enough and warn this would be scored as a “key vote” in their influential ratings of conservative lawmakers.

Just before the bill passed, a GOP amendment to eliminate all federal subsidies for Amtrak failed on a vote of 147 to 272….

[…]

One can see the dilemma – vote for services for the people in your district, or vote the way right wingnut special interests want you to vote.

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C031159 03/05/2015 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund 900 Seventh Street, NW Washington DC 20001 3/3/2015 $10,000.00

[emphasis added[

Ah, working people.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: continuing… (March 1, 2015)

Campaign Finance: steady wins the race (March 4, 2015)

Finally, documentation of voter impersonation fraud in Missouri. Zero. (August 12, 2012)

[….]

Here it is. The number of voter impersonation fraud cases documented in Missouri since 2000 is exactly zero:

Missouri has 17 cases of alleged election fraud since 2000. By category, Third Party Organizations had the highest percentage of accused at 88 percent (15 cases), followed by Voter at 12 percent (2 cases). The most prevalent fraud was Registration Fraud at 88 percent (15 cases). The status of most cases was Pleaded at 71 percent (12 cases). Responses to requests for public records varied from state to state. Some state and local officials were quick to respond by sending available records; others failed to provide a single document.

[….]

A bill, introduced today by Representative Mike Moon (r):

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 1108 [pdf]

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MOON.

2275L.02I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To repeal section 115.230, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to electronic voter verification systems.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

Section A. Section 115.230, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 115.230, to read as follows:

115.230. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any election authority may use an electronic voter identification system or an electronic signature pad to verify a voter’s address, registration status, and signature information at any polling place. Any such system or pad shall be able to read identifying information from an official Missouri driver’s license or nondriver’s license issued by the department of revenue, and shall be capable of allowing an election authority to manually enter the voter’s information from a valid form of personal identification containing the voter’s signature.

2. (1) Each election authority shall use an electronic device at each polling place that allows the election authority to capture a photograph or a digital image of each voter casting a vote. Any such device shall allow the election authority to enter the voter’s identifying information from a valid form of personal identification containing the voter’s signature into the device and to associate each voter’s photograph or digital image with the voter’s identifying information. Any such device shall also be compatible with any electronic voter identification system used by the election authority.

(2) In the event that an election authority does not have an electronic device at each polling place that complies with the requirements of this subsection, the election authority shall request funding for the fees and costs necessary for purchasing and using such electronic device. All such fees and costs shall be compensated by the secretary of state with funds appropriated by the general assembly for such purpose.

[emphasis in original]

Smile!

In the first place God made idiots. This was for practice. Then he made School Boards.

– Following the Equator; Pudd’nhead Wilson’s New Calendar

People say all kinds of things to public figures.

A bill, introduced today by Representative Bonnaye Mims (D):

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 1106 [pdf]

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MIMS.

2437L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 576, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to intimidating a

public figure, with penalty provisions and an emergency clause.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

Section A. Chapter 576, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 576.090, to read as follows:

576.090. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Political Intimidation Prevention Act”.

2. As used in this section, the following terms mean:

(1) “Intimidating conduct”, any verbal, physical, or written conduct that threatens, coerces, harasses, or attempts to threaten, coerce, or harass a public figure;

(2) “Public figure”, any elected official of this state or any political subdivision thereof, or any candidate for any elected office of this state or any political subdivision thereof.

3. A person commits the offense of intimidating a public figure if the person intentionally engages in or attempts to engage in intimidating conduct in such a manner that such intimidating conduct or attempt creates a hostile environment during the course of such public figure’s performance of duties related to the public figure’s elected office or during the course of such public figure’s campaign for elected office, and the existence of the hostile environment adversely affects the public figure’s performance of duties related to such public office or causes the public figure to resign from the office to which the public figure has been elected or to cease campaigning for such office.

4. (1) The offense of intimidating a public figure is a class A misdemeanor, unless the offense causes physical harm to the public figure, in which case it is a class D felony until December 31, 2016, and a class E felony beginning January 1, 2017.

(2) In addition to any penalty provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection, if any elected official of the state or any political subdivision thereof commits the offense of intimidating a public figure, such elected official shall immediately forfeit such office.

5. This section shall not apply to verbal, physical, or written conduct engaged in by any person in the course of reporting or investigating any misdemeanor or felony committed by a public figure.

Section B. Because immediate action is necessary to prevent intimidation of elected officials and candidates for public office, this act is deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, peace, and safety, and is hereby declared to be an emergency act within the meaning of the constitution, and this act shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and approval.

[emphasis in original]

So, if someone asks a tough question of a public figure and that public figure thinks anyone who asks them tough questions is harassing them, is it still a crime to ask? Just asking.

If a constituent threatens to not vote for a public figure (for whatever reason) and that upsets the public figure, is it still considered a threat? Just asking.

If you quote Mark Twain to a member of your local school board and they get upset and decide to not run for reelection, is it still a crime? Just asking.

Today in the U.S. Senate, the next installment in the theatre of the absurd:

U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 114th Congress – 1st Session

Vote Summary

Question: On Overriding the Veto (Shall the Bill S.1 Pass, Over the Objections of the President )

Vote Number: 68 Vote Date: March 4, 2015, 02:20 PM

Required For Majority: 2/3 Vote Result: Veto Sustained

Measure Number: S. 1 (Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act )

Measure Title: A bill to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Vote Counts: YEAs 62

NAYs 37

Not Voting 1

YEAs —62

Alexander (R-TN)

Ayotte (R-NH)

Barrasso (R-WY)

Bennet (D-CO)

Blunt (R-MO)

Boozman (R-AR)

Burr (R-NC)

Capito (R-WV)

Carper (D-DE)

Casey (D-PA)

Cassidy (R-LA)

Coats (R-IN)

Cochran (R-MS)

Collins (R-ME)

Corker (R-TN)

Cornyn (R-TX)

Cotton (R-AR)

Crapo (R-ID)

Cruz (R-TX)

Daines (R-MT)

Enzi (R-WY)

Ernst (R-IA)

Fischer (R-NE)

Flake (R-AZ)

Gardner (R-CO)

Graham (R-SC)

Grassley (R-IA)

Hatch (R-UT)

Heitkamp (D-ND)

Heller (R-NV)

Hoeven (R-ND)

Inhofe (R-OK)

Isakson (R-GA)

Johnson (R-WI)

Kirk (R-IL)

Lankford (R-OK)

Lee (R-UT)

Manchin (D-WV)

McCain (R-AZ)

McCaskill (D-MO)

McConnell (R-KY)

Moran (R-KS)

Murkowski (R-AK)

Paul (R-KY)

Perdue (R-GA)

Portman (R-OH)

Risch (R-ID)

Roberts (R-KS)

Rounds (R-SD)

Rubio (R-FL)

Sasse (R-NE)

Scott (R-SC)

Sessions (R-AL)

Shelby (R-AL)

Sullivan (R-AK)

Tester (D-MT)

Thune (R-SD)

Tillis (R-NC)

Toomey (R-PA)

Vitter (R-LA)

Warner (D-VA)

Wicker (R-MS)

NAYs —37

Baldwin (D-WI)

Blumenthal (D-CT)

Booker (D-NJ)

Boxer (D-CA)

Brown (D-OH)

Cantwell (D-WA)

Cardin (D-MD)

Coons (D-DE)

Durbin (D-IL)

Feinstein (D-CA)

Franken (D-MN)

Gillibrand (D-NY)

Heinrich (D-NM)

Hirono (D-HI)

Kaine (D-VA)

King (I-ME)

Klobuchar (D-MN)

Leahy (D-VT)

Markey (D-MA)

Menendez (D-NJ)

Merkley (D-OR)

Mikulski (D-MD)

Murphy (D-CT)

Murray (D-WA)

Nelson (D-FL)

Peters (D-MI)

Reed (D-RI)

Reid (D-NV)

Sanders (I-VT)

Schatz (D-HI)

Schumer (D-NY)

Shaheen (D-NH)

Stabenow (D-MI)

Udall (D-NM)

Warren (D-MA)

Whitehouse (D-RI)

Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting – 1

Donnelly (D-IN)

[emphasis added]

All for what, Claire?

Previously:

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): they never will (January 1, 2015)

Claire McCaskill: Enabling Republicans on Keystone XL – or not (January 10, 2015)

Claire McCaskill’s doomed love affair with Keystone XL (January 29, 2015)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): asked and answered (January 30, 2015)

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C031159 03/04/2015 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund 5850 Elizabeth Avenue Saint Louis MO 63110 3/2/2015 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Which is better – $10.00 each from 100,000 people or $1,000,000.00 from one person? Or somewhere in between?

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Oh, hell, just buy the state already (December 8, 2014)

Campaign Finance: continuing… (March 1, 2015)

What is it with republicans?

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback (r) [2015 file photo].

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback talking tax cuts in Missouri

By JASON HANCOCK

The Star’s Jefferson City correspondent

03/04/2015 1:04 PM 03/04/2015 1:50 PM

JEFFERSON CITY

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is taking his tax-slashing message on the road, with two speaking events in Missouri to groups funded by St. Louis billionaire and conservative megadonor Rex Sinquefield.

Wednesday afternoon, Brownback addressed a luncheon sponsored by Grow Missouri, a Sinquefield-funded group founded two years ago to push lawmakers to enact tax cuts for individuals and businesses in the state. The title of the luncheon was “Growing Prosperity for Years to Come,” and Grow Missouri tweeted that Brownback would discuss “his tax policies and how we can adopt them.”

Joining Grow Missouri in sponsoring the luncheon were the Associated Industries of Missouri and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. The event was invitation only, with a representative from Sinquefield’s lobbying firm telling The Star that no media would be allowed. Several lawmakers indicated they planned to attend….

[….]

At least we think it reads like he spoke in Jefferson City.

A comment, via Twitter:

Steven Anthony ‏@scanthony14

Pretty sure Gov. Nixon has never gone to speak in Topeka, so why would Gov. Brownback speak in our capital? #BorderWar #MOLeg 12:51 PM – 4 Mar 2015

Uh, he’s following the money since there isn’t any left in Kansas?