The Missouri Times - March 5, 2018 by Missouri Times

The Missouri Times

MARCH 5, 2018

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PHOTO/HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS

GOVERNORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S APPROVAL SINKS TO

27%

OVER HALF OF STATE BELIEVES HE SHOULD RESIGN.

COMMITTEE BEGINS INVESTIGATION INTO GOVERNOR The committee had been given 40 days to complete its work. PAGE 5

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CAPITOL RENO BEGINS

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OPINION The Case for Missouri PACE: Jobs and Infrastructure Without Public Spending by Dave Townsend and Byron DeLear Missouri is now in a position to lead on one of the most successful public-private partnerships and economic drivers in recent memory. As one of the early state adopters of the Property Assessed Clean Energy program, also known as “PACE,” the Show Me State has the most successful and diverse PACE programs in the Midwest, creating good-paying jobs and upgrading infrastructure without public spending. Perhaps most noteworthy is the fact that PACE programs in Missouri are available for both commercial property owners and homeowners — one of only three states in the U.S. to do so. What makes PACE innovative, is that it provides 100% financing for critical infrastructure upgrades without negatively impacting public budgets. It also makes it easier for home and building owners to make smart investments that reduce their energy use, cut pollution, save on utility bills and treat the idea of renewable energy as an aspect of good asset management, not merely a “lifestyle choice.” Through Missouri PACE, property improvements such as high efficiency heating and cooling systems, LED lighting upgrades, solar panels, high efficiency doors, windows, and even energy efficient roofing can be financed over longer terms (up to 20 years) with special property assessments. These kinds of improvements are popular with property owners because they typically pay for themselves through savings—and PACE makes it possible for these upgrades to be installed today, rather than tomorrow. Missouri PACE has proven to be good public policy. Energy technology is always evolving and reaching higher levels of efficiency each year. But where state budgets may be overburdened, PACE programs solve the problem of improving infrastructure by paying for the investment with private capital. In Missouri, we’ve all grown accustomed to seeing these advances in the transportation sector with higher fuel efficiency standards locked in by a combination of market incentives (better gas mileage) and government mandates such as CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards and regulations. However, expanding government mandates concerning energy standards for homes and buildings may not be feasible. Through PACE, property owners benefit by upgrading their properties, lowering their utility bills, and increasing the value of their homes and businesses; while Missouri benefits by increased energy independence, lower stress on the energy grid, and a safer, higher quality of housing and buildings stock. Simply put, PACE allows for the updating and

modernization of our private sector infrastructure without increasing government mandates and spending. It’s no doubt that real estate will be positively impacted by the Missouri PACE program and there are many reasons for Missouri real estate professionals to also embrace PACE. The program has already been instrumental in refreshing some of our aging housing stock. In fact, with nearly 40 percent of all owner-occupied homes in the country being built in 1969 or prior, PACE is providing an opportunity for these aging homes to be brought up to current efficiency standards, raising property values, and improving local real estate markets. Property improvements that are financed through the program are required to pay for themselves through energy savings and other economic benefits. This allows for homeowners to enjoy upgrades now while payments are offset by savings. And, to ensure the viability of the program, only responsible homeowners who are up to date on property taxes, have no bankruptcies, and no involuntary liens of more than $1000 are eligible to participate in the program. Real estate professionals benefit from being able to assist sellers to obtain higher resale value for homeowners during transactions. This in turn benefits the sellers, the agents through higher commissions, and the purchasers. Educated and energy-conscious consumers of the future will seek out properties that offer the benefits of these improvements. Missouri’s PACE programs are also putting people to work. It’s part of a statewide effort that has seen an over 5 percent clean energy job growth – more than three times that of Missouri’s overall economy. With $50 million in direct economic activity, more than 750 good-paying Missouri jobs have been made possible by our state’s PACE programs—all without using a single tax payer dollar for project financing. Through job growth, improved infrastructure and home improvement projects, PACE has proven to be an innovative tool in addressing the critical needs of Missourians. Ultimately, it’s imperative we continue to adopt effective programs like PACE if we want to stay competitive, innovative, and keep our economy moving forward. Dave Townsend is with RE/MAX Results and has over 28-years of real estate experience in Missouri and is active with the St. Louis Association of Realtors and Missouri Realtors. Byron DeLear is Central Regional Executive – Midwest for Ygrene Energy Fund, a leading national PACE provider. DeLear has designed and administers PACE programs in Missouri and Arkansas.

The Missouri Times

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

Highlights in 280 characters or less. Robert Cornejo @CornejoForMO

Rep. Paul Curtman @paulcurtman Been working on this for a while but tonight we finally got the House Conservative Caucus and the Legislative Black Caucus together to break bread! About 25 of us were able to make it tonight so far. #moleg @ ellington_b

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

If you or someone you know needs help, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Just remember, someone out there loves you and would miss you. You are loved. Shamed Dogan @Dogan4Rep So saddened by the loss of my former colleague Keith English. If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts please know there is help available. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline can be reached 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255. #suicide Collin Reischman @CMReischman Rest in Peace, Keith English. #moleg

HOT LIST

SHAMED DOGAN

The Republican from St. Charles County has been a leader on circulating a letter and protecting his colleagues who are concerned about

repurcussions in a turbulent political time.

talented candidates.

PRIMARIES

Clean Line has won their appeal and is headed to the Supreme Court. See Page 11 for more.

Several open seats now have hot primaries between well-versed and

GRAIN BELT

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SUNDAY MORNINGS KANSAS CITY - 38 THE SPOT AT 10:00 A.M. ST. LOUIS - ABC 30 KDNL AT 11:00 A.M. SPRINGFIELD - MCN 22 AT 11:00 A.M. MID-MISSOURI - MCN 22 AT 11:00 A.M.

STREAM ONLINE AT TWMP.TV

The Missouri Times

House committee begins historic impeachment process by Scott Faughn

scott@themissouritimes.com

On the first legislative day after the indictment of Governor Eric Greitens, on felony invasion of privacy House Speaker Todd Richardson took the historic step of empaneling a bipartisan committee of legislators that is being called the Special Committee on Oversight to investigate the facts and compile a report that would be the beginning of a potential impeachment process. The committee had been given 40 days to complete its work, with the opportunity to extend those days, with subpoena power and the ability to hire investigative and legal staff. Perhaps most importantly is that the committee will have the ability to meet in secret, which could prove crucial in keeping the victim’s name confidential. The committee is made up of two Democrats and five Republicans. The resolution empowering the committee is set to be passed during Thursday’s session. Chairman Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, an attorney, will chair the committee and lead the investigation. He takes the lead role, having previously served as general counsel for the Missouri Senate, as well as policy counsel and speechwriter to former Republican Gov. Matt Blunt. He has chaired several investigative committees during his tenure in the Missouri House of Representatives, the most notable of which concerned the failed artificial sweetener company, Mamtek. Barnes has been noted for years as one of the top legal minds in the legislature and was one of the names considered to fill a recent vacancy on the Missouri Supreme Court. He has been married to his wife for several years, and together they attend CHURCH Barnes is one of the most independent minds in the House and is widely respected on both sides of the aisle. Elected in 2010, he is serving his final term in the House. Of note, Barnes was one of the first and most prestigious supporters of then-candidate Eric Greitens. Vice Chairman Rep. Donald Phillips, R-Kimberling City, will serve as the committee’s vice chairman. Rep. Phillips is a retired state trooper with the Missouri Highway Patrol, bringing his experience in law enforcement to help move forward in the investigation

of alleged criminal activities. He is currently the chairman of the Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee in the House. Phillips was elected in a special election in 2011 he is serving his final term in the House representing a district that runs just west of Branson up to the southwestern suburbs of Springfield. Phillips and his wife, Kathrin, are the parents of two daughters and four grandchildren. Of note, Phillips has played a role in the family-friendly Shepherd of the Hills outdoor theater, a huge draw for Christian groups throughout the Midwest. Rep. Kevin Austin, R-Springfield, is the current Assistant Majority Floor Leader for the House, and outside of the legislature, he serves as an attorney with his own practice, Keck & Austin, that focuses on litigation, insurance defense, and business counseling. Thought to be one of the Governor’s biggest supporters on the committee when the names were announced, he has previously been very supportive of the Governor for the better part of the Governor’s first year in office. However, many of his colleagues have commented that he is the type of legislator that will have little problem setting aside partisanship to serve on the panel. Austin was elected in 2013 and has announced that he is forgoing his final term to allow more time to focus on his legal practice and his family. He and his wife, Jody, have two sons: Alex and Nick, one of which is an extremely talented football player. They attend King’s Way United Methodist Church where he leads the military ministries and is a scripture reader for the Sunday services. Rep. Shawn Rhoads, R-West Plains, comes to the table as someone with plenty of experience from a law enforcement background. As a former police detective, Rhoads has spent plenty of time working investigations and offers value having dealt with criminals and legal proceedings over the years. Rhoads served as a detective with the West Plains Police Department after attending the Missouri Sheriff ’s Academy and graduating as a law enforcement officer in 2000. Elected in 2013, Rhoads resides in West

Plains with his wife, Jennifer. They have three children: Kate, Kameren, and Jillian. He has been active in coaching local sports, including Mighty Mite football, Little League baseball, organizing a USAV junior volleyball club, and being a host family for the Grizzly volleyball program. He is a member of the Church of Christ in West Plains. Rep. Jeanie Lauer, R-Blue Springs, is one of two women on the committee and is the owner of a training and professional development company. She currently serves as the Chairman of the Workforce Development Committee, and also serves on the Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee. She has a reputation for independence and is one of the most respected and leading members of the bipartisan women’s caucus. Her district includes part of the city of Blue Springs north of Interstate 70. Elected in 2011, she is currently serving her final term in the House, and previously was elected to the Blue Springs City Council. Rep. Gina Mitten, D-St. Louis County, joins the committee as the top Democrat, bringing her knowledge as an attorney specializing in civil litigation and domestic relations to the table. Mitten’s knowledge of the legal precedents, as well as procedure, will be handy, and the Democrat is well-known for conducting thorough and tough queries when hearing testimony in committee. Mitten was first elected to the House in 2013, and currently serves as the Assistant Minority Floor Leader, as well as the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. Mitten began her legal career as a legal assistant in Clayton after dropping out of high school. Working as an office clerk, then secretary, and then a paralegal, and as a full-time working mother of two, she worked her way

through night school at St. Louis Community College at Meramec before pursuing her education further. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri - St. Louis in 2001, where she finished summa cum laude. She received her juris doctorate from Washington University in 2005, and works as an attorney for St. Louis Lawyers Group. Throughout her education, she remained active in her community, and in her children’s schools, and went on to serve on the Richmond Heights City Council. Mitten and her husband, Nelson, have two children, Travis and Natalie. Rep. Tommie Pierson Jr., D-St. Louis, rounds out the committee and may seem to be the somewhat proverbial odd-man out, but the North St. Louis County math teacher and pastor of inStep Church in St. Charles has proven himself to be a thoughtful member of the House while also carrying calm demeanor throughout situations. Pierson was first elected into the House in 2017, making him the newest legislator out of the committee members. Faith has played a strong role in his life, having grown up as a pastor’s kid. After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics, he went on to attend the University of Cincinnati where he studied Biostatistics. In April 2004, Pastor Tommie preached his first sermon and he enrolled at Covenant Theological Seminary shortly thereafter. In January 2007, he was blessed to enter vocational ministry full time as he joined the staff at both Greater St. Mark Family Church and Calvary Church- Connections Campus as co-Pastor. He graduated from Covenant with a Master of Arts degree in Theological Studies in 2009 and organized the inStep Church in April 2012. Pastor Pierson, Jr., and his wife, Dr. Zorata R. Pierson, have three children, Tamia, Carlton and Thaddeus. It stands to reason that Speaker Richardson carefully selected each member for some set of skills or attributes, while also attempting to ensure the inclusion of minorities in the House. It’s also worth noting that the committee has seemingly been stacked with more Republicans, perhaps an attempt by House leadership to show that they can and will police the members of their own party.

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6 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Schaaf takes aim at A New Missouri with first, last filed bill of session by Benjamin Peters

benjamin@themissouritimes.com

Sen. Rob Schaaf has easily been the most outspoken member of the Senate when it comes to criticism of Governor Eric Greitens and his tactics, having been the target of an online social media attack campaign during the last legislative session, but the Republican senator from Buchanan County is looking to take things one step further. “Recent events illustrate clearly that secrecy can breed corruption. It can embolden one to cheat on his wife, or commit an assault, or sell

“In sum, this bill gives the people of Missouri increased information to help them make important decisions on Election Day and helps shine a light on the dark money being spent in our elections.” out the people of Missouri to high-paying special interests and expect to get away with it,” Schaaf told his colleagues. At the beginning of the 2018 legislative session, Sen. Schaaf announced to his colleagues on the Senate floor that he had not filed a single piece of legislation, meaning that his work this year would be more focused on the bills presented by his colleagues. But after nearly two months of session, Schaaf has revealed his first piece of legislation. Speaking before his fellow senators on Tuesday morning, Schaaf presented his bill, SB 1041, which deals with communications from elected officials. “The bill I’m introducing today would address the problem of secrecy in campaign finance,” Schaaf stated. “This bill introduces sorely needed disclosure requirements for nonprofit groups closely affiliated with elected officials in our state. The legislation is closely tailored to reach only those groups.” Schaaf said that he had the bill drafted by “some of the best legal minds in the country,” including experts at the Campaign Legal Center, as well as Trevor Potter, the former chairman of the Federal Election Commission. “You can rest assured that this bill is carefully drafted and ready for passage.” Under the bill, a nonprofit affiliated with an elected official spends $10,000 or more annu-

ally on public communications featuring the elected official, then the nonprofit has to file a report once a year with the ethics commission. In that report, they would be required to disclose, among other information, its affiliation with the elected official, donors of $5,000 or more, and payments made for public communications featuring that elected official. Schaaf spoke about how some elected officials use nonprofits to push forward their agendas, as well as pay for communications and advertising, in some instances, using them to attack opponents through such advertising. “These same nonprofits are legally permitted to raise unlimited money from virtually any source, including corporations and special interests, many of whom are seeking tangible benefits from elected officials in our state,” Schaaf said. He pointed to Greitens’ A New Missouri as a prime example of such a nonprofit. Schaaf stated that while seeking election, Greitens had spoken about the importance of transparency in the funding of campaigns. “He said in one interview: ‘What I’ve found is that the most important thing is that there is transparency around the money,’” Schaaf quoted the Governor from an interview. He noted that Greitens had told reporters how proud they were to be transparent and that they could “see every one of our donors because we are proud of our donors, and we are proud of our campaign that we are running.” “But Greitens has turned his back on transparency, and now uses dark money to the full extent allowed by law. The nonprofit, A New Missouri, is one of the principle tools he uses to do this. Schaaf noted that the nonprofit was staffed by some of his closest associates, including his campaign manager, Austin Chambers, his campaign’s finance director, and his sister-inlaw. “Importantly, this bill does not limit the amount of money that a nonprofit organization can raise, nor does it restrict an elected official’s ability to become involved with nonprofit organizations doing work in their communities,” Schaaf said. “This bill only requires that, once a year, certain nonprofit organizations that are affiliated with elected state officials and spending significant sums on public communications featuring such officials file a report with the Missouri Ethics Commission.” “This is the Show-Me State, and the people are demanding to be shown who is funding the careers of their politicians,” he said. “If we are

to regain their trust, we must allow them to see transparently who is pulling the levers of power in Jefferson City.” The next day, Schaaf filed a second bill, which he said would work in conjunction with the first to address Missouri’s issue of secrecy in political spending. “Yesterday I introduced a disclosure bill relating to organizations affiliated with elected officials. Today I am introducing a second disclosure bill, this one relating to organizations that make independent political expenditures,” he said. “Together, these two bills address the two major types of dark money corrupting Missouri politics today. They are the last two bills I will ever introduce, and they are also the most important.” According to Schaaf, the bill would “empower Missouri voters by giving them information about who is funding campaign advertising that is made independently of candidates, PACs, and political parties.” “Specifically, the bill introduces a new requirement for non-committee groups making independent campaign expenditure to dis-

close big donors — those contributing at least $1,000 — to the public. “In recognition of the fact that many non-committee groups raise money for a variety of purposes, the bill permits non-committee groups wishing to engage in campaign spending to create special ‘campaign-related accounts’ for making their campaign expenditures. Groups with ‘campaign-related accounts’ would only have to disclose donors who directly gave to the special account. “The bill also expands the types of election-related communications that must be reported during the immediate days before an election. This expansion will help to ensure that non-committee groups cannot continue to ‘game’ disclosure requirements by running candidate-oriented advertisements that masquerade as issue advertising but are, in fact, intended to affect voters’ decisions at the polls. “In sum, this bill gives the people of Missouri increased information to help them make important decisions on Election Day and helps shine a light on the dark money being spent in our elections.”

‘Revenge porn’ bill moves to Senate by Alisha Shurr

alisha@themissouritimes.com

The House in the Show-Me State approved a bill that would outlaw so-called “revenge porn.” Sponsored by Republican Jim Neely, HB 1558 would make it a class D felony for the “non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images.” In plain speak, that means sharing images of someone in a compromising position without that person’s permission. Even threatening to distribute those images would be a class E felony — an amendment added during perfection last week. Under the legislation, communication networks would not be automatically liable if they unknowingly disseminate those images. “[The bill] gives prosecutors more teeth,” said Rep. Stacey Newman. She called it an “abuse bill” that fights a problem that dispro-

portionately affects women. To date, 38 states have passed laws outlawing revenge porn. This is not the first year the legislation was filed in the General Assembly. “He was pushing this last year, before the #MeToo movement,” Rep. Stacey Newman said. The bill did not make it to the floor last session. This year it moved to the Senate in a 149-1 vote. The legislation dealing with private images comes at a precarious time in Missouri politics. Two days after the bill was given initial approval, Gov. Eric Greitens was indicted by a grand jury on a felony invasion of privacy charge. While there was no mention of the governor during debate on Monday, Greitens’ 2015 extramarital affair was alluded to by one Representative during perfection. “I’d ask everyone to say no to blindfolds and duct tape and support this amendment,” Rep. Brandon Ellington said while debating the amendment last week.

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THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

One step closer, two steps back: The Senate dance around joinder and venue continues Two major issues holding up the Senate by Benjamin Peters

benjamin@themissouritimes.com

It’s been one week since the last time that the issue of joinder and venue appeared on the Senate floor in its mission to be perfected, and for the third time during the current legislative session, the bill has been laid over. Whether any progress has been made, it seems, truly depends on who you ask. “There has been no compromise,” Sen. Scott Sifton said. That’s not to say that some changes have been made along the way, though. Sifton and Sen. Brian Munzlinger, the legislator carrying SB 564, have continued conversing about prospective changes, with Munzlinger saying he believed they had fixed at least some issues and addressed some of the concerns raised by the opposition in an amendment filed by Sifton last week. “We’ve taken probably 85 percent of what you offered in the amendment,” Munzlinger said. “I’d say you narrowed it down to two or three issues left, but the problem is that those are big, big issues,” Sifton replied. The Democratic Senator from District 1 has been at the forefront of all negotiation and opposition to the proposed legal reform bill, and in his eyes, it’s clear that this bill cannot go forward until some compromise is found on two issues: at a fundamental level, the two parties cannot agree on in-state joinder, as well as the issue of retroactivity. Sifton argued that all of the lawsuits who have been waiting to get their trial date would be in jeopardy unless the issue of retroactivity can be addressed. “If venue or joinder is disputed in their case, and this bill passes, all of those folks are going to get sent back to square one,” he said. “If this bill isn’t procedural, all those transfers happen, if it’s substantive, they don’t.” “I’ll admit that probably nothing perfect ever gets out of this body,” Munzlinger said. “There’s a reason we’re stuck, and it’s not from a lack of effort,” he said, crediting Munzlinger for continuing conversations. “We’re just not there. And we’re now at the point where floor action is where we’re at.” “This is the only recourse left to them,” Sifton said of the side pushing for the venue and joinder legislation as they continued debating on the floor. “The worse this hurts the Senate,

the worse it will hurt.” Members of the opposition say that their counterparts on the other side are not playing ball on the major issues, noting that they’re simply refusing to budge on the two major points of contention. But Munzlinger noted that in some of his conversations, there have been instances where the opponents have failed to bring forward any compromise or solution, particularly in the matter of in-state joinder. He said he and his staff had taken upon themselves to come up with an answer, in the form of an amendment that would allow an exception in which counties with a population of 75,000 or less to join with another county of 75,000 or less. That amendment proved to be enough to spark rise from Sens. Rob Schaaf and Maria Chappelle-Nadal, with the latter requiring the Senator from Lewis to supply a list of counties that would fall under that provision. Schaaf, on the other hand, filed an amendment changing the number from 75,000 to five million, which would then apply to every county in the state, the result basically being the exact same as current law. After a time, Schaaf and Chappelle-Nadal took ownership of the floor, debating the bill while conversations continued outside the doors. But as the night continued on, the senators continued drawing the lines on the Senate floor, and the filibustering senators began to craft their plan to speak for a set number of minutes per motion until the end of the legislative session. As for the issue of a retroactive effect from the legislation, Sifton argued that all of the lawsuits who have been waiting to get their trial date would be in jeopardy unless the issue of retroactivity can be addressed. “If venue or joinder is disputed in their case, and this bill passes, all of those folks are going to get sent back to square one,” he said. “If this bill isn’t procedural, all those transfers happen, if it’s substantive, they don’t.” Shortly before 10 p.m., a new draft was seen being placed on the desks of the senators, and Sen. Munzlinger rose to withdraw his previous version. After sending forward his new substitute, he asked the bill to be laid over until another day. Whether any compromise on the issues on in-state joinder and retroactively can be found, at this point, is what the survival of this bill is hinging upon.

MLB backs sports betting bill by Alisha Shurr

alisha@themissouritimes.com

Of the five bills filed in the General Assembly to legalize sports betting, Sen. Denny Hoskins’ is the way to go, according to Major League Baseball. SB 1013, debated in a Senate committee Wednesday morning, is designed to authorize sports betting in Missouri’s riverboat casinos and on the internet while implementing consumer protections and sports integrity requirements. “My job is to protect the integrity of the game,” said Bryan Seeley, MLB’s Senior Vice President of Investigations and Deputy General Counsel. “I’m not telling you to legalize sports betting, but if you are going to do it, this is the bill to do it.” Missouri is home to two major league baseball teams: the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals. Under the legislation, the governing bodies of sports would receive 1 percent of all bets. This administrative fee pays for the sport’s governing body’s cost of maintaining the integrity of its sporting events. Seely called the compensation appropriate considering the teams are offering the entertainment. The legislation also creates penalties for those found guilty of match-fixing and any action associated with the corruption of a sporting event. No athlete, coach or official would be able to bet on their own game. “It’s an issue baseball has studied for a very long time, and our belief is Senate Bill 1013,

sponsored by Senator Hoskins, contains the necessary, powerful combination of extremely strong integrity protections and mandated requirements for casinos to work closely with our league to monitor betting for potential manipulation,” Kevin Uhlich, senior vice president for the Kansas City Royals, said in a statement. Uhlich says the bill provides appropriate requirements for real-time recordkeeping; age verification; the use of official, indisputable league data; the ability for sports leagues to opt-out of problematic forms of betting; combating false or deceptive advertising; mandated cooperation with Major League Baseball investigations; real-time data sharing; and casinos to share costs associated with integrity monitoring and offset the risk assumed by the sports leagues, who make possible the profits reaped by the casinos. Hoskins estimates between $18 million and $40 million in new revenue could be brought in to the state. The bill would impose a 12% tax on the adjusted gross receipts received from wagers on sporting events. It would also require facilities to have a license — which would have a $10,000 application fee and an annual $5,000 renewal fee — to administer sports bets over the internet. It is the taxes and fees in HB 1013 that has the casino industry backing a separate bill. Under Hoskins’ bill, sports betting would only be offered if the Missouri Gaming Commission determines that federal law does not prohibit such sports wagering.

“I’m not telling you to legalize sports betting, but if you are going to do it, this is the bill to do it.”

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8 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

St. Louis-area state legislators file resolutions to support local control for St. Louis consolidation

by Brian Robbins | CLAYTON TIMES brian@claytontimes.com

ST. LOUIS – Two St. Louis-area Missouri legislators have reached a bipartisan agreement with the sponsorship of legislation that would support residents of the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County to determine whether or not there should be a merger. Sen. Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors, is the main sponsor of SCR 46 in the Senate, while Rep. Shamed Dogan, R-Ballwin, has HCR 97 in the House. According to a written statement, Dogan and Walsh said the resolutions are meant to push back against efforts to reorganize and consolidate the municipalities by a statewide vote or by legislative mandate. The resolutions do not take a position on consolidation, but do support the right of the people of the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County to have the discussion and make the decision on any reorganization. Dogan said the issue should be handled by the residents who live in the city and county and not the determined by the rest of that state. “It’s clear this is a local decision that should be kept at the local level in the hands of the people of St. Louis City and St. Louis County,” Dogan said. “With 57 of the 89 municipalities

Swan files legislation to establish ‘Charter Schools Task Force’ by Alisha Shurr

alisha@themissouritimes.com

Recent discussions have led one Representative to file legislation seeking an in-depth study of Missouri’s charter schools. Under HB 2531, sponsored by Rep. Kathryn Swan, the “Charter Schools Task Force” would consist of various school officials, teachers, and administrators with the task of evaluating charter schools, including a comparison of Missouri with other states. Findings and recommendations from the task force would be provided to the Governor, the Speaker of the Missouri House, the President Pro Tem of the Missouri Senate, the Joint Committee on Education and the State Board of Education by December 1, 2019. “Since the inception of the charter school program nearly 20 years ago, the program has veered off track,” said Swan. “Initially, charter schools were to become schools of innovation. Additional flexibility was granted to help the schools innovate and create.” The program has become a patchwork of legislation over the past two decades and it is critical to study the issue prior to taking any action to revise or expand the current char-

ter school program in Missouri, according to Swan. “We have a responsibility to provide all students with a high-quality education in every public school,” said Swan. The task force would study the mission of charter schools; funding of charter schools; the overall functioning of charter schools; academic performance and accountability standards for charter schools; d e m o g r ap h i c s of students attending charter schools, including the enrollment and treatment of students with disabilities and students who are English language learners in charter schools; governance of charter schools; management of charter schools; oversight responsibility for charter schools; sponsorship of charter schools; and fiscal responsibility in the operation of charter schools.

in St. Louis County already adopting resolutions opposing a statewide vote, it’s obvious the people believe this is a decision they should make.” Walsh and Dogan also noted the issue was overwhelmingly rejected the last time it was brought up for a statewide vote. It was in 1962 when 74 percent of Missourians voted against merging the governments of St. Louis and St. Louis County. Walsh echoed Dogan and stated that the residents of both the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County should be able to decide whether or not there should be a merge. “The citizens of St. Louis City and St. Louis County must have the right to determine their own destiny,” Walsh said. “This bipartisan resolution will protect these citizens from government overreach and protect all Missouri taxpayers from costly political games.” Both resolutions now await assignment to a committee in their respective chambers.

The Missouri Times

House Utilities Committee passes House version of grid modernization bill by Benjamin Peters

benjamin@themissouritimes.com

“We’re going to open it up for amendments, we’re going to change it and make it the way we want it as a House version, and send it over to them,” Rep. Rocky Miller said one week ago on the House adopting a position compared to the Senate’s utility bill. “I believe that was sort of a promise that we would send it over to them.” And true to his word, Miller and the House Utilities Committee took up Rep. T.J. Berry’s HB 2265, and did just that. Over the course of two formal hearings, the committee heard testimony and opened up the bill for amendments, of which the committee had filed 30 in that amount of time, before finally passing their own substitute version out with a 10-2 vote, with just Reps. Tracy McCreery and Andrew McDaniel casting the only votes against. The committee managed to keep most of the bill in a fashion similar to that which had been presented before them, with Miller saying four simple things about the legislation: It will lower rates - For Ameren Missouri, electric rates would be cut between 4 and 5 percent within 90 days of the bill becoming law to pass through the benefits of the Trump federal tax policy It will put into effect the lowest consumer caps in the nation, an annual average CAP on electric rates of 2.85 percent on Ameren Missouri and 3 percent on KCP&L for five years It will result in $1 billion in infrastructure spending to build a smarter, more secure and resilient electrical grid More than 3,000 jobs It’s worth noting that through further re-

duction in the rate cap to account for the flow through of federal tax dollars, the calculation of the rate cap was updated to include 50 percent of the federal tax reduction, which would potentially further benefit customers with lower limits on how much rates can increase. This provision could drop Ameren Missouri’s rate cap below 2.4%. Another provision of note that came about through the Senate compromises was the agreement to remove trackers for property taxes, cybersecurity, and physical security. The bill’s sunset was also reduced to five years, with the PSC getting the one-time authority to extend the program based on an assessment of benefits, costs and if there is a need. It also required that 25 percent of the total capital

program for years 6 through 10 if they find a ‘need’ for further grid investment. They also accepted language that provided for certain force majeure protections if they exceed a significant dollar amount and assure the complete discretion of the PSC to accept or reject any utility request for use of this protection. But some of the changes, including Rep. Bill Kidd’s amendment, created some new provisions in the language, like Kidd’s amendment in regard to smart metering, which creates an opt-out for certain cases. Much of the changes were of a technical nature, but to put it simply: “What we did is we incentivized the utilities to actually do grid modernization,” Miller said. “That’s the best way to say it.”

investment plan be devoted to grid modernization projects. The bill that the Senate compromised on with also included concessions for the utilities, including a built-in 15% disallowance of PISA recovery to encourage cost accountability and specific language on the PSC extending the

Miller says that the critics who say the bill is definitely going to raise rates is as fair as saying it’s not going to. “We’ve never been down this road before,” he said. “It’s different, and what we’ve been doing hasn’t really worked. Our job was to make a House version.”

"We've never been down this road before," Miller said. "It's different, and what we've been doing hasn't really worked. Our job was to make a House version."

And it seems that, for at least some legislators, as well as the utilities, the continuing progress of the utility legislation is a positive sign. “Today’s committee vote is the latest sign that lawmakers support a smart, secure and stable energy policy in Missouri. The Missouri General Assembly has a unique opportunity this legislative session to cut rates for Ameren Missouri customers by 4-5 percent, and then cap future increases,” Warren Wood, the Vice President of External Affairs and Communications for Ameren Missouri said in a statement. “This predictability will enable Missouri to modernize our grid while establishing the most customer-friendly rate caps in the country. We thank the House and Senate for making rate cap legislation a priority this year.” But what the passage of the bill out of committee really means is two-fold. Firstly, it gives the House an opportunity to convey their positions on the utility bill to the Senate. That allows the House to put forward provisions they’d like to see and send it to the Senate, who, as Miller put it, the knowledge regarding rate caps and PISA, as well as the negotiations that have taken place so far, lie with the Senate. But if passed by the House, it also gives the Senate a second shot to negotiate on the bill, which apparently left a certain number of senators with a sour taste in their mouths. For some members of the upper chamber, it’s a second chance, a shot at redemption on utility legislation and try negotiations once again. From here, the bill now must make it through the House for perfection and third reading.

www.themissouritimes.com

10 OPINION: THE GOVERNOR

The man or the agenda? by Scott Faughn

scott@themissouritimes.com

Thursday, February 22, 2018, will go down as one of the darkest and most humiliating days in the history of Missouri state government. Sadly, there is not much that could have been done to avoid it. Eric Greitens is a talented man who did an amazing job swamping his opponents in fundraising during the primary and riding a wave of the 19-point Trump win to the Governor’s Mansion. For the first time in years, it seemed Republicans had the man in place to implement their agenda. Most people, myself included, thought he would shortly put aside the demagogue-style “corrupt career politician” rhetoric and sideline the corrupting dark money forces to spend a couple years passing and implementing their agenda before heading off to run for higher office. Personally, I’ve always felt that ambition is a good thing in politics, after all, you have to do a good job as governor before you can fulfill an ambition for higher office. To be fair, not even his biggest and earliest supporters ever pretended that he had much interest in Missouri or Missouri state government. This was always about a man who had big ambitions and the argument for him was that fulfilling those ambitions meant implementing an agenda and succeeding at being governor here first. The reality is those ambitions for higher office died January 10, 2018. However, let’s be real, any candidate with this titanic scandal out there was never going to pass the scrutiny of even the first week of a presidential campaign. It’s easy to start pointing fingers at those who supported Greitens, but does anyone really think that the few Missourians who are close to him knew about this and purposefully set Missouri up for such stain and embarrassment? I, for one, do not. All of us have supported candidates who have let them down. While on January 10, 2018, the presidential ambitions died, reasonable people could still find reasons not to act. With St. Louis law enforcement, the FBI, and Attorney General Josh Hawley all investigating Eric Greitens, it was clear to anyone not blind-folded that more information would come out. Statesmen pass and implement agendas. Statesmen do not rush to remove elected officials from office, and they didn’t. February 22, 2018, is the day that no statesman could justify waiting any longer. It was the day that the agenda and the good of the state had to be placed before the man. The founding fathers of our state estab-

lished provisions for how when one branch of state government becomes toxic for the other two branches to cleanse it. It’s unfair that House Speaker Todd Richardson has been forced to spend so much of his time in office cleansing state government, but Thursday afternoon, the most honorable man to ever hold the office of Speaker had to again put the white hat on and this time begin cleansing the highest office in state government. Because of Speaker Richardson’s reputation and the constitutional provisions involved Eric Greitens had no choice but to instruct his criminal defense attorneys to agree to cooperate with the House inquiry. It’s a sad statement that literally no one who has observed his short time in office had any confidence that Eric Greitens would put the agenda or the State of Missouri above himself and step aside. Now he is just ensuring more collateral damage with every day Missourians wake up with their governor under indictment. The collateral damage, of course, starts with his supporters. Most believe that they took his word and believed him when he said the scandal was over. Reasonable people could have remained before, but honestly, now it’s simply putting self-interest before the well-being of the State of Missouri. This is not the time to throw dirt onto a friend, but to follow honorable men like Mr. Humphreys and make your distance from the tragedy known. The damage to the reputations of Governor Nixon and to a lesser extent, former U.S. Senator Danforth and Ed Dowd has already begun. I’m not from St. Louis, but I am familiar with the Dowd family and their legendary role in Missouri history and, like most, looked up to Mr. Dowd as a testament to what an honorable man can achieve in life. Watching this man of dignity so ruthlessly attack the first African-American woman to hold the office just for doing her job while the affiliated public relations group calls her corrupt… well, hopefully people remember him more for all he has done for St. Louis and those who have been disadvantaged before February 22, 2018, and not for this shameful behavior in the days since. Next month, a Nixon-appointed judge will hear Mr. Dowd’s motion to dismiss the charges against Eric Greitens. On behalf of Eric Greitens, Mr. Dowd, a partner in a firm with former Governor Nixon and former Senator Danforth will argue in open court that Missouri’s daughters can be photographed without their permission in the nude while restrained and blindfolded. It’s disgusting, and while Eric Greitens deserves the most aggressive criminal defense possible, it’s another example of why the peo-

ple of Missouri deserve to have that aggressive defense mounted while he is out of office. The Governor of the State of Missouri, the same office once held by John Ashcroft, is claiming your sister or your daughter can have naked photographs taken of her while she bound and blindfolded without her consent, and some republicans stand behind this. Eric Greitens has said terrible untrue things about Governor Nixon, his character, and his service to the State of Missouri. However, nothing he has ever said will do as much damage to Governor Nixon’s reputation as Mr. Nixon’s silence while that disgusting argument is made by a law firm his name is attached to. The Ethics Commission will also be among those who endure collateral damage of Eric Greitens. I understand that the ruling on the Governor’s use of his charity’s fundraising list was issued during his honeymoon era, but no one believed that Friday at 5:30 statement that Danny Laub was to blame for it all then, and fewer do now. Perhaps the most collateral damage will be to Missouri Republicans. Let’s forego the hypocrisy of advocating for family values, then sitting silent, in this instance. Some Republicans actually believe the agenda they talk about will be good for the people of the State of Missouri. They aren’t corrupt or being paid, they actually believe in their agenda, and, frankly, I believe in most of it, too. To those republicans who are now clearly placing the man above the agenda, what are they to have us believe? We have watched Eric Greitens paid supporters consistently move the goal posts since this scandal began coming to light. First, it was the entire scandal was “just rumors” and “there was nothing to it.” Then, the Governor confessed to an affair minutes after lecturing the General Assembly about their lack of ethics. Then, it was “there was no investigation” going on and it was “all rumors being spread by those who don’t like the Governor.” Then the investigators arrived at at the capitol. After that, the story changed to “the investigators didn’t have a permit to investigate the Governor.” Some even bought this consultant-driven distraction tactic looking like fools in the process. Let this be a lesson that while consultants are good, hard-working people who are a key reason why the Republicans took the majority in the first place – don’t parrot ridiculous things on their command. They have

a job to do, but remember they didn’t swear an oath to the State of Missouri. Then, they said, “…even though Greitens wouldn’t answer the question, trust us he never took the picture.” Later, it was that “this woman would never tell her story,” then he was charged with a crime on the basis of her testimony. Friday, it’s that, “George Soros impersonated the Governor and broke into his house, tying up a woman with tax credits and took her picture to blackmail her.” Until the new de facto head of the Missouri Republican Party, Attorney General Josh Hawley put a stop to the ridiculousness. Today, their argument is that “it’s actually legal to photograph a woman in the nude tied up in your basement without her permission.” It’s hard to stand up to them. Missouri Republicans aren’t wrong to be afraid. That feeling of bile in the back of their throats is justified. The east coast masters who actually run Eric Greitens’ office are dangerous people. However, this is a House caucus that voted in November for a Floor Leader in Rob Vescovo that would be tough. Well, that vote proved to be wise as within weeks events have shown that it is a time for leaders who are tough. There is an agenda. If you think Eric Greitens is a man to enact your agenda, take a look at the two bills he has advocated for since January 10, 2018. The dog bill died in the House in an embarrassing floor vote, and his tax plan died in the Senate Ways and Means committee the next morning. All this was before February 22, 2018. You can say you are earnestly serving the state to advance an agenda you believe in, and you can say you are earnestly serving the state to advance the man Eric Greitens. As of February 22, 2018 you cannot honestly say both. The real question is: how far are Eric Greitens’ supporters willing to lower the bar in order to justify him staying in office? The answer is: as low as is necessary to save him. They will burn down anything or anyone in this state they can just for sport because that is what we are to them. After all, they aren’t from here, never professed to care about anything or anyone here, and when it’s over, they are never coming back here. It will take courage to put the agenda above the man, and have the legislative branch cleanse the executive branch. The next few weeks will tell if that courage exists.

The Missouri Times

Appellate court reverses Should Gov. Greitens resign? PSC decision, sends New polling shows Clean Line case to voters think so Missouri Supreme Court the Missouri economy and for dozens of Missouri cities that could save more than $10 milbenjamin@themissouritimes.com lion annually from the delivery of low-cost It seems that the efforts to push forward clean energy by the Grain Belt Express Clean with a more than $2 billion Grain Belt Express Line. After a thorough case that lasted for sevtransmission line has won a major victory in eral months and involved testimony submitted its mission to build across Missouri. by expert witnesses, the Missouri Public SerThe Missouri Court of Appeals’ Eastern vice Commission determined the Grain Belt District issued a ruling on Tuesday reversing Express was in the public’s best interest. We a Missouri Public Service Commission find- are pleased that the Eastern District Court of ing that the commission Appeals reaffirmed the believed would prevent Commission’s authority them from issuing a line in permitting and overCCN to the company. seeing Missouri’s vital The court stated that energy infrastructure the PSC had erred in projects. their findings, which the “The Grain Belt Excommission had ruled press will benefit Mison, citing the decision sourians by providing regarding the ATXI low-cost clean energy, case. new jobs, and millions “We would reverse in tax revenues to local the Commission’s order communities across the denying Grain Belt’s apstate into perpetuity. Evplication for a line CCN ery day that these beneunder Section 393.170.1 fits are delayed sets Misand remand to the Comsouri back as it strives to mission for further procompete in this global ceedings consistent with economy. It is our hope this opinion,” the court that the Missouri Sustated in its issued opinpreme Court will hear ion. “However, because this critical case in an of the general interest expedited manner. To or importance of the that end, we will be askquestion involved in the ing the court to schedule present case, we order arguments in this case at this case transferred to the earliest possible mothe Missouri Supreme ment. Court pursuant to Rule “We thank Governor Clean Line Energy President Michael Skelly in Nixon, Jamie Rehmann 83.02.6.” Ralls County on May 11, 2015 It marks a significant and the rest of the Dowd victory for Clean Line EnBennett legal team for their ergy, as well as former Missouri Gov. Jay Nix- expert legal advocacy in this case, as well as the on, who had argued the case before the panel other groups that have supported these legal of state appellate judges. arguments. Clean Line Energy is committed to The case, which disagrees with the Western building this transformational project in MisCourt of Appeals decision regarding the ATXI souri and looks forward to working with the case, will now head to the Missouri Supreme Missouri PSC, the counties and other interestCourt. ed parties to create a cleaner energy future for Following the decision, Clean Line Energy Missourians.” President Michael Skelly released the following Read the full court decision online at misstatement: souritimes.com. “Today’s ruling is a significant victory for

by Benjamin Peters

A new set of polling conducted by The Missouri Times shows that roughly half of Missouri’s voters have an unfavorable opinion of Gov. Eric Greitens, and more think he should step down from office. A survey of 868 likely Missouri general election voters in 2018 shows that 27 percent of those polled had a favorable opinion of the embattled Republican Governor, who has been indicted on a charge of felony invasion of policy. But 51 percent of those polled cited an unfavorable opinion, and even more noteworthy, 53 percent of those same polled citizens said they believed Greitens should resign from office. 33 percent said they did not believe he should step down, while another 15 percent said they were unsure. Of those polled, 52 percent of the women asked whether their opinion of the Governor was favorable said it was not, compared to a nearly equal percentage of 50 percent of men who also cited unfavorable opinions. 51 percent of Republicans still said they had a favorable opinion, while just six percent said the same. 76 percent of Democrats and 27 percent of Republicans held an unfavorable

STATEWIDE POLL RESULTS Question: What is your opinion of Eric Greitens? Favorable: 27% Unfavorable: 51% No Opinion: 22% Question: Do you think Eric Greitens should resign from office? Yes: 53% No: 33% Not Sure: 15%

opinion, along with 55 percent of independent voters. The margin of error for this poll, conducted between February 25 and 26, is +/- 3.3 percent. The poll also took a closer look by turning to voters in Senate District 17, one of the last true purple districts in the state and the site of the next special election. In the November 2016 general election, Clay County voters supported Greitens by a narrow margin, who won the county with 48.9 percent of the vote, compared to Democratic challenger Chris Koster’s 47.6 percent. But the numbers in SD 17 seem to mirror that of the statewide polls. Of the 560 likely voters surveyed, with a +/- 4 percent margin, once again, 27 percent showed favor to Greitens. Similarly, 50 percent said they were unfavorable, with 23 percent having no opinion. The numbers in regard to whether the Governor should resign also showed similar numbers to those of the statewide numbers, with 55 percent saying yes and 31 percent saying no.

SD 17 RESULTS Question: What is your opinion of Eric Greitens? Favorable: 27% Unfavorable: 50% No Opinion: 23% Question: Do you think Eric Greitens should resign from office? Yes: 55% No: 31% Not Sure: 14%

12 CAPITOL CULTURE

www.themissouritimes.com

Missouri farmers, ranchers gather

Hurst now leads Missouri Soybean Association by Alisha Shurr

alisha@themissouritimes.com

A soybean farmer in Atchison County is taking the reins of an advocacy organization for soybean growers in the Show-Me State. C. Brooks Hurst now leads the Missouri Soybean Association as president. “I look forward to bringing farmers together to strengthen the soybean industry in our state,” Hurst said. “We’re an economic engine for Missouri and it’s vital that we protect farmers’ freedom to operate and competitive advantage in the global marketplace.” Hurst was elected to his one-year term as president at a Missouri Soybean Association meeting held at the end of January. He was installed into office at the Commodity Classic Conference. The University of Missouri graduate previously served as the association’s vice-president and currently is Missouri’s representative on the American Soybean Association’s Board of Directors. He farms with his family near Tarkio. On behalf of farmers in the state, Hurst will lead Missouri’s soybean policy, regulatory and outreach efforts. “Missouri has always been right up front in biodiesel, and I’m really looking forward to continuing our work to make sure we have that market long-term,” Hurst said. “Our farmers invested in developing biodiesel and bringing it to market, and one of my goals is to ensure we make them whole by ensuring the Governor pays — in full — the state’s outstanding debt to the Missouri Qualified Biodiesel Producer Incentive Fund.” The leadership team at the Missouri Soybean Association includes Ronnie Russell as vice-president, Matt Wright as secretary and Renee Fordyce as treasurer.

Missouri Farm Bureau members hear from legislators including President Pro Tem Ron Richard and House Speaker Todd Richardson by Alisha Shurr

alisha@themissouritimes.com

Agriculturalists in the Show-Me State gathered in Jefferson City to hear from speakers, are briefed on key legislative issues and visit with legislators. Tuesday was Missouri Farm Bureau’s annual legislative day where farmers and ranchers throughout the state bring their concerns directly to lawmakers. “We are here to make our voices heard,” said Erica Schwoeppe, a farmer in Franklin County. “We are here to meet legislators and talk the hot-button bills.” Transportation funding, broadband access and property rights top this years agenda for the Missouri Farm Bureau. All of their policy efforts start at the ground level and are voted upon by members at their annual meeting in December. Speaking to the members in the Capitol Rotunda, B.J. Tanksley, MFB state legislative affairs director, urged the members to fight for broadband access. “[Rural Missouri] deserves the same kinds of technology as every other Missourian,” said Tanksley. He told members that it’s not just entertainment value, it is economic. Broadband is essential to business opportunities and it opens access to healthcare and education.

Rep. Tracy McCreery, the ranking minority member on the House Agricultural Policy Committee, talked rural broadband access when addressing Missouri’s farmers and ranchers. “We are painfully aware of the inadequacy of broadband,” said McCreery. “Thanks to the

Farm Bureau I have attended several meetings out at headquarters where I have learned some creative things we can to do help the expansion.” She assured listeners that the General Assembly is doing what they can to move the is-

sue forward and they are committed to doing what they can. McCreery was just one of several legislators that step up on stage to address Missouri’s farmers and ranchers. President Pro Tem Ron Richard, House Speaker Todd Richardson, Rep. Jay Houghton and Sens. Brian Munzlinger and Mike Kehoe all mentioned the importance of agriculture to the Show-Me State. “Agricultural goods play an important role in our economy,” said Richardson. In 2016, agriculture contributed $33 billion in value-added to Missouri’s economy. More than 10 percent of jobs in the state are in the agricultural industry. Munzlinger told listeners it is “up to every one of us” to tell the story of agriculturalist and Kehoe encouraged members to put a face to the people who represent Missouri’s number one industry. “People don’t understand what you go through, what your families go through every day to produce the products that you have, that they just conveniently find on a grocery store shelf,” said Kehoe. “A quote I learned from the Farm Burea and have not forgotten is ‘In rural Missouri, we just don’t know our neighbors, we help our neighbors.'”

The Missouri Times

CAMPAIGN

FILING DAY:

Hawley leads names joining U.S. Senate race by Benjamin Peters

benjamin@themissouritimes.com

The candidates vying for the 2018 primary races have officially begun to file their candidacies with the Secretary of State, and even though Tuesday marked the first day of filing, a strong number of Republicans and Democrats alike have announced their intent to seek the nominations. A couple of state senators could be heard in passing discussing how glad they were to not have to be filing on Tuesday, but it seemed to be a day of hopeful smiles for hundreds of potential candidates. The race to represent Missouri in the U.S. Senate appears to be as projected, with a field of Republican candidates lining up, with no surprises as Attorney General Josh Hawley enters the race alongside Austin Peterson, and Tony Monetti. Fred Ryman, Bradley Krembs, Kristi Nichols, Christina Smith and Ken Patterson round it out to make it an eight-man race (which will become a nine-man race when Courtland Sykes files), while the Democratic incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill is joined by John Hogan, Angelica Earl, and Leonard Stein-

man. McCaskill has not filed as of yet. As of 5 p.m., 11 candidates have filed for the U.S. Senate race. Another interesting thing to note in this race is the candidacy of Craig O’Dear, an independent seeking the U.S. Senate seat. O’Dear is one of five people making up the first-ever slate of independent candidates, as the group “Unite America” looks to build a “credible, organized and national movement” to challenge the two-party system. In the race for State Auditor, incumbent Nicole Galloway faces no primary competition, but she will square off in November

433 candidates that filed on the first day, the party affiliation broke down to 257 Republican, 164 Democrat, 10 Libertarian, one Green and one Constitution. against whomever emerges the victor in a Republican showdown currently consisting of Rep. Paul Curtman, David Wasinger, and Kev-

White launches TV ad for Senate bid by Alisha Shurr

alisha@themissouritimes.com

Launching his first television ad in his bid to replace termed Sen. Ron Richard for Senate, Rep. Bill White reflects on his time in the Marines and how it impacted his view of public service. White currently has no announced opponents as he aims to transition from the House to the Senate. He ended the recent fundraising quarter with roughly $227,000 cash on hand. The television ad, which will air on network and cable stations, launched on Wednesday and is titled “Service.” “In the Marines, I discovered the meaning of service and the value of hard work,” White said. “Most of all, I learned to stand strong for what I believe. I’ve used those lessons in the

in M. Roach, the only Republicans to have filed as of 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Some other interesting notes from the first day of filing: Former representative now Senator Mike Cierpiot will have a rematch before him, as Democrat Hillary Shields will be looking to unseat him in his first regular election as a state senator. Sen. Jake Hummel faces competition for his seat, not just from Republicans, but also from fellow Democrat State Representative Karla May. In the 14th Senate District, it will be an

Capitol to protect our rights and beliefs. That hasn’t always made insiders happy, but when it comes to defending you, your family, and our community I will never back down.” The Joplin Republican was first elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2010. In addition to his legislative duties, White is an attorney whose practice has focused on representing children, the elderly, and business law. He previously served as the Juvenile Attorney for Jasper County representing the county juvenile office in juvenile delinquency and abuse and neglect cases. White is a member of the Rotary Club of Joplin, the Marine Corps League, the American Legion, the Missouri Bar, the NRA and the Naval Institute.

all-out battle in the primary, with three Democrats (Joe Adams, Sharon Pace, and Brian Williams) vying for the seat, which is unopposed

by Republicans. The son of Sen. Dan Brown looks to replace his father in the SD 16 seat, but Justin Brown will also face the likes of Republicans Rep. Diane Franklin and Keith Frederick, as well as Democrat Ryan Dillon. The race to replace Sen. Brian Munzlinger will be a similar fight, with four Republicans (Lindell Shumake, Nate Walker, Craig Redmon and Cindy O’Laughlin) all looking to claim the seat. In the House, a number of former freshmen representatives have challengers from the opposing party, including Reps. Nick Schroer, Phil Christofanelli, and Bruce DeGroot to name a few. Perhaps one of the biggest surprises was Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal filing for House District 86, as she still has a term left. In all, 433 candidates that filed on the first day, the party affiliation broke down to 257 Republican, 164 Democrat, 10 Libertarian, one Green and one Constitution. The bulk of candidate filing was for state representative, with 291 filing. State auditor was the office with the least amount of candidates with four filing.

Judge Roy Moore endorses Courtland Sykes for U.S Senate by Benjamin Peters

benjamin@themissouritimes.com

One of Missouri’s conservative candidates for the 2018 U.S. Senate race has picked up an endorsement over the weekend from another former U.S. Senate candidate. On Friday, Republican Judge Roy Moore, the man who fell short in his 2017 special election bid to represent Alabama in the U.S. Senate, has now endorsed Courtland Sykes in his bid to win the Republican nomination in the Show-Me State. In a letter addressed to all Missourians, Moore writes that Sykes is a man of impeccable character, courage, and Christian faith. We need men like Courtland Sykes in the Senate of the United States, a leader who will not only say what is right, but

also a leader who will do what is right!” Sykes made national news earlier this year after re-posting an anti-feminist statement, saying he “don’t buy into radical feminism’s crazed definition of modern womanhood … They made it up to suit their own nasty, snake-filled heads” and calling feminists “career-obsessed banshees.” The 37-year-old Sykes has no previous elective experience but has continued garnering attention in the race with his statements and cinematic-style campaign videos. Currently, Sykes is one of four Republicans vying for the nomination, facing the likes of Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, Tony Monetti, and Austin Petersen. The candidate selected will challenge incumbent Democrat Sen. Claire McCaskill in November.

www.themissouritimes.com

THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK

1. Former state representative Keith English found dead from apparent suicide. 2. Rep. Mathews says he will not run for re-election, but will complete term. 3. House members begin circulating letter to ask Governor to resign. 4. Sen. Schaaf files his first and last bills of the session. 5. Renovation begins at the Capitol building. Read on these and more online at www.missouritimes.com. Email your news to pressreleases@themissouritimes.com

The Missouri Times

CAPITOL CONVERSATION

Major Capitol renovation begins by Benjamin Peters

benjamin@themissouritimes.com

Now is the time to get some last minute photos of the Capitol, because the century-old building is finally getting a facelift. The Missouri State Capitol grounds, starting Friday, March 2, will be the site of construction for the next few years as a $28 million restoration project gets underway. The Capitol’s south lawn will be the staging area for the construction, becoming the home to heavy equipment, materials, and cranes. “Heavy equipment will be coming in, actually, the night of March 1,” Cathy Brown, the director of the Missouri Office of Administration’s Division of Facilities Management, Design and Construction, said. “They’re ready to start immediately.” “There’s going to be a lot of activity that everyone will see, starting next Friday.” Chicago-based Bulley & Andrew Masonry Restoration LLC will begin the work, expected to last through 2020, with hopes of having the Capitol ready to be unveiled for the next scheduled inauguration. The work will focus on addressing the Capitol’s exterior, working from the top of the dome to the ground, replacing stone and refinishing the artisan-crafted building. But for such a project to take place, it means significant changes. The major change will be the look of the building itself, which will be surrounded by scaffolding as the process goes on, which will be enclosed. The reason for this is so that heating and cooling may be pumped in, allowing the contractors to work year round, as well as protect-

ing the stonework as the workers can do the more delicate work in a controlled environment. This work will include: • Renovating and repairing the exterior stone facades • Checking and Resetting stones

the 2014 legislative session, which was approved with the hopes of extending the life of the building. But it will also affect the traffic to the Capitol, with the South Circle Drive closing to traffic and merging the two lanes on the north side into one lane and eliminating parking, roughly about 70 public parking spaces. Visitors will still be able to access the Capitol through the normal Carriage Entrance doors under the south steps. It also means that the annual 4th of July ceremonies will have to adjust to the changes, but members of the Capitol Commission stated that they have been in contact with Jefferson City leaders to work with them and accommodate and plan around the construction. While it means inconvenience and growing pains for many who work in the Capitol complex, as well as the more than 400,000 visitors

“This is the people’s Capitol, and we should treat it with the respect and the admiration that it deserves,” Sen. Caleb Rowden said. • Replacing pavers on the North Plaza and repairing the retaining wall • Repairs to the fountain • Repairing, restoring and waterproofing balustrades. • Removing and waterproofing the terrace

See and download maps at missouritimes.com level balustrades and repairing or renovating the balustrade lighting. • Replacing joints and cleaning the entire Capitol exterior The project is part of the $40 million State Capitol Project that was appropriated during

annually, Sen. Mike Kehoe says that the work is “going to make this fantastic building safe and water-tight and look beautiful for another hundred years.” “This is the people’s Capitol, and we should treat it with the respect and the admiration that

Lobbyist Moves Courtesy of the Gate Way Group

Changes on: 02/28/2018 GROUP Aaron Baker Rodney S Bland Added ERIC GREITDeleted KANSAS CITY ENS PUBLIC SCHOOLS RETIREAaron Baker MENT SYSTEMS Added DAVID HUMJeffery N Brooks PHREYS Deleted Ward W Cook AIR EVAC LIFETEAM Added Kathryn Gamble POWELL GARDENS Deleted Chris Liese AIR EVAN LIFETEAM Added ELDORADO Cynthia Gamble RESORTS Deleted Miles Ross AIR EVAC LIFETEAM Added MISSOURIANS William A Gamble FOR A BALANCED ENER Deleted GY FUTURE AIR EVAC LIFETEAM Miles Ross David Michael Jackson Added GREATER Deleted SPRINGFIELD HOME AIR EVAC LIFETEAM BUILDERS ASSOCIATION Jorgen Schlemeier Kandice Sanaie Deleted Added CIGNA AIR EVAC LIFETEAM Jorgen Schlemeier Sarah Topp Added BF ASCHER CO Deleted AIR EVAC INC LIFETEAM Chris Liese Changes on: 02/23/2018 Deleted ISLE OF CAPRI Aaron Baker CAPE GIRARDEAU Added AMERICANS Chris Liese FOR FARMERS AND FAMIDeleted LADY LUCK LIES CASINO CARUTHERSJeffery N Brooks VILLE ISLE OF CAPRI Added CASINOS DAVID HUMPHREYS Chris Liese Kathryn Gamble Deleted ISLE OF CAPRI Added BOONVILLE DAVID HUMPHREYS Chris Liese William A Gamble Deleted ISLE OF CAPRI Added KANSAS CITY DAVID HUMPHREYS Chris Liese Cynthia Gamble Deleted ISLE OF CAPRI Added CASINOS INC DAVID HUMPHREYS Kimberly Tuttle David Michael Jackson Deleted Added BANK OF AMERICA DAVID HUMPHREYS Changes on: 02/27/2018 Sonette Magnus Jeffery N Brooks Added Added ASHLEY ENERGY TICKETNETWORK Michael Martinichsauter Saiza Elayda Added Added PHARMACEUMISSOURI ATTORNEY TICAL RESEARCH AND GENERALS OFFICE MANUFACTURERS OF Jorgen Schlemeier AMERICA Added William A Gamble DAVID HUMPHREYS Added Kristian Starner TICKETNETWORK Added AMERICANS Cynthia Gamble FOR FARMERS AND FAMI Added LIES TICKETNETWORK Sarah Topp Kathryn Gamble Added DAVID HUM Added PHREYS TICKETNETWORK David Willis Robert N Hollis Added MISSOURI Added JAMES TAMMY STATE UNIVERSITY HEUER HUSBAND AND David Willis WIFE Added RANGER POWDavid Michael Jackson ER LLC Added Changes on: 02/24/2018 TICKETNETWORK James E Farrell Robin Phillips Added Added CHILD CARE BANNER PUBLIC AFFAIRS AWARE OF MISSOURI LLC Jorgen Schlemeier James E Farrell Added Added TICKETNETWORK BREWER SCIENCE INC Sarah Topp Changes on: 02/22/2018 Added TICKETNETMichael R Gibbons WORK Added CGI TECHNODavid Woodsmall LOGICS SOLUTIONS INC Added MIDWEST Eapen Thampy ENERGY CONSUMERS Added BETTER WAY GROUP MISSOURI Sarah Wood Martin Eapen Thampy Deleted AMERICAN Added ASSOCIATON OF PUBLIC ONE GRO WORLDWIDE INSURANCE ADJUSTERS INC Sarah Wood Martin Tricia Workman Deleted MISSOURI Added CGI TECHNOENERGY INITIATIVE LOGICS SOLUTIONS INC Changes on: 02/26/2018 Eapen Thampy Gary L Burton Deleted OSAMA YANIS Added JJ VENTURES Eapen Thampy OF MISSOURI LLC Deleted Mark J Rhoads ONE GRO INVESTMENTS Added Changes on: 02/21/2018 CAESARS ENTERPRISE Aaron Baker SERVICES LLC Added DOWD BENRodney S Bland NETT LLP Deleted Jeremy Lafaver ENERGY SYSTEMS GROUP Added Rodney S Bland KIDS WIN MISSOURI Deleted THE GIDEONS Shawn Rigger

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Paid for by Missouri REALTORS®, John Sebree, CEO.

Support the Missouri First-Time Homebuyer Initiative Here’s how the program works:

Most Americans still dream of owning their own home. Homeownership strengthens communities, provides stability for families and helps build financial strength. But saving enough money for a down payment and closing costs is too hard for many Missourians—especially for young people and those looking to buy their first home. Low paying jobs, the cost of living and high student loan payments are tough obstacles to overcome. Many people don’t know where to start. That’s why we need the Missouri FirstTime Homebuyer Initiative—a new idea to help prospective homebuyers save for their first home.

• Individuals could deposit up to $1,600 ($3,200 for couples) annually into a savings account to go toward a first home purchase.

We should be doing more to help first-time homebuyers— not with government handouts but by providing incentives to encourage people to save more of their own money towards the cost of a home. That’s why we need to ask our legislators to approve the Missouri First-Time Homebuyer Initiative.

• The maximum amount that can be deposited over the life of the account is $25,000; the maximum total amount in the account is limited to $50,000. • Parents or grandparents can contribute to this account as well. • An amount equal to 50% of the annual contribution may be deducted from the contributor’s taxable gross income and any gain within the account would not be subject to state income taxes. • Money from the savings account would have to be used toward the purchase or construction of a first home.

Ask Your Legislator to Support the Missouri First-Time Homebuyer Initiative (HB 1796) Today! MissouriFirstHome.com MO_FTHB_MOTimes_9.75x11.indd 1

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