Money in State Politics: Missouri Data Available

From the National Institute on Money In State Politics:

Missouri's state-level campaign finance data for the 2008 election cycle is now complete at FollowTheMoney.org.

Did you know:

• In 2008, candidates, political parties and ballot measure committees raised $107.7 million, compared to the $101.4 they raised in 2004.
• Senate candidates nearly doubled the average raised between 2004 and 2008, from $120,332 to $221,277.
• Candidates running for House seats increased the average raised by one-third, from $30,896 in 2004 to $41,170 in 2008.
• An open gubernatorial seat attracted 19 candidates who raised an average of $1.7 million. The successful candidate, Democratic Attorney General Jeremiah W. Nixon, raised far above that average: more than $14.8 million. His general election Republican challenger, Kenny Hulshof, raised $8.5 million.

Check out the data for Missouri from 2008 by clicking HERE.

Breaking: New Dem Party E.D.

Democrats are slated to announce Brian Zuzenak as the new executive director of the Missouri Democratic Party. The announcement should come this evening at the Dems annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner in St. Louis. Zuzenak was most recently campaign manager for 9th CD candidate Judy Baker. Zuzenak also spent several years working in Tennessee Democrartic politics and was the 2002 Missouri House Democrats campaign director.

Conservative Newscaster Calls Blunt and Steelman Families Notoriously Evil

Conservative KY3 TV reporter Dave Catanese blogged yesterday about the possible match up between Sarah Steelman and Roy Blunt in the Republican Primary for U. S. Senate. In his post he said, "This signal from the Steelman brigades likely sets up a Republican primary showdown between two infamous Missouri political families, The Steelmans and The Blunts"

Big Muddy wonders if Catanese has finally joined most Missourians in rejecting the policies of the Blunt and Steelman families or if he's just illiterate?

From Merriam-Webster:

Main Entry: in·fa·mous
Pronunciation: \ˈin-fə-məs\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin infamis, from in- + fama fame
Date: 14th century

1 : having a reputation of the worst kind : notoriously evil, "an infamous traitor"
2 : causing or bringing infamy : disgraceful, "an infamous crime"
3 : convicted of an offense bringing infamy

SOSB is anti-worker.

Progressive States Network reported today that the "Save Our Secret Ballot" (SOSB) coalition appears to be a project of the Heritage Foundation and the Goldwater Institute. SOSB is working to amend the state constitutions of Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, Nevada and Utah to block workers from choosing majority sign-up rules to form unions in an attempt to stop implementation of the proposed Employee Free Choice Act.

SOSB argues that their goal is just to protect workers from intimidation and insure a fair process. One would think that they would be happy to allow unions as long as their was a secret ballot. Unfortunately, their funders have a history of opposing collective bargaing at all costs. Wal-Mart has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Heritage and Goldwater and other anti-worker organizations. Wal-Mart has demonstrated through their business model that their last concern is the quality of an empoyee's life. They are also active opponents of collective bargaining - closing down unionized stores rather than bargain with employees.

So when someone asks you to sign a petition to protect the secret ballot and workers' rights, remember that their real goal is to insure that low-income workers and their families remain poor and powerless.

So Much For Kumbaya

Governor-Elect Jay Nixon hasn't even taken office yet and Republicans are already throwing mud. Senate Republican leadership has informed Nixon's team that his cabinet appointments cannot start work until they are confirmed by the Senate. No "Acting Director", no "Interim Director", nada.

Looks like the law is on the Senate Republican's side, but Big Muddy can't remember any precedent for this and we've been watching since Teasdale.

Gubernatorial Inaugural Plans

From Stateline.org:

In a bleak economy that has led even some of the most financially stable states to grow uneasy, some governors who were elected or re-elected in November are skipping the typical inaugural balls and toning down the glitz at their swearing-in ceremonies to cut costs.

One new governor canceled his ball — a first for the state — and another first-time governor has called for a potluck dinner. Among the other nine governors elected in November, a few will have minimal swearing-in ceremonies in their state capitol buildings. In other state capitals, however, some governors are celebrating their election the old fashion way.

Our incoming gov gets a special mention:

Another new governor, Missouri governor-elect Jay Nixon (D), promised on the campaign-trail to stage the first-ever inauguration potluck, if elected, in light of the state’s more than $340 million budget shortfall. Those attending are invited to bring cookies and desserts for everyone to share after Nixon’s swearing-in Jan. 12 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City. His campaign committee is supplying hamburgers.

click here for the whole story.

A potluck with strangers still makes Big Muddy a little nervous.

Lt. Governor Indicted

No not our Peter Kinder, but former Missourian and current Nevada Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki. Krolicki was indicted for misusing state funds as state treasurer from 1999 to 2007.

From the AP:

A grand jury on Wednesday indicted Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki on charges of mismanaging a multibillion-dollar college savings program when he was state treasurer.

The indictments don't allege any money was missing. They include four felony charges, each carrying a possible sentence of up to four years in prison.

Krolicki has said he is being targeted for political reasons. He was the first Republican to announce plans to run against U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in 2010.

He said the indictment was the result of "a secretive process" that was unfairly orchestrated by Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto.

Representatives for Masto and Reid, both Democrats, deny any politics were involved.

From the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Some of the audit's concerns suggested the treasurer wasn't following the most basic accounting rules. He didn't provide annual financial statements. He didn't require much verification of expenses from contractors. He didn't follow Nevada law when contracting services. A law firm received almost $1 million, an overpayment of nearly $96,000, because it was paid $429 an hour rather than the $225 provided in the contract. And while the Legislature approved $1.6 million in expenses to run the program for five years, Krolicki spent more than $7 million -- overspending by more than $5 million.

As many of you political addicts know, Krolicki graduated from St. Louis County's Parkway West High School in 1979 before heading west. I guess that still makes him a famous Missourian, since Samuel Clemens left Missouri at 18 and never came back. Seems like the most famous Missourians are the ones who left and never came back. What's that say about the rest of us?

2009 Missouri Inaugural Schedule

The Missouri Inaugural is January 12.

MEMO TO:
All Statewide Elected Officials
United States Senators
Members of Congress
Justices of the Supreme Court
State Senators
State Representatives
FROM:
2009 Missouri Inaugural Team
DATE:
December 2, 2008
SUBJECT: Inaugural Schedule and Invitations

2009 Inaugural Schedule
Below is a tentative schedule for 2009 inaugural activities. Times are subject to change.

10:00AM
Inaugural Parade
Open to the public

11:15AM
Swearing In Ceremony
Open to the public

1:30PM
Public Greeting at the Governor's Mansion
Open to the public

7:00PM
State Reception with Elected Officials
Invitation Only

7:00PM
Grand March
Open to the public

8:00PM
Inaugural Ball
Open to the public