Plan to Move Missouri Primary from August to June Advances March 4, 2014

(AP) – A House panel has endorsed legislation that moves Missouri’s primary elections to June.

Missouri now holds party primaries in even numbered years on the Tuesday after the first Monday in August. But the measure adopted by the committee would move the primaries to the first Tuesday after the third Monday in June.

The bill would take effect in 2016, meaning the primary date in that year would be June 21, instead of Aug. 9.

Sponsoring Rep. Tony Dugger, of Hartville, says earlier primaries would give candidates more time to compete for November’s general election. But some House members argue that lawmakers would have to campaign more aggressively during the legislative session, which runs through mid-May.

The House Elections Committee voted 9-2 in favor of the bill on Tuesday

Missouri Considers Moving Primary to June March 4, 2014

(AP) – A Missouri House panel is considering whether to move the state’s primary elections to June.

Missouri now holds party primaries for Congress, the Legislature and statewide offices in even-numbered years on the Tuesday after the first Monday in August. A House bill would move the primaries to the first Tuesday after the third Monday in June.

The House Elections Committee scheduled a hearing on the proposal Tuesday and planned to vote on it immediately.

Earlier primaries would give the winners more time to compete for November’s general election. They could also cause lawmakers to campaign more aggressively during the legislative session, which runs through mid-May.

The bill is sponsored by Republican Tony Dugger, of Hartville, with House Speaker Tim Jones as a co-sponsor.

Missouri Considers Changing Primary to June March 4, 2014

(AP) – A Missouri House panel is considering whether to move the state’s primary elections to June.

Missouri now holds party primaries for Congress, the Legislature and statewide offices in even-numbered years on the Tuesday after the first Monday in August. A House bill would move the primaries to the first Tuesday after the third Monday in June.

The House Elections Committee scheduled a hearing on the proposal Tuesday and planned to vote on it immediately.

Earlier primaries would give the winners more time to compete for November’s general election. They could also cause lawmakers to campaign more aggressively during the legislative session, which runs through mid-May.

The bill is sponsored by Republican Tony Dugger, of Hartville, with House Speaker Tim Jones as a co-sponsor.

KWMU: Future of St. Louis Area Conservatives has State Politicos Buzzing March 1, 2014

KWMU via Johncombest.com

Until this week, most of the attention directed at state Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington, has focused on his outspoken conservatism and his efforts to block some federal gun laws.

But now the chief question is whether Nieves is preparing to quit the state Capitol.

Nieves said in two text messages this week, the latest on Friday, that he’s not yet ready to discuss the situation — but many others are.

As expected, Nieves showed up Tuesday on the first day of candidate filing and filed for re-election this fall. But shortly before 5 p.m., state Rep. Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, filed to challenge Nieves in the August primary.

Schatz’ filing, in turn, may have opened the door to other top Republicans considering whether to jump in as well. They include former state Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, and state House Speaker Tim Jones, R-Eureka.

The 26th District now represented by Nieves spans from Franklin County to west St. Louis County. The district took in more close-in suburbs as a result of redistricting in 2011.

Almost half of the 26th District’s voters reside in St. Louis County, a far cry from the district’s more rural demographics when Nieves first was elected to the Senate in 2010 in what was arguably the most combative Republican primary in the region that year.

Still, with no prominent Democratic opponent looming, Nieves had been expected to coast to re-election this fall.

But other considerations may intervene. By several accounts, Nieves has been mulling over various business opportunities that would pay more than the roughly $35,000 he earns now in the state Senate.

Even so, some close to Nieves say he was shocked by Schatz’s action – although Schatz said he had discussed the matter with Nieves before filing.

More: http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/republicans-tizzy-over-nieves-possibly-leaving-state-senate

Unified House Republicans Pass 2 Tax Cut Plans February 20, 2014

AP) – After splintering last year, Missouri’s House Republicans banded together Thursday to pass a pair of tax cut plans with a vote strong enough to suggest that a veto override is within reach if Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon does not sign a tax reduction.

The House passed two versions of a potential income tax cut – one targeted at all businesses; the other affecting individuals and certain categories of businesses.

Every Republican who was present voted for the bills – a stark contrast from last September, when 15 House Republicans broke from the majority to prevent an override of Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of an income tax cut.

“What this vote is, is a signal to the governor that he needs to work with us, not against us,” House Speaker Tim Jones said in an interview. “We’re going to be united in the House with the Senate in promoting a tax reduction package this year.”

The House vote came a week after Nixon announced he would be willing to sign a tax cut this year if the legislation complied with several conditions. The governor said the tax cut must be targeted to individuals and should take effect only after schools are fully funded, state revenues have grown by at least $200 million and two of the state’s costliest tax credit programs for developers have been reined in.

The legislation passed by the House meets none of those conditions.

Nixon denounced the legislation as a pair of “fiscally irresponsible experiments that combined would funnel nearly a billion dollars out of our classrooms and other priorities.”