Jay Nixon will deilver the Democratic response to Gov. Matt Blunt's State of the State message Wednesday night.
That's the same Jay Nixon who's already announced that he's running for governor next year.
Missouri Republicans don't like it.
"Jay Nixon is seeking to exploit the situation in order to promote his own political ambitions," Missouri GOP spokesman Paul Sloca said today.
Well, duuuuuuuhhhh.
Posted by Steve Kraske
You don't like all those automated phone calls shortly before election day pushing one candidate or another?
You don't like your dinner being interrupted?
Neither does Missouri AG Jay Nixon.
Check out the story here.
Posted by Steve Kraske
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon in a Kansas City press conference Wednesday urged the state’s General Assembly to pass legislation to protect residents from automated political calls by including them on the state’s no-call list. Currently they are not covered by the no-call list.
Most so-called robo calls are recorded messages dispatched in the thousands by automated dialing machines. Some consumers reported receiving five to eight per night. Nixon said his office received more than 600 complaints about automated political calls in the weeks before the election.
“Missourians are frustrated that they can’t stop these calls by being on the no-call list,” said Nixon, who was accompanied by several state legislators, including state Rep. Ed Wildberger of St. Joseph, who previously sponsored legislation that would deal with political calls.
Here's Paul Wenske's complete story.
Posted by Keith Chrostowski
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver is headlining a fund-raiser for up-and-coming politico Chris Moreno. As reported previously on KC Buzz Blog, Cleaver's folks had promised that Cleaver would campaign for Moreno, who is running for the 48th District Missouri House seat.
Obviously, the Democrats are smelling blood in Moreno's bid against Republican Rep. Will Kraus. That's because virtually every major Democratic politico is locking hands in this event, including seven state lawmakers, four county lawmakers and several Democrats unopposed on the November ballot. The Hispanic political leadership is also stepping up for Moreno.
And making another Kansas City appearance will be Attorney General Jay Nixon, who along with Jackson County Prosecutor Mike Sanders is joining Cleaver in hosting the event at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at a Lee's Summit banquet hall.Tickets start at $25 and go up to $325.
Posted by DeAnn Smith
A political chasm in the African-American community was on full display during Attorney General Jay Nixon's second meeting on the future of the Black Archives of Mid-America Inc. Forget the previous subtext between KC Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver and likely challenger, retiring state Rep. Sharon Sanders Brooks.
It was an out and out obvious storyline last night that included heated words from supporters of the two women and the two elected officials themselves that led to Nixon grabbing the microphone and using his best deep soothing lawyer voice to get the blow torches put away.
The festivities really got going when McFadden-Weaver took to the front of the room, microphone in hand to "tell the truth," a.k.a. calling out Brooks. The councilwoman said "if we had talked to each other first, talked to people who look like us," instead of going out and creating "a legal escapade," then the future of the archives could have been resolved without acrimony.
Brooks gritted her teeth and maintained her control but insisted, "The truth has to come out" when she demanded that Nixon let her also take the front of the room to respond. She went through a detailed explanation of 18 months of (unsuccessful) efforts to get the archives' board and staff to work with civic leaders. She said when this did not occur, she brought the archives' woes to Nixon's attention because she said she wanted the archives to get its financial house in order so that it could apply for federal and other grants.
Three lessons from last night: 1) Despite talk of coming together as a family and the archives being more important than any one person, don't think that's the final skirmish between the two women. 2) They like each other about as well as Dynasty's Alexis and Krystal Carrington did, and 3) Nixon had to be wondering what he had gotten himself in the middle of.
Moving on, two Jackson County officials did check out the meeting last night. Outgoing Legislator Eugene Standifer and county employee Theresa Garza, who is unopposed for an at-large legislative seat in November, took in part of the forum. Both county and city officials are talking about funding the archives once Nixon gets the board reconstituted.
Perhaps the most intriguing moment of the night was when attorney Clinton Adams (does the bellicose and brilliant Adams really need an explanation on a KC political blog?) chatted up City Manager Wayne Cauthen in the back of the room then the two exited to yammer more outside. The talk was joined by school board member Marilyn Simmons and Marie Young, head of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City Inc. Oh, to have been a mosquito buzzing around that conversation!
A slimmer looking Adams said he was there on behalf of his absent sister, Gwen Grant of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, who Adams said expects to serve on the reconstituted board.
For those not in the know, go here for an application to serve on the board.
Posted by DeAnn Smith
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon is heading back to Kansas City for a second meeting Thursday night on the future of the embattled Black Archives of Mid-America Inc. The details can be found here.
Nixon's involvement has some grousing that he's only trying to shore up support among black leaders he rankled (rankled being an understatement for some) with his role defending the state in the Kansas City School District desegregation case. He denies this, of course, saying his job includes overseeing the assets of nonprofits.
This week, Star columnist Steve Penn outlined his thoughts on Nixon and other white leaders' interest in the archives' future and the debate that's creating.
The second meeting should be just as politically interesting as the first. And should again have the subtext of a possible city council clash. Term-limited state Rep. Sharon Sanders Brooks, who first called attention to the plight of the archives to Nixon and is speculated as a possible candidate for executive director of the archives, is considering challenging Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver who has just joined the archives' board of directors.
Posted by DeAnn Smith
Attorney General Jay Nixon was in town Thursday afternoon to tour the Black Archives of Mid-America Inc. If you want to read a transcript of the Gem Theater hearing or check out some audio from it, go to www.ago.mo.gov.
Nixon's office expects to announce next week a follow-up meeting with community leaders as he works to iron out a long-term solution to ensure the archives is viable.
Look for an archives update in this weekend's Star, including a bookish idea for the archives' future that is drawing some interest.
But here's a tidbit for KC Buzz Blog readers to chew over until then. Much debate has erupted among African-American leaders over state Rep. Sharon Sanders Brooks' involvement in the issue with some suggesting she's pushing the reconstitution of the black archives because she wants the executive director role for herself.
Brooks demurred when asked this week about her interest in the gig.
"I don't want to make it about me. I don't want to inflame the situation," she said. "My major concern has always been the safekeeping of the archives, getting them in an environmentally controlled situation and finding appropriate temporary housing."
This weekend, Brooks is attending the Association of African-American Museums conference in St. Louis. Is this conference proof of her interest in the archives ex gig? She says her state representative district includes four museums and the event will provide valuable info.
But due to term limits, Brooks is leaving the Missouri General Assembly come the end of the year. She is weighing a challenge to KC Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver who is a member of the "new" archives board and says Nixon doesn't need to reconstitute it now. Brooks wants new board leadership so the Kansas City mayoral campaign may not be the only local race beginning to see some low-grade heat.
Posted by DeAnn Smith
A fascinating lesson in Kansas City politics was on full display at the Gem Theater for Thursday night's hearing called by Attorney General Jay Nixon on the future of the Black Archives of Mid-America Inc.
A who's who of black politicos both elected and unelected were in attendance. If they have a Kansas City address and the title of Missouri senator or representative before their name, they were definitely there. Also fascinating was the many who briefly made an appearance and then left (We'll let others snitch, cough, City Manager, cough, Wayne Cauthen, who showed up late; Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver did have the handy excuse that she just got off a plane from Africa and raced from the airport to the hearing) and who showed up early and stayed until past the end (Outgoing State Rep. Sharon Sanders Brooks and mayoral candidate Alvin Brooks). Even more fascinating was those who did NOT turn out (more in a bit).
Sanders Brooks unquestionably gave the most stirring speech of the night. It was Clinton-esque in how she simultaneously chastised black leaders for failing the archives and impassionately spoke of the archives' future.
Sanders Brooks, who was one of the first speakers of the night, also starred in one of the night's more unintentionally comical moments. Speakers were limited to five minutes. So at the two-minute mark, the timer fellow from Nixon's office in the front row began giving Sanders Brooks the wrapup signal. A horrified Nixon on the stage conferred with a staffer at his elbow who then scurried to the timer's side to let him know in no uncertain terms, DO NOT time elected officials (whose endorsements could be needed in two years). The chastened timer made all sorts of hand motions to Sanders Brooks to keep going but she was so busy condensing five pages of remarks she missed the update.
One of the more head-scratching speeches came from NAACP's Anita Russell. She complained that she was "not aware of the condition the archives was in." Uh, Star columnist Steve Penn wrote three times last year and four times this year about the problems facing the archives, including its closing earlier this year. Later, McFadden-Weaver -- whose sermonesque speech showed no signs of jet lag -- said, "It is time for us to be responsible and stop lying. We knew." She repeated the refrain, "We knew," during the first part of her speech.
Now on the subject of those who weren't there. Well, neither Mayor Kay Barnes or any white Kansas City council members were present. Other than Brooks, the mayor pro tem, none of the other mayoral contenders was there. (Pretenders is what one speaker called them.) Not even former almost Miss Juneteenth Becky Nace. Also absent was expected mayoral candidate Jackson County Executive Katheryn Shields.
In fact, not a single Jackson County official showed up. Which is somewhat baffling. You'd think Shields would have buttressed her black relations by showing up or sending aide Troy Thomas to offer to put county funds for the archives into the 2007 county budget. That would then thrust the issue into the lap of Prosector Mike Sanders who as the presumptive county ex will bear responsibility for the 2007 budget and has had shaky relations with some black leaders.
Speaking of bolstering shaky relations with KC black leaders, gubernatorial candidate Nixon made a start Thursday night in repairing the damage from the Kansas City School District desegregation case. While former Councilwoman Carol Coe sniped about Nixon not having any people of color on the stage with him initially, Sharon Sanders Brooks, Alvin Brooks and numerous other speakers lauded Nixon for his involvement in the issue. KC Buzz Blog was somewhat surprised Nixon didn't even crack a smile when one speaker "accidentally" called him "governor," before correcting himself.
And when it comes to gubernatorial campaigns, Nixon (pictured from earlier this year) must be taking a page from Claire McCaskill's glamour shot book. On Thursday, a grayer Nixon sported a softer do minus the not-so-flattering front poof. Nary a hair moved during the 3 1/2 hours of testimony, but it looked natural and not shellacked with hairspray.
In fact when and if Sanders ever decides to run for Nixon's job or another statewide post, he might want to hook up with Nixon's hair stylist. This KC Buzz Blogger hasn't seen such a polished, every-hair-in-place 'do on a politico since Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards or Texas Gov. Ann Richards and even further back Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton. Note the similarity in their titles. A title Nixon would like to add to his collection come November 2008.
Posted by DeAnn Smith
Jay Nixon, who's already gearing up for a run for Missouri governor in 2008, pulled in $300,143 during the year's second quarter.
That compares to incumbent Gov. Matt Blunt's haul of $530,801.
Nixon's report was unavailable Monday. So we're bringing you up to date today.
The Democratic attorney general said he had $893,339 in the bank compared to Blunt's $1.9 million.
Oh, a Blunt spokeswoman defended a $38,982 donation from the Republican National Committee that Democrats had criticized as exceeding donation limits. The GOP said the donation was related to a Blunt fund-raising breakfast President Bush attended in October 2004.
The Blunt campaign was required to put up $40,000 to cover the president's expenses at the breakfast, which took place the day after a presidential debate in St. Louis. Actual expenses amounted to $1,018, so the RNC reimbursed the remainder to the Blunt campaign, the spokeswoman said.
Posted by Steve Kraske
Missouri Republicans trotted out an interesting little nugget today.
They claim that the state Democratic Party already has anointed Jay Nixon as the party's 2008 candidate for governor. The proof? A series of contributions totaling 15K from the state party to local political committees. The local committees then quickly turned around and sent similar amounts to Nixon.
That, Republicans said, is a sign that the Ds already are looking past two other potential Democratic contenders: Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and former Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell. Such a practice, so early in the cycle, is "unheard of," said GOP spinmeister Paul Sloca.
Responded the Ds: Nonsense.
The state party regularly supports local party committees. "What they do with that money and which candidates they support is up to them," said Democratic mouthpiece Jack Cardetti.
Posted by Steve Kraske
Today's burning question:
What's more likely:
(a) Three-quarters of the members of the Missouri House and Senate will call themselves back into special session to restore Medicaid cuts.
Or...
(b) Pigs wearing blue ribbons will fall from the sky at 6:43 tonight.
Answer: Take the pigs.
The idea for a special session was put forth Sunday by Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon, already actively campaigning for governor in 2008. What Nixon didn't say in his statement is exactly how lawmakers can call themselves back into special session.
Well, the state Constitution makes it abundantly clear. What's also clear is that 75 percent of the Republican-controlled Legislature isn't going to haul themselves back to Jeff City this summer to undo the very controversial step it took last year.
Still, the proposal helps Nixon move on from last week's embarassing news that he accepted nearly $20,000 from a corporation he's considering suing.
Posted by Steve Kraske 10:15 a.m.
Who says newspaper editorials don't have any effect? Kit Wagar reports deep in his the paper version of his story on Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon returning some suspect campaign donations that Nixon credits this Star editorial for convincing him to do so.
Posted by Keith Chrostowski 11:30 a.m.
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon will return more than $19,000
in donations to his gubernatorial campaign that came indirectly from Ameren Corp., the utility he is investigating over the December collapse of the Taum Sauk reservoir.
In an e-mailed statement to The Associated Press on Thursday, the Nixon for Gov. campaign said it was returning $19,100 to the four Democratic committees that donated the money, all on March 31. All four had received $5,000 checks from Ameren, but all said there was no pressure or agreement to give the money to Nixon. Here's the rest of AP's story.
Posted by Keith Chrostowski 4:15 p.m.
Missouri's natural resources chief asked Attorney General Jay Nixon Wednesday to recuse himself from the investigation into Ameren Corp.'s Taum Sauk reservoir collapse, saying Nixon's acceptance of more than $19,000 in campaign contributions this year that originated with Ameren amounted to a conflict of interest.
Nixon's attorney Edward Ardini sent a prompt reply to Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers, insisting Nixon will continue the Taum Sauk investigation and accusing Childers' boss, Gov. Matt Blunt, of also having close ties to Ameren.
The rest of AP's story is here.
Posted by Keith Chrostowski 4:50 p.m.
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, a Democratic candidate for governor, is under fire for accepting nearly $20,000 in campaign contributions that originated with a utility he is investigating over a disastrous reservoir collapse. A review of state documents shows Ameren Corp. made four contributions of $5,000 each to four Democratic country organizations in the St. Louis area between January and March. None of the groups had that much money on hand at the time. On March 31, all four gave nearly $5,000 each to Nixon's campaign. The rest of the AP story is here.
Posted by Keith Chrostowski 6:05 p.m.
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