January 16, 2009

Nixon Appoints Donnelly To Lead DHSS

On Monday January 12, Governor-Elect Jay Nixon was sworn is as Missouri’s 55th governor. The Inaugural Activities included: a parade, the Oath of Office during the Swearing-In ceremony, a public potluck party, and the Inaugural Ball.  Also sworn in were Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, Treasurer Clint Zweifel and Attorney General Chris Koster. 

Governor Jay Nixon’s inaugural address was entitled “A New Day for Missouri.”  The new Governor said that, although Missourians face an uncertain economic future, their “pioneer spirit,” capacity for hard work and ability to innovate would overcome financial adversity.  Nixon said the new economy would require investments in new technology that would make the state a magnet for next-generation jobs in the areas of alternative energy development and fuel-efficient automobile manufacturing.  He also called for the emergence of community activism, public service and volunteers.

GOVERNOR NIXON FILLS OUT HIS CABINET
With several announcements this past week, Governor Jay Nixon has completed his cabinet.  Below are the cabinet level appointments:

•   Office of Administration – Kelvin Simmons
• Mr. Simmons is a former City Councilman of Kansas City and has served as Chairman of the Missouri Public Service Commission (2001 – 2003) and as Director of the Department of Economic Development (2003).
• Department of Agriculture – Jon Hagler
• Mr. Hagler served as farm policy advisor for the Nixon campaign.  He has previously served as chief-of-Staff to former Speaker Jim Kreider (2000-2001) and was senior corporate development officer for Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.
• Department of Corrections – George Lombardi
• Mr. Lombardi is a retired 33-year veteran of the Missouri Department of Corrections.  Lombardi is a nationally recognized expert in correctional administration and served as the Director of Adult Institutions prior to retiring in 2005.
• Department of Economic Development – Linda Martinez
• Ms. Martinez is an attorney and partner in the St. Louis-based law firm of Bryan Cave.   According to the Nixon press release, she has“worked extensively on transactions involving project finance and issues relating to tax credits, tax-exempt financing, bonds and other economic-development tools”.
• Department of Health and Senior Services – Margaret Donnelly
• Former Representative Margaret Donnelly, who lost her bid for Attorney General in the August primary, has been active in the legislature on many issues pertaining to health and seniors.  Rep. Donnelly is an attorney from St. Louis.
• Dept. of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration – Kip Stetzler
• Mr.  Stetzler was appointed Acting Director of the Department.  He served as an Assistant Attorney General and Chief Counsel for Financial Services under then- Attorney General Jay Nixon.
• Department of Labor and Industrial Relations – Lawrence Rebman
• Mr. Rebman, an attorney, was a member of Laborers Local 663 for 19 years and spent 2 years on the staff on the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. In 1995, he joined then-Attorney General Nixon’s office as an Assistant Attorney General.  He then returned to private law practice establishing Rebman & Associates, specializing in employment, workers’ compensation and contract law.
• Department of Natural Resources – Mark Templeton
• Mr. Templeton is a Yale Law School Associate Dean and Chief Operating Officer.  From 2001 -2005, he was employed by McKinsey and Company, a consulting firm, where he specialized in environmental and sustainability strategies.
• Department of Public Safety – John Britt
• Mr. Britt spent 27 years with the U.S. Secret Service and most recently was director of security for Anheuser Busch Companies.
• Department of Revenue – Karen Mitchell
• Ms. Mitchell has worked as an Assistant Attorney General under Nixon’s administration for the past 16 years, serving as Chief Deputy Attorney General since 1999.  Nixon said that Mitchell would be instrumental in plans to streamline and modernize the Department’s operations.  She will also oversee the system for competitively bidding out the management of the license fee offices.
• Department of Social Services - Ron Levy
• Mr. Levy retired in late 2007 as President and CEO of SSM Health Care in St. Louis.  He spent 35 years as a health care executive prior to his retirement.

Note:  Directors for the Department of Conservation, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Higher Education, Department of Mental Health and Department of Transportation are selected by their respective Commissions and are not directly appointed by the Governor.

SENATE POSTS INFORMATIONAL HEARINGS
This week, President Pro Tem Charlie Shields hosted three informational seminars on highly visible issues pending before the Missouri General Assembly this session.  The seminars were very well attended by members of the Senate and House and were open to the public.  This week’s seminars pertained to:  1) current and future energy policies in Missouri, including a discussion on alternative and renewable energy efforts; 2) presentations and discussion on how Missouri can remain viable in the life sciences industry; and 3) presentations and discussion on the cost of the uninsured and how to make insurance more affordable to Missourians.

This coming week, Senator Shields has post additional seminars on the topics of transportation infrastructure and development in Missouri; discussions on the industry of agriculture; education in Missouri ranging from early childhood, elementary and secondary, including discussions on the impact of the recent constitutional amendment and charter schools; economic development, including discussions on how Missouri competes with other states; and presentations and discussion on higher education in Missouri, including a discussion on what other states have done to strengthen their coordinating boards.

Senate President Pro Tem Shields has posted two of his committee chairs and assignments. They include the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee and the Gubernatorial Appointments Committee.

The Senate Rules Committee considers any issues that may arise relating to the governing rules of the Senate, as well as ensures that each bill and amendment is properly drafted and printed. Appointed to the committee are Chairman Sen. Kevin Engler (R-Farmington), Vice-Chairman Sen. Gary Nodler (R-Joplin), Sen. Norma Champion (R-Springfield), Sen. Shields, Sen. Joan Bray (D-St. Louis) and Sen. Timothy Green (D-St. Louis)

The Gubernatorial Appointments Committee considers the nomination of constituents for appointment by the governor to state boards and commissions. Sitting on the committee are Chairman Sen. Shields, Vice-Chairman Sen. Engler, Sen. Champion, Sen. Dan Clemens (R-Marshfield), Sen. Jason Crowell (R-Cape Girardeau), Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale), Sen. Victor Callahan (D-Independence), Sen. Ryan McKenna (D-Crystal City) and Sen. Robin Wright-Jones (D-St. Louis). Shields will announce his committees next week.

Committee hearings will not begin in earnest until next week.

House Speaker Ron Richard released committee assignments on Wednesday for the 2009-2010 House. Please see attached.

GOVERNOR NIXON’S STATE-OF-THE-STATE AND BUDGET ADDRESS
Governor Jay Nixon will deliver his State-of-the-State and Budget address on January 27th, 7:00 p.m. before a joint session of the Missouri General Assembly.  The address will be broadcast on many television and radio stations in Missouri.  The following day, Chief Justice Laura Denvir Stith will deliver the annual State-of-the-Judiciary address at 10:30 a.m. to a joint session.

Senator Bond’s retirement announcement has set up a “scramble” for potential candidates. These include:

• Representatives Roy Blunt, Graves and Akin
•  former State Senator Loudon
• former Senator Jim Talent
• former State Treasurer Steelman

Robin Carnahan is mentioned as the Democratic nominee and possibly Representative Lacey Clay.

If Blunt should run, Senator Nodler, Representative Wasson and State Senator Goodman are being mentioned as candidates which will have a “trickle down” effect on other state representatives.

News this week includes:

House Passes SCHIP Bill
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 289-139 to approve a bill renewing and expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. The bill would be funded by a 61-cent-per-pack increase in the federal cigarette tax and includes a ban on physician self-referral. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to begin mark up Friday. However, the Senate’s version currently excludes the physician self-referral ban and provisions for documented immigrant women and children.

NEXT WEEK
Ceremonies are now over and the legislature will begin the hearing process.

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