Saint Louis – This Week in Missouri Politics returned for its second season Sunday to discuss hot-button political issues that have popped up in the six-week hiatus since its final taping.
Political consultant Sarah Martin; lobbyist and former Speaker of the House Steve Tilley; Jeff Mazur, the Executive Director of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 72 (AFSCME); and Joe Lakin, a PR consultant with Victory Enterprises joined host and The Missouri Times publisher Scott Faughn to discuss everything from the Republican gubernatorial candidate field and the veto session to the allegations against Planned Parenthood and the Capitol culture.
While most of the panel agreed that Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder had the best shot at winning his party’s nomination and probably the best chance at winning the general election against likely Democratic nominee and current AG Chris Koster, Joe Lakin believes former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens could surprise some people.
“[Greiten’s] biography is something, you look at our candidates in the past and he’s probably got elements of all of the best biographies all rolled into one,” Lakin said. “He brings a new face… I think he is our best match-up. I think he’s our most dynamic candidate.”
Lakin also stood out as being the only panelist who believes the legislature could override Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of “Right to Work” legislation in the upcoming veto session. The others do not think the Republicans who voted against it could risk the political capital of reneging on such a key piece of legislation.
This Week in Missouri Politics can be viewed Sunday mornings on KRCG at 6:00 a.m., KTVO at 9:30 a.m., KDNL at 10:00 a.m., and KBSI at 10:00 a.m. and streamed the next day at twmp.tv.
Highlights
“It’s nothing new. It’s been going on. When people think it’s worse than ever, I think it’s the same climate. Maybe we’re at a turning point. The committee has done a good job with the exception of the dress code ideas… There has to be an independent HR or something that doesn’t work for the Speaker or the Pro Tem or even the Governor’s office.” – Sarah Martin, on the Capitol’s response to sex scandal allegations against former Speaker John Deihl and Sen. Paul LeVota.
“I don’t see how it’s a scandal or an issue. It seems like to me, if you’ll excuse the phrase, a little bit of a fetus measuring contest between people who are engaged in an attorney general primary” – Jeff Mazur, on the Sanctity of Life Committee chaired by Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, who is running for AG.
“Leadership races in the Senate are different than they are in the House. I think they’re more predictable in the House than they are in the Senate. I would handicap it that I think Sen. Richard is a slight favorite but… it will be very, very close. it could go either way.” – Steve Tilley, on the upcoming Senate Pro Tem election between Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, and Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington.
“The non-establishment, outsider candidates, whether it’s Trump, whether it’s Cruz, whether it’s Ben Carson and others have really occupied a lot of this space… We’re with Rand [Paul] and I think you’re going to see a situation when Trump comes back down to Earth. it’s going to be a matter of who breaks out of that pack.” – Joe Lakin, on the Republican presidential primary race.
