High Five

PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY TOMORROW!

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum was barn-storming Missouri on Friday, demonstrating that he believes a victory in the state's presidential primary next Tuesday is worth fighting for — even if, officially, it doesn't count.
Star: KRASKE: Missouri just looks plain silly
Beacon: What if they gave a primary and nobody came? That could happen Tuesday in Missouri
KMOX: Missouri Spends 7-Million on Political Poll
KSDK: Missouri among states holding primary Tuesday
KSDK: Missouri presidential primary Tuesday
Post-Dispatch: Romney aiming at Santorum on eve of Missouri matchup
Tribune: Fulton, Columbia crowds hear Santorum's views
KMBC: Engler Says Keeping Missouri’s Beauty Contest Primary “One of the Dumbest Things I’ve Seen”
Globe Opinion: Our View: Meaningless in Missouri
KMBC: McCaskill Says she Thought About Making Mischief on Primary Vote
Post-Dispatch: Romney aiming at Santorum on eve of Missouri matchup
Post-Dispatch: Among Missouri Republicans, Romney rakes it in
KSDK: Santorum hosts primary night party in St. Charles
SMP: Rick Santorum in Lee's Summit, Missouri: the Blutarsky sermon on the summit
SE Missourian: Santorum to speak at Cape Lincoln Day next month
SE Missourian: GOP caucuses will determine presidential delegates

LAMPE JOINS THE LT. GOVERNOR RACE

Rep. Sara Lampe, D-Springfield, is jumping into the race for lieutenant governor, making her the fourth Democratic challenger in the increasingly crowded statewide contest. Former state Auditor Susan Montee plans to kick off her campaign Tuesday.
News-Leader: Lampe formally announces bid for Missouri Lieutenant Governor
Beacon: Lampe latest Democrat to run for lieutenant governor
Star: Demo primary for MO lieutenant governor loads up, Lampe now running
Post-Dispatch: Sara Lampe plans to run for lieutenant governor
Turner: Lampe to announce for lieutenant governor Monday
PoliticMo: Lampe joins Democratic primary for Lt. Governor
Post-Dispatch: As Susan Montee preps for kick-off, another lt. gov. rival emerges
Missourinet: Rep. Lampe running for Lt. Governor
KMBC: Lampe Joins Dem Primary for Guv Lite
SMP: Campaign Finance: Lt. Gov. - still working the phones
SMP: Lt. Gov. - there is another

GOP APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR SAYS REX’S EVERYTHING TAX PETITION STINKS - TO HIS FACE

Overhauling Missouri’s tax system would create uncertainty in troubled economic times, Sen. Kurt Schaefer and Rep. Chris Kelly said today to Rex Sinquefield.
Tribune: Lawmakers cautious about sales tax idea
Progress Missouri: GOP Approps Chair to Rex Sinquefield: Everything Tax ‘Scares the Bejesus Out of Me’

AMEREN PUSHING NEW 15% RATE HIKE.

Ameren Missouri, a natural gas and electricity provider based in St. Louis, is seeking its fifth rate increase in six years. Ameren President Warner Baxter says that the increase, approximately 15 percent, is to improve energy efficiency and offset rising fuel costs.
AP: Ameren Missouri proposes rate hike
Missourinet: Ameren requests rate increase
KMOX: Ameren Missouri Seeks Power Rate Hike
Post-Dispatch: Ameren Missouri seeks 15-percent electric rate hike

HOUSE GOP PUSH FORWARD WITH BILL TO LIMIT VOTING.

Birther Floor Leader Tim Jones says he will bring legislation requiring photo identification for voters up for perfection again this week in the Missouri House of Representatives.
Missourinet: Voter ID bill to seek perfection in House this week (AUDIO)
Campus Progress: Voter Suppression Update: The Good and The Bad, Part II
NPR: Controversial Voter ID Laws Proposed Across The US

SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN STATE SENATE MAPS, ORDERS REVIEW OF NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP

STATE OF THE STATE TONIGHT

Post-Dispatch: Budget to be focus of Nixon's State of the State speech
Beacon: Jobs will be focus of Nixon's State of the State address
AP: Mo. governor expected to outline more budget cuts
Public News Service: Budget Deficit Casts Shadow Over Nixon's 'State of the State' Address
KSDK: Mo. governor expected to outline more budget cuts
KSDK: Mo. Gov. Nixon to outline budget proposal
News-Leader: More job creation details expected in Nixon's speech
Post-Dispatch Opinion: Nixon should be bold; fund schools, suspend tax credits
KOMU: Nixon To Talk Jobs and Budget Cuts in Tuesday's State of the State
Fox2: Gov. Nixon To Give State Of The State Address Tuesday

CAMPAIGN FINANCE NUMBERS COME IN...

Star: Lager in the soup with $800K on hand in primary battle vs. Kinder
Beacon: Lager reports huge influx of cash from small cadre of donors, had $800,000-plus
Beacon: Koster amasses $1.2 million, no GOP opponent in sight
AP: Spence raises nearly $2.4M for Mo. gov. bid
Beacon: Zweifel reports more than $800,000 in the bank for re-election bid
Beacon: Montee reports just under $78,000 in bank for lieutenant governor bid
Post-Dispatch: No longer a candidate, Speaker Tilley refunds some campaign checks
Post-Dispatch: Kansas City politician is cash king in race to replace Robin Carnahan
Turner: Billionaire voucher supporter Sinquefield gives $50,000 to Jane Cunningham

INITIATIVE PETITION FILED TO BAN TEACHER TENURE

The petition was filed by Marc Ellinger of Jefferson City, and publicized by Slay and Associates of St. Louis. Both have strong ties to billionaire ideologue Rex Sinqufield.
AP: Proposal seeks to ban Missouri teacher tenure

KRAUS’ IMMIGRATION LAW HEARD IN COMMITTEE

A proposal by Sen. Will Kraus, a Republican from Lee’s Summit, would require Missouri schools to verify the immigration status of their students. The bill would also require law enforcement officers to check immigration status on all stops when they have reasonable cause.

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