277 DAYS UNTIL ELECTION DAY… 186 DAYS UNTIL THE AUGUST PRIMARY

BREAKING — Jay Nixon economic development director Jason Hall to step down. Statement from Nixon: “With his strong professional background and extensive experience in helping Missouri businesses create jobs, Jason Hall is exactly the type of strong leader Missourians need at our Department of Economic Development. This inaction by the Senate will not dissuade me from continuing to work relentlessly with business and community leaders to create jobs and keep our economy moving forward.”

— Nixon has named Chris Pieper, deputy council to the Governor, as acting director. 

— Yesterday: ‘Mo. senators scuttle nominee for economic director,’ AP: “Senate Republicans have scuttled Gov. Jay Nixon’s nominee to direct the Missouri Department of Economic Development, claiming he lacks the necessary experience despite an assurance from one of the state’s most prominent business groups. The Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee refused to vote Wednesday on confirming Jason Hall to head the department, and Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer said he has no intention of bringing Hall up for a vote before the deadline to confirm him expires. Hall’s rejection could be more than just a symbolic setback for the Democratic governor heading into a November election in which jobs and the economy figure to take top billing. It also could mean that Nixon will have to find a fourth economic development director as he begins his fourth year as governor.” http://bit.ly/zzAV64

ATTORNEY GENERAL — ‘Koster blasts disfunction in General Assembly,’ PoliticMo: “Add Attorney General Chris Koster’s to the list of people frustrated with the pace of action — or in some cases, inaction — in the Missouri General Assembly. Speaking to a summit of education leaders at the University of Missouri-Columbia earlier this week, Koster criticized the state legislature for not moving to address the statutory problems surrounding the 2011 Turner vs. Clayton School District decision by the Missouri Supreme Court. … The ruling has not yet kicked in, and some of the implications on districts like Clayton in St. Louis and neighboring districts of Kansas City could be lessened, Koster said, if lawmakers act to clarify the law. But Koster, adding his voice to the growing frustration with the General Assembly, said he does not really have hope. ‘We are in an era where the General Assembly has a hard time anything that is difficult,’ he told educators. The next day, in a statement to reporters, Koster criticized the general assembly again, focusing on legislative inaction on the closing of a statutory loophole involving the tobacco master settlement that Missouri and 45 other states signed in 1998. … The increased rhetoric regarding the legislature, which mirrors that of Koster’s Democratic statewide colleagues, comes as Koster’s reelection campaign begins. Last week, St. Louis attorney Ed Martin, announced he will run against Koster in this year’s election.” http://bit.ly/yMygqx 

— Ed Martin’s campaign is launching a set of billboards statewide, calling Koster, “Obama’s Lawyer.” The billboard campaign — accompanied by a web campaign — solicits people to submit their concerns about Koster. The first billboard went up in St. Louis yesterday, at 44 & 141 Highways, according to Martin’s campaign. 

— Yesterday, former Governor Matt Blunt’s campaign committee contributed $10,000 to Martin’s campaign. 

14 HOURS — ‘Filibuster in Mo. Senate forces workplace discrimination compromise,’ Missouri News Horizon: “A dramatic 14-hour filibuster in the state Senate came to an end early Thursday morning after an agreement was struck related to legislation that would modify Missouri’s Human Rights Act to narrow the definition of workplace discrimination. Democrats allowed the bill to receive first-round approval in the Senate after an amendment was added to ensure the right of jury trial in all discrimination lawsuits. The bill faces one more full vote in the Senate before heading to the House of Representatives. … With the Senate controlled by a more than two-thirds Republican majority that favors the bill, filibuster was the Democrats only option to force any sort of compromise. … 

“The legislation in question, Senate Bill 592, would still undo a series of court rulings that have crafted the current legal definition of workplace discrimination in Missouri. … But SB 592 would make it so an employees’ protected status must constitute a ‘motivating factor’ in the employer’s actions. This would put Missouri back in line with other states that still follow a standard of discrimination set by the 1964 Civil Rights Act. It would also make it more difficult for employees suing for discrimination to prove their case.” http://bit.ly/zrgtP7

FIVE DAYS TILL MISSOURI PRIMARY — ‘Carnahan, Blunt urge participation in non-binding primary,’ PoliticMo: “Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, Missouri’s chief election official, said she feels primary voters could have an impact on caucus goers. ‘Missourians have a chance to make their voices heard, and I hope they show the political party insiders that they want to have a say in this process by going to the polls,’ she said in a statement. ‘Anytime voters cast their ballots it has an impact.’

“Speaking with reporters in a conference call earlier in the day, Republican U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, a political foe of Carnahan in 2010, made a similar point. ‘I would urge people to participate,’ said Blunt, who served as secretary of state nearly two decades ago. ‘It would give some guidance to people who meet at Republican caucuses.’

“The primary, which is being written off as a ‘beauty contest’ by some (Newt Gingrich, for example, isn’t even on the ballot), is expected to cost the state between $8-10 million. ‘It’s not going to cost any less if people don’t show up,’ Blunt said. Carnahan said local election officials predict a 23 percent turn out.” http://bit.ly/x5K5lX

— ‘Christian County Headliner’ weighed in pretty negatively: ‘Missouri primary costly, irrelevant’: “Some have called it an expensive Republican beauty pageant because results will not bind delegates and the Democratic choice on the ticket is, well, obvious. But what the Feb. 7 presidential  primary will do, says Christian County Clerk Kay Brown, is cost the state millions of unnecessary dollars. … Normally … Republican delegates were bound by primary results. … But because the primary was not moved and the Missouri Republicans were in no mood to lose 26 delegates, they simply released them from their obligation to vote for the primary winner. All Republicans will caucus in March to select county delegates.” http://bit.ly/w0leeD

GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, and welcome to this edition of PoliticMo Rundown. Send your tips, comments, and scoops to eli@politicmo.com. 

REP. RUSS CARNAHAN will hold a press briefing about energy efficiency in the Rayburn building this morning. (We had the day wrong yesterday — it is, in fact, happening today.) 

ANN WAGNER will have a rally with Governor Mike Huckabee tonight in St. Louis. The event, which begins at 5:30 at the Drury Plaza Hotel in Chesterfield, is open to press and the ticketed public. Per the campaign: “Hundreds are expected to be in attendance.” 

POTUS 2012 — KANSAS CITY STAR ENDORSES ROMNEY: “We would urge Missouri Republicans to head to the polls and back frontrunner Mitt Romney. His modern-day American dream life (being born to wealth and power) and his charisma-light manner haven’t exactly inspired passion among voters. But his career, both inside and outside of politics, shows that he’s a smart, tireless worker willing to wade into problems that others simply avoid. Romney’s Massachusetts health care plan, a model for President Obama’s new national plan, is such an example: Clearly something had to be done and he came up with a promising solution. Despite conservative criticism, he is to be admired for not disavowing his health care plan, though he makes a point of saying he saw the issue as a matter for each state, not national policy.” http://bit.ly/zCj38i 

— The bundlers: The Obama campaign released their list of bundlers yesterday. At the top of US News’ List: “Thomas Carnahan — Founder of Wind Capital Group, a developer of Midwestern wind farms. Carnahan’s been linked to the Obama administration before. One of his company’s projects in Missouri received a $107 million federal tax credit from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Carnahan’s father, Mel Carnahan, served as Missouri Governor and his mother was U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan. His brother, Russ Carnahan, has served in the House of Representatives since 2006.” http://bit.ly/zlRAaU

—  ‘Super PAC launches Missouri ad campaign for Santorum,’ Beacon: “A “super PAC” out to aid Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum has begun running ads in Missouri, in hopes of boosting his chances in next Tuesday’s non-binding Republican presidential primary in the state. The ‘Red White and Blue Fund,’ has produced and paid for the ad, called ‘Trust.’ … The Wall Street Journal reports the ad is running only in southwest Missouri, which is a Republican stronghold. But the PAC hints in its release that more ads may be coming to the state before Tuesday. … Santorum was helped by rival Newt Gingrich won’t be on Missouri’s primary ballot next week, because he didn’t file since the primary will not award any delegates. The delegates will be awarded during the state’s caucuses, which begin March 17.” http://bit.ly/x1J8uZ

#MOSen — ‘Brunner Opposes Earmarks, But With Conditions,’ Michael Mahoney: “Missouri Republican US Senate candidate John Bruner says he is opposed to federal earmarks, conditionally. … When Brunner was asked if he would ‘never, ever’ vote for an earmark, he said, ‘You know, you’re pushing me up to here… I’m trying to think of all the possible existengies (sic) and the situations that could possibly are out there. I’m going to have to reserve my ‘never ever,’ possible, out there. What is that rare exception?’ Brunner added earmarks might be needed in the case of a national disaster or attacks.” http://bit.ly/x6H8YT

EDUCATION — ‘Senators look at drastic measures to deal with unaccredited schools,’ Missouri News Horizon: “On Tuesday, the Senate General Laws committee heard two hours of emotional testimony for and against a proposal that would effectively carve up the Kansas City public school district and annex it to neighboring suburban districts. … The bills, which also include provisions that would help increase funding to private charter schools and allow school districts to share resources to increase efficiency, are collectively being refereed to as the ‘Turner Fix.’ … The Turner Fix proposals, which will be molded into a single bill most likely, did not come for a vote on Tuesday. Similar legislation failed to make it through the General Assembly last year.” http://bit.ly/ys7V5z

COLLEGE FUNDING — ‘College and university presidents forwarn of impact of higher ed cut,’ MissouriNet: “The University of Missouri System President Steve Owens said the 12.5 percent reduction translates to a $50 million dollar hit to the University’s operating budget. He says the college has avoided raising tuition to deal with past reductions, but says that could only work for so long. The college’s staff has recommended a tuition increase of 6.5 percent, that the Board of Curators will begin considering on Thursday. … The state’s community colleges would also have to hike what they charge students, according to Mineral Area College President Steve Kurtz. … Several of those officials said the efforts to deal with the cut was already underway. Northwest Missouri State University President John Jasinski says plans will be announced next week for cuts and restructuring.” http://bit.ly/yCXoES

— A great graphic from the Columbia Missourian on how a Tuition hike could effect students. http://on.fb.me/xVs03I

— ‘Scholarship funds under state review,’ Rudi Keller: “Students who use Missouri’s scholarship programs to support their education won’t see any major changes in the coming year, but a review is under way, lawmakers were told yesterday during an appropriation hearing. … Discussion of the contemplated changes took place as Department of Higher Education officials went over their budget for fiscal 2013 with lawmakers for the first time. The spending plan slashes $106 million from college and university budgets in the coming years, setting spending levels back to amounts last seen in the 1990s.” http://bit.ly/AjfcRi

SPORTZZZZ — ‘Going inside DGB’s decision,’ Pete Scantlebury on PowerMizzou: “In front of a crowded gymnasium, with a pep-band flanking him and news crews in front, Green-Beckham put the years of rumors, speculation and gossip to rest. ‘This fall, I will be continuing my education at?’ Green-Beckham began.  He pulled a black Mizzou hat, with a snap back and a gold brim, out from under the table. He didn’t need to finish his sentence. Green-Beckham cited distance from home and comfort level with the coaches, players and fans as the biggest reasons for his decision. For the first time, the nation’s top recruit talked in detail about his recruitment and decision. …  According to both father and son, the decision was made on Monday. John Beckham said Dorial came home from school that day, and talked to his father and mother, Tracy Beckham. In the kitchen of the family’s Springfield home, Dorial said he was ready to make a decision. … Leading up to the decision, Green-Beckham visited Arkansas and Missouri on back-to-back weekends.” http://bit.ly/ybpHHU