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California Republicans were in a festivemood at their weekend convention in Sacramento.

They toasted their airy new downtown headquarters withviews of the Capitol and decorated with pictures of Ronald Reagan and other memorabilia from the partys storied history in the state. They reelected leadership that had turned a practically bankrupt party into one that raised $19 million last year. And they celebrated having helped elect a Republican president for the first time in more than a decade.

Isnt it nice to win? Rep. Devin Nunes of Tulare asked hundreds of delegates and guests during a dinner speech Saturday night.

But for all the cheer, the state GOP still faces a hard reality.It hasnot elected a statewide politician in more than a decade, itsnumbers are dwindling, Democrats have a supermajority in both houses of the Legislature and, after three consecutive election cycles where Republicans ceded the top posts in government to Democrats, it hasno major prospects to run for governor or Senate next year.

Here in California, the state GOP has hit rock-bottom, said Jon Fleischman, aconservative blogger andthe state partys former executive director. But as delegates huddled across from the state Capitol, where we have no influence,the atmosphere was almost festive because of President Trump and how much he has riled up the left.

One of the most celebratory events was a reunion of Trump supporters on Saturday afternoon. Trump lost badlyto Democrat Hillary Clinton in California, but he had an active base of tens of thousands of volunteers here who called voters in battleground states. Republicans were hopeful these people, many of whom were new to politics, would turn their energy to California elections.

Our job is to build a structure that wins elections and wins elections right here, said Tim Clark, Trumps California campaign manager who is now serving as a liaison between the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services. Weve done our job nationally. Now we have to focus on our state in 2018.

Throughout the weekend, Republicans focused on an argumentsimilar to one thatpropelled Trump to victory in unlikely states such as Wisconsin and Michigan: While Democrats have insistedthey have made life better for their constituents, ordinary Americans are still struggling.

On Sunday,Assembly GOP leader Chad Mayes highlighted a series of videos with the tagline California deserves better. Featuring a female narrator skewering Democrats for talking about their achievements,the videos focus on the ongoingproblems of poverty, crumbling infrastructure and high housing costs.

Attendees also heard from Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista and conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, who were critical of Trump at times during the presidential campaign but praised some of his acts since taking office.

But notably absent from the conventionwasany major Republicancandidate laying the groundwork for a gubernatorial or Senate run in 2018.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, whom many GOP activists would like to see mount a run, slipped into the convention quietly and briefly on Friday. Pressed by reporters, he denied once again that heplans to runfor governor.

California Minutemen founder and former Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who mounted an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in 2014, said he was considering running again. He blasted the party leadership for not stopping the Democrats from achieving a supermajority in both houses of the Legislature.

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The California GOP, everybody who is in leadership should be fired. They should resign in shame because in the year of Trump they lost, he said. They lost their only purpose for existing, which was to resist the supermajority, or prevent the supermajority of Democrats in the state, and they lost seats. Its unbelievable that that could possibly happen in such a sweep of the country.

The Republican Party establishment helped knock Donnelly out in the primary in 2014because of his controversial statements and views, but then did nothingto help the partys eventual nominee, Neel Kashkari, who faced impossible odds against incumbent Gov. Jerry Brown.

In 2016, with low name recognition and sparse party support, Republican candidates were shut out of the U.S. Senate race, and two Democrats facedoff for the first open Senate seat in more than two decades.

It was the first time since the enactment of the states top two primary in which the top two vote-getters move on to the general election regardless of partythat a Republican failed to make the cut.Thatcould happen again in 2018, though elected officials were hopeful that the party had learned its lesson last year.

The Republican Party last election, for whatever reason, didnt want to engage, said Assemblyman Rocky Chavez (R-Oceanside), who briefly ran in 2016 for the seat vacated bySen. Barbara Boxerupon herretirement. But I think we have learned from the non-engagement. We will not do that again.We will have somebody.

Party Chairman Jim Brulte, reelected by anear-unanimous voice vote Sunday morning, said that since he took over the party in 2013, he has worked to strengthen itsgrassroots organization and tostock local city councils and school boards with quality GOP candidates, part of a strategy for a statewide GOP rebound.

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California's Republican Party is buoyed by Trump, but struggles for relevance at home - Los Angeles Times

Ledyard King, USA TODAY Published 4:11 p.m. ET Feb. 26, 2017 | Updated 18 hours ago

Donald Trump speaks Sept. 9, 2016, during a rally in Pensacola.(Photo: AP FILE PHOTO)

WASHINGTON The anger spilling out of town halls across Florida and other protests against GOP members of Congress might give Democrats hope that they can marshal that unrest into success at the ballot box in 2018.

Until you consider this:

Testy crowd greets U.S. Rep. Brian Mast in Fort Pierce | Videos, photos

Linda Fogg, a life-long Republican from Sumter County who opposes Trump, helped mobilize dissenters packing Websters town halls last week. Because Websters district is so red, Fogg said it will require GOP voters like her to pressure him and other GOP lawmakers to stand up to Trump or face their own demise.

The only ones who are going to be able to turn this around are the Republicans, she said. We have to do this. Its not going to happen on the other side.

Dont be surprised if GOP Sen. Marco Rubio isnt the most enthusiastic advocate for Rick Scott if the Republican governor tries to unseat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson next year.

For starters, Scott opted not to endorse home state candidate Rubio (or former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for that matter) in last years presidential primary, choosing instead to get behind Donald Trump.

Then, when Rubio announced in June hed run for re-election to the Senate, Scott declined to endorse Rubio in his primary race against businessman Carlos Beruff, whom the governor described as a good friend.

Gov. Rick Scott discusses his future, aspects of Donald Trump's presidency

And theres also this: Rubio and Nelson have gone to bat for each other despite their political differences.

When Scott came to Washington last summer to push for Zika funding, he accused Nelson of abandoning his constituents by voting against a controversial Zika bill. Rubio on the Senate floor defended Nelson as an important ally in the push for Zika funding.

A few days earlier, Nelson undercut Democratic attacks characterizing Rubio as an impediment to Zika funding. When Rubios Senate challenger Patrick Murphy hammered the GOP incumbent for not doing more to pass President Obamas $1.9 billion Zika bill, Nelson reminded opponents Rubio was the first Republican to back the plan.

Nelson often has kind words for Rubio, saying their partnership is key to achieving the states priorities.

He has always been a gentleman with me, Nelson said recently. My relationship is very good. And that is important for Florida that the two senators get along. And therefore I will not make any negative comments about him if I had em.

Al Cardenas, a former chairman of the Florida GOP, said he expects Rubio will weigh several factors in deciding when and whether to endorse Scott if he runs for the Senate: his relationship with Nelson; the state of the race; the importance of a Florida victory to keep the Senate in GOP hands; and the level of pressure his Senate colleagues are applying on him to endorse Scott.

Ultimately, Scott may not be that interested in Rubios blessing considering how he became governor on an anti-establishment platform.

I dont think he loses sleep over who supports him and who doesnt, especially now that Donald Trump won without any (establishment) support, Cardenas said of the governor. Gov. Scott won without the endorsement of the party brethren. If theres one thing that both (he and Trump) proved, its that they can go directly to the voters and plead their case.

Florida Republicans remain smitten with Donald Trump.

A new survey by the Associated Industries of Florida of GOP voters finds that 81 percent approve of his performance as president including 56 percent who strongly give him a thumbs up.

The poll by the conservative business group that often tracks political sentiment in the Sunshine State surveyed 800 voters who had voted in at least one of the last three non-presidential Republican primaries.

Thats in line with national polls that show Trump faring exceedingly well among his conservative followers, even as the vast majority of Democrats and a large number of independents rate him poorly. Only 14 percent of Florida Republicans gave him a poor rating.

Even with an endless, round-the-clock bombardment of negative coverage in the main stream media, the base remains unfazed in their approval of the president, according to the analysis from the GOP-leaning trade group. These numbers shouldnt come as a surprise because A) these are primary voting Republicans and B) the president is only doing what he told the voters he would do.

Thats good news for Scott if he decides to take on Nelson next year. Scott would already be the favorite to win the GOP nomination in the Senate race and his close ties to Trump would probably make him a lock for to win the primary.

Scott himself does very well in the AIF survey with 81 percent also approving his job performance though the 41 percent giving him strong approval means he doesnt quite enjoy the same level of enthusiasm from the base that Trump has.

Rubio doesnt do too badly either, with 69 percent approving of his performance, though only 25 percent strongly applauded him.

Other high-profile Florida Republicans are still trying to connect with conservatives.

Bondi, once seen as a sure bet to leave the Sunshine State and work for Trump, doesnt even get asked about a slot in the White House anymore.

No Rick Scott, but Trump mulling other Floridians for administration

Asked repeatedly by reporters a couple of weeks ago about a move to Washington, Floridas attorney general repeatedly insisted she was not taking a job under the administration of President Trump.

So when Bondi held an event honoring Floridas police officer of the year in Tallahassee Wednesday, reporters didnt even bother to ask her about a job with Trump.

Thats not to say it absolutely wont happen.

It was only last month that speculation burned about an impending gig in the West Wing, perhaps as a special counsel in charge of issues shes passionate about, such as efforts to stop prescription drug abuse. Around the same time, then-Trump transition team spokesman Sean Spicer described her as someone who has a very valued opinion in the president-elect's world right now.

And Trump, who has been facing Democratic opposition in filling out his cabinet, still has plenty of jobs to fill.

Contributing: Arek Sarkissian, The Naples Daily News

Contact Ledyard King at lking@gannett.com; Twitter: @ledgeking

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Safe districts may protect Republicans from voter anger - TCPalm

Trumps own advisers have been deeply divided over the proposal. | Getty Images

Republicans need President Donald Trump to get tax reform back on track.

Lawmakers widely agree on the need for a major tax-code cleanup, but they are tied in knots over how. The main proposal, by House Speaker Paul Ryan, has taken a beating from many of the partys erstwhile allies in the business community, not to mention a growing number of Republicans.

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But its unclear what the critics could support in its place, with lawmakers offering a host of competing proposals.

Thats creating a big void that Trump, now working on a new tax-reform plan of his own, can fill by resuscitating Ryans so-called border adjustment plan or perhaps with an entirely new vision for the tax code.

Im waiting to see whats coming out of the White House because, at the end of the day, the most powerful voice is going to be the presidents, said Rep. Mike Kelly, a Republican member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.

Republicans have yearned for presidential leadership after trying for years, unsuccessfully, to launch reform from Capitol Hill when President Obama was more interested in other issues.

If youre going to get tax reform done, the president has to lead, said Rep. Jim Renacci, another Republican tax writer.

Trump is set to address Congress on Tuesday, where hes expected to lay out his legislative agenda, and the administration says its tax plan will be ready within weeks.

The most immediate, and difficult, question facing Trump is whether to throw his weight behind Ryans border adjustment plan, which would essentially tax imports but not exports. It would be hugely embarrassing if his proposal were discarded at virtually the outset of lawmakers tax-reform debate.

But it faces considerable obstacles in the Senate, where the No. 2 Republican John Cornyn, Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch and other influential Republicans have major concerns with the proposal. Sen. Lindsey Graham has said the plan wouldnt get 10 votes from his colleagues.

Trumps own advisers have been deeply divided over the proposal.

The president raised eyebrows when he told Reuters the border adjustment plan could create a lot more jobs, while stopping short of outright endorsing the plan. His press secretary Sean Spicer subsequently told reporters the proposal benefits our economy, it helps the American workers, it grows more jobs, it grows the manufacturing base.

Ryan, who has been quietly lobbying the administration on the proposal, quickly trumpeted Trumps remarks in a blast to reporters.

Advocates like Ryan warn the entire tax-reform effort will implode without the border adjustment plan, because lawmakers have no other obvious way to raise the $1 trillion it would generate to finance tax cuts, and certainly no alternative that wont create its own enemies. They also want the president's bully pulpit including perhaps his Twitter account to overcome organized opposition to the plan from retailers, apparel companies and other big importers.

Business leaders are likewise pulling Trump in both directions, with the heads of Dow Chemical, Caterpillar, Boeing and other border-adjustment supporters meeting with him this week. Their conversation with him followed Trumps meeting last week with the heads of the Gap, Best Buy, Walgreens and other retailers pushing him to kill the proposal.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the administration is working behind the scenes with Republicans in both chambers to develop a consensus plan.

Were working very closely with Paul Ryan and were working very closely with Senate leadership and were going to have a combined plan, he told Fox Business News. When we go to pass this, were going to have a plan that we all agree with.

Asked about the border adjustment proposal, Mnuchin said: These are complicated issues, pointing to the plans uncertain effects on the U.S. dollar.

We are taking this all into account, and I can assure you when we come out with the plan, we will have very carefully thought through all of these issues.

Speaking Friday at a conference for conservative activists, Trump said: We are going to massively lower taxes on the middle class, reduce taxes on American business and make our tax code more simple and much more fair for everyone.

But Trump has hardly been a consistent leader on taxes.

During his presidential campaign, he repeatedly rewrote his own tax-reform proposal, sometimes taking multiple positions on various tax issues leaving Republicans in Congress to wonder what hed be willing to really fight for.

Whats more, Trump is still working with a skeleton crew on the issue. Neither Mnuchin nor economic adviser Gary Cohn are considered tax experts, and many key tax positions at Treasury including assistant secretary for tax policy and deputy assistant secretary for international tax affairs remain unfilled.

Thats raised questions among tax watchers about how detailed his plan will be or how much it will differ from his previous proposals.

There are other challenges.

Though the border-adjustment issue has dominated the tax reform debate in Washington, its only the beginning of the controversy. The House plan is chockablock with contentious ideas, including dumping a century-old tax break for corporate borrowing and plans to expand the standard deduction which the housing and charitable sectors fear will hurt their bottom lines by making the mortgage interest and charitable deductions less attractive.

Republicans are unlikely to get much support from Democrats, thanks to the GOPs plans to slash taxes on the rich, which means they will have little room for error, particularly in the Senate.

And their bid to repeal Obamacare has gotten bogged down, eating up precious time and political capital, while other must-do items like raising the debt limit and reauthorizing a childrens health program loom. Meanwhile, other administration controversies threaten to push tax-reform aside even more.

Many assume Republicans fallback plan is to simply cut taxes, a far easier task politically than tax reform. Any overhaul will necessarily create winners and losers, while there are only winners when it comes to tax cuts. Both George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan muscled big tax cuts through Congress in their first year in office.

In an op-ed today, a former campaign adviser urged Trump to focus on simply cutting taxes.

Whats needed is a net tax cut for business, wrote Stephen Moore. Lawmakers shouldnt get bogged down on the issue of how to pay for it.

The difference this time is the debt is far higher, with the CBO predicting the government will be running trillion-dollar deficits for the foreseeable future beginning in six years.

That will not only raise the hackles of deficit hawks. If Republicans cut taxes without doing much to clean up the code, that will leave less revenue available for any future overhaul which could force them to choose between their love of tax cuts and their desire for tax reform.

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Divided Republicans look to Trump to lead on tax reform - Politico

Rep. Devin Nunes on Saturday night urged California Republicans to regain relevancy by pushing ballot initiatives that could be a tough sell with the states voters, ones that would create battles potentially costing tens of millions of dollars to wage.

The ideas he floated in his speech to the state GOP convention include increasedoffshore oil drilling, elimination ofthe state income tax, shifting the Legislature into one body or part-time status, moving bonds earmarked for high-speed railto water storageand changing how public employee union dues are collected.

Nunes, a Central Valley representative who chairs the powerful House Intelligence Committee, said the state'sRepublicans needed to be as bold as President Trump was during his campaign.

"Isnt it nice to win?" Nunes told hundreds of supporters attending the convention'sdinner event. "This guy put it all on the line. He was willing to lose. We have to be willing to lose."

Most of the proposals have either proven unappealing to California voters in the polls, have lost at the ballot box already, or would require enormous structural changes to the states government and finances.

For example, a ballot initiative to transfer high-speed rail money to water storage failed to garner sufficient donors to earn a spot on the fall 2016 ballot .

More than 6 in 10 likely California voters opposed increased offshore oil drilling in a July 2016 poll by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.

In 2012, a ballot measure that would have banned automatic public employee union dues from being used for political purposes, Proposition 32 , failed by a 56%-43% margin.

Nunes'suggestion of eliminating California'spersonal income tax stands in stark contrast to data from the state Department of Finance estimating it will comprise68% of all general fund revenues in the fiscal year that begins this summer.

Nunes, speaking to reporters after his speech, said the money could be replacedby changing the state's sales tax.

"Its been a few years since I worked on it, but we looked at doing, basically, a broader type of sales tax," he said. "You would just basically get rid of the income tax and just basically have a consumption type system."

He said such a move would not be regressive.

"Its a very transparent way to do it, 150 countries around the world do it that way, theres no reason why the state of California couldnt do it,"Nunes said.

A state commission studied a similar tax plan in2009 , but theproposal was summarily rejected by state lawmakers.

Nunestold the delegates and their guests that if the ballot measures fail, Republicans should keep trying until they succeed. He later told reporters that he estimated it would cost the state GOP $10 million to $12 million each election cycle that theinitiatives appear on the ballot.

"I would argue thats the best $10 or $12 million we could spend by putting the initiatives on the ballot and therefore puttinga Republican agenda on the ballot each election, he said.

"I think it would show people in California what we actually stand for. I think right now it's very difficult to get our message across because were drowned out."

Kevin Spillane, a veteran GOP strategist, said Nunes proposals were not realistic.

"It sounds like smoke and mirrors rather than a practical political strategy for Republicans in California. Congressman Nunes has failed to sponsor any ballot measures in the past. Its hard to believe he would do so in the future.

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Rep. Devin Nunes tells California Republicans to push five ballot initiatives, though each could face tall hurdles - Los Angeles Times

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Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens addresses attendees to his meet and greet event as part of Lincoln Days at the University Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Mo. on Feb. 25, 2017.(Photo: Guillermo Hernandez Martinez/News-Leader)Buy Photo

Signs for about two dozen successful Republican campaigns greeted crowds of conservatives assembling for the 2017 Missouri Lincoln Days inside the University Plaza Hotel on Saturday.

The annual Republican celebration was expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees, and state lawmakers, local party officials and private citizens were among those gathered to catch up with old friends and to hear what their leaders had to say.

Though speakers such as Sen. Roy Blunt, Gov. Eric Greitens and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft hit serious notes at times, the mood of the day was celebratory.

"We have these events in good years and bad years," said Todd Graves, chairman of the Missouri Republican Party. "Some of them are like funerals, and some of them are like weddings. This one's more like a wedding."

Protesters lining the street, demanding to inquire directly of Blunt and calling their gathering a "street town hall,"were visible from outside the door to the hotel's Kansas Room. Inside, the recently re-elected Missouri senator spoke at a breakfast co-hosted with the Missouri Pachyderms.

The News-Leader was not allowed to enter the Kansas Room during Blunts speech. A spokeswoman for the senator, Burson Snyder, said the breakfasts closed doors were not related to the chanting protesters outside.

Danette Proctor, chair of the Greene County Republican Central Committee, and her husband, Darrell Proctor, heard Blunt speak and told the News-Leader the gist of his message.

They characterized the speech as upbeat, fitting for a Republican Party that asserted political dominance in November. Blunt talked about fixing the Affordable Care Act (without echoing calls to repeal and replace Obamacare), needing to undo former President Barack Obamas executive orders and scaling back regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

In a brief interview later, Blunt said he didnt think the protest constituted a real town hall event. He said he didnt have a problem with peaceful protesting but didnt feel like the gathering outside the hotel was a good venue for conversation.

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Asked whether he would do a town hall in Missouri, Blunt demurred.

"I think there are so many better ways to communicate now than that," Blunt said, adding that he didn't do town halls during his first six years in the Senate but still "had lots of chances for lots of people to have input. And I think I'm going to continue to communicate the way that I have been."

"We're in constant communication every day with people however they want to communicate, and I think that's a better way to do that now," he continued. "We still answer all our phones with a person. Many senators don't do that."

As for what he was hearing from constituents, Blunt cited national security issues, improving mental health care(including a pilot program in Missouri), being cautious about new regulations, and upcoming confirmations for vacant positions in the federal judiciary.

"I feel like I've got a pretty full plateand look forward to the next six years," Blunt said.

While Blunt spoke behind closed doors, the Republican National Lawyers Association hosted several politically minded attorneys, including Jay Ashcroft, House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, and several Springfieldians: Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr, Assistant Majority Floor Leader Kevin Austin, and freshman Rep. Curtis Trent.

Ashcroft recalled attending former President Ronald Reagan's inauguration and not comprehending the meaning of Reagan's "Morning in America" tagline. After seeing his party's electoral successes in November, Ashcroft said he understands.

These wins filled Missouri's statewide offices with Republicans, and Ashcroft said this proved helpfulafter Missouri learned it would receive $10 million from Moody's Corp. as part of a nationwide settlement pertaining to inflated credit ratings.

But the night before the money was to go through, there was a "hiccup," Ashcroft said, an issue related to wording that led to a lack of agreement.

Ashcroft said he was able to call Attorney General Josh Hawley well after business hours, and the two newly elected officials were able to fix the problem.

The secretary of state fielded a question about Missouri's new voter identification law, and he downplayed concerns such as those raised by former Democratic Secretary of State Jason Kander that voter ID would hinder people from casting ballots.

"This is not about disenfranchising anyone, and frankly, for those people that don't have IDs, we're bringing them into society," Ashcroft said.

Ashcroft put the cost of implementing voter ID at about $1.5 million about five times what was allocated in Greitens' budget recommendations for the next fiscal year but lower than what Kander's office estimated.

Later in the morning, Greitens held a campaign-style rally to give supporters an update and to shake hands and take photos with members of the audience.

"We are in a fantastic position, my friends," Greitens said. "...Because of you, because of strong conservative leaders throughout this state, we have the opportunity to put in place a strong, common-sense conservative agenda here in Missouri."

Greitens spoke about his time with Vice President Mike Pence, who visited Missouri last week to attenda business roundtable and to help the hundreds of volunteers, including Greitens, who cleaned up a vandalized Jewish cemetery in St. Louis.

President Donald Trump called while Greitens and Pence were in a car together and asked the governor to thank Missourians, Greitens said to an appreciative crowd. Trump and Greitens are expected to meet soonin Washington, D.C.

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens visits with Janice and James Nolan after his speech during his meet and greet event as part of Lincoln Days at the University Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Mo. on Feb. 25, 2017.(Photo: Guillermo Hernandez Martinez/News-Leader)

Greitens also said Pence was committed to repealing and replacing Obamacare and to spurring economic activity in Missouri. He thanked his supporters for their work and implored them to continue their efforts.

"When we start getting attacked, you are going to be our first line of defense," said Greitens, a former Navy SEAL.

He said conservatives would have more success when they spread the Republican message themselves than when the job was left to"members of the media."

"We're going to bring strong conservative change to the state of Missouri, and we're going to make Missouri a shining light, a fantastic beacon for what is possible in this fantastic country, the United States of America," Greitens said to cheers.

True to his commitment to speak directly to the people of Missouri, Greitens met with a lengthy line of fans and avoided reporters who wanted to ask him questions. He also walked past Rep. Nate Walker, R-Kirksville, who could be heard expressing his displeasure to one of Greitens' staffers.

Later, there was an open discussion featuring four of Greitens cabinet members:

Graves, the state party chair, served as the moderator, and he pointed out an obvious but important fact: All four officials are women.

"This is a step forward," Steelman said. "To see more Republican, conservative women taking an active role in government that's one of the big things that I'd like to see change, and I think Gov. Greitens is taking a great step in the right direction to make that happen."

(On the topic of whether Greitens is making a concerted effort to hire women, senior adviser Austin Chambers said on Twitter earlier this month that the governor "is focused on finding the best & brightest to help take MO in a new direction. And he's proven that with fantastic hires.")

Graves later asked the panel for their thoughts on how Republicans could do better with women voters.

Chinn suggested getting young people involved by reaching out through social media. Comer, who previously worked for Pence in Indiana, praised the state's Lugar Series as a valuable networking tool for women in politics.

Also during the discussion, Precythe acknowledged that the state prison system had been the focus of bad press in recent days. In November, Kansas City's The Pitch magazine described a vulgar culture of harassment in the Department of Corrections that led to $7.6 million in settlement payouts to employees.

"There is no place for sexual harassment, workplace harassment or retaliation in today's society, and we are not going to tolerate that," said Precythe, who previously held a leadership role in North Carolina's prison system. "I have no problem saying that that is a zero-tolerance (policy) for not reporting and a zero-tolerance for not responding. ... It is not going to go unaddressed any longer."

The four cabinet members addressed several other issues including:

Before breaking to enjoy treats at an ice cream social, members of the Pachyderm club listened to Missouri Republican Party vice chair Kay Hoflander give an update on the state party's efforts.

"All eyes forward" was Hoflander's theme. She meant that Republicans should focus their energy on their goals and not be deterred by distractions, such as disruptive protests at town halls.

In 2018, Hoflander predicted there would be a "loaded" primary among conservatives jockeying to challenge DemocraticSen. Claire McCaskill. Republicans also will have a chance that year to unseat Democratic Auditor Nicole Galloway.

Hoflander urged her small audience of about a dozen to listen to criticism but to disregard disinformation. She said media coverage at the state level had seemed fair to her since Greitens was elected, but she could not say the same for national coverage of Trump.

"Republicans aren't really how they are portrayed," Hoflander said.

Saturday's events were bookended by keynote speeches by Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford on Friday and North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis on Saturday. The last scheduled event was a prayer service Sunday morning.

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With 'all eyes forward,' Missouri Republicans converge in Springfield for Lincoln Days - Springfield News-Leader