MOScout Daily Update: Rex Gives $200K Against CLEAN - Next Session Education Issues - Voter ID Ruling and more...

Rex Gives Against CLEAN

Rex Sinquefield contributed $200,000 to Missourians First.  That’s the campaign working to defeat the CLEAN Missouri proposal on next month’s ballot.

This is the first large contribution we’ve seen into Missourians First.  CLEAN has raised over $2 million since their July quarter which showed $180,000 in their campaign account.

Missourians First has some catching up to do.  And the word is that this check is the beginning of a herd of checks we’ll be seeing this week.  There may be yet another Sinquefield check and it’s thought that David Humphreys has been asked to make a substantial contribution, as well as other heavy Republican donors.

What It Means

Missourians First hopes to hit $2 million for their campaign budget.  We’ll probably know within the week if that’s happening.  If big checks come in rapid succession, CLEAN – which has long been assumed to be an electoral favorite because of the inclusion of lobbyist gift bans – could be in a dogfight.

Next Session Issues: Education

Each session in my memory education policy has had a few big battles.  It’s usually framed as the “reformers” against the “establishment.”  The reformers generally believe that injecting market forces into public education will lead to a better product for students.  The establishment generally represents the folks working in traditional public education at various levels – teachers, administrators, board members.

The two issues from last session which could reappear are charter school expansion and Educational Savings Accounts.  Giving kids more options and better preparation would clearly fall into the governor’s focus on workforce development.

But

There are a couple reasons that Governor Mike Parson may eschew these battles – at least for this session. 

First, they’re tough.  Both these issues would again likely devolve into a reformers vs establishment tug-of-war.  It’s hard for the governor to meaningfully move the needle.

Second, they often divide the Republican caucus.  And it may be getting harder within the caucus.  For example, legislators like Rep. Mike Henderson and Rick Francis will now be sophomores, and perhaps more assertive in their skepticism of reformers.   

Finally, there’s plenty else he can do, under the banner of workforce development, while saving his political capital in the legislature on other fights. 

·         Boost the recommendations of the CTE Advisory Council.

·         Push for fully funded formula, and more transportation dollars (see below).

·         Continue to make appointments to the important education commissions like State Board of Education, Coordinating Board on Higher Education, and the Charter Public School Commission. 

·         Play a supporting role as SBOE chooses a new DESE commissioner.

And

The other eternal education issue is: money.  I’m told that fully funding the foundation formula will require an additional $77 million from the budget. 

BUT there’s also a mini-struggle being waged to begin better fund the school districts’ transportation costs.  This line item has been slowly eroded over time.  Governor Jay Nixon used to cut it instead of formula dollars and tout how he spared the “classrooms” from the budget axe.  Nevermind that you still have to pay for the buses, gas, and drivers.

One proposal would be to a multi-year approach to slowly increase the transportation funding.

Voter ID Ruling

AP reports that “a Missouri judge on Tuesday blocked key portions of the state’s voter photo identification law, meaning some voters could find it easier to cast ballots in a November election headlined by a hotly contested U.S. Senate race. The ruling bars election officials from enforcing a requirement that a voter lacking a valid photo ID sign a sworn statement while presenting some other form of identification in order to cast a regular ballot. It also prevents the state from advertising that a photo ID is required to vote. The permanent injunction by Senior Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan takes effect immediately. But Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said he plans to ask that the ruling be put on hold while he appeals to a higher court…”

Bits

New Approach dings Bradshaw for his tax liens.  See it here.

From Politico Playbook: NEW TRUMP SUPER PAC ADS ... AMERICA FIRST ACTION is spending $1.36 MILLION in Missouri, knocking Sen. Claire McCaskill for supporting an "energy tax." The last line of the ad: "I bet Claire McCaskill's private plane is warm."  See the ad here.

New Committees

Citizens For Adela Falk was formed.  It’s an exploratory committee.

Michelle Jaeger formed a candidate committee (Michelle (Missy) Hunter Jaeger) to run for Pike County Clerk as a Republican.

Jackie McGee formed a candidate committee (Jackie Townes Mcgee For State Rep) to run in House 149 as an Independent.

St. James – Stone Hill Missouri Wines PAC was formed.  Its treasurer is Sharon Dunn.

Bank of America Missouri Political Action Committee was formed.  Its treasurer is Cheryl Gibson.

21st Century Education MOPAC was formed.  Its treasurer is Robert Whelan.

1st MO Labor Nominee PAC Number One was formed.  Its treasurer is Michele Hornish.

Lobbyists Registrations

Caroline Hoover added SSM Health.

Sarah Topp, Jorgen Schlemeier, Sarah Schlemeier, David Jackson, Kathryn Gamble, Jeff Brooks, William Gamble, Cynthia Gamble added Mi2Operating System.

William Gamble, Kathryn Gamble, Sarah Schlemeier, and David Jackson deleted Partnership for Affordable Clean Energy.

David Jackson deleted Desoto Rural Fire Protection District.

Ryan Rowden deleted Brent Hemphill & Associates.

$5K+ Contributions

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $60,000 from American Federation for Children.

Six PAC - $10,000 from Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters PAC.

Committee to Elect Steve Ehlmann - $25,000 from August Busch III.

MO Society of Anesthesiologists Political Action Committee - $10,000 from Western Anesthesiology Associates, Inc.

Physician Led Anesthesia Care PAC - $15,000 from Western Anesthesiology Associates, Inc.

SaferMO.Com - $10,000 from Husch Blackwell LLP.

SaferMO.Com - $10,000 from Hutchens Construction.

SaferMO.Com - $10,000 from Hogan Truck Leasing.

SaferMO.Com - $50,000 from Millstone Weber LLC.

Safer Families for Missouri - $9,600 from The Simon Law Firm.

SEIU Missouri State Council PAC - $25,000 from SEIU MO/KS State Council.

SaferMO.Com - $20,000 from Foley Equipment.

MO Cattlemens Association PAC - $10,722 from Missouri Soybean Association.

Missourians First - $200,000 from Rex Sinquefield.

Nexus PAC - $35,000 from Paric Corporation.

Raise Up Missouri - $15,000 from The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center.

New Approach Missouri - $5,001 from Missouri Essentials LLC.

New Approach Missouri - $43,500 from New Approach PAC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Roger Wilson (the big 7-0), Sen. Denny Hoskins, Bruce Holt, St. Louis Alderman Jack Coatar, and Terry Jarrett.