MOScout Daily Update: Catalyst Reps NCPA - MedEx Hits 50% Signatures - Parson Hearts Trump - GOP Dismisses Schupp and more...
Just a quick couple of blurbs, then I’m off for a long Thanksgiving weekend.
I’m thankful I get to wake up every morning and write about my favorite topic to the smartest people in Missouri politics. So, thank you!
Catalyst: Let the Kids Play
In the lobbyists registrations (below): Catalyst lobbyists Danny Pfeifer, Greg Porter, David Willis, Alex Eaton and Rebecca Lohmann added National Collegiate Players Association (NCPA) to their client roster. This group led the fight in California, and now other states, to pass the Fair Pay to Play Act which allows college players to enter into endorsement deals. The NCAA is fighting the change. But its recent ruling on Mizzou means the legislation might find sympathetic ears in the capitol come January…
MedEx Halfway There
I’m told “signature collection is north of 50% of the goal.”
That means we’re very likely to see the Medicaid Expansion question on the 2020 ballot. Democrats think it’s a winning issue to run on, but I’m with the conventional wisdom that this election will be mostly a referendum on Trump.
Parson Hearts Trump
Post Dispatch quotes Governor Mike Parson… “I think he’s on the right track for this country,” Parson said. “I think he truly is trying to do good things for this country. I’m going to totally support the president of the United States.” Parson’s comments came as he filed paperwork at the Missouri secretary of state’s office to put Trump’s name on the March 10 presidential preference primary election ballot.
And the Sight’em Beforehand…
Tipster: Seen having lunch Tuesday at Madison’s before Gov. Parson filed paperwork at the Secretary of State’s office to put Trump on the Missouri ballot: Parson Campaign Manager Steele Shippy, Trump campaign Regional Director Dave Huguenel, and consultant Gregg Keller.
GOP on Schupp in CD-2
Republicans were quick to dismiss Sen. Jill Schupp as a threat to Congressman Ann Wagner. I think I’ll stick with a quiet “we’ll see.”
· GOP #1: Those who know the situation best just don’t think she’s a serious candidate. When the only way for Schupp to be competitive financially is to tack hard left in order to court national Act Blue activists, she won’t be able to win over the center-right voters she’s needs to win. That’s why there continues to be a lack of enthusiasm for Schupp including the DCCC not commenting in the Post-Dispatch story today.
· GOP #2: Long liberal voting record, Never raised money like you have to raise money for Congress, Has never faced the onslaught she will face against the Wagner team, Did I say long liberal voting record?.. Cort Van Ostran’s strength last election was his lack of voting record, midterm election and Ann pulled her punches. Look for team Wagner to take Schupp’s head off day one.
The Firm That Roe Built
KC Business Journal has a piece on the growth of Axiom Strategies into one of the largest GOP firms in the country. See it here.
The Kansas City-based company is one of the largest Republican political consulting firms in the U.S. and has grown to 13 offices with more than 100 full-time employees. It ranked No. 201 on the Inc. 5000 this year, with three-year revenue growth of 2,013% and $138.4 million in 2018 revenue…
A pivotal moment for Axiom came in 2015, when [Jeff] Roe became campaign manager for Ted Cruz’s presidential run. Through that race, Roe learned the challenges of working with a group of other firms, from coordinating meeting schedules to ensuring that the imagery and messaging remained consistent across different media channels. The experience spurred Axiom to build out its offerings to become a full-service firm, providing everything a campaign might require. The strategy maximizes a campaign’s limited budget and ensures seamless communication…
Because Axiom doesn’t have an outside owner, it’s been able to use revenue to reinvest in the company, including keeping staff full time. Its breadth of services and geographic reach ensures that it can work on campaigns year round. And that provides an advantage over a number of competitors who rely on making 80% of revenue within the last three months of an election cycle.
“It’s very hard to build a business (that way) because if you have one bad season, you have to lay off your staff. You have to curtail your travel for sales,” he said. “Through our product offerings, we’re able to elongate our revenue cycle.”
More on I-City Investigation
Jason Hancock writes a follow-up on the G-men asking questions in Independence City. This one focuses on PAC donations. See it here.
Just days before voting to spend nearly $1 million to buy a golf course for a solar farm project in 2017, Independence Mayor Eileen Weir received more than $10,000 from political action committees funded by the company that would go on to operate the project.
Each of the PACs is also connected to the company’s lobbyist: Steve Tilley, a former Missouri lawmaker and longtime adviser to Gov. Mike Parson.
Two years later, FBI agents have been asking questions about the project and another approved by the city council in 2017.
After a city council meeting Monday evening, Weir defended her donations, telling a Star reporter there was no relationship between the donations and her vote.
“No, I report all of my donations to the Missouri Ethics Commission,”she said. “And I haven’t had any violations or questions about those.”
Pressed further on whether the donations influenced the decision, the mayor paused. She then said: “I don’t know what you’re referring to,” before walking away from a reporter…
Clay County Goes Rogue
Missed this latest act in the Clay County circus…
Auditor’s statement from Monday: In an unprecedented move, Clay County staff failed to appear at 10 a.m. this morning as required under a subpoena issued more than two weeks ago by State Auditor Nicole Galloway. The lawfully executed subpoena required records and testimony associated with a citizen-mandated audit of Clay County to be provided to the State Auditor's Office this morning.
An Oct. 24 court ruling confirmed the Auditor's legal authority to conduct performance audits and dismissed the County Commission's lawsuit against the Auditor. Following that ruling, auditors again sought documentation originally requested in December 2018 and January 2019. When officials failed to fulfill the requests, Auditor Galloway issued the Nov. 8 subpoena to Clay County to require documents and testimony.
Today, the assistant county administrator failed to appear and provide documentation as required by the subpoena. The audit team is pursuing information routinely and readily provided in audits of county governments, but has been continually met with last minute delays, inconsistent information and excuses from the county.
Because the subpoena was lawfully executed, the State Auditor's Office will now take Clay County to court to demand compliance. This is the first time the State Auditor's Office has been required to take this step to get answers and information. The county's continued unwillingness to cooperate with the citizen-mandated audit requires the State Auditor's Office to evaluate available audit resources and legal options….
Help Wanted
The St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund (“CSF”) seeks RFP for “Change Management Engagement.” This project is specific to CSF and will not be expanded to St. Louis County government. The project plan should be tailored to CSF and the successful bidder will demonstrate consideration of CSF as a unique organization…. CSF is seeking proposals from qualified individuals or organizations to provide management consulting services related to organizational change and conflict resolution programming. Selected consultant will be expected to conduct baseline analysis and develop a comprehensive plan for an organizational change program; design, coordinate and facilitate a series of individual and group development coaching sessions; and, develop a metrics plan to benchmark the effectiveness of this organization change program. Furthermore, proposer will be tasked with positioning the CSF team toward growth and development during the first phase of implementation of CSF’s strategic plan… See the RFP here.
Lobbyists Registrations
John Bardgett, Jacqueline Bardgett, Mark Habbas, Ericka Leonard, John Parris, and Chris Roepe added PGA Tour Inc, National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB)
John Bardgett, Jacqueline Bardgett, John Parris, and Chris Roepe deleted Missouri School Bus Contractors Association, and St. Louis Metropolitan Taxicab Commission.
Ericka Leonard deleted Missouri School Bus Contractors Association.
Kim Tuttle deleted St. Louis Metropolitan Taxicab Commission.
John Bardgett, Mark Habbas, Ericka Leonard, John Parris added Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters.
Mark Habbas added Guard911.
Danny Pfeifer, Greg Porter, David Willis, Alex Eaton and Rebecca Lohmann added National Collegiate Players Association (NCPA).
Jason Zamkus added Kingdom Principles Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Health Care Issues Committee of the Missouri Hospital Association - $61,050 from Mosiac Life Care/Heartland Health.
House Victory Committee - $15,000 from Schupp for Senate.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Ward Cook.
Thursday: Rep. Jeffrey Messenger, Ed Schieffer, and Lenny Jones.
Friday: Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, and Joe Don McGaugh.
Saturday: Alison Gee, Lara Granich, and Josh Schisler.
Sunday: Charlie Dooley, Stacy Steen, Ryan Stauffer, Elizabeth Zerr, Frank Plescia, and Joe Knodell.