MOScout Daily Update: McGee Resigns - Stenger Resigns - Senate Debates Through Night - RFP for Medicaid Assessment and more...
Geezo where to start this morning?
Happening Now (5AM)
Senate continues its debate on SB 391. Democrats have filibustered throughout the night. We’re on Amendment 11, offered by Sen. Lauren Arthur. It would prevent local jurisdictions from regulating CAFOs. Currently Sen. Scott Sifton and Republican Sen. Mike Cierpiot are holding the floor.
McGee Resigns (Twice)
Here’s how it unfolded according to the House Journal…
The following letter was received by the Speaker at 6:55 p.m. and a copy was submitted
to the Chief Clerk at 6:58 p.m.:
Dear Speaker Haahr:
I have accepted an employment position in Kansas City, Missouri which will, unfortunately, cause me to return to my district full-time as of May 3, 2019. As such, pursuant to RSMo. 21.090, I regrettably submit my resignation as District 36 State Representative as of Thursday, May 2, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. It has been an honor to serve.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ DaRon McGee, State Representative, District 36
House Ethics Finding
The Committee on Ethics of the Missouri House of Representatives pursuant to Rule 5 of House
Committee Substitute for House Resolution 137, reports as follows:
On January 7, 2019, a mandated reporter contacted the Missouri House of Representatives Division of Administration to report allegations that a member, Representative DaRon McGee (Respondent), attempted to engage in an amorous relationship with a House employee (Employee) whom he supervised. Pursuant to the policies prohibiting sexual harassment and prohibiting a member from engaging in an amorous relationship with an employee, the House engaged outside counsel to investigate the report…
The Committee requested the Speaker issue a subpoena for electronic communications between the Respondent and the Employee. In response to the subpoena, the Committee received a series of text messages between the Respondent and the Employee sent and received in 2017-2018. Several of the text messages instigated by the Respondent were flirtatious in nature, and gave the appearance of the Respondent attempting to establish an amorous relationship with the Employee…
The Committee finds, based upon the evidence received by the Committee, that:
a) The Respondent made repeated communications to the Employee over the course of at least ten months that were attempts to engage in an amorous relationship;
b) There is no evidence that the Respondent and the Employee actually engaged in an amorous relationship;
c) The attempts were not welcomed by the Employee; and
d) Respondent thereafter took actions which resulted in the termination of the employment of the Employee…
The Committee on April 24, 2019, voted (8-0) to resolve this matter by recommending that the House of Representatives censure Respondent for his actions involving the Employee, with [additional sanctions]….
At the Committee hearing on April 24, 2019, Respondent was given until noon on Monday, April 29, 2019, to accept or reject the recommended sanction of censure under paragraph C of Rule 8. Respondent failed to meet this deadline.
The Committee finds that Respondent has repeatedly delayed and obstructed these proceedings and impeded the resolution of this matter. Respondent’s actions demonstrate disrespect to the House of Representatives and a failure to acknowledge the severity of his actions towards the Employee…
The Committee on Ethics adopted this report by a vote of 10 to 0:
Ayes: Eggleston, Kendrick, Anderson, Andrews, Ellebracht, Fitzwater, Lynch, Brown (27), McCreery, Sauls
Noes:
Date: April 29, 2019
/s/ J. Eggleston, Chair
/s/ Kip Kendrick, Vice-Chair
And Then
The following letter was received by the Speaker at approximately 7:45 p.m. and a copy
was submitted to the Chief Clerk at 7:50 p.m. and was accepted by the Chief Clerk as the
member’s resignation:
Dear Speaker Haahr:
I have accepted an employment position in Kansas City, Missouri which will, unfortunately, cause me to return to my district full-time. As such, pursuant to RSMo. 21.090, I regrettably submit my resignation as District 36 State Representative effective immediately. It has been an honor to serve.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ DaRon McGee, State Representative, District 36
What It Means
McGree was expected to run in Senate 9 (Curls termed) next year. This throws that into chaos.
And of course that Crazy Stenger Indictment
The Feds indicted Steve Stenger on” pay-for-play” allegations. He resigned, and Councilman Sam Page was appointed the new county executive at an emergency meeting last night.
Read the indictment here. It reads like the screenplay to Goodfellas…
Excerpts
Rallo was introduced to STENGER by one of Rallo's closest friends, ("SW") when the three had dinner at Sam's Steakhouse in South St. Louis County… During the dinner, STENGER accepted a campaign donation of $5,000 from Rallo, and Rallo understood that STENGER would help Rallo get insurance contracts with St. Louis County if STENGER was elected County Executive. During that dinner, Rallo told STENGER that he was tired of giving money to politicians and not getting anything in return. STENGER made statements to assure Rallo that, if elected County Executive, he would work to help Rallo get St. Louis County contracts. In addition to the $5,000, Rallo also paid for STENGER's dinner that evening.
STENGER: [Sweeney's] a political creature, she was appointed by a politician, and by people who were appointed by politicians to take this role. She took the role. Now you're in it. You're either going to do it or you're not. Get the f--- out. You're a political person. Every one of our department heads is a political person. You two [Miller and Wagener] are political people, I am a political person, I have to be, I'm in politics. That's what we do. It's not the art of f---ing over your friends. It's the art of how do I work with people I trust and know.
William Miller: It's the art of staying in power.
STENGER: It's the art of staying in power. It's about your agenda, and your administration, and [Company Two's] not in my administration. Never got there. They're an ancillary player. And [Company One] knows our issues, can get shit done .... I mean, she's a f---ing [ ] person.
STENGER: You can't talk to the f---ing press. I bent over f---ing backwards for you, and I asked you one simple f---ing thing, don't talk to the f---ing press. And I'm telling you, you're gonna f---ing kill yourself, alright, you're gonna kill yourself with this shit.
Company One
Part of the indictment is that Stenger worked to give “Company One” a lobbying contract for St. Louis Development Corporation. Bardgett and Associates is that firm. From reading the indictment – and the fact they’re not named – it appears that Bardgett is in the clear. From the indictment….
STENGER: But, look, [Company One's principal owner], clearly a'big supporter of mine, guess what, he's been the mother f---in' one of the biggest supporters of every County Executive, including the person I was running against last time. He supports whoever' s in power, that's what he does.
In the St. Louis Business Journal, Bardgett notes “our relationship with St. Louis County and its various economic development agencies dates back 31 years to 1988 when then County Executive Gene McNary hired us to assist St. Louis County in promoting their legislative agenda. We have been privileged to have the confidence of 5 county executives starting with Mr. McNary, and continuing through the administrations of County Executives H. Milford, Buzz Westfall, Charlie Dooley, and currently Mr. Stenger…”
eMailbag on Company One
“John hasn’t gotten where he is and built his firm over the last 30 years by mistake. He’s one of the best and most respected because he plays by the books. I’ve competed for new clients against John and lost, and I’ve certainly battled him in the Capitol, but win or lose, he is always a fair, honest and ethical broker.”
Bowman Takes Top Spot at STL County NAACP
St. Louis Business Journal reports that John Gaskin III was suspended “from his role as president of the St. Louis County NAACP Chapter… Gaskin’s suspension was handed down in a letter from the national organization president sent to Gaskin April 25. In the letter, the organization stated Gaskin showed a conflict of interest when he used his role to endorse the Better Together plan on the chapter’s behalf without disclosing his role as a paid consultant for Unite STL, a group working to support the plan.
The letter also condemned Gaskin’s public support of proposed legislation to change Title IX handlings in Missouri, stating the legislation directly contradicts the organization’s policies and would make it difficult for sexual assault victims on public college campuses in the state to come forward…. First Vice President John Bowman will act as president during Gaskin’s suspension…”
RFP for Medicaid Assessment
An RFP was issued “to assess the current Missouri Medicaid program organization and management structures and deliver recommendations for a future Missouri Medicaid organizational model.” This looks like the next step as the legislature attempts to overhaul Missouri Medicaid system. The RFP references “contract CS182660001” which was McKinsey Consulting’s “Rapid Response Review” report.
“The State of Missouri is seeking an assessment of the current Missouri Medicaid organizational model and recommendations for the future to optimize the Missouri Medicaid operations to benefit the citizens of Missouri by reducing administrative spending and increasing efficiency and effectiveness… The contractor shall assess the current Missouri Medicaid program’s organizational model, including its structure, processes and supporting systems, and people considerations (e.g., skills, capabilities, staffing). Such an assessment should reflect organizational design best practices, insights derived from other states’ Medicaid organization experience, and an understanding of the unique circumstances of Missouri’s Medicaid program…
The contractor’s Medicaid organization assessment and recommendations shall consider and align with current Missouri Medicaid program initiatives, including, but not limited to, program and policy options from the report delivered under contract CS182660001. Such report will be provided to the contractor by the state agency after an award is made.
The contractor’s recommendations must not require additional overall Medicaid administration spending. The contractor’s recommendation should reduce administrative spending and increase efficiency and effectiveness….
The contractor’s recommendations must not negatively affect Medicaid healthcare delivery financing or Medicaid financing for other programs since Medicaid is a funding stream for many services and programs delivered in Missouri, including but not limited to programs under the child welfare agency, juvenile justice agency and elementary and secondary education agency.”
New IPs
Heidi Miller filed a new IP for Medicaid expansion. See it here.
New Committees
Crossing Paths was formed. It’s a PAC. Its treasurer is Natarajan Kumar.
$5K+ Contributions
City of Fountains - $10,000 from Kansas City Power and Light.
MBA River Heritage Region PAC - $6,715 from Sterling Bank.
MO Opportunity PAC - $5,200 from Drury Development Corporation.
Lobbyists Registrations
Thomas Patrick Curran deleted County Executive Steven V. Stenger.
Alex Eaton, Rebecca Lohmann, Danny Pfeifer, Greg Porter, and David Willis added NGWII LLC.
Renee Miranda Pratt added Humane Society Legislative Fund of the Midwest.
Thomas Robbins and Steven Tilley added CanMedLabs LLC.
Jason Matthew Zamkus added Missouri Association of Realtors.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Andy Blunt, and Julie Murphy Finn.