MOScout Daily Update: Porter Plan - Plocher Plan? - Senate 340B Debate Ahead - Budget Speed Bumps and more…
Porter Kick-Off Coming
Matthew Porter, running for Lieutenant Governor, will officially kick off his campaign May 7.
Porter’s website is now live. It outlines his platform.
One look at those issues he’s highlighted and it’s clear that this campaign will look quite different from the primary messaging we’ve seen across the state this year and in recent cycles. There’s nothing about building “The Wall,” for example. His four issues…
· Business Attraction / Retention – We will create an ecosystem that attracts, retains, and nurtures businesses by implementing pro-growth tax policies, removing burdensome regulations, and creating a robust workforce.
· Public Safety – We will support our law enforcement officers and ensure they have the tools, resources, and personnel necessary to keep our families, communities, and themselves safe.
· Tourism – Tourism is, and should be, a major revenue source for our state.
· Agriculture – We must leverage our strength in agriculture.
Senate to Debate 340B
The Senate is expected to debate Sen. Justin Brown’s SB 751 today. This includes provisions for the “340B drug pricing program,” which has drawn third-parties to advertise against it.
In committee the bill was supported by most of Missouri’s hospitals, while opposed by Missouri Insurance Coalition, and PhRMA.
· Opponents call it an out-of-control federal program, involving cheap medicines initially used to help poor hospitals and FQHCs, but now a giveaway to PBMs. They want more transparency to ensure the medicines go to those hospitals that needed.
· Meanwhile proponents say the program is “essentially a contract between drug manufacturers and providers and is not funded by taxpayers,” but provides a big boost to rural hospitals.
House Passes Anti-PP Bill
The House truly agreed and finally passed HB 2624. This was Rep. Cody Smith’s bill codifying that Planned Parenthood wouldn’t receive any state funds.
Dems decried the action saying it will reduce accessibility for many Missourians to basic healthcare.
· Its passage should ease the Senate’s ability to pass the FRA renewal without drama.
Senate Approps Powers Through Budget Bills
Senate Appropriations finished their work on the house budget bills, voting them out of committee.
This will be the Senate’s main work next week. The two speedbumps appearing in the road aren’t expected to be road blockages, but may slow the debate down…
· First, the Freedom Caucus has been telegraphing all session that they want to see SMALLER budget. That’s really their main focus more than any specific spending line; overall they want less spending. The Senate Appropriations Committee added back in some of Governor Mike Parson’s spending plans which the House had cut. So, in this respect, they’re going to be pushing for the House position in some places.
· Second, the Approps Committee added language that “sanctuary cities” have to paid back any state funding they get with interest. Sen. Barbara Washington vehemently disagreed with this proposal, saying it was similar to previous attempts to defund Planned Parenthood through the budget. “We have lost millions of dollars as a state in legal fees for attempting to do this on Planned Parenthood through the budget. If we are going to be the protectors of our state's budget and respect the citizens of this state, we have got to stop doing things that are going to cost us a lot of money in court.”
The Plocher Plan?
There’s a school of thought that in the Donald Trump era it’s politically helpful to be under attack, that it helps you with a segment of Republican primary voters to be the victim.
I’m beginning to wonder if that’s the plan of those around Speaker Dean Plocher because they keep extending this Ethic Committee story.
Every day this week, they’ve worked to keep it in the papers…
· Monday with Rebecca Plocher’s statement.
· Tuesday with David Steelman’s press conference.
· And yesterday, by scheduling another hearing without consulting the chair of the committee.
Pro-Burger PAC Nabs Lambert’s Dough
Lambert’s Café tossed a $5,000 donation to the pro-Jamie Burger PAC, Bootheel Values PAC.
· Burger is running in Senate 27 against Rep. Chris Dinkins and Jacob Turner to replace Sen. Holly Rehder.
New PACs
Restore North St. Louis PAC was formed. Its treasurer is Trachena Walker.
Know Knob Committee was formed. It’s treasurer is Charles Copper.
DQed Candidates
Teresa Murphy (Republican) was disqualified. She was running for House 37.
$5K+ Contributions
MO State Teachers Assoc Legislative Impact Co - $6,000 from Greater Kansas City Region.
MBA Ozark Region PAC - $7,918 from Legacy Bank & Trust.
Lobbyists Registrations
Scott Penman added Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Reps. Ingrid Burnett, and Ann Kelley, Lauren Gepford, and Daris Davis.