MOScout Daily Update: Robertson Pivots Out of Senate 22 - Talk on Prop A Compromise - MO Pork Tariff Casualty? - Latest MEC Non-Action and more…
Three weeks left of the legislative session!
Breaking… Robertson Pivots
Last night David Robertson announced he was dropping out of the Senate 22 race, and pivoting to House 97. That’s the district currently represented by Rep. David Casteel, who is vacating the position to run for Senate 22. It appears, from the statement that Robertson is dropping out to make way for Jim Avery’s candidacy.
Originally, I announced my run for State Senate, because I believed God called me to step up and challenge an incumbent politician who, in my view, was corrupt and had sold out her constituents to special interests in Jefferson City. Over the last few weeks, our campaign has been in regular communication with another strong conservative candidate and ally of Bill Eigel who has publicly expressed interest in running for the Senate District.
We expect this candidate to enter the race in the next few months. As a dedicated, America-First Constitutionalist, I believe it is imperative that true conservatives win back seats from the Jefferson City establishment. It would be counterproductive for two true conservative fighters to run and split the vote against an establishment candidate. With the expectation that he will run, this conservative candidate has my full backing and support...
As your representative, I will always fight for your rights and will never sell out your interests to the Jefferson City swamp…
Senate Talks’ Alternative Realities
One Dem insider involved in Prop A discussion vehemently denies that Dems “moved the goal posts.” We always told them it was the number of employees. Not full time. In fact, The Chamber asked repeatedly it could just be full-time and we always said no… When we cut the final deal, it was to only be all employees. Then when the final draft was ready, it was still there. At this point we asked it be taken out once again. [Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin] didn’t want it out and they went and laid the bill over… They are just trying to make up what happened so they don’t have to make a deal.
O’Laughlin, meanwhile, on Facebook, insists that Dems “backtracked.” The latest round of wrangling over Prop A occurred this last Wednesday. I was not involved in the negotiations between parties on both sides but I checked in periodically to gauge progress. When negotiations appeared to reach a compromise I joined and began reading the compromise. Before I could finish reading the text the Democrat side began to reverse course on commitments they had made. This was noted immediately and the meeting was shut down. While I have been pointed out as the one who stopped progress this is not true though I did express my refusal to accept the backtracking of the Dems…
But
In talking with both sides… I think there’s a deal to be had. Both sides seem to want a deal. So despite this mini-brouhaha over the definition of employees, I think both sides want to continue talking and find a compromise. That is – without a doubt – the absolute most important ingredient to advancing any tough issue in the Senate.
And
Another source: The sides are close to language that both parties can live with. The stumbling block has been a proposal from some Republican senators to base exemptions on the average number of hours an employee works. Democrats oppose exemptions in general, but have pointed out an obvious problem with this idea: basing any new exemptions on hours worked will create an administrative and paperwork nightmare for employers, the very thing the business groups are seeking to avoid. [This would] create new problems for employers that don’t currently exist under Prop A rules.
Driving the Week
The constitutional deadline to pass the budget is a week from Friday. According to the usual schedule, this would be the week for the Senate to debate and pass the budget. Next week will be budget conferences with the House for final passage on Thursday next week, with Friday as the cushion day – in case things get thorny.
Pork Caught in Trade Crossfire?
Bloomberg reports that China made the “biggest cancellation of pork orders since 2020, according to Thursday data from the US Department of Agriculture. The cancellation of 12,000 metric tons of US pork was the most since the Covid-19 pandemic roiled global supply chains. For the week, overall US pork export sales fell to the lowest level since October.”
· According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri ranks 7th among pork producing states.
Poll: Trump Voters Like Medicaid
One MOScouter points to this Axios article about polling that shows the popularity of Medicaid. One wonders if the Trump Administration will really pull the trigger on cuts to the program.
New polling conducted by McLaughlin & Associates — a top Trump campaign polling firm — found overwhelming majorities of voters in battleground congressional districts support the Medicaid program, including 78% of Trump supporters.
· The poll was paid for by Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, which operates hospitals in Louisiana and Mississippi. The group has also hired Chris LaCivita Jr., son of Trump 2024 co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita, to lobby for it.
Most Effective Congressional Lawmakers
The Center for Effective Lawmaking released their Legislative Effectiveness Scores (LES) for the recently completed 118th Congress (2023-25). See it here.
Latest MEC Inactions
The Missouri Ethics Commission released two more “no actions” on complaints because of their lack of quorum.
· Platte County Democratic Central Committee.
Congrats…
To lobbyist Chris Schoeman completing the St. Louis Marathon Saturday…
And children’s advocate Emily van Schenkhof posted that she did the Half-Marathon…
And, of course it’s important you know I, too, ran on Saturday. I did the “half-half-marathon,” also known as a 10K (no picture available).
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Alliance PAC (pro-Patterson) - $10,000 from MO Optometric PAC.
Lobbyist Registrations
Lara Dailey added Airbnb, Inc.
Mike Grote added Harrison County Public Water Supply District #2.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. David Casteel, Tina Shannon, Adam Schnelting, Ashley Bland Manlove, and Brian Yates.
Condolences
To Lynne Schlosser on the passing of her father, Jim Schlosser. From Facebook: My father was a wonderful man, he was smart, kind, courageous and had a great sense of humor. I can’t seem to find the words to express how much I loved and respected him, but I can say without a doubt, he will be missed by many. Our loss is heaven’s gain.