MOScout Daily Update: Wasinger Ready to “Fix” Senate - Hough on Nicola Criticism - Appt Withdrawals - Fogel in Senate 30 - Another Chenet Charge and more…
Quick Friday update…
Wasinger Has Ideas…
Yesterday, Lieutenant Governor David Wasinger opened session by noting his 100-day mark. And with that vast experience under his belt, he told the body that he planned to propose rules changes. Listen to his remarks here.
Talking about the Journal being filibustered and the budget debate: I think it was one of the worst processes I've ever seen and ever been a part of. I think it's broken…. So to give you a heads up, I will be, either yet this session, be taking a far more active role, or it may happen next session, because I think some rules need to be changed within this chamber. To the extent you have any suggestions on what those rules changes will be, I'm going to be working with Bryce Beal, I'm going to be working with Jim Ertle, who's been great… So, to the extent you have any suggested rule changes to get this chamber working better, you let me know… Okay, so if you have any suggested changes to the way this body operates, please contact Katie [Ashcroft] or contact me directly.
The eye rolls rolled into my text chats…
· I find it hilarious that the non-voting member of the Senate, who spends maybe 20 minutes a day in the Senate, is lecturing the Senate on rule changes. I'm sure the Senate will grant him additional duties...lol
· I guess no one told Wasinger that the lieutenant governor doesn’t get to make a point of personal privilege or influence the Senate rules.
· David Wasinger‘s lecture of the Senate is laughable. He thinks the Senate is broken? This is the most functional Senate we’ve seen in six years. This is how it was designed to work. Does he want a second House so that we can have 300 new laws every year? It’s time to put term limits on the Lieutenant Governor‘s office.
And
Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman tweeted her response: If you have any ideas how @davidwasinger could do his job better please let Karen in my office know.
Hough Rejects Nicola Criticism
The Senate Republican press conference later Senate Appropriation Chair Lincoln Hough was asked about the criticism of the budget process that Sen. Joe Nicola had aired.
I’ve visited with Senator Nicola on a number of times on a number of specific items that I will more than gladly remind him are actually in the budget now per his request So in my opinion, I think it probably worked pretty well for him…
Fogle in Senate 30
Yesterday I wrote about Rep. Melanie Stinnett announcing for Senate 30. I said that I expected former Minority Leader Crystal Quade to be the Democratic candidate. But several people corrected me that Rep. Betsy Fogle is set to the Dems’ choice.
· I have updated the 2026 Watch grid.
Kehoe Withdraws Ellebracht Appointment
Governor Mike Kehoe withdrew several nominees…
· Mark C. Ellebracht for Board of Probation and Parole.
· Cary Corley for the Committee of Professional Counselors.
· Tracey S.C. Lewis for Missouri Housing Development Commission.
· Paul Ogier for the Health and Educational Facilities Authority of the State of Missouri.
· Jennifer D. Zimmerman for the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.
Another Chenet Charge
Another charge has been added to Christian Chenet’s legal trouble. The legislative assistant was in jail on the harassment charges when he – according to the probable cause statement – tampered with a sprinkler.
· The resulting flooding of the jail cell means Chenet is now also being charged with a Class E felony of Damage to Jail Property.
Budget Conferees
· HB 2 (education): Reps. Dirk Deaton, Bishop Davidson, Betsy Fogle, Darin Chappell, and Marlene Terry; Sens. Lincoln Hough, Rusty Black, Mike Henderson, Maggie Nurrenbern, and Karla May.
· HB 3 (higher education): Reps. Deaton, Davidson, Fogle, Scott Cupps, and Nick Kimble; Sens. Hough, Black, Henderson, Nurrenbern, and Barbara Washington.
· HB 4 (Revenue and MoDOT): Reps. Deaton, Davidson, Fogle, Donnie Brown, and Kimble; Sens. Hough, Black, Travis Fitzpatrick, Nurrenbern, and Brian Williams.
· HB 5 (OA): Reps. Deaton, Davidson, Fogle, John Voss, and Marty Joe Murray; Sens. Hough, Black, Fitzwater, Nurrenbern, and May.
· HB 6 (Ag, DNR, and Conservation): Reps. Deaton, Davidson, Fogle, Voss, and Murray; Sens. Hough, Black, Jason Bean, Nurrenbern, and Washington.
· HB 7 (EcoDevo, Commerce and Labor): Reps. Deaton, Davidson, Fogle, Chappell, and Kimble; Sens. Hough, Black, Bean, May, and Washington.
· HB 8 (public safety): Reps. Deaton, Davidson, Fogle, Brown (149), and Melissa Douglas; Sens. Hough, Black, Brad Hudson, May, and Williams.
· HB 9 (corrections): Reps. Deaton, Davidson, Fogle, Brown (149), Douglas; Sens. Hough, Black, Brad Hudson, May, and Williams.
· HB 10 (health and senior services): Reps. Deaton, Davidson, Fogle, Wendy Hausman, and Raychel Proudie; Sens. Hough, Black, Sandy Crawford, Washington, and Williams
· HB 11 (social services): Reps. Deaton, Davidson, Fogle, Hausman, Proudie; Sens. Hough, Black, Crawford, May, and Washington.
· HB 12 (statewide offices, general assembly, judiciary) : Reps. Deaton, Davidson, Fogle, Chappell, Terry; Sens. Hough, Black, Fitzwater, Nurrenbern, and Washington.
· HB 13 (facilities): Reps. Deaton, Davidson, Fogle, Voss, Yolanda Young; Sens. Hough, Black, Crawford, May, and Williams.
· HB 17 (capital improvements): Reps. Deaton, Davidson, Fogle, Cupps, and Murray; Sens. Hough, Black, Crawford, Nurrenbern, and Washington.
Moon Protest
In the Senate Journal, Sen. Mike Moon registers his protest to HB 419…
Pursuant to Missouri Senate Rule 93, I submit my protest to Senate Substitute No. 2 for House Bill 419. When introduced, the purpose of House Bill (HB) 419 related to tuition for military personnel…
A Senate Substitute was adopted which changed the purpose from the original (relating to tuition for military personnel) to relating to education…
Missouri’s Constitution states, in Article III, section 21, “. . . no bill shall be so amended through its passage through either house as to change its original purpose.” In my understanding of the changes made to HB 419, it appears to be evident the bill violates the state constitution.
Therein lies the reason for my vote against the bill.
Mike Moon
Lobbyist Registrations
Catalyst added Constellation Brands, Inc.
Paul Mouton added Quapaw Nation; and deleted Downstream Casino Resort.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Scott Dieckhaus, and Jac Cardetti.