MOScout Daily Update: Haahr Takes Over - New Ads - O'Dear Get Monetti and more...
Haahr Takes Reins
Speaker Todd Richardson was named the state’s Medicaid Director yesterday. He will resign the speakership and start next week, on November 1.
When Richardson steps down the speaker pro tem will take over his duties. That works out well because the current speaker pro tem is also Speaker-designate Elijah Haahr.
This will give Haahr a little bit more of a running start at his speakership. There may be some minor changes to the committee structures coming; that happens with every speaker. But the biggest immediate task he faces is committee assignments and chairmanships…
New Ads
In Senate 34, Democrat Martin Rucker recalls his days playing football, touches on an ethcs complaint against Tony Luetkemeyer, and finishes with the tagline “I’m fighting for change because our families deserve someone who will always have their backs.” See it here.
And Prop D is out with their latest commercial. They hitting the inflation angle on this one, saying that MODoT has 60% less buying power over the last 22 years as the gas tax has stayed stagnant while prices have risen. See it here.
eMailbag on Gov/LG Duo
I attended a fundraiser tonight for Governor Mike Parson at Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe’s home. I continue to be amazed at how well these two complement each other. They are, by far, the best Gov/LtGov team I have ever seen. Name another Gov/LtGov duo that tag-teamed any issue the way these guys are doing Prop D? If it passes, they get the credit. It makes me think that we should be electing these positions as a ticket.
Wave Spotting
With no party registration and no early voting, the prognosticating industry is groping in the dark to gauge which side has enthusiasm.
But this tweet matches the vibe here in Missouri where one’s perception of a “wave” seems heavily dependent on where you happen to be in the state. “Blue Wave in a nutshell: Democrats are doing really, really well anywhere that’s within like a 20 minute drive from a Whole Foods Market.”
Hawley’s Tenure, Post Part II
Post-Dispatch runs part II of their Hawley series. This one features his accomplishments. See it here.
When he took office in early 2017, Hawley oversaw a chaotic office-wide restructuring that was followed by high turnover, the Post-Dispatch reported Sunday. Despite that turnover, Mary Compton, Hawley’s spokeswoman, cited several accomplishments, including: settling a lawsuit with the Bridgeton Landfill that Hawley’s predecessor filed; collecting a record amount of Medicaid fraud restitution; and earning more than 100 convictions at the trial court level. Hawley also settled a decadelong legal battle between blind Missourians and the state over the Blind Pension Fund. After reporting by the Columbia Missourian on the state’s sexual assault kit testing backlog, Hawley launched an audit of the problem. He documented 5,424 untested kits, though many police agencies did not respond to questions. His office also landed a federal grant to help ease the backlog… Hawley’s new Federalism Unit took 14 actions to torpedo federal laws and regulations, including the Affordable Care Act, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau and several environmental protections. Some former employees complain the emphasis diverted attention away from more pressing (and less glamorous) state business… Hawley also has announced several investigations during his tenure, including one into possible Catholic clergy sex abuse, two related to tech companies Google and Facebook and another related to pharmaceutical companies under allegations of opioid pill pushing. He also announced an investigation into Equifax after a data breach last year….
O’Dear Gets Monetti
Craig O’Dear, running for US Senate as an Independent, tweets that he’s won the endorsement of Tony Monetti. “Proud of many people who have declared their support, but especially proud to have earned @MonettiforMO’s vote. Tony’s a person I admire and respect.”
O’Dear polled 1% in last week’s MOScout poll which doesn’t seem like a big deal expect that McCaskill and Hawley are running basically even. Every % counts.
Skleton Hits Walsh on Being Tight With Greitens
In House 50 Democrat Michela Skelton has a mailer out attacking incumbent Republican Rep. Sara Walsh for being too cozy with Greitens. It’s the first type of attack I’ve seen this general election. Skelton must think it will work in that district (Ashland area in Mid-MO).
Bits
Politico reports that Congressional “GOP leaders, fearful of the staggering amount of cash fueling Democratic candidates this cycle, are leaning on safe and retiring members to pony up to save the House.” And that Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer is being generous… “Missouri Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, another member with an easy reelection race, recently gave $550,000 to the NRCC and Protect the House, McCarthy’s joint committee with Vice President Mike Pence…”
In an email, Lauren Hieger says goodbye… “I wanted to let you know this will be my last week as a senate staffer. The last six years have been some of the best years of my life. I’ve learned more than I could have ever imagined. I met so many wonderful people, and I made so many friends. Leaving the senate has not been an easy decision. I’ve accepted a job in St. Louis working in corporate communications. My last day will be this Thursday. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything…”
Greitens staffer Will Scharf says goodbye on Facebook… “A little over seven years ago, I moved to St. Louis, a city I knew nothing about and virtually nobody in. I moved for a job that lasted a year, fully expecting to leave for good when that year was up. Instead, seven years on, not only has this place become my home, but it has become my only home. Which is why it kills me to write this: I’m leaving this week and moving to Washington, D.C. I’ll be back—sooner rather than later I hope—but for now what makes the most sense for my career and my life is to pack up my truck and drive east. To all of you who welcomed me into your lives, your home, and your hearts, thank you, thank you, thank you. Words cannot express how much this community means to me. Goodbye for now, stay in touch, and I’ll see you soon.”
Help Wanted
St. Louis Public Radio seeks Statehouse & Politics Reporter. “The state of Missouri is not politically monolithic and St. Louis Public Radio is looking for a statehouse reporter who can tell stories explaining the nuances and complexities facing our state’s lawmakers and political influencers. We are looking for a statehouse reporter who believes in the watchdog role of the press and who can translate complicated policy, regulation and legislation into compelling copy that explains their impacts on our audience…” See it here.
Events
Rep. Travis Fitzwater’s Pork Steak BBQ at Central Missouri Meat and Sausage, Fulton – 5PM
Rep. Barbara Washington fundraiser at Historic Lincoln Building Atrium, 1601 E 18th Street, Kansas City – 5:30PM/
Ian Mackey (Dem, House 87)LGBT & Allies Happy Hour at 50 Godwin, St. Louis – 6PM.
New Committees
Southeast Missouri Building & Construction Trades Council was formed. It’s a PAC. It’s treasurer is Nathaniel Sellinger.
Lobbyist Registrations
Dave Berry, Tom Dempsey, Deanna Hemphill and Tracy King added Heartland Hyperloop Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Citizens for a Prosperous 34th Senate District - $50,000 from Rex Sinquefield.
MO Opportunity PAC - $15,000 from Roy Pfautch.
Truth in Campaigns - $50,000 from Carpenters Help in the Political Process.
Keep Government Accountable - $6,000 from Protect Missouri Workers PAC.
Next Gen GOP PAC - $25,000 from David Humphreys.
Safer Families for Missouri - $20,000 from Gary or Anita Robb.
SaferMO.Com - $10,000 from Garver LLC.
Uniting Missouri PAC - $22,500 from Cheyenne International LLC.
Uniting Missouri PAC - $25,000 from XCaliber International LTD LLC.
Uniting Missouri PAC - $40,000 from Health Systems Inc.
Middle Class Missouri PAC - $50,000 from Western Missouri and Kansas Laborers’ District Council PAC.
SaferMO.Com - $10,000 from MLPA Legislative Fund.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc – $5,500 from Friends for Hardy Billington.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc – $7,500 from Friends of Glen Kolkmeyer.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc – $10,000 from Citizens for Donna Pfautsch.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $14,500 from Missourians for Cody Smith.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to former Reps. Rebecca McClanahan and Bryan Pratt, and Kenny Murdock.