MOScout Daily Update: Parson Signed Ethics EO - Vandeven Back to DESE - Party Chair Positioning and more...
Parson Extends Executive Gift Ban, Lobbying Wait
The press release: Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed Executive Order 18-10, renewing the administration’s commitment to uphold the highest ethical standards and ensure the needs of our citizens are being served… Executive Order 18-10 revises certain provisions of Executive Order 17-02, updating the order to align directly with current state law. Governor Parson’s executive order upholds the prohibition that no employee of the Governor’s Office shall act as an executive lobbyist until the end of the administration in which he or she served. It also renews the ban on employees of the executive branch receiving gifts from lobbyists. In addition, the executive order updates provisions to provide clarity and consistency for future administrations to adhere to the principled values set by Governor Parson’s administration.
Vandeven Returns to DESE
The State Board of Education announced the rehiring of Margie Vandeven as Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education yesterday.
Pull quotes from the Post-Dispatch…
“This was never about righting a wrong,” [Charlie] Shields said. “This was about the ability to continue to move the state forward when it came to education.”
“I really don’t hold any grudges at this point,” Vandeven added. “I plan to hit the ground running.”
Meanwhile
In the Senate, some observers think sentiment on education matters might be tilting a bit toward the reformers. They note that two freshmen, Sens-elect Cindy O’Laughlin and Eric Burlison, seems more hostile to the status quo in education than their predecessors. We’ll see…
Party Chairs Positioning
I’m told that it Kay Hoflander is the front-runner to replace Todd Graves as the next chair of the Missouri Republican Party. She’s currently the vice-chair.
Democrats have a full field running: Lena Samford (current staffer), Jalen Anderson (Jackson County committeeman), Genevieve Williams (current vice-chair), JP Johnson (ran for state representative).
One difference: Dem chair is a paid position now, while Republican chair is a volunteer position.
eMailbag Reader Duel: Senate 17 Not in Play
To the reader who thinks Lauren Arthur’s SD17 is in-play in 2020 and that the Republican would have won if the June special election had actually been in November: McCaskill won SD17 by more than 7-points over Hawley (52%-44%) with Hawley underperforming Blunt by 1-point, Greitens by 4-points and Trump by 8-points. Galloway beat McDowell by 18-points (56%-38%) in SD17. That level of Dem performance at the top of the ticket would not have cost Arthur an election in November. Senator Arthur’s district is beyond reach even with an R-surge. Nothing to see here….
Bits
Post-Dispatch reports on budget stress in St. Louis County. See it here. “The presentation, obtained by the newspaper through an open records request, recommended targeted cuts to eliminate programs, rather than across-the-board cuts. And it raised the possibility of increasing property taxes, which are currently 48.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation — or asking voters to approve a sales tax or use tax.”
Governor Parson announced three appointments to various Judicial Circuits… “Lorne J. Baker, JD, of Olivette, was appointed as Associate Circuit Judge for the 21st Judicial Circuit, St. Louis County… Julie Highley, JD was appointed as the Associate Circuit Judge for Bates County… Ryan Horsman, JD, of Chillicothe, was appointed as the Circuit Judge of the 43rd Judicial Circuit, Division 1.”
Lobbyists Registrations
Rodney Boyd, Katherine Casas, Brian Grace, and Kelvin Simmons added Gold Rush Gaming; and deleted Kansas City Sports Commission, and St. Louis Sports Commission
Eapen Thampy added Proteam Brady LLC.
Shawn D’Abreu deleted Saint Louis Regional Chamber.
Chris Grimm added Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP; and deleted Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, DraftKings Inc., and FanDuel Inc.
William Marrs added Bass Pro Shop, Boys & Girls Club Alliance, Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, County Commissioners Association of MO, and Top of the Rock.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Ginger Steinmetz, and John Valenti.
Thanksgiving: Therese Sander.
Friday: Cynthia Davis, Brian Bunten, and Sam Wiles.
Sunday: Sen. Bill Eigel, Rep. Dennis Wood, and Ryan Nonnemaker.
Sunday: Willis Jones, Joe Lakin, and Bill Deeken
Happy Thanksgiving
But then I’m off until Monday. No Update tomorrow or Friday and no Weekender on Saturday.