MOScout Daily Update: MOScout Readers' Poll Day One - Smith Gets Budget - Taste of JCity Cancelled and more...

Waking up late after too many toffee square cookies last night…. 

Smith Gets Budget

Short-circuiting any prolonged speculation over who would replace Scott Fitzpatrick as House Budget Chair, Speaker Elijah Haahr named Rep. Cody Smith to the post on Friday. 

What It Means

Smith may have a six-year reign in the powerful position. It would provide the House with great stability and increasing expertise and experience, potentially improving their negotiating outcomes with the Senate on budget matter.  But of course, it’s not set in stone.  Some already imagine Smith serving four years as Budget Chair and then hopping over to become speaker…

MOScout’s End of Year Readers’ Poll

During this short holiday week, we’ll do the end of year “readers’ poll.” 

Vote here.

Today’s categories are Legislators.  Tomorrow will be Lobbyists.  And Friday will be The Year in Review.

Voter ID Comes to MOScout

For years part of the charm has been the rampant ballot-stuffing.  (Not pointing fingers, but there’s a certain cabal on the western side of the state which has been especially effective).  Well, say goodbye to charm.  You want to vote, you gotta sign your ballot this year.  Mickey Mouses and Donald Ducks will not be counted.

Enjoy!

CLEAN Kills “Taste of Jeff City”

Missourinet reports that “the annual ‘Taste of Jefferson City’ reception won’t happen in January because of the passage of a constitutional amendment known as Clean Missouri. Columbia radio station KSSZ reports the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce has cancelled the popular meet-and-greet event that brings together lawmakers, lobbyists and Capitol City restaurants. The amendment passed in November by Missouri voters caps all gifts to lawmakers at $5, restricts campaign donations, makes legislators wait two years before becoming lobbyists and redraws the state’s legislative districts. Many restaurants aren’t happy with the decision and say the move will negatively affect their business during the session.”

Greitens To Be Deposed in Ausmus Suit?

In Mark Ausmus’ civil suit alleging wrongful dismissal based on age, former governor Eric Greitens may get deposed.  The latest docket entry according to Casenet was a couple of weeks before Christmas.  Cole County Circuit Judge Dan Green appointed Warren County Sheriff’s Office to serve summons to Greitens to sit for deposition.

Ausmus was chief of staff to long-ago House Speaker Bob Griffin.  He is repped by Jeff City lawyer Roger G. Brown, who had gotten mega settlements for other fired state workers.

New Tracking Service Coming?

Legislative Tracking and Reports LLC was formed.  The registered agent is lobbyist Jewell Patek.  According to the filing with the secretary of state’s office the purpose of the new LLC is “to produce legislative reports, tracking documents, special bulletins, and other products related to legislative and executive actions.”

McCulloch Terminated

Exiting St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch terminated his campaign committee.  In doing so, McCulloch settled his committee’s debts.  From the report: Of the $75,337.78 previously incurred expense (Show Me Victories - consulting/ads), $55,000 was paid and the remaining $20,337.78 was forgiven…

RFP for Sex Offender Database

The state has issued an RFP to update the sex offender database.  From the RFP: The current sex offender System is utilized daily by state and local officials for sex offender registration and is the database that retains information on registered sex offenders. Synchronization issues are present in relation to sending the information to the National Crime and Information Center (NCIC). Data errors are frequently present as entered fields are dropped or transposed. The current System was developed in-house and no longer meets the state agency’s needs.

Help Wanted

NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri (NPCM) seeks Executive Director.  “For this pivotal role, NPCM seeks a visionary, principled and courageous leader with the ability to engage and inspire diverse stakeholders and build strategic alignment to advance NPCM’s objectives. Applicants should be deeply and demonstrably committed to NPCM’s mission and must unhesitatingly support access to abortion with no caveats.  The ideal Executive Director candidate will be an authentic and inclusive leader with a clear understanding and commitment to reproductive justice and intersectionality principles. The person should be adept at working strategically in conservative and hostile environments and able to effectively communicate and engage a wide range of supporters, funders, decision-makers and stakeholders at the local and state levels…” See the ad here.

New Committees

Karen Pujji formed a candidate committee (Karanpujji.Com) to run for House 88 as a Republican.

24th Ward Progressive Democrats was formed.  It’s a PAC.  Its treasurer is Jean Corbett.

$5K+ Contributions

Prospects For Missouri - $400,000 from Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.

House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $10,000 from HCA MO Good Government Fund.

Progress KC - $10,000 from Charles Laue.

McCulloch for Prosecutor Committee - $20,337 from Show Me Victories.

Lobbyists Registrations

Richard AuBuchon added Allstate Insurance Company.

Nancy Giddens and Shannon Cooper added Boyd Gaming.

Rachelle Engen added Institute for Justice.

Steven Tilley and Tom Robbins added Integrated Compliance Solutions.

Randy Scherr added Missouri Psychiatric Physicians Association, and Missouri Consumer Finance Association; and deleted United Payday Lenders of Missouri, and Joyce Fleming

David Monaghan added American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I; and deleted American Family Insurance Group.

Mark Rhoads added SI Group Client Services; and deleted Multistate Associates, Inc O/b/o Motorcycle Safety Foundation, General Dynamics Information Technology On Behalf Of Multistate Associates Inc, RGA Enterprise Services Company, and Swisher International.

Kathryn Reichard deleted Mo Coalition for Community Behavioral Healthcare

Brydon Ross deleted Consumer Energy Alliance.

Steven Carroll deleted Humane Society of The United States, and M&R Strategic Services.

Harry Hill deleted Mo Corrections Officers Assn, and Harry Hill.

Frederick Koonce and Brian Scott Miller deleted Missouri National Guard.

Sarah Schlemeier, Jorgen Schlemeier, Bill Gamble, Jeffrey Brooks, Sarah Topp, and Kathryn Gamble deleted Aetna Inc.

James Bergfalk deleted SGB Communications, and I.B.M.

Sherry Doctorian deleted Explore Information Services LLC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Tracy McCreery, Todd Richardson, Allison Onder, Jacob Scott, and Stanley Cox.