MOScout Daily Update: SpreadsheetGate Day 3 - Robinson Indicted - Hudson on Slots and more...
SpreadsheetGate: Day Three
The latest from the Kansas City Star… [Kawanna Shannon, director of surgical services] testimony, which at times became emotional, came on the fourth and final day of a state administrative commission hearing that will help decide whether the clinic can retain its license to perform abortions… Shannon noticed a difference in 2018 when William Koebel, the licensing supervisor, shadowed the team of his employees during their annual inspection, according to Shannon.
“They started asking questions as if they didn’t understand how to do an inspection,” Shannon said.
Koebel later testified he had never personally inspected a medical facility before and had no medical training… Koebel had previously admitted to helping create a spreadsheet that helped find “failed” abortions…
What It Means
This is a nightmare for Republicans. It’s an issue which could really spike Democratic turnout in swing districts. In fact, one political consultant thinks Dems should drop their talking points about Medicaid Expansion and instead focus completely on this issue: the GOP’s extreme abortion law allowing no exemptions for rape, and unelected bureaucrats with spreadsheets tracking menstrual periods.
And
One Republican: At this point what is the political reasoning for keeping [Randall] Williams around? Isn’t the cleanest and best path forward, both politically and good government, to move the department forward beyond Williams?
Robinson Indicted
Detroit News reports: United Auto Workers President Gary Jones and a top aide were accused Thursday of conspiring to embezzle as much as $700,000 in member dues and splitting the money…
The allegation was outlined in a criminal case filed against Edward "Nick" Robinson, 72, of St. Louis, president of a regional UAW community action program council. He was charged with conspiracy to embezzle union funds and conspiracy to defraud the United States, felonies punishable by up to five years in federal prison...
Robinson is the 12th person charged in an ongoing investigation involving federal labor law crimes and UAW leaders embezzling member dues and receiving kickbacks and bribes…
Robinson was charged in a criminal information, which indicates a guilty plea is expected…
The criminal charge reflects the government's ongoing focus on a UAW Region 5 office near St. Louis. The branch is the UAW's largest region, covering 17 states, including Missouri, Texas and California…
FYI – Oct COHs
UAW Region 5 Midwest States Political Action Committee (PAC) (Mo) - $40,122
UAW Region 5 PAC - $148,619
Driving the Day: Cities for Safety
Press release: Columbia Mayor Brian Treece will host a meeting at City Hall on Friday, Nov. 1 with the mayors and staff representing four of Missouri’s largest cities: Columbia, Kansas City, Springfield and St. Louis, to continue the conversation on how to make Missouri's communities safer…
Committee for Liberty
I’ll be doing an update next week to the IE PACs list. One PAC which recently received $50K from August Busch III is Committee for Liberty.
I’m told this is a pro-Jay Ashcroft PAC.
In September it received $25,000 from CL PAC.
Hudson on Dishonest Slots
Last session various gaming issues were infected with a concern over what to do about “gray” gaming machines already in place. They are technically illegal, but a lack of enforcement has allowed them to exist. Rep. Brad Hudson – writing in the Missouri Times (see it here) – says that “it is important to call out these illegal gambling machines that have invaded our great state and demand they be removed permanently… But these illegal slots are not just an eyesore at your stop home from work. No, they are also unabashedly dishonest…”
Why It Matters
One building denizen: With term limits, it’s sometimes hard to find legislators that find an issue and stick with – and champion for or against a cause. Perhaps Hudson, a minister and former county official, has found his issue…
$5K+ Contributions
BOLD PAC - $10,000 from Accel Entertainment Gaming LLC.
MO Opportunity PAC - $10,000 from SLBS Limited Partnership.
Lobbyists Registrations
Matthew Dennis Alsager added Franklin Apprenticeships.
Rodney Boyd, Kate Casas, Brian Grace, and Kelvin Simmons added L3Harris Technologies Inc.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to (Saturday) Rep. Peggy McGaugh, Shane Kinne, Richard Craighead, and Susan Carlson.
Sunday: Clint Zweifel, Kim Cella, Emily Waggoner, Kevin McManus, and David Linton.
No Weekender Tomorrow
We took the week off polling. So no update until Monday….