MOScout Daily Update: Schmitt to RAGA Board - Groping for Vaping Response - Kaepernick as MO Wedge Issue? and more...
Schmitt to RAGA Board
Tipster... At the Republican Attorneys General Association’s winter meeting over the weekend, Attorney General Eric Schmitt was elected to the seven-person executive board which oversees the organization. He is the youngest member on the exec board.
What It Means
· This organization spent $6+ million in Kentucky in 2019.
· If they feel there’s a need, they could make big play in Missouri on Schmitt’s behalf.
Meanwhile
Parson heads to RGA pow-wow. See it here.
Driving the Day
Governor Mike Parson will hold a follow-up press conference to launch the state's "Clear the Air" public awareness campaign to educate, warn, and deter the use of vaping devices among Missouri's youth. In October, Governor Parson signed Executive Order 19-18 directing the Departments of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and Public Safety (DPS) to use existing resources to develop a statewide campaign to educate, warn, and deter the use of vaping devices among Missouri’s youth…
Meanwhile
Trump gets cold feet on his flavor ban. See it here. As he had done so many times before, Trump reversed course — this time on a plan to address a major public health problem because of worries that apoplectic vape shop owners and their customers might hurt his reelection prospects, said White House and campaign officials.
What If Wedge Issue
The Athletic reporter Jourdan Rodrigue tweets: Kaepernick thanks scouts from Washington, New York Jets and Kansas City and says: “When you go back, tell your owners to stop being scared.”
One reader wonders “how this looks to Chiefs fan Mike Parson, who is already harping on standing for The Pledge and The Flag and The National Anthem? If KC takes him or seriously considers him, what will Parson say/do? This could be the issue the GOP is looking for and Patriot Parson, Proud Veteran, will be riding Point. How do Democrats respond if Parson pre-emptively says Chiefs should shun Kapernick?”
From the Southeast Missourian over the weekend: Gov. Mike Parson — who served six years in the U.S. Army — spoke about “fundamental values,” his time as governor and the importance of respecting the American Flag… And in response to recent political stirrings surrounding kneeling during the national anthem, Parson said for the people who disrespect the American Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance, “this governor will never take a kneel to anyone that disrespects this country.”
Gaston Ponders Senate 33?
One MOScouter says that “Judge Doug Gaston’s name is being mentioned as a new candidate in the 33rd Senate District… Gaston is a former prosecutor and State Representative and has won 5 elections in parts of the 33rd Senate District. Gaston is well thought of by conservatives who like his law and order reputation as a judge. Judge Gaston doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to make a decision because he would have to resign from the bench to run. Gaston is a direct threat to Representative Robert Ross who is also from Texas County…”
About Conservatives Leaders of Missouri LLC
In the $5K+ Contributions (below) there’s $10K going from Conservative Leaders of Missouri LLC to CL PAC, Conservative Leaders was formed in September. See their paperwork here.
Tele-doctoring Steps Into Void
Pretty fascinating article in the Washington Post about telemedicine. See it here.
As hospitals and physicians continue to disappear from rural America at record rates, here is the latest attempt to fill a widening void: a telemedicine center that provides remote emergency care for 179 hospitals across 30 states. Physicians for Avera eCare work out of high-tech cubicles instead of exam rooms. They wear scrubs to look the part of traditional doctors on camera, even though they never directly see or touch their patients. They respond to more than 15,000 emergencies each year by using remote-controlled cameras and computer screens at what has become rural America’s busiest emergency room, which is in fact a virtual ER located in a suburban industrial park…
If anything defines the growing health gap between rural and urban America, it’s the rise of emergency telemedicine in the poorest, sickest, and most remote parts of the country, where the choice is increasingly to have a doctor on screen or no doctor at all. The number of ER patients in rural areas has surged by 60 percent in the past decade, even as the number of doctors and hospitals in those places has declined by up to 15 percent. Dozens of stand-alone ERs are fighting off bankruptcy. Hundreds of critical-access hospitals either can’t find a doctor to hire or can’t afford to keep one on site…
Bits
· Adam Rapert has joined Sen. Dave Schatz’ office. Rapert previously staffed Rep. Derek Grier.
· Abe Rakov, former consigliere to Jason Kander, had been with Beto O’Rouke presidential campaign. According to his twitter-feed, he’s now with Deval Patrick…
· There are 14 applicants for the Division 26 associate circuit judge vacancy on the Jackson County circuit court… Jessica Agnelly, Sarah A. Castle, P. Benjamin Cox, Arimeta R. DuPree, Ashley N. Garrett, Michael J. Hunt, Justin J. Kalwei, Elizabeth S. Lynch, Alicia C. O'Connell, Terri C. Round, Patricia M. Scaglia, Brady X. Twenter, R. Travis Willingham, and Jerri J. Zhang…
New Committees
Jack Bates formed a candidate committee to run for House 143 as a Republican. The current incumbent, Republican Rep. Jeffrey Pogue, is termed. Bate ran against Pogue in 2018, losing 75%-25%.
Adam Richardson formed a candidate committee (Richardson for MO) to run for House 15 as a Republican. The current incumbent, Democratic Rep. Jon Carpenter, is termed.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1287 was formed. It’s a PAC. Its treasurer is Jonothan P Walker Sr.
$5K+ Contributions
CL PAC - $10,000 from Torch Electronics LLC.
CL PAC - $10,000 from Conservative Leaders of Missouri LLC.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Randy Dunn, Brandon Ellington, Charlie Puyear, and Tim Person.