MOScout Daily Update: AMA on Vaping Ban - More Eslinger Talk - Galloway Gets EMILY's List - Richard Appt and more...
Docs Declare War on Vaping
The American Medical Association “called for a total ban on all e-cigarette and vaping products that do not meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as cessation tools.”
The AMA will “urgently advocate for regulatory, legislative, and/or legal action at the federal and/or state levels to ban the sale and distribution of all e-cigarette and vaping products, with the exception of those approved by the FDA for tobacco cessation purposes and made available by prescription only.”
Analyzing Eslinger in Senate 33
One observer surveys Rep. Karla Eslinger’s candidacy in Senate 33.
· [Rep. Robert] Ross is still the favorite but under the current makeup of the race there is a path for Eslinger.
· First, as a former educator and her opponents’ positions on education, she will have a built-in constituency in every community in the district.
· She’ll obviously do well on the western part of the district where she and Cunningham are from and should be able to compete in West Plains given she was a successful superintendent there for years. The eastern part of the district is a toss-up that Cunningham won 8 years ago so it’s possible.
· The question really becomes whether or not she will have the resources necessary to be competitive. This could all change if a quality candidate from West Plains jumps into the race as they immediately become the favorite.
And another weighs in on the impact of Cunningham’s endorsement…
· In 2016, Senators Ron Richard, Rob Schaaf and Brian Munzlinger all tried to pick their replacement. If Doc Brown’s son hadn’t won his election, it would be easier to say that the incumbent’s endorsement was a curse rather than momentum. That history lesson makes you wonder if an early endorsement by Cunningham is almost a strategic mistake.
Galloway Gets Emily’s List
Auditor Nicole Galloway was endorsed by EMILY’s List in her bid for governor.
· This isn’t a surprise.
· But it does serve as a reminder that there are big progressive groups which will fortify Galloway’s resources.
Politico: Massive Dark Money Boosted Dems
Politico reports on “massive” dark money organizations that sent millions and millions See it here.
The Sixteen Thirty Fund, a little-known nonprofit headquartered in Washington, spent $141 million on more than 100 left-leaning causes during the midterm election year, according to a new tax filing from the group… Most of the group's funders are likely to remain a mystery because federal law does not require "social welfare"-focused nonprofits to reveal their donors… The Sixteen Thirty Fund’s rise last year is a sign that Democrats and allies have embraced the methods of groups they decried as “dark money” earlier this decade… Sixteen Thirty Fund also directed tens of millions of dollars directly into state-level politics, including… [g]roups pushing minimum wage increases in Arkansas, Missouri and other states…
Schmitt Outlines Crime Agenda
The press release: Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s legislative priorities for the upcoming session include two pieces of legislation: a carjacking statute and a bill removing residency requirements for St. Louis City police officers.
Carjacking Statute… Under a statewide carjacking statute, one singular charge, motor vehicle hijacking, would be applied by prosecutors instead of a broader robbery or stealing charge for the same crime. The baseline classification under the statute is a class B felony, but the use of deadly weapons or dangerous instruments, as well as the victim being a child under 17 or a special victim, would elevate the offense to a class A felony… The bill will be sponsored by Representative Gregory in the House and Senator Onder in the Senate…
Removal of Residency Requirements in St. Louis City... The proposed legislation, which will be sponsored by Senate Pro Tem Schatz and Representative Grier, will remove the requirement, opening the door to applicants who live outside of St. Louis city limits.
TechNet Hires Diers
TechNet has hired Tyler Diers as Executive Director for Illinois and the Midwest. Beginning December 9 and based in Springfield, he will oversee TechNet's state advocacy and political activity in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
“TechNet is the national, bipartisan network of technology CEOs and senior executives that promotes the growth of the innovation economy.”
See TechNet’s state public policy agenda here.
Gubby Appts: Richard Gets MOSOSTU Appt
Governor Mike Parson announced five appointments to various boards and commissions.
· Patricia Hogan Mort and Mina Charepoo were appointed to the Mental Health Commission.
· Ron Richard and Mariann Morgan were appointed to the Missouri Southern State University Board of Governors.
· Rodney Schad was appointed to the Public Defender Commission.
Gross And Gas Tank
Dem AG candidate Elad Gross tweets about running on empty… Pushing a car in dress shoes is not recommended. That’s why my dress shoes are made in America for the US military. Because I have to do this pretty regularly. Remember kids: When your gas is empty, your car will not drive.
eMailbag on The Kaepernick Divide
Readers weigh in…
· We all get trapped by our little bubbles thinking our daily conversations represent the broader electoral trends. Both of the Kapernick comments grossly overstate any effect he would have--the only folks who get excited about that (or even know who he is) are already voting, on both sides. From the Alabama Senate race to the mid-terms to this month, results show Trump has no coattails and drives more Dems to vote than GOPers. Dems even took state house seats in Mississippi they didn't contest four years ago. The more "Trumpian" GOP candidates get in primaries, the better they will do, and in contested general election races, the worse they will do.
· There’s as much of a chance of the Chiefs (or any NFL team) signing Kaepernick as Eric Greitens being selected Man of the Year by the National Organization for Women. Nerdy politicos need to turn off Fox News or MSNBC and turn on ESPN like normal people.
· The Chiefs are not signing him. The Chiefs have the reigning MVP at quarterback. They want to host a Super Bowl. This is why they play games in London and Mexico City. Don’t you think they would attend a “NFL sanctioned” workout as good foot soldiers?
Finally
Austin Chambers, Greitens’ boy wonder who annoyed a lot of capitol denizens in his brief time in Missouri, gets scorched in this piece about Eddie Rispone’s loss in Louisiana.
When you’re fleecing your candidate, who you’ve concluded doesn’t know enough about the nuts and bolts of a political campaign to recognize where he’s being fleeced, building an insular campaign around him designed to keep out interlopers who might question what you’re doing is the way you protect that grift.
New Committees
Theresa Bauman formed a candidate committee (Citizens for Theresa Bauman) to run for House 115 as a Republican. The current incumbent, Republican Rep. Elaine Gannon, is termed.
Missourians for a Fiscally Responsible Future was formed. It’s a PAC. Its treasurer is Kathryn Drennen.
$5K+ Contributions
Purple PAC - $25,000 from Teamsters Local Union 688.
UAW Region 5 Midwest State Political Action Committee (PAC) (MO) - $6,000 from UAW Region 5 Exchange Account.
Lobbyists Registrations
Chris Moody added County Commissioners of Association of Missouri.
Sarah Schlemeier and Olivia Wilson deleted Missouri Clean Energy District, and Missouri Gaming Association.
Matthew Patterson deleted Renew Missouri.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Matt Blunt, Rep. Dan Houx, Sharon Pace, Michael Vogt, and Myron Neth.