MOScout Weekender: Hallway on MedEX - Poll on Prefiles - Brown Sentenced - WWTW and more...
Brown Pleads Guilty
According to Casenet, Jared Brown, chief of staff to Justin Brown, pled guilty to Unlawful Use Of Weapon and Peace Disturbance. This is related to an altercation which occurred at a Jefferson City bar during last session.
Count I & II: Defendant sentenced to SIS [suspended imposition of sentence], two years unsupervised probation. Defendant shall pay all fines and costs imposed on this case… Defendant shall complete Alcohol/Drug counseling.
Remington/MOScout Poll: Pre-Files
I asked about some pre-files this week. They are issues that we’ve polled in previous ears when they’ve been before the legislature. Previous polling in parenthesis.
Survey conducted December 10 through December 11, 2019. 1,266 likely 2020 General Election voters participated in the survey. Survey weighted to match expected turnout demographics for the 2020 General Election. Margin of Error is +/-2.75%. Totals do not always equal 100% due to rounding. See the full results here.
I will now read you a few brief descriptions about Bills that are currently under consideration in the Missouri General Assembly. Please indicate, after hearing a description of each bill, whether you are in favor or opposed.
Q1: Senate Bill 635 repeals the death penalty for first degree murder. Any person previously sentenced to death will instead be sentenced to life in jail without parole.
Favor: 30% (27%)*
Oppose: 53% (52%)*
Not sure: 17% (21%)*
Q2: Senate Bill 583 establishes a tax deduction in the amount of 100% of unreimbursed educator expenses incurred by an eligible educator, not to exceed $500.
Favor: 49% (71%)*
Oppose: 24% (11%)*
Not sure: 27% (18%)*
Q3: House Bill 1346 requires school districts to display "In God We Trust" in prominent locations in all schools.
Favor: 69% (66%)**
Oppose: 23% (21%)**
Not sure: 8% (13%)**
Q4: Senate Bill 590 allows motorcyclists who are 18 or older to ride without a helmet if he or she is covered by a health insurance policy or other form of insurance which will cover the person for injuries incurred as a result of a motorcycle accident.
Favor: 20% (22%)***
Oppose: 72% (62%)***
Not sure: 8% (16%)***
*Dec 12-13, 2018; MOE +/-3%
**Jan 16-17, 2019; MOE +/-3.4%
*** Dec 13-14 2017; MOE 3.4%
MOScout’s Hallway Index: Med Ex
I asked “How will the Medicaid Expansion campaign do?” I asked my hallway focus group the same question three months ago to see if there’s been any change in sentiment. And while a majority still expects the measure to pass and be implemented, the number who think it will fail at the ballot box has increased. September results in parenthesis.
RESULTS
1. It will fail to gather enough signatures…. 0% (3.5%)
2. It will gather enough signatures, but fail at the ballot box…. 25.9% (17.1%)
3. It will pass on the ballot, but be thrown out by courts… 11.1% (3.5%)
4. Successfully passed and implemented…. 59.3% (72.4%)
5. No idea / no opinion…. 3.7% (3.5%)
Sample of Comments
· I actually think they'll get enough signatures and then decide not to submit for some reason. It is a disaster in polling.
· I think the support is too weak for it to pass. I do not believe it will take much funding for an opposition campaign to knock it below 50%. I have never seen an IP with such weak support to start with survive
· I think its a winning issue and will pass on the ballot and be implemented. However, there are a lot of things that could change between passage and implementation. Look at what’s going on with Clean Missouri. The GA is going to try to derail it, maybe even on the ballot. Not to mention the actions the administration could take to limit it.
· I think the idea of not having health insurance terrifies most people, and they are therefore understanding of the need to help poor people gain coverage. What this does to the budget (huge hit or largely mitigated by potential economic boost) I don't know, and neither does the average voter.
· You missed an option. Passed on the ballot, but then sought to be amended and rolled back by the legislature.
· It will likely pass and after a lot of challenges will be implemented
· Everyone with an interest in the budget should start doomsday prepping.
Who Won the Week?
Mike Parson – Another bundle of big checks into his PAC two weeks before the close of the quarter.
Nicole Galloway – Every week seems to bring a new audit uncovering some malfeasance in the state, and in the meanwhile she continues to expose the Clay County Commission as a pair of bungling clowns.
Mike Moon – May seem wacky to those in the bubble, but he knows how to get free press, and he lives in the far-right lane – perfect for a GOP primary.
Karla Eslinger – Gets serious about her senate run with a $150K self-fund.
Rod Jetton - It’s been a long and winding road for the former speaker, but he finds love again and shares his new marriage on Facebook with old friends.
Find a downloadable version here.
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Parson announced four appointments to various boards and commissions and filled one county office vacancy…
· Charles Atwell, of Kansas City, was appointed to the Public Defender Commission.
· Cathy Dean, of Kansas City, was appointed to the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners.
· Dr. Seth Hudson, of Cape Girardeau, was appointed to the Missouri State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
· Dr. Darren Kirchner, of Kahoka, was appointed to the Missouri State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
· Christy Thompson, of Hardenville, was appointed as the Ozark County Treasurer.
Lobbyist Registrations
Tami Holliday added Educationplus, Missouri Council of Administrators of Special Education, Missouri K-8 Schools Association, Missouri State High School Activities Association, United School Insurance Council, Missouri Council of Career and Technical Administrators, Missouri Association of School Personnel Administrators, Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals, Missouri Council of School Administrators, Missouri Association of School Business, Missouri Association of Rural Education, Missouri Association of School Administrators, and Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals.
Mary Kay Bradley terminated her registration.
$5K+ Contributions
House Victory Committee - $15,000 from Centene Management Company LLC.
DentaQuest PAC-TN-I - $20,000 from DentaQuest PAC-TN-I
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Isle of Capri Casino Boonville.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $25,000 from Centene Management Company LLC.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $10,000 from Major Brands Inc PAC.
House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $10,000 from HEALTHPAC
Mighty Missouri PAC - $10,000 from HEALTHPAC.
American Dream PAC - $30,000 from CL PAC.
Citizens for Safe Neighborhoods - $42,000 from August Busch III.
MO Opportunity PAC - $25,000 from CL PAC.