MOScout Daily Update: GM $$$ - NCPA Preps for Session - Meet Banjo and more...
GM’s Big $$$
Last week General Motors announced its “decision to invest $1.5 billion and retain nearly 4,000 jobs at its Wentzville facility.” See the Post-Dispatch article here.
What It Means
· This plays into Governor Mike Parson’s strength.
· A re-election campaign with the economy as its centerpiece.
· “From day one, our administration has been focused on workforce development and infrastructure, and this project falls right in line with these priorities,” Governor Parson continued….
NCPA Revs Up for Session
From the press release: The National College Players Association (NCPA) announced its participation in legislation introduced by Missouri State Representatives Nick Schroer (R) and Wes Rogers (D) to allow Missouri college athletes the right to representation and to receive compensation for use of their name, image, and likeness.
The NCPA was a co-sponsor of similar legislation in California known as The Fair Pay to Play Act, which was recently signed into law. The NCPA is helping to get similar bills approved nationwide. It is actively working with lawmakers in the US Congress and in other states such as Florida, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania….
Representative Schroer stated, “The NCAA has long banned student athletes from obtaining compensation from their own name and likeness. This ban violates every capitalistic principle of free markets which has made this country exactly what it is today. While student athletes are barred from making money off of their image and likeness, the NCAA continues to cash in as they syphon money away from the very student athletes the organization should be protecting.”
The NCPA retained the services of CATALYST, a governmental relations firm, to support its push in Missouri…
Why It Matter
There’s a fair amount of fist-shaking in the capitol at NCAA for its sanctions against Mizzou, creating a nice opening for NCPA…
Meet Banjo?
As mayors and state officials grope for answers to the crime problem in the major metropolitan areas, some legislators have been intrigued by a start-up called Banjo. See their website here.
They use artificial intelligence to collect vast data sources in real time, allowing for faster response times to real events.
Cannabis Phase Two
Visual Capitalist showed the ebb and flow of cannabis stocks. See it here.
The cannabis industry is experiencing significant challenges. In the U.S., legal cannabis faces high taxes—come the new year, consumers in California will see an 80% mark-up on their cannabis at checkout, up from 60%...
While cannabis seems plagued with issues, some argue that these are simply short-term growing pains and will be solved as the industry matures. Particularly in the U.S., experts predict that cannabis sales could reach immense heights in the next decade: $30 billion by 2025 (New Frontier Data); $50 billion by 2029 (Jefferies Group LLC); $75 billion by 2030 (Cowen Inc.); $100 billion by 2029 (Stifel Financial Corp).
Compared to a benchmark of $13.6 billion today, these numbers may seem ambitious—but they’re backed by major industry trends. 2020 could well be the year the market stabilizes, as consumers explore an array of retail options and vote with their wallets.
What’s more, key players in consumer industries—from alcohol and tobacco to beauty and fitness—are making big bets in cannabis and CBD-infused products. A higher number of partnerships could spark the next uptick for the industry’s potential.
Pic of the Weekend
Eddy Justice was the only senate candidate taking part in the Van Buren Christmas Parade. See it here.
ROTO (Reminder of the Obvious)
You used to run with the flag wrapped around yourself, now Republicans in primaries are running with President Donald Trump wrapped around them
New Committees
Citizens for Safe Neighborhoods was formed. It’s a PAC. Its treasurer is Mike Sommer. It appears that this is Rep. Chrissy Sommer’s husband. August Busch III seeded this committee with $42K.
$5K+ Contributions
Keep Government Accountable - $10,000 from Pete Werner.
Committee to Elect Rick Roeber to the 34th - $10,000 from Rick Roeber.
Lobbyists Registrations
McIntosh & Flotron added Respond AI.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Jon Carpenter and Jennifer Durham.