MOScout Daily Update: CLEANER Proposals - SBOE Debates Teacher Salaries - Schupp In CD-2 - Earl Promoted and more...
Here Come the CLEANERs
Three Republican senators have filed joint resolutions to reverse the redistricting potion of 2018’s CLEAN Missouri plan. They all follow the playbook used successfully by CLEAN: pair something very popular with an “inside baseball” redistricting change which would have substantial partisan impact.
Sen. Dan Hegeman’s SJR 38 and Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin SJR 49 look similar. They would…
· Prohibit all lobbyists gifts
· Lower campaign contribution limit to $2,000
· Create a “House Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission” and “Senate Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission” and re-order the map drawing criteria to put “competitiveness” last.
Sen. Bill Eigel’s SJR 54 doesn’t have the campaign contribution limit, but instead increases to 4 years the waiting period to lobby after serving.
What It Means
This is a major priority for the supermajority Republican legislature. If they fail to pass this, they’re probably looking at between 10-20 House seats flipping from GOP to Dem in the 2022 election.
SBOE Eyes Teacher Salaries
Teacher pay came up again at the State Board of Education meeting yesterday. Assistant DESE Commissioner Paul Katnik says some schools in the state struggle to fill vacancies and keep talent citing that one district started the school year with 100 vacancies and lost ten teachers before the end of the first day.
After a nearly yearlong study of the issue, stakeholders are proposing three potential options for the State Board to consider at its January meeting.
1) Give all teachers a $4,000 raise.
2) Raise the minimum salary from $25,000 to $32,000 or
3) Bump up the salaries of the 246 teachers still below a $32,000 threshold.
According to Katnik, a 9% increase in pay would cost approximately $322 million and would move the state from 42nd to 26th in average teacher pay rankings. Katnik mentioned that Oklahoma is working through a 13% increase paid for by a gas tax but doing nothing would be the worst of all the options as “it’s been 15 years since the state has increased the minimum starting salary.”
Margie Vandeven spoke up and said if we give teachers what they deserve the numbers would be very high but they want to find the manageable balance and “a $4,000 increase would put the average teacher salary at $54,000.”
Board member Don Claycomb said he “wouldn’t win any friends with this comment,” but he’s not a big believer in the salary schedule and thinks they only thing it proves is how long a person lives and “it doesn’t say a damn thing about their ability.” He added that he doesn’t “give a rats ass,” about salary schedules and tenure.
Board President Charlie Shields responded “if you want to bake in tenure reform and that’s the compromise to get this done, then that’s up to the legislature. We keep looking for fixes in public education — charters, vouchers, virtual - they are designed to fix, but if you want to move forward, you have to apply some resources.”
After some back and forth, the board agreed to a special meeting by conference call before the holidays with Shields adding, “We have to make a statement about teacher compensation.”
The most recent estimates show Missouri’s average starting salary for teachers at $32,226 and even factoring in cost-of-living adjustments, the state still ranks at the bottom of its surrounding states.
Schupp in CD-2
Sen. Jill Schupp announced she’s officially in the CD-2 race. See it here.
Recapping the initial buzz on this from last week….
· GOPer point to her liberal voting record and the fact she’s starting from scratch in the money race as strikes against her.
· Dems say that Schupp is a great fundraiser and the election will be a referendum on Trump more than anything else.
Earl gets Parson LD Job
Press release: Governor Mike Parson announced that Jeff Earl will assume the role of Legislative Director for the Office of the Governor effective December 9, 2019. Mr. Earl has served as Deputy Legislative Director for the Office of the Governor since 2017. Previously, he served as the Legislative and Constituent Services Director for the Missouri Department of Corrections and as the Senior Legislative Advisor for Auditor Tom Schweich….
He's replacing Justin Alferman who classy as ever tweeted: “I want to thank Gov. Parson for the opportunity of a lifetime serving as his Legislative Director. This Friday will be my last day in the office serving in that capacity. Serving as LD for the Gov was a dream job, and I can't thank him enough for giving me the chance to serve.”
Word is that Alferman is headed to the private side where he’ll work for SSM Healthcare.
Legislators Look at College Player $$$
Post-Disatch reports that “Following the lead of California, Missouri lawmakers have introduced a proposal to allow college athletes to profit from their name and image. Rep. Nick Schroer, an O’Fallon Republican, filed legislation Tuesday to let athletes make money off their fame. Rep. Wes Rogers, D-Kansas City, plans to introduce a similar plan later this month, with an eye on debating the issue when lawmakers return to action in January…”
As I wrote last week… “Catalyst lobbyists Danny Pfeifer, Greg Porter, David Willis, Alex Eaton and Rebecca Lohmann added National Collegiate Players Association (NCPA) to their client roster. This group led the fight in California, and now other states, to pass the Fair Pay to Play Act which allows college players to enter into endorsement deals.” This looks to be heating up for next session.
More Pre-Files Bits
· Another 30 bills were pre-filed on the House side yesterday.
· Senate Pro Tem Dave Schatz’s SB 558 would change police residency in St. Louis City, saying that police “shall not be subject to a residency requirement so long as the primary residence is located within a one-hour response time.”
· Sen. Eric Burlison re-filed his right to work legislation. It’s SB 760. He’s filed this before, so it’s not unexpected. The assumption is that this isn’t a fight the GOP is itching to have in an election year.
Shields on Gaming
Rep. Brenda Shields weighs in on the so-called grey video lottery machines in this op/ed. One observer says, “Looks like the VLT debate is coming in hot for session.”
Visitors to our great state come with expectations of exploring our beautiful parks, appreciating our major cities and small towns and cheering on our beloved teams. Our state has many great things and is home to many great people. However, we’re now being threatened to be remembered as a pit stop full of gambling machines. Digital slot machines have recently popped up throughout Missouri and across the main routes leading to our homes and businesses. These machines have NOT been authorized to operate in our state, making their ownership and use strictly prohibited… All the while, our communities don’t see a dime of these funds, because it is all untaxed and quickly funneled away to the game owners outside of Missouri’s borders…
Help Wanted
American Association of Orthodontists seeks VP, Advocacy and General Counsel. “Works with and at the direction of the AAO’s CEO, Board of Trustees, and volunteer leadership to build and execute the AAO’s initiatives and projects. Part of the executive team that implements the AAO’s strategic plan and accompanying policies and programs… Oversees the AAO’s advocacy efforts at both the state and federal levels and serves as staff liaison, treasurer, and fundraiser for the AAO’s Political Action Committee. Manages the AAO’s Legal and Advocacy Department and its staff to provide legal and advocacy support to the AAO and its related entities….”
$5K+ Contributions
Keep Government Accountable - $25,000 from Langdon & Emison LLC.
MO Opportunity PAC - $10,000 from Federal Protection, Inc.
Civic Progress Action Committee - $75,000 from Civic Progress Inc.
Uniting Missouri PAC - $150,000 from Ketchmark & McCreight PC.
Birthdays
Happy birthday Sean Gagen and Jennifer Florida.