MOScout Weekender: Missourians Heart Bonding - Hallway Hates Term Limits - Who Won the Week and more...
MOScout Poll: Bonding Gets Thumbs Up From Missourians
This week’s poll ask a hodge-podge of questions. Interesting to see Governor Mike Parson’s bonding proposal enjoys tremendous support. Meanwhile the proposal to merge St. Louis governments will need to educate some voters to win passage in 2020.
Survey conducted February 13 through February 14, 2019. 876 likely 2020 General Election voters participated in the survey. Margin of Error is +/-3.4%. Totals do not always equal 100% due to rounding. See the full results here. (In a new nifty format!)
Q1: Do you approve or disapprove of the job Donald Trump is doing as President?
Approve: 53%
Disapprove: 43%
Not sure: 4%
Q2: Do you approve or disapprove of the job Mike Parson is doing as Governor?
Approve: 48%
Disapprove: 19%
Not sure: 33%
Q3: Do you approve or disapprove of the job Nicole Galloway is doing as State Auditor?
Approve: 37%
Disapprove: 13%
Not sure: 50%
Q4: There is a proposal for Missouri to issue $351 million in debt to pay for the repair of 250 bridges across the state. Do you approve or disapprove of this proposal?
Approve: 71%
Disapprove: 12%
Not sure: 17%
Q5: There is a proposal for St. Louis City and St. Louis County to merge their local governments. Do you approve or disapprove of this proposal?
Approve: 26%
Disapprove: 36%
Not sure: 38%
MOScout’s Hallway Index: The Term Limit Experiment
The folks in the building are nearly unanimous in believing that term limits have been bad for Missouri. “How have term limits been for Missouri?”
RESULTS
1. Term limits have been very good for Missouri… 0%
2. A mixed bag, but the good of term limits has outweighed the bad… 3.8%
3. Mixed bag, but the bad of term limits has outweighed the good… 50%
4. Term limits have been very bad for Missouri… 46.1%
5. No opinion… 0%
Sample of Comments
· They are great for lobbyists who aren’t lazy, but terrible for public policy.
· There’s little chance for a big idea to really take hold. And then when folks get some seniority, they’re on their way out the door and not really caring about the process at all.
· Slightly fewer hacks, way less sustained talent.
· Simply put, knowledge and experience results in a better product, long standing relationships among legislators makes for civil compromise.
· They gave us Rob Schaaf and they took him away.
· Everyone always looking for their next move and no one has to own the outcome of anything they do.
Who Won the Week?
Jeff Smith – The former state senator registers to lobby for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit this year and quickly produces a compromise that passes through the Senate 34-0.
Conservative Caucus – The Group of Six stands for their first filibuster, forcing the LIHTC compromise. And by avoiding an all-or-nothing approach, they show a strategic flex of the muscle ending in a win-win.
Caleb Rowden – Reportedly floated the “split the difference” proposal which ended the filibuster and kept the LIHTC legislation moving.
Kathy Swan – Expertly handling the governor’s Fast-Track Workforce Incentive Grant, and perfectly position to be an impact player on the session’s various workforce legislation.
Ameren – Announces $6 billion in new investments. It’s good news for Missouri, but also good news for Ameren as they deliver on the promises and expectations they promoted while pursing last session regulatory rework.
Find a downloadable Who Won the Week here.
Help Wanted
A.R.C. Angels Foundation seeks Executive Director. “A.R.C. Angels Foundation (AAF), a not-for-profit entity, is committed to saving lives by preventing suicide through education and creating awareness. Sadly, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among youth between the ages of 10 and 24 in Missouri. AAF is dedicated to doing its part to help curb this staggering statistic through education, developing and administering programs for teens, collaborating with other suicide prevention organizations, and providing scholarships to students to recognize their leadership in promoting suicide awareness and prevention…” See it here.
New Committees
Justice For All PAC was formed. Its treasurer is Melissa Largent.
Lobbyist Registrations
Adam Peshek added Excellence In Education National, Inc., DBA Excellence In Education In Action.
Thomas Robbins and Steven Tilley added Filtered Inc.
Dwight Scharnhorst added The Cavalry Group, and MTTA.
Sarah Schlemeier added Rx Outreach, and Paul Callicoat.
$5K+ Contributions
UAW Region 5 Midwest State Political Action Committee (PAC) (MO) - $6,000 from UAW Region 5 Exchange Account.
United Food & Commercial Workers Local #655 Elect Political Action Fund - $6,043 from UFCW Local 655.