MOScout Weekender: Weekly Poll Shows Stenger Underwater - Sinquefield Defending IP Process? - Hallway Handicaps Bills - WWTW and more....
More Talk on Sinquefield Lunch
Yesterday, I speculated on the topics that might have been covered in Governor Mike Parson’s lunch with Rex Sinquefiled.
A strong source tells me, “it’s my understanding that Sinquefield was in town making the case against the initiative petition reform – among other issues.”
The source continues that “Parson wasn’t the only meeting he had.”
As has been noted, opposition to initiative petition changes comes from both the right and left. Progressive groups, outnumbered by Republican super-majorities in the legislature, have found it a viable work-around on issues like raising the minimum wage. They are plotting to take Medicaid expansion to the voters in 2020.
Likewise, Sinquefield has used the process before to force referendums on urban earning taxes, and is backing the effort to use it again to consolidate the government’s of St. Louis City and County.
Ethics Committee
KCStar reports that “a Missouri House ethics committee says that a Republican lawmaker from Lake Ozark spread a false rumor that one of his colleagues was having an affair with a legislative staffer, calling it ‘conduct unbecoming of a state legislator.’ The lawmaker, Rep. Rocky Miller, was forced to attend sexual harassment training, but will not face any further disciplinary actions… An outside investigation conducted for the House Ethics Committee concluded that Miller’s actions weren’t severe or pervasive enough to qualify as sexual harassment under federal or state law but may have violated the House’s sexual harassment policy.”
And
Readers may note that this is different ethics case than the one I have written about before. This is “19-002,” not “19-001.”
Mid-Continent Nail Gets Reprieve
Post-Dispatch reports that “after waiting nearly 10 months, workers at Mid-Continent Nail in Poplar Bluff, Mo., have finally heard some good news from Washington. The plant, the largest U.S. nail manufacturer, was hit hard by President Donald Trump’s steel tariffs. Its sales fell by 60 percent, it’s been losing money, and employment fell from more than 500 last June to fewer than 300 now. All along, Mid-Continent has argued that it should be excluded from the tariffs because domestic steelmakers can’t supply all the steel wire it buys from Mexico. Its exclusion request was granted this week, easing the uncertainty that has surrounded the factory’s future….”
MOScout Poll: STL County
The MOScout Weekly Poll looks at St. Louis County. Survey conducted April 3 through April 4, 2019. 1,106 likely 2020 General Election voters participated in the survey. Margin of Error is +/-3%. Totals do not always equal 100% due to rounding. See the full results here.
Q1: Do you think St. Louis County is heading in the right direction or is it going off on the wrong track?
Right direction: 33%
Wrong track: 40%
Not sure: 27%
Q2: What is your opinion of Steve Stenger?
Favorable: 19%
Unfavorable: 46%
No opinion: 35%
Q3: What is your opinion of Sam Page?
Favorable: 12%
Unfavorable: 19%
No opinion: 69%
Q4: What is your opinion of Jake Zimmerman?
Favorable: 21%
Unfavorable: 16%
No opinion: 63%
Q5: Based on what you’ve heard about a proposal to merge government in St. Louis City and St. Louis County, would you support or oppose the proposal?
Support: 21%
Oppose: 65%
Not sure: 14%
MOScout’s Hallway Index: First Big Bill To Cross Finish Line?
This week, I asked which of these “tough” bills will reach the governor’s desk first? 25 responses…
RESULTS
1. Anti-abortion bill…. 28%
2. Bonding for bridges.…16%
3. Charter school expansion…..12%
4. PDMP…. 24%
5. Wayfair Sales Tax…. 20%
Sample of Comments
· PDMP hits first. If Abortion hits first, Sen Dems go into shutdown mode and nothing else happens..
· Republicans will be willing to PQ a pro-life bill, doubtful on any of the other measures
· I actually think none of them make it, but an anti abortion bill seems like the only one the Senate might use a PQ on, or justify using it, anyway.
· This is the year for PDMP. Conservatives are starting to realize that what the St Louis county council controls is now lording over their rural areas and covers more than 80 percent of Missouri. That program doesn’t have the safeguards of what Rehder is offering.
· I honestly am not sure if any of these make it, a lot to be decided in the last six weeks. If the damn breaks they could all get there. With the factions in the Senate lots of unpredictability.
Who Won the Week?
Sam Page – As the vultures seem to be circling Stenger’s political career, Page is emerging as a potential king or queen maker.
Brian Treece – Stomps on the Chris Kelly comeback attempt.
Eddy Justice – Throws $60K into his campaign account, hires Axiom, and pre-announces his April quarter as he ramps up his Senate 25 campaign.
Nicole Galloway – Another tough audit from a tough auditor, this one taking aim at the Department of Revenue.
Mike Colona – Gets appointment as a Provisional Judge for the Municipal Court of the City of St. Louis.