MOScout Daily Update: Stelzer Ruling Today? - WSJ Contra Hawley - Telthorst Retiring and more...

Driving the Day: Judge Stelzer to Rule?

Post Dispatch reports that “a St. Louis judge heard arguments Thursday morning from lawyers for Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and the state of Missouri over the future of the state's only abortion clinic. Planned Parenthood is asking for a temporary order that would prevent the state from allowing the clinic's license to expire at midnight Friday. Judge Michael Stelzer's decision, expected Friday, could determine whether Missouri becomes the nation's first state without a functioning abortion clinic….”

And

St. Louis Business Journal reports “Former St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger's chief of staff William Miller is expected to plead guilty 10 a.m. Friday at the Eagleton Courthouse. Miller is expected to enter a guilty plea to information charging wire fraud/honest services bribery…”

WSJ Jabs Hawley

Once again, The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page takes issue with Senator Josh Hawley’s actions on the Judiciary Committee.  See it here.

Mr. Hawley’s questioning is a precedent that conservatives will regret. If nominees can be disqualified for every argument they make for a client, conservative judicial nominees will soon find themselves blocked from judgeships for defending religious liberty…  For many on the right and left these days, principles are merely weapons of temporary convenience in the battle for power. But such thinking breeds contempt for the law, and that is dangerous for all Americans, especially for cultural conservatives who need the law to defend against an increasingly coercive left…

Dems Bicker in Senate 15

Post Dispatch reports that Democrat Mark Osmack is upset about Rep. Deb Lavender jumping into the Senate 15 race.  She apparently had already pledged her support to him…

Osmack, also a Democrat from Kirkwood, said he only announced his candidacy on May 21 after Lavender assured him she would not run. But this week, Lavender changed her mind. Osmack says she reneged on her promise to stay out of the race. And he isn't happy about it…

He said Lavender informed him of her decision on Memorial Day — a holiday revered by Osmack, who is an Army veteran.

"She told me this on Memorial Day," he said. "And I'm a veteran and I've lost friends in Afghanistan and Iraq. Bad move. You want to talk about tone deaf, you want to talk about not being aware of the issues that really matter, that's how you show it."

Lavender said she apologized to Osmack for changing her mind, but declined to comment further on the dispute….

Missouri-Mexico Trade

President Donald Trump announced yesterday that he planned to start ratcheting up tariffs on Mexico unless they imposed greater force to prevent people from coming to America.

How would a Mexican trade war impact Missouri?  This chart says Missouri exports $2.5 billion worth of product to Mexico each year, including $841 million of crops and processed food.

Looking for the Future?  Look at AR?

Springfield News-Leader reports on how medical marijuana is taking root in Arkansas.  See it here.  Early Arkansas sales were greater than sales during a similar period in Ohio, which has almost four times the population.

Help Wanted

The Missouri Telecommunications Industry Association has released an RFP for association management services – see it here. 

Ric Telthorst, MTIA president & CEO since 2000, is retiring at the end of the year.  The association is looking for someone to manage external relations and government affairs, and provide other management services using existing staff.  Proposals are due for submission by July 15.

New Committees

Terry Thompson formed a candidate committee (Friends Of Terry Thompson) to run for House 53 as a Republican.  The current incumbent, Glen Kolkmeyer, is term limited.

Lobbyists Registrations

John William Payne added Curador Holdings Inc, and Elevated Farms.

Mark Habbas added Abundant Holdings LLC.

John Arthur Young deleted Lombardo Homes of St. Louis LLC.

Tim Green deleted W.E. Shoehigh LLC.

William Marrs deleted Tri-State Water Resource Coalition.

$5K+ Contributions

Missouri American Water Company Employees Political Action Committee - $10,000 from G & S Construction and Farms, Inc.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Joan Barry and Ryan Dillon.

Saturday: Reps. Steve Lynch and Randy Pietzman, former Rep. John Wright, and Miles Ross.

Sunday: Rep. Dean Dohrman.