MOScout Daily Update: Brattin PAC Gets $100K - MCFG's Candidates? - Behind 'Fear of Greitens' and more

Brattin PAC Gets $100K From CL PAC

The battle-lines in Republican Senate primaries are starting to be drawn quite clearly.  The Conservative Caucus’ CL PAC – funded primarily by St. Louis businessman David Steward – is backing former Rep. Rick Brattin.

Yesterday CL PAC sent $100K to a new PAC called “Brattin Brigade PAC.”

Buckle up….

Considering MCFG

I wrote yesterday about the candidates that it appears that the Conservative Caucus will be backing in Republican Senate primaries.

By my figuring, if Rex Sinquefield’s Missouri Club for Growth also plays in these races, they’ll be supporting many of the same candidates.

Everyone running in these primaries will be in line with Sinquefield’s agenda of lower tax rates.  But his other overarching priority is education reform.  That issue probably tilts money toward: Rick Brattin, Eddy Justice, and Rep. Holly Rehder.

Candidates in those primaries are going to need to formulate a campaign plan that account for two separate third-party PACs bringing big resources to the table.

Greitens Talk Just Doesn’t Stop

The rumors about Eric Greitens pondering, prepping, plotting a comeback just don’t stop.  I just can’t see it happening, and I don’t see evidence that he’s making the necessary moves.

But some credible (non-conspiracy type) folks think it’s definitely in the realm of possibilities – especially if St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner faces allegations of misconduct.

One reason for the paranoia: Greitens previously raised a lot of dark money from who knows where.  Not knowing the source of funds creates the question whether it would re-up for another campaign.

Speaking of Which

KCStar reports that “a liberal watchdog organization filed a lawsuit Monday asking a court to force the Federal Elections Commission to take action on a complaint against four groups that funneled $6 million of anonymous campaign money into Eric Greitens’ 2016 campaign for governor. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, filed a complaint with the FEC in June 2018 alleging two political action committees and two nonprofits violated federal campaign law by directing money into the campaign in such a way as to deliberately hide the identity of the donors… In the lead-up to the Republican primary that year, Greitens got a $4 million boost from a group called LG PAC… It was later revealed that all of LG PAC’s money came from Freedom Frontier, a Texas-based nonprofit. By funneling the money through a nonprofit, which isn’t required to disclose its donors, the true origin of the contribution remains hidden…”

GOP Anti-Higher Ed?

There was an interesting poll recently by Pew Research Center.  It noticed that a partisan divide has emerged in views about higher education.  See it here.

“[T]here is an undercurrent of dissatisfaction – even suspicion – among the public about the role colleges play in society, the way admissions decisions are made and the extent to which free speech is constrained on college campuses. And these views are increasingly linked to partisanship… only half of American adults think colleges and universities are having a positive effect on the way things are going in the country these days. About four-in-ten (38%) say they are having a negative impact – up from 26% in 2012. The share of Americans saying colleges and universities have a negative effect has increased by 12 percentage points since 2012. The increase in negative views has come almost entirely from Republicans and independents who lean Republican. From 2015 to 2019, the share saying colleges have a negative effect on the country went from 37% to 59% among this group. Over that same period, the views of Democrats and independents who lean Democratic have remained largely stable and overwhelmingly positive…”

What Would Bearden’s Grade Be?

One MOScouter called to remind me that when United for Missouri’s Carl Bearden was Budget Chair in the House, he signed off on many of the same things UFM is grading against.

Bits

·         St. Louis Business Journal reports that the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership is seeking bids for its lobbying contract.  See it here.  See the RFP in Help Wanted (below).

·         Check out this nifty data visualization tool from Kaiser Family Foundation looking at gun deaths in various states.  See it here.  The data only runs through 2017, but the trend for Missouri isn’t good.

·         Columbia Tribune reports that “David Steelman, a Rolla attorney, former state representative and current curator of the University of Missouri, said he applied to open a medical marijuana facility in Boonville because he doesn’t want to see the industry bypass rural Missouri.” See it here.

·         Springfield News-Leader reports that there are now 61 school districts in Missouri operating on a four-day week.  See it here.  “[W]hile the desire to cut costs continued to be a factor, many districts report they made the switch to help with recruiting and retention efforts…”

eMailbag on Eigel

Note to Eigel: we all lived through Crowell, Schaff, and the contrarians before them. We’ll live on beyond your remaining 5 years in the senate as well.

eMailbag on NMEA and ECE

Nothing in any of the IP’s would require a pre-school to have a locally elected school board. That idea is strange and almost a purposeful misreading of the IP’s that contain early childhood language.

Help Wanted

St. Louis Economic Development Partnership seeks Federal Liaison. “The selected respondent shall provide the following Services: Establish and maintain a working relationship with federal-level government agencies, officials, and elected representatives and their staffs on behalf of the Partnership.; Represent the Partnership in negotiations with federal-level agencies, officials, and elected representatives and their staffs regarding proposed legislation, desired funding, and other projects as outlined by the CEO of the Partnership or his or her designee; Arrange with the Partnership for testimony at committee hearings, or submission of written comments, to promote the legislative package or funding goals of the Partnership, or to respond to proposed legislation directly impacting such package or goals, and to assist in the preparation of same… Monitor all legislation affecting the Partnership….”  See it here.

New Committees

Table Rock Conservative PAC was formed.  Its treasurer is Mark Milton.

$5K+ Contributions

Brattin Brigade PAC - $100,000 from CL PAC.

CL PAC - $50,000 from David Steward.

Conservative Citizens Coalition - $10,000 from CL PAC

Missourians for Effective Leadership PAC - $42,000 from Burns & McDonnell Inc.

Lobbyist Registrations

Donald Charles Otto deleted Missouri Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association, and Missouri Funeral Trust.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Governor Mike Parson, Bill Webster, Margaret Kelly, Travis Smith, Ryan Burke, and Tom McDonald.