MOScout Daily Update: Upchurch for LG? - Romine Gets Tax Commission - Gov FB Ads - Cup in theCapitol - More Greitens Talk and more...
Upchurch for LG?
It’s hard to believe this is what the Dems have been waiting for, but… Gregory Upchurch filed paperwork to run for lieutenant governor as a Democrat.
Upchurch ran for House 70 in 2018. He lost in a three-way primary to Paula Brown, taking 22% of the vote.
Upchurch runs the Grand Opera House Banquet Center n St. Charles.
Reality Check
· In his 2018 race, Upchurch raised a little over $4,000.
· LG Mike Kehoe’s candidate committee has $396K on-hand, and his PAC has an estimated $630K. That’s a total of over $1 million.
Anti-Grain Belt Bill Passes House
The House passed a bill prohibiting the use of eminent domain to advance the Grain Belt Express project by a vote of 118-42.
Speaker Elijah Haahr’s statement: “I am proud that the Missouri House has again led the fight to protect the property of Missouri’s farmers and ranchers. House Bill 2033 was prioritized as the first bill the House would send the Senate.”
· The Senate will prove a tougher terrain. But it’s January, and it’s the speaker’s top priority. He has some leverage to push for it to see some floor time.
Rumorville: Greitens in ’22?
One reader says he hears that Eric Greitens has polled and didn’t get great results. “So I think he's out...prob looking at '22 Senate…”
We’ll see…
Guv FB Ads
A quick look at the Facebook ad library shows how Governor Mike Parson and Auditor Nicole Galloway are using that medium.
Since May 2018 Parson has spent $51,132 on Facebook ads, and Galloway has spent $58,543.
This week Parson’s ad buy on Facebook a meager $896. He’s running a “poll” about impeachment, presumably to build email contacts that can be used later in the campaign. See it here. Mike Parson wants to know what YOU think! Should President Trump have been impeached? Take our official poll today >>>
Galloway’s current FB ad buy is $3,245. See it here. Her message: Nicole Galloway is the only statewide elected Democrat. She is also the ONLY candidate running for Governor of Missouri who vows to fight for working families, not connected insiders. Our campaign is on the right side of all the key issues. On education, on healthcare, on jobs, and on the economy, we have real plans to get Missouri back on track. So please, send in a grassroots contribution of $5, $10, or $20 so we can continue to campaign across the state and bring a #NewWay to Jefferson City. Thank you.
Romine Gets Tax Commission
The press release: Today, Governor Mike Parson appointed Senator Gary Romine to the State Tax Commission…
The Tax Commission will now – like the Public Service Commission – be comprised entirely of former state senators….
As I’ve previous written about the Romine appointment…
· The best guess is that Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin gets the gavel of the Education Committee.
· That’s a win for school choice advocates as Romine was a skeptic and O’Laughlin is a sponsor of a charter expansion bill (which has a hearing today).
· Romine’s departure also helps utiltities, as he was a fierce critic of theirs at times.
· And it weakens Sen. Doug Libla who found a consistent filibuster partner in Romine.
Other Gubby Appts
· Philip Christofferson, of Ballwin, was appointed to the Truman State University Board of Governors.
· Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, of St. Louis, was appointed to the State Board of Education.
· Jamie Homeyer, of Salem, was appointed as the Dent County Assessor.
· Thane Kifer, of Bolivar, was appointed to the State Banking Board and Savings and Loan Board.
· Jay Knudtson, of Cape Girardeau, was appointed to the State Banking Board and Savings and Loan Board.
· Stephen Korte, of Bowling Green, was appointed to the Amber Alert System Oversight Committee.
· Will Kraus, of Lee's Summit, was reappointed to the State Tax Commission.
· Vivek Malik, of Wildwood, was appointed to the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents.
· Harold M. Miles, of Advance, was appointed to the State Banking Board and Savings and Loan Board.
· Lisa Bowlby Sheckell, of Caruthersville, was appointed as the Pemiscot County Assessor.
· Lloyd Smith, of Sikeston, was appointed to the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents.
Stanley Cup
Social media feeds were full of building denizens enjoying their moment with the Stanley Cup.
For example, Rep. Shamed Dogan tweeted: Totally worth the hour long wait! Hearing people's excitement and seeing the smiles on their faces was just as awesome as seeing the Cup. #moleg
And back in St. Louis the sportswriters were still glowing from the All-Star game: “You deserve this. All of it. You turned the 2017 Winter Classic into an All-Star audition. You helped the Blues with the $150 million renovations that made this event possible. You sold out every Blues game this season before opening night. You set an NHL record by buying more than 30,000 Fan Fair tickets during a presale…”
Next Up…
Superbowl Sunday…
New Committees
Gregory Upchurch formed a candidate committee (Upchurch4MO) to run for lieutenant governor as a Democrat.
Labor Caucus PAC was formed. Its treasurer is Aurora Bihler.
Annette Turnbaugh formed a candidate committee (Citizens for Annette Turnbaugh) to run for House 37 as a Democrat. The incumbent, Democratic Rep. Joe Runions, is termed.
Lobbyists Registrations
Phillippe Wesley added Spire Inc.
Jeremy LaFaver added American Wind Energy Association.
Monica “Mo” Del Villar and Jay-Marie Hill added ACLU of Missouri.
Jeffrey Altmann added Jordan Valley Community Health Center.
Stephen Nittler added Missouri State University, and Young Conservatives for Energy Reform.
Ralsa Marshall Stewart added University of Missouri System, University of Missouri – Columbia.
David Sweeney deleted Partners Groups Administration Services AG.
$5K+ Contributions
SEIU Local 1 Missouri Division PAC - $7,500 from SEIU Local 1.
Teamsters Local Union No 688 Political Action Committee - $9,737 from DRIVE Committee.
Local 41 Political Action Fund - $16,238 from DRIVE Committee.
Supporters of Health Research and Treatments - $100,000 from Sam Fox.
Missourians for Research and Innovation - $20,000 from James McDonnell.
Nexus PAC - $15,000 from Paric Corporation.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to former Rep. Van Kelly.