MOScout Daily Update: More CRE Talk - Bean in Senate 25 - PAC Estimates - DeStefano Registers - MO Gun Research and more...

CRE Talk

Building denizen tips that there are “real problems on the [Consensus Revenue Estimate] issue, [Governor Mike Parson] wants close to 3% growth, House/Senate closer to 1-1.5%...”

The Inside Game

Yes, the governor and the legislative supermajority leadership are from the same party and shouldn’t have too much trouble getting on the same page, but…

·         The legislature usually prefers lower CRE numbers because it enhances their budgetary power.

·         If revenues start to falter, the governor can point to a higher CRE number and start to make selective budget withholds which allows the second floor to set budget priorities.

·         Assuming there’s no resolution, the governor’s office will present a budget based on the higher revenue assumption in January.

·         If the legislature builds their budget off a lower revenue assumption, they will have to cut back on the governor’s budget. 

·         That makes them the “bad guy” with various interests working the budget, but it’s probably worth whatever short-term pressure they feel in order to maintain their budget power later in the process.

·         House POV: [Parson] wants to spend more in an election year.

4 in Senate 25

Word is that Jason Bean is entering the Senate 25 Republican primary (Libla termed). Bean is the son of former Rep. Otto Bean.  He joins three others: Reps. Steve Cookson and Jeff Shawan, and Eddy Justice.

It’s hard to know how exactly this impact the race.

·         One MOScouter: He has the money to self-fund and has the advantage of not being from the Poplar Bluff area...

·         Another: [I think] Shawan was counting on his endorsement.  He is a moderate Republican so I think he dips into Shawan and Cookson more than Justice.

PAC Estimates

Here’s how much some of the large PACs raised in $5K+ contributions last quarter.

Uniting Missouri PAC (Mike Parson) – $745,000.

MO Opportunity PAC (Eric Schmitt) - $452,000.

American Dream PAC (Mike Kehoe) - $445,000.

Keep Government Accountable (Nicole Galloway) - $170,000.

Page PAC (Sam Page) - $120,000.

Keep the Promise PAC (Andrew Koenig) - $86,472.

Committee for Liberty (Jay Ashcroft) - $50,000.

Holly PAC (Holly Rehder) - $50,000.

MO Gun Research RFP

Press release: Missouri Foundation for Health is partnering with the National Collaborative on Gun Violence Research (NCGVR) to commission work specific to Missouri… The NCGVR is releasing a request for proposals nationwide as part of its work to fund and disseminate nonpartisan, rigorous scientific research that offers a factual basis for building solutions to the gun violence epidemic….Gun violence, defined as firearm-related deaths and injuries, including homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings, is on the rise in Missouri and the nation. Now widely recognized as a public health issue, it impacts people of all ages and backgrounds in all communities across our state. It is one of the leading causes of death in both the U.S. and Missouri, yet we know far less about prevention for this issue than any of the other leading causes….  See the RFP here.

DeStefano Registers

Johnny DeStefano, former Counselor to President Donald Trump, registered as a lobbyist in Missouri over the weekend. DeStefano left the White House in mid-2019 and started his own consulting group, Utility Strategic Advisors.  Prior to his time with the President, DeStefano worked for various RNC committees and as a top lieutenant to Speaker John Boehner.  He got his political start nearly 20 years ago as a junior staffer in the Sam Graves DC office.  He has a reputation for being professional, influential and connected - all while keeping a low profile and BEING NICE TO PEOPLE!

See the Politico profile here.  DeStefano has managed to increase his power and stick around in an infamously cutthroat environment the old-fashioned way: by being nice to everyone. DeStefano’s experience inside the White House offers a road map for other aides who want to thrive and enjoy themselves in the Trump orbit: Avoid the limelight, act like a staffer instead of a star…

DeStefano consults for businesses looking for political and government guidance at the federal level.  While he doesn’t lobby federally, word is he plans to lobby in Missouri on select projects where he can add value in his home state.  DeStefano is a native of Kansas City.  He is the brother of former Sen. Scott Rupp staffer, Melissa Furey, and brother in law to current Centener Shawn Furey.

Joining DeStefano at the newly formed Utility Strategic Missouri is his former right hand in the White House, Meg McCann.  McCann is a St. Louis native and an alum of both the Ann Wagner and Billy Long DC offices.

More on Gov’s Odd Gambling Play

On Facebook, United for Missouri’s Carl Bearden takes down Governor Mike Parson’s recent waffling on illegal machines… @GovMikeParson mistakenly is declaring unconstitutional slot machines disguised as video lottery terminals or pull-tab machines as not being illegal. You'd think a Southern Baptist guy from Bolivar would remember, you can put lipstick on a hog but it's still a hog.

Lobbyist #1: Really a sloppy, unforced error by GMP on the gaming issue.

Lobbyist #2: It seems like the base is getting sideways with the Guv [on this issue].

Bits

·         The press release: State Senator Bill Eigel's campaign announced that he has received the unanimous endorsement of the members of the St Charles County Republican Central Committee. Each of the 27 members of the committee, representing the entire County of St Charles, have individually endorsed Eigel's 2020 re-election bid.

·         Kaiser Health News reports that some folks think marijuana could be a big American export, assuming the regulatory framework is accommodative. See it here.

Lobbyists Registrations

Nancy Giddens and Shannon Cooper added City of Kansas City.

Mark Francis Brady added St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.

John DeStefano and Meghan McCann added Utility Strategic Missouri.

Mark Harmon added Gas Workers 11-6.

Ben Kimbro added Harvest.

Patrick Lynn added The Kelley Group Inc.

LuAnn Madsen added Spotz!LLC; and deleted University of Central Missouri.

James Harris added Missouri Council of School Administrators, and deleted Missouri Association of License Offices.

Rodney Boyd, Brian Grace, Kelvin Simmons, and Kate Casas deleted STL Aviation Group LLC.

John Parris deleted HDR Engineering, Inc., and BNH LLC.

Richard McIntosh, Franc Flotron, Bill Stouffer, Zach Brunnert, James Harris, David McCracken, Janet Hirschman deleted Kingdom Principles Inc., and

Richard McIntosh, Zach Brunnert and David McCracken deleted Missouri Police Chiefs Association.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Sen. Bob Onder, Rep. Rob Vescovo, Geoff Gerling, Genise Montecillo, and Michael Daus.