MOScout Daily Update: Sen Dem Rumors! Holsy to PSC?, Rizzo to Take Reins? - Giddens Gets KC - MedEx Backlash Brewing? - New Dem Hotspots and more...
Senate Dem Senate Caucus Changes?
Rumors are getting hot and heavy within the Senate Democratic Caucus.
· First, lots of folks think that Sen. Jason Holsman will be resigning and accepting a position on the Public Service Commission.
· Second, Minority Leader Gina Walsh was promoted in the Insulators Union over the summer. The current expectation is that she will finish her term, but she may step down from her leadership position.
· If that happens, Sen. John Rizzo could be tapped to replace her…
Stay tuned….
MedEx Backlash Brewing?
Looks like a Republican backlash may be forming even before Medicaid Expansion is put before the voters.
Two different Republican legislators have mentioned the possibility.
· One says that some Republican senators are considering introducing legislation which would make hospitals pay if Medicaid Expansion passes and it costs the state money.
· Another says “A group of conservatives may kill FRA because of anger at hospitals over Medicaid Expansion support”
Dems Hotspots
Things seem awfully quiet for Dems in Jefferson County…
Two years ago Dems took House 97 in a special election that buoyed their hopes of returning some blue to JeffCo. But since then, they’ve been hard-pressed to find good news. And now, with filing opening next month, there’s no Democrat with a committee started to take on Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman in House 97.
Same goes for Rep. Dan Shaul in House 113, and Rep. Becky Ruth in House 114, and even Rep. Michael McGirl who took House 118 last cycle after Dem Ben Harris was termed.
But
Dems are seeing more interest and opportunities in other places across the state. The new hot spots: Springfield, Columbia, Clay County, and west St. Louis County.
One Dem thinks the current shift is at least partially the result of President Donald Trump’s polarization. JeffCo has tilted redder, with the closer suburbs of metropolitan areas becoming bluer.
Or – as another Dem sums it up: “demographics is destiny.”
Giddens Group Lands KC
The Giddens Group registered over the weekend for the City of Kansas City, signaling they prevailed in that hotly contested contract bid.
Nancy Giddens and Shannon Cooper are the twin towers of that firm. They also represent the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.
From the hallway: Nice to see good folks – work hard and play by the rules – win.
More on Gov’s Gambling Play
One lobbyist wonders about the potential fall-out of the governor saying he’s uncertain about illegal gaming machines. Sen. Dave Schatz has taken a special interest in the issue. It’s one of the few pieces of legislation that he’s filed. Will the second-floor risking getting cross-ways with the pro tem over this?
But
The recent attention on the issue is good news for Dems. Any Senate floor time that gets sucked into this debate is time that isn’t being spent on other GOP priorities.
Shankland to Stateline
Emma Shankland is joining Stateline Strategies this session. Look for her to start registering for clients.
Stateline Strategies is a partnership between Sam Panettiere and Jeremy LaFaver, offering lobbying and communications services in Missouri and Kansas.
Shankland has worked on campaigns in the KC area, most recently as Mayor Quinton Lucas’ deputy campaign manager. She is also Sen. Lauren Arthur’s sister-in-law.
Galloway Calls for Expanded Family Leave
Press release: State Auditor Nicole Galloway today issued a letter to Gov. Mike Parson calling on him to enact updated family-friendly policies. Specifically, she called for action to allow state workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child. These policies would mirror those recently signed into law by President Trump for federal employees…
Newest MO Import?
At last night’s St. Louis Regional Chamber legislators’ awards event, the president of the Illinois senate John Cullerton said “you know for years we’ve been coming into your state to buy your cigarettes and gas, and now that we have recreational marijuana you’re welcome to come on over.”
Tragedy in Edwardville
Post Dispatch reports on the apparent murder of “prominent Edwardsville attorney and philanthropist Randy Gori.” See it here.
Gori was a bipartisan donor in Missouri politics.
Bits
· Axios mentions Senator Josh Hawley, calling him a 2024 presidential hopeful. See it here.
· NPR has a story of the files of the late Thomas Hofeller, a top Republican redistricting strategist. Missouri gets a mention. The files document the wide reach of Thomas Hofeller's work on political maps across the country — including in Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri…. See it here.
· Morning Consult has Trump approval tracking polls for all 50 states. See it here. Missouri is net +6 (51% approve; 45% disapprove).
· Governor Mike Parson appointed Sonya Brandt as Associate Circuit Judge for the 20th Judicial Circuit. She will fill the recent Associate Circuit Judge vacancy.
· According to LinkedIn, former Rep. Brian Baker is now State & Local Government Industry Consultant for Lexmark. He had been with Cerner for past eight years.
· The Sixteenth Circuit Judicial Commission has met and selected a panel of three nominees for the associate circuit judge vacancy in Division 27 of the Jackson County circuit court… Sarah A. Castle (received five votes in support), P. Benjamin Cox (received five votes in support), and Patricia M. “Tricia” Scaglia (received four votes in support).
New IPs
James Owen filed three new initiative petitions. They are similar. It appears they would put the Public Service Commission into the Department of Natural Resources. And increase the amount of renewal energy generated each year. See one petition here.
New Committees
Wade H Kiefer formed a candidate committee (Committee to Elect Wade Kiefer) to run for House 12 as a Democrat. The current incumbent, Republican Rep. Kenneth Wilson, is termed.
Tracy Grundy formed a candidate committee (Tracy Grundy for Missouri) to run for House 102 as a Democrat. The current incumbent is Republican Rep. Ron Hicks.
The Firm was formed. It’s a PAC. Its treasurer is Karon Murphy of Bonne Terre MO.
Lobbyists Registrations
Catalyst added Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
John Clark added ACT Inc.
Dennis Cooper added Missouri Council of School Administrators, and Missouri Association of School Administrators.
Morgan Scott Corder added Missouri Attorney General's Office.
Jonathan Dalton added Catalyst Holdings LLC, and Election Systems & Software LLC.
Trina Ragain and Lyndsey Cavender added Operation Food Search.
Henrio Thelemaque added American Heart Association.
Baylee Siegel added Missouri Soybean Association.
Aaron Dorr added Missouri Firearms Coalition.
Joshua Klarich added Missouri Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Family Covenant Ministries, Mechanical Contractors Association of Kansas City, Mechanical Contractors Association-Eastern Missouri, Metro West Fire Protection District, Missouri Court Reporters Association, Missouri Circuit Judges' Association, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Citizens For Policy Reform LLC, City of Eureka, CCA Global Partners, 22nd Judicial Circuit, Missouri Midwives Association, Southlaw PC, Riezman Berger PC, Our Missouri, The Daily Hybrid LLC, AT&T Missouri, and Joshua J Klarich.
Rodney Hubbard added AMIkids; and deleted Kingdom Principles Inc.
Michael Harrold deleted Cigna Corporate Services LLC.
Shanon Hawk deleted Notarize, Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Uniting Missouri PAC - $25,000 from Samuel Coryell.
UFCW Active Ballot Club-Missouri Federal Committee - $7,600 from United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Active Ballot Club.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Chris Moreland and Gentry Trotter.