MOScout Daily Update: Parson, Galloway Announce Q4 # - Galloway Attacks "Gov Tilley" - MO's Slow Growth Problem - Schupp's Big # and more...
The legislative session starts today at noon… Happy New Year!
Parson, Galloway Pre-Announce Fundraising #s
On Twitter, Auditor Nicole Galloway announced that she raised $445,000 in the latest quarter. See it here. That’s a very strong number, just a little lower than her previous quarter.
Governor Mike Parson, meanwhile, raised $540,000, besting Galloway, after trailing her last quarter.
Additionally, Team Parson says “Parson for Missouri now has $1.4 million cash on hand, and will report a combined warchest of over $6.5 million (including Uniting Missouri PAC) for Governor Parson's election efforts…”
The PAC totals are where the money gap is significant between the two campaigns. Galloway’s PAC, Keep Government Accountable, had $532K on-hand last quarter.
And
Sen. Jill Schupp also pre-announced… Post-Dispatch reports that she“raised $475,000 in the month since launching her bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin, her campaign said on Tuesday…. The race promises to be one of Missouri’s highest-profile election contests this year, and Schupp’s fundraising has outpaced the last Democrat to run against Wagner…”
Galloway Goes After Tilley
In a “memo to interested parties” with the subject line “Governor Tilley?”, Auditor Nicole Galloway’s campaign manager attacks Governor Mike Parson’s closeness with former speaker, lobbyist, Steven Tilley. See it here.
The 2020 legislative session is about to begin, which means that connected lobbyists and monied interests are already getting their way before the legislature has even been sworn in.
As most Missourians look to the hope for the future and the promise that a new year can bring, Governor Parson and his lobbyists are busy preparing an extreme agenda, hanging special giveaways around new legislative proposals…
However, one lobbyist is set to have a particularly good new year: Steve Tilley. Perhaps more than any other insider, Tilley has close ties and wields considerable sway with Parson...
CLEANER Coming
It sounds like both chambers are putting redistricting proposals at the top of their “To Do” list. The vehicle in the House appears to be Rep. Curtis Trent’s HJR 76. See it here. Like the Senate versions, it would create an outright ban of lobbyist gifts, and reorder what gets priority when drawing districts, back in favor of compactness instead of competitiveness.
The Biggest Issue Facing Missouri
A stunningly simple and direct 6-page report from Dr. Mark C. White, Interim Director, Institute of Public Policy, Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri, lays out the great challenge that Missouri faces: minimal economic growth
Entitled “Gross Domestic Product Trends in Missouri,” and drawing on recently released federal data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, it’s a sober look at Missouri’s stagnant economy.
Since the recession, Missouri has not kept pace with other Midwestern and neighboring states.
· Since 2009, Missouri’s state GDP has grown just 7.4 percent—the lowest figure among neighboring and Midwestern states.
· The next closest state is Illinois, whose GDP grew 12.7 percent since 2009.
· Between 2009 and 2018, Missouri’s compound annual GDP growth rate was 0.8 percent—almost a third of the US annual growth rate (2.3 percent) during the same period.
The Urban-Rural Divide is real, with urban areas producing the lion’s share of economic activity in the state.
· The St. Louis region is Missouri’s economic engine. In 2018, the Missouri counties of the St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) generated $141.3 billion, representing 44.3 percent of the state’s total GDP.
· The Missouri counties of the Kansas City, MO-KS MSA produced $70.6 billion, or 22.1 percent of Missouri’s GDP in 2018.
· These two economic giants together with the other metro areas (Springfield, Columbia, Joplin, Jefferson City, St. Joseph, and Cape Girardeau-Jackson) account for 84% of the state’s GDP.
The Puzzle
· There’s no obvious solution to jump-start the Missouri economy.
· It surely befuddles the supermajority party, but the data shows a decade of Republican orthodoxy (cutting taxes, weakening organized labor and tort reform) has produced sub-par growth.
· In this light the Parson agenda – investing in workforce and infrastructure – actually looks like as good a bet as any.
What Doesn’t Work
Axios reports on a new paper from “researchers at Princeton and Columbia found ‘no evidence’ that state-and-local tax incentives to individual companies increased economic growth. See it here.
· In 2014, states spent between $5 and $216 per capita on incentives for firms in the form of firm-specific subsidies and general tax credits, which mostly target investment, job creation, and research and development. Collectively, these incentives amounted to nearly 40% of state corporate tax revenues for the typical state, but some states' incentive spending exceeded their corporate tax revenues…
· [T]he average discretionary subsidy is $178M for 1,500 promised jobs…
· While we find some evidence of direct employment gains from attracting a firm, we do not find strong evidence that firm-specific tax incentives increase broader economic growth at the state and local level.
More on PSC Appt Talk
As the talk about an expected Holsman appointment to the Public Service Commission continued, here are some other things being said…
· Look for Commissioner Bill Kenney to continue on the Commission despite the fact that his term is up.
· Holsman’s appointment would continue the trend on the Commission away from attorneys being appointed, as was once more common.
· There’s still talk that Sen. Kiki Curls may also be in line for an appointment as well. That would farther diminish ranks of the Senate Dem Caucus. They have some tough issues to stand on this session.
Dems Hotspots Follow-Up
Missouri Democrats have put up an interactive map showing their legislative recruiting efforts. See it here.
But
The biggest hole… isn’t any particular House district lacking a candidate. It’s that DEMS STILL DON’T HAVE A CANDIDATE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR!
Wasson Gets Road $$
Post-Dispatch reports that “a former state senator who served with Gov. Mike Parson and received an appointment from the governor in 2018 is in line to win a $152,000 grant from a special pot of money championed by the Republican chief executive. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, who served alongside Parson in the Missouri House and Senate, will learn Wednesday if his family real estate company gets the matching funds when the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission meets in the capital city. Wasson said he didn’t lobby Parson or his administration for the money, which will pay half the cost of a new intersection on Highway 160 in Christian County…”
One lobbyist rolls their eyes at the non-story: Wasson says he didn’t make calls and he didn’t make contributions so what is the big deal?
· But it plays into the Dem narrative of Parson being too much a creature of the establishment (see “Galloway Goes After Tilley” above).
· And it doesn’t help that the same day the article runs, Parson appoints Wasson to the Missouri State University Board of Governors (see below).
KC Sues Gun Firm
Wall Street Journal reports that “Kansas City, Mo., has sued a gun manufacturer and several weapons dealers, accusing them of illegally trafficking in firearms, the first such move by a major U.S. city in a decade…The suit focuses on Jimenez Arms, Inc., a manufacturer of inexpensive handguns based in Henderson, Nev., with most models easily concealable… The suit alleges that Jimenez Arms sent dozens of guns at wholesale prices to James Samuels, a former Kansas City, Mo., firefighter, who wasn’t a licensed gun dealer and who sold those firearms to other people. The suit alleges that Jimenez Arms knew Mr. Samuels wasn’t a licensed dealer… Mr. Samuels was federally charged in 2018 in Missouri for violations of federal gun laws, including dealing in firearms without a license…
What It Means
This is just one more sign of the urban-rural divide. Urban areas feel that the proliferation of guns has compromised their public safety and quality of life. Yet they have no recourse to solve the problem in Jefferson City, so naturally they turn to the courts as their only avenue.
Gubby Appts
Everidge Cade, Jr., of Lee’s Summit, was appointed to the Lincoln University Board of Curators.
David Hane, of Laclede, was appointed to the Missouri Gaming Commission.
Bridget Lovelle, of Springfield, was appointed to the Amber Alert System Oversight Committee.
Roger Medley, of Belleview, was appointed to the Amber Alert System Oversight Committee.
Kevin O’Mara, of O'Fallon, was appointed to the State Technical College of Missouri Board of Regents.
Lynn Parman, of Parkville, was appointed to the Missouri State University Board of Governors.
Jay Wasson, of Nixa, was appointed to the Missouri State University Board of Governors.
Christopher Waters, of Kansas City, was appointed to the Missouri State University Board of Governors.
Ken Weymuth, of Sedalia, was appointed to the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors.
Bits
· Bloomberg reports that “federal studies estimate over 3,000 people a year die from distracted driving, and safety experts believe the actual number is far higher…” See it here. Only two states don’t have an outright ban on texting and driving: Montana and Missouri (where it’s only illegal for those under 21).
· Tipster: Wade Kiefer [running in House 12] is an IBEW Local 124 member, Mizzou poly sci grad and "right-hand man" for Sandy VanWagner's challenges to Ken Wilson, so he's knocked on many of the district's doors.
· St. Louis Business Journal reports that “a new statewide coalition focused on providing ‘pro-entrepreneur policy advocacy’ has launched in Missouri. The coalition, called NEXT Missouri, is working to promote public policy that drives business creation and growth, and to boost the startup community’s influence… The coalition said it has two priorities in 2020: to seek renewed funding for the Missouri Technology Corp. and to engage with lawmakers to ‘revamp state economic development policies to better recognize the role of entrepreneurs in driving job creation.’” See it here.
Finally
Springfield News-Leader reports that HUD Secretary Ben Carson “will give the keynote address at the governor's annual prayer breakfast in Jefferson City. Carson was scheduled to give the same speech last year, but canceled amid the federal government shutdown that left agencies unable to operate normally. The annual interfaith breakfast is set for 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City…”
Help Wanted
Missouri Family Health Council seeks Director of Policy & Advocacy. Ideal candidates will have a demonstrated ability to research, analyze, and write on public policy; to build relationships between grassroots, grasstops, and government organizations; and have a demonstrated commitment to increasing healthcare access, including reproductive healthcare… Salary Range: $65,000 - $80,000. See the ad here.
PROMO seeks Executive Director. The Executive Director is the face of the organization, ensuring PROMO is seen as a trusted partner and expert in LGBTQ policy, with an emphasis on developing and maintaining relationships with key community stakeholders, leaders, and businesses. This role focuses on building support for LGBTQ equality and fairness through an intersectional lens, specifically LGBTQ-inclusive policies and legal protections… See the ad here.
Paraquad seeks Public Policy and Advocacy Manager. Serves as the Public Policy and Advocacy Team Lead, responsible for various strategic, administrative, and performance management tasks of the department. Additionally, the Public Policy and Advocacy Manager is responsible for organizing local and statewide, non-partisan civic engagement and public education initiatives and to identify, develop, and implement our Public Policy/legislative advocacy agenda for all aspects of public policy and advocacy. Supervises members of the Public Policy and Advocacy Department. See the ad here.
Lobbyists Registrations
Catalyst added LaunchKC.
Doug Nelson and Heath Clarkston added Polaris Inc; and deleted Vieability Inc and Corizon Health LLC.
Kurt Schaefer added Polaris Inc; and deleted Corizon Health LLC.
Harry Gallagher deleted Vieability Inc.
Emma Shankland added South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Port Authority Association, and Missouri Budget Project.
Jamie Allman added Jamie Allman.
Bennie Lewis deleted City of Kansas City, and Gamble & Schlemeier.
David Sweeney deleted Dominium Development LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
UAW Region 5 Midwest States Political Action Committee (PAC) (MO) - $6,000 from UAW Region 5 Exchange Account.
Missouri Energy Development Association Political Action Committee - $13,000 from Evergy Metro, Inc.
Mighty Missouri PAC - $25,000 from Rex Sinquefield.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sen. Mike Cunningham and Janson Thomas.