MOScout Daily Update: Parson Releases Funds - Dems Who Win Big With Biden - Lavender Ad - Rowden's Message and more..
Parson Reverses Some Withholds
Governor Mike Parson announced he was releasing $38 million in budget appropriations he’d previously restricted during the initial economic uncertainty of the COVID outbreak. Additionally, he announced about $95 million in CARES Act funding.
The largest item on the list (see it here) is $61 million for K-12 education. Higher Ed received about $35 million as well.
From the press release: “When we evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on Missouri’s economy and state revenues back in June, we had to make some difficult decisions to keep our budget balanced,” Governor Parson said. “However, we promised to reevaluate our spending after the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2021, and that is what we have done.”
Due to the financial impact of COVID-19, the state restricted approximately $436 million in spending earlier this year to ensure a balanced budget and the necessary funds to combat the virus moving forward. At the time these budget decisions were made, Missouri’s unemployment rate was projected to be at roughly 16.3 percent…
“As a result of our Show Me Strong Recovery Plan, we are outpacing our projected budget forecast, and we are now in a position to release some of the funding that was restricted earlier this year,” Governor Parson said. “We are excited to be able to announce these funds today and will continue to evaluate our budget and spending as we move forward.”
Dems Who Win Big With Biden
With Joe Biden showing a solid lead in most national polls now, here’s a quickie list of Missourians who win big if Biden takes the White House.
Joyce Aboussie – A veteran Democratic operative whose business has expanded to various corporate clients, Aboussie is a mainstay of Missouri Democratic politics. A report notes that one of the Zoom fundraisers she was involved with back in June raised $750,000 for the Biden campaign. Suffice to say the White House cell phone numbers in her rolodex will be the envy of most every other politico.
Emanuel Cleaver – Cleaver hopped on the Biden Train early, spending some time in Iowa campaigning for him. He would also benefit from being the top MO Dem in DC with a newly blue White House: Two Republican senators, the demise of Lacy Clay’s political career, and the likelihood that freshwoman Cori Bush won’t be ready to capitalize on a Democratic administration will make Cleaver the to-go Dem.
Claire McCaskill – McCaskill stayed neutral in the primary, declining to endorse any of her 4 female Senate colleagues, and staying in touch with Biden throughout. The centrist former senator spent most of the primary on cable TV arguing on Biden's side of heated internecine debates on issues like Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and defunding the police.
Michael Neidorff – Neidorff is the CEO of healthcare giant Centene. He’s often at the forefront civic debates and endeavors in the St. Louis region. And he’s also one of only three Missourians listed as one of Biden’s top bundlers. (The other two are Aboussie and O’Malley). The list (see it here) is for those raising $25,000 or more for the campaign.
Kevin O’Malley - The former Ambassador to Ireland hosted Biden overnight more than a half dozen times at the Ambassador's residence in Dublin and struck up a durable friendship with the then-Vice President. O'Malley was tapped to head up the Missouri for Biden effort in the primary and general. While neither turned out to be consequential, they are signs of the Biden team's trust in O'Malley, a former federal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney who authored several legal textbooks.
Corey Then - Now General Counsel of local wealth management firm The Moneta Group, Then previously served four years in the Obama Administration, including stints at the White House as Special Assistant to the President and leader of the Economics Team in Presidential Personnel. He raised money for Biden in the primary, hosted a group of canvassers in his native Dubuque, Iowa before the caucus, and has forged close ties to Biden's DC inner circle. The MO Dem tipster with DC ties says, "I wouldn't be shocked if Corey ended up as a Deputy Treasury Secretary."
Maybe One Guy In The State
Sen. Caleb Rowden, in his debate last night, made the pitch that MidMO voters should send him back to the Senate because he’s “maybe the one guy” in the whole state who’s perfectly positioned to defend the University of Missouri’s funding.
Later in the debate he reiterated the point. Rudi Keller quotes him saying “There is no one in the building more influential and more able to stand in the way of things that will be harmful to this community...than me.”
eMailbag on Senate 19
Remember Trump won MO in 2016 by 18.5 points and Rowden beat Webber (who got hammered on missed votes) by 2 points. As of this week over 14,000 ballots had been received by Boone County voters. That number more than doubles the number of ballots in 2016- with 4 weeks left!!.. A large positive for Caleb is that he is well respected in Columbia and people do see the value in what he does for Columbia and the University. Plus, if Trump continues to fall - Will it be enough?
Parson Reiterates McCloskey Parson Promise
Post-Dispatch reports that “Gov. Mike Parson said he ‘certainly’ will pardon Mark and Patricia McCloskey if they are convicted of crimes in St. Louis stemming from a June incident on their property.”
Meanwhile
One Republican scrolling through Facebook fretted “Celebrating the McCloskeys? Check! Trump worship? Check! Signed tributes to Q-Anon? Check! No masks or distancing indoors? Check! Yep, just about every reason the GOP is gonna lose STL county by 20 points condensed in one post from our county GOP chairwoman.”
More on Koenig Ad
Readers react to Koenig ad…
· The Koenig ad looks at least as realistic as Lavender's. He may be the least fake politician in Jeff City. And the ad hits home with women and seniors.
· With all the cookie cutter ads on the airwaves between the congressional race and statewides, this will cut through.
· 1. I think Koenig is a genuinely decent person
2. I think politics needs more ordinary ppl like him
3. Any family that adopts - not one but two kids! - are heroes to me
4. I don't think anybody should attack spouses
5. I could've cut a better ad as a high school sophomore taking Improv 101
And
His opponent, Rep. Deb Lavender, released her first ad.
$5K+ Contributions
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $50,000 from American Democracy Alliance - Ridgely PAC.
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $50,000 from MO Alliance for Freedom Grace River PAC.
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $6,000 from Committee to Elect John Black.
Protect Missouri Freedom - $50,000 from Missouri Drive Fund.
Keep Government Accountable - $10,000 from Robert Henkel.
Keep Government Accountable - $10,000 from Iron Workers Local 396.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $12,400 from Citizens for a Better District 1.
Purple PAC - $10,000 from AFSCME.
MO PORK-PAC - $25,000 from Smithfield Foods.
St. Louis Progress - $15,000 from Build St. Louis Pac, Inc.
Citizens For Morris - $10,000 from Lynn Morris.
Majority Forward - $7,500 from Everytown for Gun Safety.
Evergy Employee PowerPAC - Missouri - $10,000 from Evergy Employee PowerPAC Missouri.
Kansas City Southern Employees PAC (Federal Committee) - $6,000 from KCS Employees PAC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Emily Wright and Pat Conway.