MOScout Daily Update: Senate Staffing - Steelman Erdmann Tracked! - Gov Hates on News Org and more...
Gov Hates on MOIndy
After Governor Mike Parson finished taking questions yesterday, he pointed to Rudi Keller and said, “Rudi, I’m not going to answer your question whatever you’re going to ask. But I’m going to tell you this: I am not going to respond to a C4 out of Virginia that is absolutely a propaganda news agency that come to the state of Missouri. I have been transparent as governor of the state of Missouri from Day One to say who funds me and my campaigns and everything else. This political agenda, whether it’s George Soros, people like him, of what you’re going to be doing(?), it’s not fair to Missouri outlets because they’re here everyday, day in and day out, and trying to report the news to the people of the state. I’m just not going to recognize a non-profit out of Virginia who is here for nothing but political propaganda. Alright, thank you all very much thank you (walks out).”
Few Thoughts
· Parson got his facts wrong: they’re not a C4, there’s no indication that Soros has any involvement, and MO Independent is a Missouri outlet (unless you consider the Post-Dispatch an Iowa outlet or KC Star a Californian outlet). But worse, he got the fundamentals wrong. It’s a basic American tenet. It’s why we’ve fought wars. Our government doesn’t only respond to folks they agree with. Our government doesn’t get to pick and choose who is the press and who isn’t.
· 10 years ago, Missouri News Horizon, a non-profit funded by the conservative Franklin Institute, started Missouri operations. Governor Jay Nixon didn’t say they weren’t legit.
· Tony Messenger asked since when does Parson care who’s funding news operations. “He has no problem answering questions from a guy who delivers payoff cash in a shoebox but won’t take questions from @RudiKellerMI, one of the most experienced political reporters in Missouri…”
· Meanwhile a smear campaign has started. What’s behind the coordinated attack? One theory: payback from John Diehl’s friends for Hancock breaking the story that ended Diehl’s political career.
And
The easiest way to see they’re not a propaganda news agency. Look at the product.
File Under “WHHHAAA?!”
KMOV has a helluva story. See it here.
A St. Louis County private investigator admitted he placed GPS tracking devices on the vehicles of two of Missouri’s top government officials... Mike Bland, who is a licensed private investigator in Missouri, says he was recently hired to place GPS trackers on private vehicles owned by Drew Erdmann and Sarah Steelman…. Bland claims the incident is now under investigation by the FBI and Missouri State Highway Patrol…
Bland claims Erdmann discovered the device and reported it to police, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol tracked it back to Bland.
He admits he placed the trackers, but says he was doing it as part of a business transaction with a man named John Wall. Wall is affiliated with a Farmington based company called Assymetric Solutions. According to the company's website it offers military, law enforcement, and civilian training…
Bland said he had trouble finding Steelman’s vehicle, but claims he was assisted by Wall and State Representative Dottie Bailey. He described the phone call he received from Wall the day the GPS tracker was placed on Steelman’s personal vehicle…
We reached out to Dottie Bailey to ask if she was involved. Over the phone Bailey said, “Ok, so this guy is a whack a loon. Oh shoot I have another call coming in. I don’t know - so many damn stories going on. I’m working on other stuff. I appreciate the call thanks though,” then the phone hung up. A follow-up call to Bailey was not returned…
Senate Staffing
New senators are staffing up, here are some of their hires…
· Jason Bean – Ryan Gill (previously with MO Soybean) Jackie Buschjost (previously with Wallingford).
· Doug Beck – Lillian Williams (hold over from Sifton).
· Rick Brattin – Tucker Jobes (previously with Sater).
· Karla Eslinger – Dan Engemann (previously with Cunningham) and Jacinda Martin (LA from House).
· Elaine Gannon - Heather McKnelly (LA from House), and Janet Land (Kathy Swan’s LA).
· Mike Moon - Sherry Kuttenkuler (LA from House) and Sophia Shore (from his campaign).
· Holly Rehder - Daris Davis (LA from House).
Also
Sen. Justin Brown is making a change. Ashley Bax (previously with Libla) will be his new chief of staff, replacing Jared Brown.
And
Over in the House, word is that Kenny Ross will be staying on in the speaker’s office, serving as chief of staff for Speaker-elect Rob Vescovo.
More Leadership Results
Sens. Dave Schatz and Caleb Roden were re-elected as Pro Tem and Floor Leader, and Dems re-elected Sen. JJ Rizzo as Minority Leader. Sen. Bill White was elected Assistant Floor Leader and Sen. Brian Williams Assistant Minority Leader.
And
Here are the results from the House Dems leadership elections…
Minority Leader: Crystal Quade.
Assistant Leader: Richard Brown.
Whip: Doug Clemens.
Policy Chair: Sarah Unsicker.
Caucus Chair: Ingrid Burnett.
Assistant Caucus Chair: LaKeySha Bosley.
Caucus Secretary: Gretchen Bangert.
eMailbag: Spreading the Credit
· On A3: Jean Evans busted her a$$ to get Amendment 3 onto the House floor and onto the ballot.
· On Plocher win: He had Hannah & Wes Sutton consulting for him and coordinating the race behind the scenes. This is a huge win for them as well.
MOScout Schedule
No Weekender or Sunday6. I’ll be back Monday morning…
Lobbyists Registrations
Andy Blunt and Jay Reichard added Casey’s General Stores Inc.
Dick Wiles deleted City of Jefferson.
James Harris deleted The McIntosh Company and Flotron & McIntosh.
$5K+ Contributions
Protect Missouri Freedom - $5,495 from CHIPP Political Account.
Protect Missouri Freedom - $7,000 from Purple PAC.
CLEAN Missouri - $40,000 from Laborers Local 660 PAC.
CLEAN Missouri - $13,260 from Missouri Jobs With Justice Voter Action.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to David Humphreys, Keith Frederick, and Joe Runions.
Saturday: Sam Graves, Doug Ervin, David Sater, and Jarad Falk.
Sunday: Catherine Hanaway, Ellie and Eric Harmon, Ed Bushmeyer, Steven Webb, and Tony George.