MOScout Daily Update: House GOP Jumps Aboard the TX Lawsuit Parade - Harris Chairs Inaugural Committee - STL Pop Flat and more....

MO GOP Hearts Texas Lawsuit To Overturn Election

Following Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s embrace of the Texas AG’s lawsuit to overturn election results in other states, Missouri Republicans are jumping on the bandwagon.

I’m tempted to call it a “pander parade,” but actually I think some of these folks aren’t pandering.  They actually believe Trump won the election.  They’ve been Lou-Dobbed into believing that a vast conspiracy involving communists, Dominion, hand-recounters, Republican elections officials and judges have coordinated “the steal” using the unlikely story that 80 million Americans just wanted a change in the White House.

·         Rep. Justin Hill sent a letter to the speaker announcing that he would be filing a resolution today declaring that the Missouri House of Representatives has “no confidence in the reported Presidential election results by the States of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.” The letter demands that the states “show Missouri that fraud did NOT change the outcome.  If they cannot, we must urge Congress to not certify those electors.”

·         66 Republican legislators co-signed the letter.

·         One Republican tries to use reason!  AG Schmitt and every Republican signing on to Justin Hill's letter needs to first prove that they didn’t win due to fraud. If it’s "suspicious" that down ballot candidates did better than Trump in swing states, it's gotta be suspicious in Missouri, too.

·         Schmitt quickly sent an email blast fundraising off his amicus. The election chaos we’ve seen play out in these states has now DIRECTLY impacted every state in the nation!  Please support my team’s efforts to get out my message on this.  Rush a $5, $10, $25, $50, or $100 secure online contribution >

·         Nicole Galloway’s former campaign spokesperson tweeted aloud what some Republicans admit privately: “Eric Schmitt thinks [this] is going to help him win a primary in 2, 4 or more years…”

·         Privately the scuttlebutt is it’s a primary in four years (for governor) and this is help “set him apart from Mike Kehoe.”

·         But… if nothing else, Schmitt gets lunch with the President Donald Trump tomorrow.

Justice and Bean Meet

Former rivals Eddy Justice and Sen-elect Jason Bean met, with Justice sharing a photo of them on Facebook.  Enjoyed meeting with Senator Elect Jason Bean. We discussed some of his priorities for the upcoming session. I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes for District 25 and for Missouri.

Bean replied, a little heavy on the exclamation points, in the comments: Great meeting!!! Look forward to working with you moving southeast Missouri forward!!!!!  Thank you!!!

Bean is considered by lobbyists as one of the stars of the incoming Senate class.

Gov’s Inaugural Committee

Governor Mike Parson’s Inaugural Committee announced its plans…

Saturday, January 9, 2021

What: Inaugural Prayer Service

When: 4:00 p.m.

Where: Southwest Baptist University, Pike Auditorium, 200 West Andersen Drive, Bolivar, MO 65613

Monday, January 11, 2021

What: Inauguration Ceremony

When: 11:30 a.m.

Where: South Lawn, Missouri Capitol, 201 W Capitol Avenue, Jefferson City, MO 65101

The Inaugural Prayer Service and Ceremony are both free and open to the public.

See the Committee’s website here.

And the list of the steering committee here.  James Harris, and wife Jillian, are co-chairs of the committee.  Harris, of course in addition to being a political consultant, is also a registered lobbyist in Missouri.  You’d have never seen former Governor Eric Greitens letting lobbyists stand this close to him. 

STL Pop Flat

Post-Dispatch reports on the latest population estimates for the St. Louis region.

The population of the St. Louis metropolitan area inched up again, growing by about 7,500 residents over five years but hanging at 2.8 million, according to new census estimates released Thursday.  The figures, part of the American Community Survey — not the decennial census — show growth continuing in outlying counties, such as St. Charles, which swelled by 24,500 residents, or about 7%, to 394,000. Meanwhile, St. Louis and St. Louis County again lost people: St. Louis County’s population dipped by 3,500, or less than 1%, to 997,000. And St. Louis’ fell even further, by 10,000, or about 3%, to 308,174.

What It Means

The St. Louis area is the largest generator of economic output in the state.  It’s harder to grow your economic output with a stagnant population (and labor force).  St. Louis’ economic sluggishness has alarmed state legislators, inciting them to repeatedly push legislation they think would improve the region.

There’s a heavy dose of partisanship involved – Republican legislators overruling local Democratic officials – but the underlying problem of a lack of economic growth is legitimate and needs to be addressed.

Lobbyists Registrations

Sherry Doctorian added City of Jefferson, Missouri.

Jordan Feuerborn added Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. and Its Affiliates.

$5K+ Contributions

Midwest Region Laborers' Political League Education Fund - $6,933 from Laborers Supplemental Dues Fund.

Missouri AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education - $9,716 from Missouri AFL-CIO.