MOScout Weekender: Missourians Support Texting Ban, Split on Gas Tax - Hallway on Incoming Dem Sens - WWTW and more...

Remington/MOScout Poll: Pre-files

Survey conducted December 9 through December 10, 2020. 1,000 likely 2022 General Election voters participated in the survey. Survey weighted to match expected turnout demographics for the 2022 General Election. Margin of Error is +/-3% with a 95% level of confidence. Totals do not always equal 100% due to rounding. Survey conducted by Remington Research Group on behalf of Missouri Scout.  See the full results here.

I will now read you a handful of proposals being offered in the Missouri legislature. Please indicate if you support or oppose each proposal.

Q1: House Bill 50 would abolish the death penalty and any person sentenced to death would be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Do you support or oppose this bill?

Support: 34%

Oppose: 53%

Not sure: 13%

Q2: House Bill 61 would prohibit the state or any political subdivision, during a state of emergency, from imposing restrictions on religious houses of worship that make religious services impractical. Do you support or oppose this bill?

Support: 28%

Oppose: 52%

Not sure: 20%

Q3: House Bill 258 would prohibit texting while driving on state highways. Do you support or oppose this bill?

Support: 80%

Oppose: 11%

Not sure: 9%

Q4: Senate Bill 262 would raise the gas tax to fund road improvements. Currently the gas tax is 17 cents per gallon. This would increase the gas tax by 2 cents per year for 5 years. When fully implemented, the gas tax will be 27 cents per gallon. Do you support or oppose this bill?

Support: 42%

Oppose: 51%

Not sure: 7%

MOScout’s Hallway Index: Most Likely to Succeed… Incoming Dem Senators

This week, I asked about which incoming Democratic senators lobbyists thought would be “most likely to succeed.”  29 replies…

RESULTS

1. Doug Beck… 0%

2. Angela Walton Mosley … 0%

3. Greg Razer… 72.4%

4. Steven Roberts… 13.8%

5. Barbara Washington… 13.8%

Sample of Comments

·         This is a tough one because I think it’s a group that will do well. They’re smart and astute enough to pick the battles and issues that mean the most to them.

·         Razer has the right demeanor and approach to be successful in the minority.

·         There's a long list of legislators who come into the building surrounded by hype, and then disappoint. In the House, Steven was just the opposite. He always did his homework, reads bills, and cares deeply about policy and helping people. I think that will continue in the Senate.

·         Greg is a thoughtful reasonable person who has and should continue to work with republicans on a variety of issues. He needs to be reasonable about the issues he engages on and willing to work out compromises. I hope he doesn’t become like some senators that just stand up and filibuster every issue just to be relevant or to pump up their egos. If he picks his battles and he will be an outstanding senator.

·         Greg’s temperament and approach to legislating is going to immediately serve him well in the Senate. Long term, once she learns how to use the rules and the dynamics of the chamber, Barb is going to be a powerhouse given her ability to understand big issues and engage on them.

·         Greg Razer comes off as a genuine person and that matters. He was also raised in a small town community that would love Trump, so he understands the culture of the Majority Party.

·         Washington is super smart and super fearless.

·         Razer is already well respected as a policy maker and comes to the senate with a diverse coalition of support, and a strong team to become successful.

·         Rural roots, progressive values, and the experience needed working with GOP colleagues. Razer will rise quickly.

·         Steven's studious nature and legal background will help him navigate the Senate well, plus he gets a free run at the 1st Congressional District in 2 years if he wants it. Hard to see how he doesn't succeed.

·         Roberts is a moderate bridge between leadership and Senate Ds.

Who Won the Week?

Thompson Communications, Axiom Strategies, and Victory Enterprises – According to numbers from campaign finance filings, these firms combined to haul in over $10 million from work in Missouri this cycle.

Eric Greitens – Feels like we’re living in era of the political opportunism.  That could be his superpower heading into the 2022 cycle.

Children’s advocates – The early feedback on a plan to streamline childhood services is that it would eliminate fragmentation and increase accountability.

Holly Rehder and Jason Bean – High expectations for these two incoming senators from the MOScout lobbying survey.

James Harris – Named a co-chair of the steering committee for the governor’s inauguration.

Find a downloadable version here.

$5K+Contributions

Viceroy PAC - $10,000 from Golden Entertainment.

Supporters of Health Research and Treatments - $60,000 from John McDonnell.

Secure The Vote - $10,000 from Action St. Louis Power Project.

St. Charles County Association of REALTORS Political Action Committee - $5,622 from St. Charles Association of Realtors.

Together KC - $35,000 from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Noel Torpey, Celeste Rueter, Sal Martinez, and Chris Girouard.

Sunday: Dan Shaul, Jennae Neustadt, Gary Fuhr, and Curt Dougherty.