MOScout Daily Update: Capping Supers' Pay - Fitz Eyes Auditor - Appeals Panel Named - Franks Fashion Line and more...

Targeting SuperPay

Among the pre-filed bills, Rep. Jered Taylor’s HB 93 would put a salary cap on school superintendents.  “The total compensation provided to a superintendent under this section shall not exceed three and one-half times the average total compensation provided to all teachers who are certified under section 168.021 and employed full time by the school district.”

Taylor filed a similar bill last year which made it out of committee, but never was debated on the House floor.  And Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin has pre-filed a Senate version this session.

It’s an intriguing suggestion which could create political cross-currents.

·         Republicans generally support the free market, and eschew government intervention in the form of salary caps.  And Democrats generally support flatter wage structures, disapproving of excessive salaries for executives.

·         However, superintendents are considered part of the educational establishment. Their clout with rural legislators has vexed school reformers for years.  This could lead to some partisan position swapping.

The Big Question

Would it tie the hands of school districts that need to offer higher compensation to lure talented superintendents?  One benefit of the free market is the employers can offer a variety of wages to fill varying jobs.  Would Missouri face a “superintendent drain” to school districts in other states paying higher salaries?

Real World Math

Dr. John Jungmann, superintendent who is retiring at the end of the year, earns a base salary of $265,110 annually. The average teacher salary in Springfield Public Schools (which is the largest district in the state with 25K students) earns $43,924 annually according to Glassdoor. That would mean that under the Taylor/O’Laughlin plan – Jungmann’s successor would earn a max of $131,772.

Fitz Explores Auditor Bid

Tipster tells me: “I’m also hearing that [State Treasurer Scott] Fitzpatrick is starting to make some calls to donors about a potential run for Auditor...”  It was confirmed by a second source.

Fitzpatrick joins Rep. David Gregory as an early explorer of the 2022 statewide race.

·         I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself in a completely speculative scenario, but… I could imagine crowded field in which the last Republican auditor nominee, Saundra McDowell, prevails again due to demographic cues, splintered voting blocs and name ID.  Watch out GOP!

Court of Appeals Panel Named

Press release: George W. Draper III, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri and chair of the Appellate Judicial Commission, announces the commission today submitted to Governor Michael L. Parson its panel of nominees to fill the vacancy on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District… The commission unanimously supports the three nominees…. Judge David A. Dolan, Judge Jack A.L. Goodman and Judge Laura J. Johnson.

·         Interesting to note that Parson and Goodman served together briefly in the Senate in 2011-2012.

Latest MO White House Task Force Report

Strong language in Missouri’s latest White House Task Force Report.  See the 12-page report (dated November 29) here.

·         If state and local policies do not reflect the seriousness of the current situation, all public health officials must alert the state population directly. It must be made clear that if you are over 65 or have significant health conditions, you should not enter any indoor public spaces where anyone is unmasked due to the immediate risk to your health; you should have groceries and medications delivered. If you are under 40, you need to assume you became infected during the Thanksgiving period if you gathered beyond your immediate household. Most likely, you will not have symptoms; however, you are dangerous to others and you must isolate away from anyone at increased risk for severe disease and get tested immediately. If you are over 65 or have significant medical conditions and you gathered outside of your immediate household, you are at a significant risk for serious COVID infection; if you develop any symptoms, you must be tested immediately as the majority of therapeutics work best early in infection

·         The depth of viral spread across Missouri remains significant and without public health orders in place compelling Missourians to act differently, the spread will remain unyielding with significant impact on the healthcare system.

Franks Fashion Line

Former Rep. Bruce Franks unveiled a clothing line.  “I am” is the motif.  See it here.

eMailbag on COVID Liability’s Demise

Yesterday’s comment blaming the Governor for not getting covid liability protections done was absolutely priceless.  The only winners in special session were the national tort reform lobbyist and the national tort reform organizations.  Actual Missouri small businesses and Missouri nursing homes got screwed once again by greedy national interests.  Every lobbyist walking the halls knows there was proposed simple legislation supported by actual Missouri small businesses to address covid liability concerns.  It could have been taken up and probably passes unanimously by both chambers.  But once again the entire tort reform agenda was highjacked by east coasters.  I guess never let a good crisis go to waste…

Lobbyists Registrations

David Sweeney added Alterra Worldwide.

Timothy Morgan added HNTB Corporation.

Garrett Webb added Aligned.

Nexus Group deleted Kansas City Zoo.

$5K+ Contributions

American Property Casualty Insurance Association Political Account - $10,046 from American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Jennifer Florida, and Sean Gagen.

MOScout Schedule

The Weekender returns tomorrow… A few weeks of 7-day MOScouting until the Christmas/New Year holidays.