MOScout Daily Update: Dems Switch to GOP - Empower MO Changes - Rowden for T21 and more...

GOP Political Monopoly Grows in Rural MO

GOP operative Aaron Baker on Facebook notes that local Democratic office-holders are switching their affiliation to the Republican Party across outstate Missouri.

Democrat office holders that have switched to Republican so far in Missouri in 2020 (that I’m aware of):

Dunklin County Commissioner, District II

Dunklin County Public Administrator

Iron County Sheriff

Lafayette County Sheriff

Livingston County Clerk

Marion County Assessor

Marion County Sheriff

St Genevieve County Sheriff

St Francois County Sheriff

Washington County Sheriff

What It Means

This is furthering the trend in rural Missouri of the folks becoming “cultural Republicans.”  They might agree with Democrats on specific issues economic issues like right to work, or the minimum wage, or healthcare, but they can’t place themselves in the party of Nancy Pelosi. 

·         It’s a full reversal from decades ago when places were pro-life, and pro-gun, but culturally Democrat.

Rowden for T21

Floor Leader Caleb Rowden filed SB 1085.  This is a big consequential public health bill.

From the bill summary…

·         This act raises the age under which the sale of certain tobacco, alternative nicotine, or vapor products to a minor shall be prohibited from 18 years to 21 years.

·         This act modifies the definition of "vapor product" to include any device classified by the FDA as an electronic nicotine delivery system.

·         The Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control may employ a person between 17 and 20 years of age, with parental consent for persons under 18, to attempt to purchase tobacco for the purpose of inspection or enforcement of tobacco laws.

Watching Committee Votes

One building denizen wonders if a recent committee vote will be used against two Republicans running in Senate primaries.

At issue is Rep. Ben Baker’s HB 1345 that allows school districts to offer elective social studies courses on the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament.  An amendment was offered – seemingly innocuous to those who believe that the government shouldn’t pick winners and losers in the area of religion – which stated “nothing in this section shall prevent a school district from offering an elective social studies course on the Quran, the Vedas, or the Sutras.”

Still there’s an undeniable strand of islamophobia running through parts of rural conservative America.

Reps. Karla Eslinger and Kathy Swan voted in favor of the amendment which deadlocked 7-7.

Empower MO Makes Changes

Executive Director Jeanette Mott Oxford writes that Empower Missouri will be making some staffing changes – and is looking for a new executive director.

In coming months, I will be shifting my priorities to become Empower Missouri’s Policy & Organizing Director. My main responsibility will be to lead Empower Missouri’s newly-formed Policy & Organizing Team as we advocate for the issues that are our primary focus – food security, affordable housing, and criminal justice reform. I also will oversee implementation of an Organizational Partnership Program designed to harness the grassroots and grasstops power of direct service providers throughout our state. Lawmakers will still be seeing me as our registered lobbyist – possibly even more frequently - now that some administrative duties will be lifted from my shoulders…

In order for Empower Missouri to optimize the talents and passion of all of our current staff members and for our new strategic plan to unfold, we will need a new Executive Director to handle the administrative and fundraising responsibilities demanded by our expanding statewide organization.

The Board of Directors will first hire an Interim Executive Director to handle those duties while they conduct a comprehensive search process….

MO Preps for Coronavirus

It’s not just the markets now bracing for the impact of the coronavirus. 

·         Speaker Elijah Haahr announced he was putting together a Special Committee on Disease Control and Prevention.  Rep./Dr. Jon Patterson was named chair of the committee.  They will hold a hearing on Monday March 2.

·         And the Joint Committee Disaster Preparedness, chaired by Rep. Justin Hill, will hold its first meeting on March 10.

And

Post-Dispatch reports that St. Louis hospitals are planning for the “inevitable.”  See it here.

Boone Dems Hit By Bug

Columbia Tribune reports that “an illness consistent with norovirus has made sickened numerous people who attended the Boone County Democratic Party’s annual chili supper fundraiser. Public health officials are investigating an outbreak of nausea, stomach cramps and other symptoms following Friday’s Democratic Party chili supper. In a message sent out under a party letterhead, Boone County Democratic Chair Lyra Noce notified that all attendees would receive a survey from the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services. Noce also asked that anyone who was ill submit a stool sample for analysis…”

New Appts

·         Speaker Elijah Haahr appointed a Blue Ribbon Panel on Juvenile Justice… Rep. Dave Evans will serve as chair.  Other members: Reps. Nick Schroer, and Barbara Washington; Sens. Tony Luetkemeyer, Wayne Wallingford, and Scott Sifton; Bill Prince, Scott Odum, Bev Newman, Roger Schroeder, Erik Holland, Jacob Shellabarger, Michael Younker, Judge Stacey Lett, Judge David Dolan, and Marcia Hazelhorst.

·         Haahr appointed a Special Committee on Regulatory Oversight and Reform.  It will be chaired by Rep. Ron Hicks and vice-chaired by Rep. Sonya Anderson.  Other members: Reps. Dottie Bailey, Michael O'Donnell, Dan Houx, Barbara Washington (Ranking Minority Member), and Donna Baringer.

New Candidate Filings

Jamar Buford (Democrat) withdrew in House 34.  That leaves Rick Roeber unopposed for now.

New Committees

Terry Burgess formed a candidate committee (Burgess 4 Missouri) to run for House 113 as a Democrat.

Jeffrey McCormick formed a candidate committee (Friends of McCormick) to run for House 150 as a Republican.

Lobbyist Registrations

Rodney Cobb added Amgen.

Michael Grote and Jonathan Dalton added Stub Hub.

Emma Shankland added Reach Healthcare Foundation, St. Joseph Medical Center, and St. Mary's Medical Center.

$5K+ Contributions

Missourians for a New Approach - $36,500 from New Approach PAC.

American Property Casualty Insurance Association Political Account - $118,169 from American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Rep. Steve Butz.