MOScout Daily Update: Eigel on DHSS Mission - More MedEx $$$ Debate - Williams for STLCE? - Where GOP, Dems Agree and more...

CHIEFS WIN

Superbowl parade will be Wednesday.  One idea floated is for a shortened legislative week to let the KC delegation zip home for the celebrations.  We’ll see….

And

Some fist-shaking on social media after President Donald Trump places KC in Kansas.  See Ryan Silvey’s tweet here.

Williams for County Executive?

The talk continues that Sen. Brian Williams should be looking at the St. Louis County Exectuive race. 

One MOScouter tells me that the “African American religious community have been discussing supporting Williams [and] they will be meeting next Wednesday…”

For those looking at the demographics of a Democratic primary, the current line of three white  men (Page, Zimmerman, and Mantovani) would seem to invite a serious African American candidates. 

But adding in Williams, four men would make the field ripe for a serious woman candidate….

Driving the Day

The Missouri Legislative Black Caucus (MLBC) will host a press conference Monday to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month Caucus Chair Rep. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis City, announced Thursday.  “Our caucus is enthusiastic to welcome February as a month of remembrance and reflection to the Capitol,” Roberts said. “We have a sizable number of legislative priorities to announce that we believe will uplift people across this state while honoring the legacy of black legislators who came before us.”

More on MOScout Poll

Last week I ran a Republican poll and the week before a Democratic poll.  They has a few similar questions which shows how the partisan divide filters some views – but not others.

When asked if they were better off now or four years ago, Republicans were much more likely to say they’re better off now (78% versus just 19% of Democrats).

But when asked what should be the top priority for state government, the results were not that different.  Both groups put “lowering healthcare costs” (32% of GOP and 33% of Dems), and second place was “reducing crime.”

And

Why are Republican primary candidates tripping all over themselves to embrace Trump?... That’s where the votes are.  When asked how they identify themselves, 44% went with Trump Republican, double the next category “Traditional Republicans” (22%) and equally ahead of “Evangelical Republicans” (19%). “Libertarian” was chosen by just 4%.

But

The big question is: what will become of the Trump Republicans, after Trump?

MedEx $$$ Debate

Missouri Budget Project has an analysis of Medicaid expansion which finds a similar result as the report issues last week by Health Management Associates: it’s a net positive for the budget.  See it here.

From the report….

While counterintuitive, Medicaid expansion would result in more than $100 million in state general revenue savings and new revenue for the state of Missouri. This net increase in the general revenue budget would make funds available that could be used for other priorities, including education.

These dynamics, which have been documented in other states, occur because under Medicaid expansion, the federal government would pay 90 percent of the cost for a variety of health services that are currently funded by state general revenue tax dollars. Additionally, the infusion of federal funds from expansion would result in increased state income and sales tax revenue. Combined, these funds would surpass the state’s contribution toward expansion and result in net savings in state general revenue.

They also cite the Kaiser Family Foundation’s a report entitled The Effects of Medicaid Expansion under the ACA: Updated Findings from a Literature Review.

This report, which collected data from 324 studies conducted on the impact of Medicaid expansion, demonstrated several positive outcomes… A review of studies in five states that expanded Medicaid (Michigan, Montana, Virginia, Louisiana and Colorado) showed that in each of the states, expansion either saved general revenue funds or did not result in general revenue costs.

But

It’s unlikely that this analysis will change the beliefs of Republicans who have only seen the cost of Medicaid go up year after year.  In their minds, more people on the program will necessarily mean more costs.  They note that even last year when the number of people enrolled fell, the costs still went up.

Eigel to Add Pro-Life Mission to DHSS

Sen. Bill Eigel’s SB 650 “establishes the mission of the Department of Health and Senior Services.”  It would enshrine a pro-life philosophical framework into the department.  See it here.

The mission of the department shall be to ensure healthy Missourians at every stage of biological development, including the born and unborn. The department shall pursue the goal of leadership in promoting, protecting, and partnering for health. A core component of the department's mission shall be to protect all human life from conception to natural death, irrespective of age, health, or condition of dependency.

More on Ritter

I wrote last week that Raleigh Ritter formed a candidate committee indicting he was running for either the GOP AG or GOP Gov position.  This generated a little reader feedback…

·         Mr. Ritter had an unsuccessful campaign against now Rep. Ben Baker last cycle…. Ritter is a relative of Sen. Richard, although he didn’t help him…

·         On Facebook (see it here) Ritter says he’s running for Governor.

Bits

·         Governor Mike Parson appointed the Honorable Jason D. Dodson as Circuit Judge for the 21st Judicial Circuit.

·         Vicki Englund announced that Jason Kander endorsed her campaign for State Treasurer.

·         One reader googled A New Approach Missouri.  See it here.  “It literally says it’s located in a Taco Bell… Convenient if they get the munchies I suppose…”

New Committees

Heartland Fund Inc was formed.  It’s a PAC.  Its treasurer is Shaun Horner.

Lobbyists Registrations

Elizabeth Lauber added Bridging Families to Communities and Beyond.

Nancy Giddens and Shannon Cooper added Vivent Health; and deleted AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin.

John Cozad deleted Powell Gardens.

$5K+ Contributions

KCFOP PAC - $5,190 from Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 99.

MO Republican Party - $10,000 from Missouri Realtors PAC Inc.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Warren Love, Justin Alferman, Jason Crowell, Kent Hampton, Dave Hinson and Paul Fehler.