MOScout Daily Update: O'Laughlin Gets Education - Senate Committee Changes - New House Witness Forms and more...

O’Laughlin Gets Education Chair

Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin was appointed the Chair of the Senate Education Committee.  She replaces Sen. Gary Romine who was appointed to the Tax Commission.

This was rumored, and to reiterate the general view on it…

·         It’s a positive for the school reformers.

·         O’Laughlin is in favor of chart school expansion, and generally more favorable on their issues.

·         Romine’s departure will be felt on the floor on these issues – especially when combined with Jason Holsman’s exit.

·         There are still plenty of school choice skeptics in the Senate, but this does shift the tug-of-war in favor of the reformers.

Other Senate Committee Shuffling

·         Sens. Mike Cierpiot and Tony Luetkemeyer came off the Gubernatorial Appointments Committee, and Sens. Wayne Wallinford and Sandy Crawford were added.

·         Sen. Lincoln Hough was added to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety and appointed as the new vice chair.

·         Sen. O’Laughlin was added to Ways and Means with Hough and Cierpiot coming off.

·         Sen. O’Laughlin was removed from Government Reform and Sen. Crawford was added.

·         Sen. Eric Burlison was appointed vice chair of Government Reform.

·         And Sen. Cierpiot was added to Education.

And

There was also a strange switcheroo concerning the Fiscal Oversight Committee.  Chair Mike Cunningham was removed and replaced by Sen. Dan Hegeman with Sen. David Sater stepping up to the chair’s role.  A day later it was reversed.

Behind the shuffling was a desire to move the “Cleaner” quickly through Fiscal Oversight and back to the Senate floor for a third read.

Cunningham had been called away by a family matter, and Sen. Lincoln Hough is a possible no on the committee vote, so the moves were an effort to ensure that there was a bungling similar to last year.

The weather blew plans apart, and now I’m told to look for it to be passed out of FO on Monday with a third read also coming Monday.  

Ice Day

Both chambers are taking today off.  Pretty much every committee hearing is cancelled except… the House Budget Committee is still chugging away.  Starting at 8:15 they’ll hear budget presentations from the Attorney General, General Assembly, Judiciary and Public Defender.

Another Paycheck Filed

Days after a St. Louis Circuit Court ruled against 2018’s HB 1413, a broad “government union reform” bill (see it here), Rep. Jered Taylor filed a new “paycheck protection” bill, HB 2341, modifying “provisions governing the authorization of the deduction of moneys from the paychecks of public employees for the benefit of public labor organizations.”

·         Since the right to work referendum reversed the legislature’s action, anti-organized labor legislation slowed considerably.

·         Governor Mike Parson’s ascent to the governor’s mansion likewise has moved the second floor’s focus away from “reforming” organized labor, and more toward working with organized labor on workforce development issues.

New House Witness Forms

The House committees are using new witness forms at their hearing.  As with any change, it’s drawing some grumbling.

Rep. Peter Meridith’s Facebook: The primary change - it now states at the bottom that false testimony may be subject to criminal prosecution for perjury or contempt.  I’ve got mixed feelings. On the one hand, I actually appreciate there being potential consequences for folks that get up to testify and simply lie outright. It happens more than you might think, and the way our political environment is trending lying seems to be getting more and more acceptable.

On the other hand, though, I worry about this intimidating the heck out of everyday Missourians that want to come testify. It doesn’t even say “intentionally” in it, meaning a witness’ speech may be chilled out of fear of accidentally saying something inaccurate. I also would hate to see this abused politically with aggressive prosecutions.

Similar concern from a lobbyist: Don’t like the Houses BS signature of truthfulness on their witness forms now.  It’s going to get someone pinched for something stupid when they misspeak.

And

Floor Leader Rob Vescovo this week filed HB 2374.  It’s similar to HB 1942 which he pre-filed.  They both make perjury before a body of the general assembly is a class D felony.

Franz Case Referred

Post-Dipatch reports that the “state auditor's office has referred a whistleblower complaint lodged against the former director of the Division of Tourism to the Missouri Ethics Commission and the attorney general's office. The referrals came nearly three months after Ward Franz, the former director of tourism, resigned after the auditor's office and the Department of Economic Development began investigating whether Franz violated state ethics rules. In Jan. 21 referral letters, the auditor's office said Franz admitted to the Department of Economic Development that he accepted baseball tickets from an active state vendor….”

Help Wanted

Empower Missouri seeks Communications Director. “The Communications Director will develop and manage the online presence and communication strategy across multiple platforms including social, online and traditional media. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest and experience in social media and will engage and expand Empower Missouri’s online presence and support… Please send a resume with cover letter to Jobs@EmpowerMissouri.org and include a

salary requirement and references.”

Lobbyists Registrations

Katie Gragnaniello added ACT, Inc.           

James Harris added Century Casino Cape Girardeau and Century Casino Caruthersville.

Sonette Magnus added STL Land Development, LLC.

Bradley Zimmerman added Carmody MacDonald P.C.