MOScout Daily Update: Leading Age Cancels Lobby Day - PDMP Perfected in Senate - Lenihan Files in Senate 1 - MO Unemployment Rate Edges Up and more....
Leading Age Cancels Lobby Day
Caution in dealing with the coronavirus is behind Leading Age’s decision to cancel their “lobby day” in the capitol.
Leading Age is an association of non-profits that provide the entire continuum of senior care including nursing facilities, assisted and residential care communities, senior housing communities, adult day providers, and home health providers. See their website here.
Their concern is to reduce the possibility that one of their workers picks up the virus and brings it back to one of their communities with older residents who are more vulnerable to the virus.
The capitol, with its hundreds of visitors a day, is hardly a sterile environment.
Leading Age had planned a reception tonight with their lobby day tomorrow. They’re trying to raise awareness about their issues, particularly reimbursement rates.
Senate Finds Compromise on PDMP
The Senate debated HB 1693, Rep. Holly Rehder’s prescription drug monitoring program legislation.
And the Conservative Caucus came ready to play.
What many thought would be an all-week siege ended instead in a single night as they negotiated with Senate handler Tony Luetkemeyer.
I’m told that Sens. Cindy O’Laughlin, and Eric Burlison carried most of the negotiations for the CC. Presumably Luetky was in tough with Rehder so that the Senate version doesn’t immediately get flamed on the House side.
That Unemployment Rate
Missouri’s January jobs report showed the state’s unemployment number ticking up again. It’s now at 3.5%. That’s a hair below the national average. But it’s up off its record low of 3.0% from July 2018 when Governor Mike Parson took over the top spot.
And now there’s a growing concern that the coronavirus’ impact will farther reduce the economy’s previous tepid 2.3% growth, with some market watchers believing that we may be on the brink of a recession.
This will all undermine the narrative of President Donald Trump – and Governor Parson – as good stewards of the economy.
Lenihan Files
David Lenihan filed to run in Senate 1. He’s a Republican, who will face off against Democratic Rep. Doug Beck to replace Sen. Scott Sifton.
I linked to a story yesterday about his company opening a for-profit university in St. Louis City. Some think he will be able to self-fund his campaign.
What It Means
His candidacy will force Dems to spend money there, perhaps drawing resources away from Senate 15 or Senate 19 where the GOP is defending incumbents.
Baby Steps to Rural Consolidation?
Rep. Brenda Shield’s HB 1903 was passed by the House yesterday. Over the years there’s been a back and forth about whether Missouri needs to consolidate some rural school districts. Some are tiny, and therefore highly inefficient. But consolidation would lead to longer, perhaps unbearable, bus routes and morning drives.
Shields’ bill, however, appear to offer a reasonable first step: consolidating administrative costs.
A school district that enters into an agreement with another school district to share a superintendent shall receive additional state aid… The department of elementary and secondary education shall annually distribute thirty thousand dollars to any school district that shares a superintendent…
Potentrepreneurs Going Elsewhere?
AP reports that Oklahoma is drawing folks in a “green rush.” See it here.
Though 11 states have fully legalized marijuana for recreational use, Oklahoma’s medical law is the closest thing to it: Anyone with any ailment, real or imagined, who can get a doctor’s approval can get a license to buy. It’s not hard to do. Already, nearly 6% of the state’s 4 million residents have obtained their prescription cards. And people who want to sell pot can do it as easily as opening a taco stand.
“Oklahoma is really allowing for normal people to get into the cannabis industry, as opposed to other places where you need $20 million up front,” said Jessica Baker….
eMailbag: More on MMJ
I haven’t heard anyone in the hallways suggest that Lyndall Fraker is part of a conspiracy, or even the target in the House committee hearings. While some have attacked his lack of experience, he has a reputation as an approachable leader with a strong moral compass.
The real test is going to be at what point, if ever, Fraker, Randall Williams, the Gov, etc. stop defending Wise Health Solutions and open up to the idea that the third party contractor acted in bad faith.
It’s expected for a department to stand up for its own, but the blind trust and rush to defend a third party contractor with no experience in the state is what many are questioning.
New Candidate Filings
David Lenihan filed to run for Senate 1 as a Republican. He will face Democrat Rep. Doug Beck to replace Scott Sifton.
Connie Simmons filed to run for House 53 as a Democrat. She will face Republican Terry Thompson to replace Rep. Glen Kolkmeyer.
New Committees
Ashley Aune formed a candidate committee (Ashley Aune for Missouri) to run for House 14 as a Democrat. Aune hasn’t filed yet, but it would create a primary with Rep. Matt Sain.
Jamie Braden formed a candidate committee (Friends Of Jamie Braden) to run for House 26 as a Democrat. That’s a primary with Rep. Ashley Manlove. Braden’s MEC filing actually says “statewide office.) See it here.
Troy Jefferson formed a candidate committee (Committee to Elect Troy Jefferson) to run for House 66 as a Democrat. Jefferson is in a three-way Democratic primary to succeed Rep. Tommie Pierson Jr.
Stephen Biles formed an exemption committee to run for House 126 as a Republican. Biles is challenging Rep. Patricia Pike in the Republican primary. An exemption committee means that Biles won’t be filing campaign finance reports because he won’t raise or spend more than $500,
Lobbyist Registrations
Lee Robinson Camp added ArchCity Defenders Inc.
Amy Blunt added Missouri Health Connection.
Daymeond Hord added Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City.
Shawn Rhoads added Polaris Inc.
Salvatore Panettiere added University of Missouri-Kansas City Trustees.
Mark Bryant added Eric Holtze.
Andrew “Drew” Weber added Missouri-American Water Company; and deleted Purpose Investments LLC.
Dale Amick added Dale Amick & Associates; and deleted Missouri Insurance Coalition, and Missouri Dairy Association.
Richard Brownlee deleted American National General Insurance Company.
Jerry Burch deleted Missouri Son Inc.
Jonathon Callicoat, Paul Callicoat, and Wendy Lynn Callicoat deleted MOFarma21.
Frank Plescia deleted Mallinckrodt LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Uniting Missouri PAC - $20,000 from Smithfield Support Services Corp.
UFCW Active Ballot Club-Missouri Federal Committee - $47,600 from United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Active Ballot Club.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Tishaura Jones, Jamey Murphy, Eddy Justice, Luke Scavuzzo, and Matt Jessee.