MOScout Weekender: Biden Leads by 20 in MO - Hallway on Rizzo - Albus Gets Gavel - Behind Burly's Blow-up - WWTW and more...
Behind Burlison Venting
From a building observer: I agree with your assessment that Senate tensions are rising. Now is the time we will find out the true mettle of Senate leadership. Last week, Rowden decided it was more important to get another eco devo bill (which are famously unpopular with the CC) than to preserve peace within the Republican Caucus. Was it really worth 12 hours of public division to get such a small priority through over the objections of a quarter of the Republican Caucus? Of course not.
On Thursday morning, the Republican Caucus was a mix of six or seven unhappy about the previous nights results, six or seven more who were happy it wasn’t worse, six or so more than that who were happy, and a couple that were happy that a certain six were unhappy. That’s a far cry from the smashing unity the Majority felt when tort and Cleaner Missouri passed.
Bottom line: The real winner was Senator John Rizzo, the new Minority Floor leader who got to spend his first full week watching his opposition fracture. He appears on track for another win given that Rowden has said next week will be the PDMP debate. Nothing brings Senate Republicans together like a debate about PDMP. March is starting off with a bang for Senate Dems.
Albus Gets Gavel
Governor Mike Parson announced the appointment of Thomas Albus as Circuit Judge for the 21st Judicial Circuit in St. Louis County effective April 1, 2020. He will fill the Circuit Judge vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Gloria Clark Reno. Mr. Albus, of Glendale, currently serves as the First Assistant Attorney General for the State of Missouri. He holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.
Remington/MOScout Poll: Dem Prez Primary
Survey conducted March 4 through March 5, 2020. 1,040 likely 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary Election voters participated in the survey. Survey weighted to match expected turnout demographics for the 2020 Democratic Primary Election. Margin of Error is +/-3%. Totals do not always equal 100% due to rounding. See the full results here.
Q1: The candidates in the March 10th Democratic Primary the March 10th Democratic Primary Election for President of the United States are Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Tulsi Gabbard. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?
Joe Biden: 53%
Bernie Sanders: 31%
Other: 10%
Undecided: 6%
Q2: What is most important to you when determining your support for a Democratic candidate?
Their position on specific policies: 26%
Their experience and readiness for the job: 23%
Their ability to beat Donald Trump: 39%
Not sure: 12%
Q3: What do you think is the biggest problem facing our country today?
Federal debt: 12%
Rising healthcare costs: 31%
Climate change: 18%
Income inequality: 11%
Something else: 16%
Not sure: 12%
Q4: How worried are you about the spread of the coronavirus?
Very worried: 28%
Somewhat worried: 46%
Not worried: 21%
Not sure: 5%
MOScout’s Hallway Index: New Minority Leader
This week I asked how Sen. John Rizzo’s ascension to the minority leader role would impact the Senate. 26 replies…
RESULTS
1. More confrontations between majority and minority caucuses…0%
2. Fewer confrontations between majority and minority caucuses… 84.6%
3. No significant impact… 11.5%
4. Something else… 3.8%
Sample of Comments
· The Senate is a body of individuals and leadership doesn’t matter that much. JJ is a “go along to get along” kind of guy who avoids confrontation generally, and he likes to be liked. So he’ll get along with folks and his caucus will continue to do whatever they were going to do with Gina or whoever else holds the title.
· Rowden and Schatz are reasonable guys. Rizzo is reasonable. I think things will continue as they have been.
· I always say there are two types of minority leaders: those who work with the majority to find the best deal possible for their caucus, and those contrast with the majority to show the electorate an alternate solution. Rizzo is the former. So was Walsh, Keaveny, and Callahan.
· Is there a nicer guy in the bldg?
· Sen Rizzo is reasonable to work with. He acts like a Senator should and respects the Senate process. Good choice.
· Overall in the Senate, I don’t think much changes in the relationship between the R’s & D’s.
· I think JJ works well with everybody. I am interested in the impact that his leadership will have on not just the minority caucus but the senate body as a whole. I think JJ is a person that likes to discuss and at times compromise on policy. How that dynamic will work with the make-up of the Republicans will be interesting
Who Won the Week?
House Dems – As they target suburban swing district, the resurgent Joe Biden offers a better top of the ticket than “socialist” Bernie Sanders.
Mark Mantovani – New pro-Mantovani PAC shows some support from labor.
Gina Walsh – Class act as ever, she gets deserving accolades as she steps aside to make room for the next minority leader.
Lawyers, lawyers, lawyers – Once again, lawyers win the week… With hundreds and hundreds of medical marijuana license appeals in the works, who will do the filing and fighting on both sides: lawyers.
Nicole Galloway – Her gubernatorial campaign needed something to change the basic electoral equation in Missouri. It’s unclear how it will play out, but two related wildcards are emerging: coronavirus, and a possible recession.
Find a downloadable version here.
New Candidate Filings
Angela Thomas filed to run in House 160 as a Democrat. She’ll face Republican Rep. Ben Baker. Baker won their 2018 match-up 75%-25%.
$5K+ Contributions
New Approach PAC – $190,000 from New Approach PAC.
Missourians for a New Approach - $200,000 from New Approach PAC.
MO State Council of Fire Fighters PAC - $100,000 from International Association of Fire Fighters Local 42.
MO Republican Party - $15,000 from Parson for Missouri.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Rory Rowland, Rich AuBuchon, Frank Barnitz, and Jeff Layman.
Sunday: David Steelman.