MOScout Daily Update: Model Shows MO Doing Much Better - Gov's Budget Amendments - RGA's $550K - Wulff Growls at Eigel - Corlew to US Labor and more....
Model Shows Fewer MO Deaths
The Covid model I’ve been following did an update last night. Their model now shows an earlier peak than they had previously forecast - with many fewer deaths.
They now project the peak of hospital resources being needed on April 19 – with no bed or ICU shortage – and total Missouri deaths of 352. Their model suggests deaths peaking around April 18-20 with a dozen Missouri deaths a day.
RGA Beefs Up MO Account
Over the weekend the Republican Governors Association added $550,000 to their Missouri PAC. Dems noted the investment came one day after the influential Cook Report changed their rating on the gubernatorial race from “Solid GOP” to “Likely GOP.” The Cook Report cited Governor Mike Parson’s handling of the coronavirus as the reason behind their change.
Governor’s Ask on Supplemental Budget
Post-Dispatch reports on the supplemental budget. See it here.
Parson also wants to create a pool of more than $1 billion for the State Emergency Management Agency to help state and local agencies pay for the response.
Public schools and universities would get an influx of $500 million in federal assistance, under the plan….
On Tuesday, the Missouri Senate is scheduled to reconvene for the first time since March 11, when they scuttled their regular schedule out of concern for the spread of the virus. The plan is for the Senate to approve the added spending and send it to the House, which left town March 19.
See the governor’s amendments here.
Senate 23: Wulff on Eigel
The Senate 23 Republican primary looks like it may be brawl. The back-and-forth is already starting. This statement comes from Eric Wulff’s campaign:
Bill Eigel is a CON (Conservative only-in name). Eric Wulff is in fact a federalist member and family law lawyer. While Eric works to protect children, Bill Eigel parties at the Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers Convention while soliciting contributions.
If Bill(the Taxman) Eigel, the man who has set a record for proposing the most and largest tax increases in his first 2 years in the Senate wants to talk about taxes, we are ready to have that discussion…
Corlew to US Dept of Labor
On Facebook, former Rep. Kevin Corlew writes, “This week I started work in a new role as Regional Representative for the U.S. Department of Labor and Secretary Eugene Scalia to state & local officials, business leaders, workers, and community stakeholders in the states of Kansas, Missouri, & Nebraska.”
GoFundMe for Thampy Legal Fund
A legal defense fund has been established for marijuana advocate and former lobbyist Eapen Thampy. Find it here.
GoFundMe for STL Front-Liners
Meanwhile, Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman and others are organizing a GoFundMe to give St. Louis nurses gift cards to restaurants. See it here.
Watching Gas Prices in J-City
From the Jefferson City News Tribune, folks are worried about price gouging at the gas pump. See it here.
If our Missouri Attorney General is interested in investigating price gouging during the COVID-19 crisis, he need look no further than the counties in Central Missouri. According to GasBuddy.com, at the time of this writing (3-28-20, 7 p.m.), gas prices in Central Missouri towns of Eldon, California, Tipton, Jefferson City, Kingdom City, Columbia, Sedalia, etc., ranged from $1.79-$1.96 per gallon. Gasoline in Nixa is $1.42; Springfield is $1.49-$1.53; Kahoka is $1.61; Hannibal is $1.39; and Shelbina is $1.58-$1.62.
Multiple cities in Oklahoma have gas as cheap as $0.99 per gallon, Arkansas — $1.19, Iowa — $1.29, Kansas — $1.25, Illinois — $1.18 and Tennessee — $1.07.
And
WSJ’s Daily Shot says that Americans loaded up on guns and alcohol as the crisis erupted.
eMailbag on Hallway Index
I think if you ask your hallway question in another week the hopes/expectations of passing legislation will be much different. Already hearing from several lawmakers that they don’t expect anything to get done except the budget/FRA. They are very concerned (and rightfully so) about catching/spreading COVID-19 and don’t want to spend a second longer in the Capitol building than they have to. Talk to anyone that’s had the disease and it’s a nightmare (whether you’re 30 or 70), and add the fact that lawmakers skew older and they don’t want to mess with it. No issue will be seen as worth dying for.
New Committees
Derron Black formed a candidate committee (Derron Black for America) to run for House 23 as a Democrat.
Johanna 'Jo' Doll formed a campaign committee (Doll for Missouri) to run for House 83 as a Democrat.
Luke Barber formed a candidate committee (Elect Luke Barber) to run for House 89 as a Democrat.
Lobbyists Registrations
Heath Clarkston, Doug Nelson, and Kurt Schaefer added Wesley Financial Group.
Christopher Janssen added Missouri Association of Realtors.
$5K+Contributions
Republican Governors Association - Missouri 2020 - $550,000 from Republican Governors Association.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Lane Roberts, Mark Jones, John McCaherty, Craig Overfelt, and Daniel Bogle.