MOScout Daily Update: PDMP Falters in House - Wayfair Scuttled in Senate - Bernie for Green - Baker Contra Williams - Dinkins for Caucus Chair and more...

PDMP Falters in the House

Final passage of Rep. Holly Rehder’s prescription drug monitoring program failed as some Democrats pulled their support for the legislation.

It failed 87 to 58.

The House then made a motion to go to conference.

Democrats’ change of heart was supposedly over a provision that the Senate added concerning fentanyl.  But others saw different motives….

·         Sen. Bill Eigel speculated on the Senate floor that “the interest of the minority party may go beyond the subject of this bill.”

·         One Republican thought that Minority Leader Crystal Quade was “playing the long game,” and this worked to sow dissension among the Republican Caucus.

·         One lobbyist thought that it was an attempt by House Dems to create a point of leverage they could use to influence other legislation, perhaps CLEANer.

·         But – it really demonstrates how low the stakes of this bill have become for many.  Over 80% of the Missouri’s population is already covered by a PDMP. 

And

The Conservative Caucus, which opposed the PDMP, has Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin on the conference committee, presumably to sign off on any compromise and prevent a Senate filibuster on its return.

Wayfair Scuttled in Senate

Sen. Lincoln Hough brought up HB 1700, an omnibus dealing with taxation, to a near-immediate filibuster from Sen. Andrew Koenig. The bill contained a version of Wayfair that violated the framework on which he’d been working: any new taxes to be offset with corresponding decreases in taxes.  As a result he opened a book and started reading.

·         One observer texted me, “Deb Lavender gets a nice “Tax Breaks for Amazon” ad.

Other Happenings Yesterday

·         Sen. Mike Bernskoetter’s SCR 32 “urges the Missouri Congressional delegation to support legislation for the declassification of POW/MIA records.”  It passed the Senate unanimously, and yesterday passed the House with only one No vote.  The NO vote was…. Rep. Andrew McDaniel.

·         Jason Holsman’s bill to create a text-to-donate program to help homeless individuals became an omnibus bill and then collapsed under its own weight yesterday.  Sen. Lauren Arthur, who took sponsorship of the bill after Holman’s appointment, memorialized the bill in a tweet.  See it here.

·         Video of Rules Chair Rocky Miller disparaging the chances that the CLEANer proposal will pass on the ballot was making the rounds.  CLEAN leader Sean Nicholson gleefully tweeted it out.  See it here.

Baker Contra Williams

On Facebook Rep. Ben Baker posted a letter he sent to DHSS Director Randall Williams regarding a proposed rule change.  See it here.

In summary the state health department issued an emergency rule granting themselves and other county health departments and other unelected unknown people the power to shut down private business and places of worship. It gives the power to do so based on the arbitrary “opinion” of the person who makes that decision. Then, a proposed rule was made to make this permanent moving forward. This to me and to many other Representatives and Senators is a substantial granting of unconstitutional power! We are asking DHSS to withdraw the rule or we will have hearings on JCAR to properly discuss this issue.

Bernie for Green

Progressive heartthrob Bernie Sander sent a fundraising email with a shout-out to Senate 5 candidate Megan Green, promising to send funds to her campaign.

From: Bernie Sanders <info@berniesanders.com>

Date: Mon, May 11, 2020 at 3:12 PM

Subject: I am writing to ask if you can split a $27 contribution to these nine progressive candidates running for state legislatures…

Here is the truth:

State legislatures have a tremendous influence over our daily lives. All across the country, Republican-controlled chambers are working to undermine Medicaid, the right to vote, and a woman's right to make decisions about her own body.

That is why we must elect progressive candidates who will represent our movement at the state level. Because the truth is that real change never happens from the top on down — it happens from the bottom on up.

I am proud to support these state legislative candidates….

Megan Green is running for the Missouri State Senate and currently serves as alderwoman in St. Louis. As a progressive leader in Missouri, she has fought for a higher minimum wage, reproductive rights for women, and marijuana legalization. If elected to the State Senate, she will fight for Medicare for All, college for all, and a Green New Deal….

I understand that right now times are tough and you may not be able to afford a contribution. If you are financially able, I hope you will consider making a contribution to their campaigns today.

Split a $27 contribution between these nine progressive candidates running for state legislatures nationwide. We must elect state representatives who will stand with working people, not the corporate elite….

What It Means

It’s a big win for Green. 

·         It solidifies her as the progressive choice in the race.

·         And it will give her fundraising a much-needed boost.  Green’s cash on-hand has trailed Rep. Steven Roberts and Michelle Sherod’s totals.

Dinkins for Caucus Chair

Rep. Chris Dinkins announced in a letter that she’s running for caucus chair.  The current caucus chair, Rep. Sonya Anderson, is term limited.

After much encouragement and prayerful consideration, I’m writing you to announce my intentions to seek the position of Caucus Chair for the upcoming legislative session. 

Serving in the legislature has been a great honor and I am grateful for the relationships I have been able to build with our caucus members. I hope to use my experience as Caucus Secretary, as well as being a small business owner and former educator, to provide a well-rounded perspective as Caucus Chair that many of you can identify with.  I also hope to continue to bring a strong voice for rural Missouri to our caucus leadership meetings. 

As Caucus Secretary, I have worked hard to organize our annual caucus events and also take the opportunity to recognize and acknowledge the significance of serving in the 100th General Assembly.  As Caucus Chair, I want to continue to provide opportunities like these to the caucus while also focusing on providing guidance and assistance with constituent services—a role traditionally assumed by the Caucus Chair…

I look forward to visiting with you and listening to your thoughts, ideas, and concerns as we work to move Missouri forward as a unified caucus.

Follow Up on Fear of Slow Recovery

A University of Chicago white paper sees coronavirus creating a relocation shock in the economy, and causing a slower economic rebound as a result.  See it here.

·         We find 3 new hires for every 10 layoffs caused by the shock and estimate that 42 percent of recent layoffs will result in permanent job loss.

·         Under an optimistic scenario, the pandemic recedes in the coming weeks, COVID-19 treatments improve, an effective vaccine becomes available and widely deployed in 12-18 months, and the economy gradually comes back on line over the next 2-3 months without serious setbacks. Even in this scenario, we see several reasons to anticipate a lengthy recovery. U.S. real GDP may not surpass its 2019 level until the latter half of 2021 or later, and the return path to full employment is likely to take even longer.

Bits

·         Mayor Lyda Krewson published the guidelines for St. Louis’ May 18 phase one reopening.  See it here.

·         In Rep. Judy Morgan’s absence, Minority Leader Crystal Quade has appointed Rep. Robert Sauls to House Fiscal Review Committee, and designated Rep. Ingrid Burnett as its ranking member.

Lobbyists Registrations

Shawn D’Abreu added St. Louis Regional Health Commission.

Michael James Henderson added Missouri Insurance Coalition.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Leann Chilton, and Peter Kinder.