MOScout Daily Update: Grain Belt Grenade - Onder Pens Letter to Williams - Razer, Hannegan on MONA - Parson On LIHTC and Specials and more...
Grain Belt Grenade
BOOM!
The Senate exploded last night after it discovered that a bill they’d TAFP’d, SB 782, included the anti-eminent domain language for the Grain Belt project that they’d previously rejected.
They unanimously “reconsidered” the bill, reversing their previous approval. And raged against the violation of trust. The bill summary provided to senators included what some thought was a smoking gun of intentional deception. The phrase “don’t dig deep” next to the provision which included the language. See it here.
· One lobbyist referenced John Loudon’s midwifery trick as the most analogous situation.
· The amendment came from Rep. Greg Sharpe, but few folks were accepting the single-shooter-theory. One House source saying “Elijah [Hahhr] made his counter move quietly, old school style…”
What It Means
The legislative process depends on a level of trust between legislators. When that trust is missing, it hurts every piece of legislation in play. There’s no guarantee that anything will pass on this final day.
We’ll see. But for folks who were skeptical about any provision, this gives them a legitimate reason to “dig deep” and make lots of inquiries to be certain that there’s nothing hiding.
Parson on LIHTC
The mighty Jason Rosenbaum interviews Governor Mike Parson about restarting the state incentives for the low-income housing tax credit. Parson doesn’t commit, but says everything is on the table for getting the Missouri economy going again. Listen to it here.
Also
Parson says EVERYONE is bugging him about a special session and they should cool their jets because he’ll figure that out later. Right now, he’s dealing with COVID and the economy. Listen to it here.
Razer, Hannegan Talk Gay Right
Reps. Greg Razer and Tom Hannegan stood on the House floor yesterday, and spoke about their experiences as gay men. Hannegan admitted it’s “difficult to get up here, be vulnerable and talk about these things.”
The two raised the issue of MONA (Missouri Non-Discrimination Act) without which it’s still legal to fire someone in Missouri because they’re gay.
They spoke during debate on SB 570, and omnibus taxation bill. As Razer explained, “we have to find a way to find fifteen minutes on the floor. We pay taxes, we’re taxpayers so its germane to the bill.”
One observer thought their inquiry had the tacit support from House leadership. “[They] would have had to plan/allow for this.”
Onder Pens Object to DHSS Rule
Sen. Bob Onder has written a letter to DHSS Director Randall Williams objecting to a proposed rule change which he says would among other things:
· Represent “a vast, unprecedented expansion of the powers of local health authorities and the director of Health and Senior Services…”
· “Is an unjustified infringement on the rights of Missouri citizens…”
The letter is signed by nearly the entire Senate Republican Caucus. The only GOP senators whose signatures weren’t on the letter were: Sens. Lincoln Hough, Doug Libla, and Caleb Rowden.
This follow a similar appeal from the House.
Zimmerman on Proposed Voting Rules
St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman did a quick reversal yesterday on the proposed no absentee voting language in the general assembly.
His first email to supporters was enthusiastic… The Missouri House finally passed legislation to offer "no-excuse" mail-in ballots. We need to keep the pressure on the Senate and GET THIS DONE.
Then, later in the day, and after St. Louis County Executive Sam Page had sent an email blast critical of the legislation (“The absentee voting bill that's being advanced right now by the GOP in Jefferson City does not do that.”), Zimmerman reversed course.
The second email: So this morning, I got pretty excited when I saw that legislation on the subject had passed the State House. But, sheesh. I should have known better than to trust a bunch of Missouri Republican politicians. So let me say it loud and clear: if you saw my earlier message: we goofed. Please do NOT lend your support to a sham bill that would still force people to seek a notary in order to vote absentee, and that also contains offensive, discriminatory, and unconstitutional voter ID requirements…
Bits
· Anti-CLEANER forces already have a website up and running… Cleanermissouri.com.
· Dark Prince Gregg Keller, in an odd role reversal, is expressing outrage about someone else’s tweet. See it here.
Help Wanted
Global Medical Response seeks Vice President of National Government Affairs. “The Vice President of National Government Affairs will be responsible for building, representing to and maintaining strong professional relationships with key national influential legislators, staff and government officials. S/He will advocate policies to federal legislators and regulators that protect and advance GMR’s interests, create market opportunities, and that assure adequate reimbursement and patient access to GMR services. This position will report to the GMR Senior Vice President of Government Affairs with a dotted line reporting relationship to the Chief Administration Officer of GMR. As a result, this person is considered one of the key leaders of Global Medical Response overall given the importance of Government Affairs within the GMR structure…” See the posting here.
New Committees
Tricia Derges formed a candidate committee (Citizens For Derges) to run for House 140 as a Republican.
William Parsons formed an exemption committee to run for House 143 as a Republican.
Lobbyists Registrations
Steven Tilley and Thomas Robbins added Kindbio.
Diana Vuylsteke deleted Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.
$5K+ Contributions
Page PAC - $10,000 from Clayco.
Page PAC - $10,000 from I.U.O.E. Local 513 Political Education Fund.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann.
Saturday: Deanna Hemphill.
Sunday: Doug Funderburk.
MOScout Schedule
Happy end of session. No Weekender tomorrow. See you on Monday.