MOScout Daily Update: Freakin on HB 1854 - Herschend Hearts Cole - CLEANER Lawsuit and more...

Freakin’ on HB 1854

I’m told there’s some freaking out going on by economic development officials across the state as a provision in the local government omnibus bill, HB 1854, has come to light.  Rep. Donna Pfautsch was the sponsor.

It would change how special taxing districts pass tax increases.  Now, they just need approval from the voters within their district. HB 1854 requires approval by voters of the entire municipality in which the district is located. 

It would have a severe dampening effect on any future tax increases for CIDs of TDDs.

“Such district sales and use tax may be imposed for any district purpose designated by the district in its ballot of submission to [its] qualified voters; except that, no resolution adopted pursuant to this section shall become effective unless the board of directors of the district submits to the qualified voters of the municipality in which the district is located, by mail-in ballot, a proposal to authorize a sales and use tax pursuant to this section.”

The language – added in to the Senate Substitute was from Sen. Andrew Koenig’s SB 646.  The Senate handler of the bill was Sen. Denny Hoskins.

There are now going to be efforts to persuade the governor to veto the 160-page bill.  That would create collateral damage.

Cleaner Lawsuit

Just like that, CLEANER is in court.  The defenders of CLEAN put a copy of the lawsuit up on their website. The suit attacks the summary language.  See it here.

Plaintiffs bring this suit because the true impact of SJR 38 would not be apparent to a voter who relies on the summary statement that was drafted, and approved, by the General Assembly to accompany the measure.

Their attorney is… of course, Chuck Hatfield.

Herschend Hearts Cole

In the large contributions, long-time State Board of Education member Peter Herschend donated $10,000 to Southwest Missouri Conservative Values PAC.  That’s a pro-David Cole PAC.  Cole is in a Republican primary with Rep. Mike Moon to replace termed Sen. David Sater.

The consensus view is that Moon could give Cole trouble if he can keep the money race somewhat close.

And

One hallway source wonders if Moon’s primary source of money right now, CL PAC, isn’t going to prioritize protecting Sen. Bill Eigel instead of funding the slate of insurgents.  If so, that’s bad news for Moon, but also for some others like Rick Brattin in Senate 31.

Scharf to MO

Former Greitens staffer Will Scharf writes on Facebook: A year and a half ago, I made one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made. I left Missouri, which had been my home for basically all of my adult life, to move to Washington, D.C… Next week I'll be leaving D.C. and moving back to St. Louis, where I have accepted a job as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office. I'm looking forward to getting back to my professional roots in the law and taking a break from politics….

STL County Exec Bits

·         County Executive Sam Page gets the endorsement of Indivisible STL.  See it here.

·         The pro-Mark Manotvani PAC rolls out an attack line on a new website… Same Page STL.  Get it, Sam Page, Same Page?  See it here.

Cleaning Out the In-Box

·         Pat Thomas continues to be the best staffer on the senate side. If I am not mistaken Sen. Lincoln Hough got everything he filed in his legislation or other bills plus all of his work on the budget… from Munzlinger to Hough she continues to be the best.

·         I’m always amazed by attempts to make some legislators look Machiavellian in hindsight. Rep. Crystal Quade didn’t kill HJR 106. COVID did.

·         During the House Republican Caucus discussion on the aftermath of the SB 782 fallout, a lot of legislators were very impressed with Rep. Brenda Shields and her comments to the caucus defending the Speaker and the House.  I’m told she was the only female Republican to speak up.

·         Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft lobbied hard against the elections bill even putting out a public statement before either chamber took a vote on the final version the last day. It still passed overwhelmingly in both chambers. Pretty solid slap down on his sway with legislators or the rank in file.

New Committees

Deannette Lemons formed an exemption committee to run for House 12 as a Republican.

Victoria Witt Datt formed an exemption committee to run for House 107 as a Democrat.

Lobbyists Registrations

Francis Slay added Delmar Gardens of Meramec Valley Inc.

Jack Cardetti deleted Lyft, Inc.       

Steve Carroll deleted National Tobacco Company, Universal Gaming Group, and MAAL.

David Winton deleted David Humphreys.

$5K+ Contributions

Southwest Missouri Conservative Values PAC - $10,000 from Peter Herschend.

MO Opportunity PAC - $10,000 from Alkin Co.

MO Opportunity PAC - $10,000 from Blackford F Brauer.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Chuck Purgason, Gary Cross, and Charles Lowenhaupt.