MOScout Daily Update: The Case for Vetoing SB 600 - Study Says Many More Infected - No Appeal on PP - STL Fraying? - KC Seeks Cop Control - New IE PACs and more...
The Case for Vetoing SB 600
One reader responding to another… Those who say Willard and Knodell will not allow Gov. Parson to veto SB 600 may be missing these points:
1) Mike Parson automatically is the law and order candidate as a former sheriff.
2) He gets no new votes by signing SB 600.
3) He opens up a potent line of attack for Nicole Galloway if he signs it. At a time when even Mississippi is woke enough to change their racist flag, Parson would be showing he is willing to continue racist patterns of mass incarceration, even if no public safety benefit has ever been demonstrated and it commits MO to spend money we do not have.
Parson: No Mas
Post-Dispatch reports that with potentially another round of appeals to begin against the issuance of a license for Planned Parenthood’s St. Louis facility, Governor Mike Parson and Attorney General Eric Schmitt threw in the towel. See it here.
Study: Lots More Missourians Have Had COVID
According to a government study – which lists Dr. Randall Williams and MO DHSS as participants – as of late April, the estimated COVID cases in Missouri were actually 24x what is reported by testing.
The study suggests that between 100,828 –235,877 Missourians were infected by the coronavirus – back in April.
A couple of caveats: The study does say that it is difficult to know if the data collected at testing locations that participated in the study are representative of the whole state. And it hasn’t been peer-reviewed yet.
New IE PACs
· In the New Committees (below), Jamey Murphy is the treasurer of NOVA PAC, a new PAC for John Simmons. Simmons is running (unopposed) for re-election House 109 (Franklin County), potentially prepping for a Senate run in 2022 (Schatz termed). However, this is after redistricting so there’s a lot of unknowns.
· Over the weekend, there were a bundle of checks for Citizens for a Better District 1. I’m told this is a pro-David Lenihan PAC. Folks noted that the addresses on the various companies were that associated with developer Paul McKee.
STL Fraying?
The COVID lockdown combined with the George Floyd protests have St. Louis City nerves fraying.
· There were calls for the resignation of Mayor Lyda Krewson after she read names and addresses of activists who have supported defunding the police. Krewson apologized Friday night.
· And then this scene (see it here) which would be sit-com fodder if it didn’t involve actual people and guns.
KC Seeks Cop Control
Kansas City Star reports that Mayor Quinton Lucas said he will “introduce an ordinance that would ask Kansas City voters whether they wish to proceed with gaining local control of the police department. The measure would establish the call for local control as a city legislative priority and would go before voters on the Nov. 3 ballot… Local control of the Kansas City Police Department has been among the reform demands from clergy, civil rights groups and protesters who gathered on the Country Club Plaza late last month to demonstrate against police brutality. Kansas City is the only city in Missouri, and one of the largest cities in the U.S., that doesn’t have local control of its police department. Instead, the force is controlled by a five-member board appointed by the governor. As mayor, Lucas sits on the board. A police department spokesman did not comment directly about the proposed ordinance but referred to a November blog post from Police Chief Rick Smith that said of the police department’s governance model: ‘Many say that model is outdated. We believe, however, that it has served the people of Kansas City well for 80 years and will continue to do so.’”
FYI
· Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police are represented by Gamble & Schlemeier, the city’s previous lobbying firm.
· Kansas City Missouri Board of Police Commissioners are represented by Andy Arnold and others.
· Kansas City Police Employees' Retirement Systems are represented by Steven Carroll.
Ruckus on Hiatus
The Kansas City PBS TV show Ruckus has been put on hiatus. See it here.
With our viewers, members and community in mind, we have made the decision to pause the production of the weekly roundtable debate program Ruckus. KCPT will take some time to consider whether we might better use our station resources in support of another program, one that allows for differing opinions but maintains the standards expected of our organization.
eMailbag: Don’t Forget Dogan!
On police reform: Let's not give Levasco too much credit here. Rep. Shamed Dogan has been talking about this shit for YEARS, even when Dems weren't… He's the unsung civil libertarian hero of Missouri politics. When Dems wouldn't touch Black Lives Matter with a 10 foot pole, Dogan was talking about asset forfeiture and use of force.
eMailbag: Why Talk About Anti-CC Coalition?
Why would the anti-CC forces go out of their way just to put this message into the echo chamber via MoScout? My guess is two-fold:
1) The original plan to tie up CLPAC money was Wulff vs Eigel in St Charles… [is] going badly, the fallback position is to oppose CC and Eigel allies directly (Moon, Brattin, etc).
2). But still—why advertise the idea of a coalition working together? The answer is because all three of those races are going the wrong way (or right way from the CC’s perspective). In all three races the moderates are losing (per polling, message, and intensity), in some cases badly. The answer is that the anti-CC coalition needs help and needs it fast—that’s why they need to get the word out.
eMailbag: Tuning Out?
Some people are really worn out by the news of covid, protests, end of world sadness, etc. and staying off social media - could this impact campaign advertisement reach…
New Committees
Jamar Buford formed an exemption committee to run for House 31 (Dan Stacy district Blue Springs) as a Democrat.
NOVA PAC was formed. Its treasurer is James M Murphy.
Lobbyists Registrations
Andy Blunt, Jay Reichard and Angie Schulte added Wellpath.
$5K+ Contributions
St. Louis Rising - $74,583 from Pelopidas, LLC.
Missouri Growth PAC - $90,000 from Torch Electronics LLC.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Tim Green.