MOScout Daily Update: MedEx Makes Ad Buy - Swan Ad - Anti-Page Ad - June Revenues Flat and more...
Scooplette: MedEx Makes Ad Buy
Yesterday the Yes on 2 campaign placed a $3.3 million TV and radio buy statewide.
That’s a strong number. In August, without competition from statewide candidates, it should be the dominant campaign in Missouri.
Meanwhile no meaningful opposition campaign has coalesced, and there’s been no record of money flowing into the opposition campaign committee.
And
The campaign continued to show strong momentum.
· On Monday, the campaign rolled out another round of endorsements. This time it was a geographically diverse group of 20+ organizations representing first responders. See it here.
· In neighboring state Oklahoma voters approved Medicaid expansion on Tuesday night.
Swan Unveils Ad
In Senate 27, Rep. Kathy Swan has released her first TV ad. See it here. It’s called “Tough on China,” because that topic covers the first part of the 30-second ad. “It’s just dumb to trust China… It’s time to hold China accountable for the lies about the virus…”
The ad moves on to describe her support for Trump, the Wall, and creating jobs, finishing with endorsements from the NRA from MRL. “Kathy is the only candidate in this race endorsed by Missouri Right to Life.”
Anti-Page Ad
Change STL, the pro-Mark Mantovani group, has produced a hard-hitting anti-Sam Page ad. See it here. It focuses on a sexual harassment complaint filed, against Councilmember Ernie Trakas by Annette Read, and the subsequent settlement paid to Read.
What It Means
A MOScout poll last month showed Page with a wide lead. But it expected both Mantovani’s and Jake Zimmerman’s camps are concentrating their fire at Page.
June Revenues Flat
June revenues were rising 1% versus June 2019. In this environment, flat is great. It continued interesting cross-currents. Sales tax was up an impressive 10.9% while individual income tax dropped 8.9%.
Overall, the fiscal year ended down 6.6% with about $630 million less collected than the previous year.
But, there’s reason to hope that July will provide a solid start for state revenues. The April tax deadline and the June quarterly filing deadline were both pushed into July. That should help year over year comparisons.
Masks by County
While St. Louis City and County announced they were joining Kansas City issuing a mask requirement for folks while inside public places, St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann explained why this county is sticking with its way. See it here.
“When it comes to masks, I have faith that the citizens of St. Charles County will do the right thing without government coercion,” Ehlmann said when learning that St. Louis City and St. Louis County are mandating the use of masks. Ehlmann added, “I will continue to do everything I can to remind our citizens that, along with the freedom to decide, they have a responsibility to protect the health of others by wearing a mask.”
This approach is consistent with earlier decisions by the County Executive. When other jurisdictions mandated the closure of businesses they deemed “nonessential,” Ehlmann chose to order residents to frequent only businesses they deemed essential. After they did that, nonessential businesses in St. Charles County closed voluntarily at the same rate they closed in other jurisdictions where government ordered them to.
The number of cases in the 20 to 40 age group has nearly tripled and Ehlmann stressed this age group most needs reminding about the need for a mask…
Audit Shows Fraud in Parma
Press release: More than $115,000 was taken fraudulently over a four-year period from the Missouri Bootheel city of Parma (pop. 713) through payroll overpayments and improper payments and purchases, an audit from State Auditor Nicole Galloway has determined. The audit also found that the officials primarily responsible for Parma's financial matters -- the former mayor and city clerk -- falsified meeting minutes and financial reports to conceal the fraud… Auditor Galloway said her office's Public Corruption and Fraud Division has been working with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for several months about what was discovered during the audit…
The City of Parma is represented by Sen. Doug Libla and Rep. Don Rone.
Lobbyists Registrations
McClain Bryant Macklin deleted Civic Council of Greater Kansas City.
Health Clarkston, Harry Gallagher, Doug Nelson, and Kurt Schaefer deleted US Chamber Institute For Legal Reform.
John Cozad deleted Praxair.
Gary Elmestad deleted City of St. Charles.
Steven Tilley and Thomas Robbins deleted Green Farms Missouri, LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
STL Approves - $25,000 from The Center for Election Science.
Missouri AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education - $5,802 from Missouri State AFL-CIO.
Keep Missouri Great - $10,000 from Dealers Interested in Government.
MBA River Heritage Region PAC - $9,725 from Southern Bank.
Mark Mantovani for St Louis - $50,000 from Mark Mantovani.
Conservative Leadership of the Ozarks - $10,000 from Health Systems Inc.
Page PAC - $7,500 from United Food and Commercial Workers International Union ABC General Fund Missouri Federal Committee.
Page PAC - $20,000 from United Association Political Education Committee Missouri Committee Federal Committee.
Page PAC - $10,000 from Post Holdings, Inc.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Cliff Davis, Jake Buxton, TJ McKenna, Bruce Wylie, and Duane Simpson.
Friday: Sara Schuett and Rachel Payton.
July 4th: Jim Moody, Ron Richard, Joe Aull, Brian Millner, and Curtis Trent.
Sunday: Jake Zimmerman, Chris Molendorp, and Gary Dusenberg.
MOScout Schedule
Reminder: I’m taking a long weekend for the 4th.
No Update on tomorrow and no extras (Weekly Summary, Weekender, Sunday6). See you Monday. Then it’s a four-week sprint to the August primaries…