MOScout Daily Update: Revenues Brighten - More Election Talk - More MedEx Talk - STL Mayor Talk and more...

Revenue Picture Brightens

The state revenue numbers for July were very strong.  This was expected because the tax filing date had been pushed back into July from April.  Still, it’s a nice boost to start what may be a challenging year – depending on the shape of the economic recovery and the extent to which the coronavirus remains a health hazard.

State Budget Director Dan Haug announced today that July 2020 net general revenue collections increased 96.4 percent compared to July 2019, from $588.4 million last year to $1.16 billion this year.  The income tax deadline was extended from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020.

And

James Moody, in his latest report, notes that shutdown of the service sector of the economy hasn’t impacted state sales tax revenue because “Missouri generally does not impose sales tax on services.”

Swan Yet to Concede?

According to comments in the Southeast Missourian (see it here), Rep. Kathy Swan hasn’t conceded in her race against Rep. Holly Rehder. 

Readers on Election Results

·         An interesting point to look at from yesterday is how the Democratic candidates who lacked serious opposition scored 85+% in most statewide and CD races, while the GOPers with no real opposition were 5-10 points lower.  Mike Kehoe barely made 50% in some counties, for example.  Not sure that it means much but combined with the drops in Trump poll numbers may suggest a rising tide of disaffection among GOP voters with their candidates/leaders.

·         [In House 148] Spending 2:1 for YAL recruit and Curtis Trent pick Will Perry against Jamie Burger and Jamie wins by 700 votes. Hell of a primary. Look for this guy to be an influence in the Capitol when he gets there in January.

·         David Barklage wins the night. [His clients]: Medicaid Expansion, Jason Bean, Karla Eslinger, and David Linehan. And James Harris had a good night [with] Mike Moon, Elaine Gannon, Rick Brattin and a very close race for Kathy Swan.

·         Mark Mantovani tried to get Republicans to vote in a Dem primary (see flyer here)…. This was terrible. Maybe why he lost by almost 9 points…

Other Election Notes

·         A problem with scanning machines gave funky results in Rep. Jon Carpenter’s Clay County Commissioner race.  See it here.

·         Longtime building denizen Harry Otto won the Cole County Commissioner post.  From the News Tribune: “Otto received 2,888 votes out of 7,360, or 39.24 percent… Otto has spent his career working in public accounting and spent some time working for the Missouri Department of Revenue, the Missouri General Assembly and the Missouri Department of Economic Development.”

·         Dave Stokes was elected as the Clayton Township Committeeman for the Republican Party – and the Green Party.  He explains that apparently someone familiar with his environmental work wrote him in for the Green spot, and it was the only vote cast.  Stokes previously worked at the Show-Me Institute, and now heads up Great Rivers Habitat Alliance.

More on MedEx

·         Lobbyist: Next up for Medicaid expansion is a lawsuit because it obligates the state to spend money. A separate constitution provision prevents voters from binding the state to spend money by ballot initiative. This couldn’t be challenged until after it passed.

·         Governor Mike Parson, at his briefing, didn’t seem to be interested in creating resistance to MedEx, saying “it was the will of the people.”

·         Public Service Commission Chair Ryan Silvey reflects on his days in the legislature, and his plan to expand Medicaid which stalled.  See it here.  He warns Republicans: If the @MOGOP wants to maintain control long term, they need to quit writing off the suburbs. The suburbs gave us the Majority in 2002/2004. As rural numbers increased, the suburbs got pushed aside. When I left the Senate, my seat flipped. When @mojeanevans left the House, her seat flipped. Last night, Clay, Platte, St. Charles & Greene Counties put Amendment 2 over the top. Ignore the suburbs at your own peril.

STL Mayoral Race

One reader sees one of the biggest St. Louis stories from Tuesday was Tishaura Jones easily beating Jeffrey Boyd to win re-election as City Treasurer.  “It makes her March run for Mayor a big worry for her opponents.”

The St. Louis mayoral race is next spring.  Jones is expected to run, after narrowly losing in 2017.  But Jones’ problem is the same as it was four years ago.  While she might win a head-to-head race with incumbent Lyda Krewson, the math becomes harder in a splintered field.

Krewson’s job approval is under water according to a recent Remington/MOScout poll.  But when those who disapprove are split between Jones, Alderwoman Cara Spencer, Dana Kelly, and potentially Board President Lewis Reed again, it’s hard to grab a plurality.

New Committees

Dana Kelly formed a candidate committee (Citizens for Dana Kelly) to run for St. Louis City Mayor as a Democrat.

Nancy J Ragan formed a candidate committee (Ragan for State Representative #62) to run for House 62 as a Democrat

JNB PAC was formed. Its treasurer is Heather Grote.

Missouri Women Vote was formed.  It’s a Federal PAC associated with Women Vote! (Washington DC).  Its treasurer is Joan Miller.

Lobbyists Registrations

Steven Tilley added US Paint Corporation; and deleted Missouri Career Fire Protection Districts.

$5K+ Contributions

MO Opportunity PAC - $75,000 from August A Busch III.

Missourians for Healthcare - $14,742 from Highlander Political Strategies LLC.

Jean Peters Baker for Prosecutor - $10,000 from CHIPP.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Jack Bondon, Mark Milton, Bob Nance, Rachael Dunn, and Bryan Stevenson.

MOScout Schedule

I’m taking the weekend off.  No Weekender (poll, Hallway Index or WWTW), and No Sunday6.