MOScout Daily Update: Dems Buy $5M of Ads in MO - New Pro-Parson Ads - WH Wanted MO Mask Mandate - August Revenues Strong and more...
Dems Plunk Down $5M on Gov Race
KC Star reports that “national Democrats will spend more than $5 million over the next five weeks on TV ads in Missouri to boost Democrat Nicole Galloway’s campaign against Republican Gov. Mike Parson. A Stronger Missouri, an independent expenditure group linked to the Democratic Governors Association, will launch the ad campaign Wednesday with a spot attacking Parson for accepting lobbyist gifts.”
What It Means
With this announcement Dems see A Stronger Missouri spending about $1 million a week on ads. That’s in addition to about $200K from candidate Nicole Galloway each week, totaling about $6M spent on ads.
In contrast, the pro-Mike Parson PAC Uniting Missouri has between $300K-$400K of ads/week for the next five weeks, totaling nearly $2M.
That’s a three to one advantage for Team Galloway on the airwaves.
Uniting MO Unveils Three New Ads
Uniting Missouri unveiled three new ads, hitting their same themes.
One is the relative of a victim of violent crime who is “tired of soft on crime politicians” so isn’t supporting Nicole Galloway. See it here.
One is a businessman who appreciates Parson’s efforts on workforce training. See it here.
And the third shows a disintegrating society and says Galloway is “standing with those who want to completely abolish our local police departments.” See it here.
WH Recommended MO Mask Mandate
Springfield News-Leader reports that the Parson administration sloughed off a White House Coronavirus Task Force recommendation for a statewide mask mandate. See it here.
A task force report dated Aug. 16, which the News-Leader obtained with a public records request… recommended the following: “Establish mask requirement statewide. Work with local communities to ensure high usage rates. Identify mechanisms to assess compliance with local regulations including working with community organizations.”
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, whose office receives weekly reports from the task force, disregarded the recommendation, which went unmentioned in public appearances.
Senate Advances Crime Bills
The Senate advanced the crime bills in committee yesterday. The one notable action was a new Senate substitute on HB 16 (see it here) which restored the misdemeanor offense
Recklessly, as defined in section 562.016, sells, leases, loans, gives away or delivers any firearm to a person less than eighteen years[old]of age without the consent of the child's custodial parent or guardian;
August Revenue Numbers Strong Again
August state tax receipts were 23% higher than a year ago. That amounts to an extra $186 million. The strong bottom line was driven entirely by individual income tax receipts.
This was on top of the July numbers which benefited from the delayed Tax Day. Two months into the new fiscal year, state revenues are now $753 million ahead of last year.
However the depressed employment situation makes these gains unsustainable.
And
James Moody has raised the issue of Governor Mike Parson’s pre-emptive withholds. The governor is only supposed to withhold when there are budget shortfalls (otherwise he’s grabbing the power of the purse from the legislature). Are his withholds valid while the state revenues are currently in such excess?
Kelly Eyes Public Radio Cut
On Twitter, a back-and-forth between St. Louis Public Radio reporter Jaclyn Driscoll and Rep. Hannah Kelly could foreshadow debate during next year’s budget.
Driscoll: So, I feel like ppl are confused on purpose. NPR receives no direct federal dollars. It does receive some grants that make up about TWO PERCENT of funding. The "tAxPaYeR-fUnDeD" nonsense is big yikes energy and, honestly, kind of embarrassing with all the free knowledge out there
Kelly: Saint Louis Public Radio has received millions of dollars from Missouri taxpayers through our budget. Having now learned that these contributions are trivial “NoNsEnSe,” I will be working with my friend @cody4mo to ensure these dollars are spent where they are more appreciated.
Driscoll: here we go again with the mischaracterization of my words: @stlpublicradio carries NPR programming, but none of its reporters are employed by NPR & @umsl holds the station's license. Defund NPR was trending on Twitter, which prompted the conversation about ~federal funding~
MATA for Galloway
In the large contributions (below), the pro-Nicole Galloway PAC, Keep Government Accountable, records checks from ten law firms. The amount totals over $150,000.
Broidy To Be Cuffed?
Washington Post reports that “Federal prosecutors are preparing to charge longtime GOP fundraiser Elliott Broidy in connection with efforts to influence the U.S. government on behalf of foreign interests… Broidy is under scrutiny for his alleged role in a campaign to persuade high-level Trump administration officials to drop an investigation of Malaysian government corruption, as well as for his attempt to push for the extradition of an outspoken Chinese dissident back to his home country…”
Broidy was… you guessed it, an Eric Greitens donor in 2016.
Franz Opens Collectibles Shop
Former Rep. Ward Franz, who served as the director of tourism before leaving state government, has a new venture. He’s opened 1st and 10 Sports Collectibles in Independence Missouri. See it here.
New Committees
Legal Missouri 2022 was formed. It’s a campaign committee to support a ballot measure for “adult-use marijuana.” Its treasurer is Paul Bocci, and its deputy treasurer is John Payne.
$5K+ Contributions
Democratic Governors Association – Missouri - $525,000 from Democratic Governors Association (Washington DC).
Keep Government Accountable - $6,000 from Zevan Davidson Roman LLC.
Keep Government Accountable - $7,000 from The Gorny Law Firm LLC.
Keep Government Accountable - $10,000 from Henry Williams PC.
Keep Government Accountable - $10,000 from OLeary Shelton Corrigan Peterson Dalton Quillin.
Keep Government Accountable - $10,000 from Shamberg Johnson Bergman.
Keep Government Accountable - $25,000 from Langdon Emison LLC.
Keep Government Accountable - $25,000 from Robb Robb LLC.
Keep Government Accountable - $25,000 from SWMW Law.
Keep Government Accountable - $25,000 from Strong Garner Bauer.
MO Insurance Coalition PAC - $25,000 from The Travelers Indemnity Company.
Johnson & Johnson PAC Missouri (affiliated with Johnson & Johnson Federal PAC) - $20,000 from Johnson & Johnson Political Action Committee (Federal).
Missouri SMART TD PAC - $11,500 from Missouri SMART TD PAC (North Olmsted OH).
St Louis Association of Realtors-PAC - $8,865 from Missouri REALTORS PAC, Inc.
Civic Progress Action Committee - $7,500 from Ameren Missouri.
Lobbyists Registrations
Jay Hahn and Stephen Nittler added RealTime Fantasy Sports Inc.
Elizabeth “Liz” Denker added Missouri National Education Association.
David Sweeney deleted Rebuild Saint Louis Inc.
Steven Tilley deleted Heartland Hyperloop Inc.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Phil Christofanelli, and Amy Pridmore.