MOScout Daily Update: Roeber Accusation - COVID Special Outlook - Sifton to Onder Law - New Ads and more...

Roeber Accusation

The Kansas City Star dropped a bombshell yesterday.  They printed accusations by two daughters of Rick Roeber alleging abuse.  See it here.  Roeber is the husband of late Rep. Rebecca Roeber.  He’s seeking her seat, House 34.

Anastasia Roeber of Lee’s Summit, Roeber’s adopted daughter, says he made improper sexual advances toward her in 1990, when she was 9 years old. 

“He made me place my hand on his genitals,” Anastasia said of the 1990 incident in Roeber’s home. “I just froze.” Some time later, Roeber asked his daughter “if he could touch me,” she said.

·         Statement from Jon Ratliff, House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) Interim Executive Director: “The allegations made by the Kansas City Star Editorial Board are extremely concerning.  We take any allegation of child abuse very seriously.  Abuse of any kind is never acceptable and will be met by a zero tolerance policy by Republican Leadership and our Caucus.”

·         Statement from Minority Leader Crystal Quade: “Given the serious allegations against him made by his own children, House Republicans have a moral obligation to denounce Rick Roeber as their candidate. If he is elected, they must refuse to seat him. Under our constitution, the House is sole judge of the qualifications of its members…”

·         One Republican assesses the situation this way: Rick Roeber failed to disclose the full truth to members supporting him when this story was known to be coming.  Had Democrats successful recruited Hillary Shields to run against Roeber she wins easily... Instead, at this point the question is can Democrats mobilize quick enough with a candidate that no one knows of in the district.  If Democrats are smart they hope Rick Roeber wins and force the new Speaker to have to deal with this in an official capacity instead of the hands off campaign capacity.

·         Democrats’ candidate is Chris Hager.  See his website here.

Itching for Liability Special

One Republican sent this screenshot to me yesterday with the exclamation “This is why people are asking for COVID tort.”  It shows an ad from a law firm (Onder Law, the firm of the brother of Sen. Bob Onder) offering a “free consultation” if you’ve lost a loved one in a nursing home during COVID.  They appear to be soliciting client for lawsuits.

But the outlook for such a special session is unclear right now.

Governor Mike Parson, at a briefing a few weeks ago, mentioned the possibility of a special session for a supplemental budget.  That seems to have been delayed by his COVID diagnosis.  But he also indicated he’d support a COVID liability special session – if it was fully prepped by the legislature.

·         However the Senate’s PQ over the AG jurisdiction bill has significantly reduced the likelihood a drama-free special session for COVID liability is possible.

And

While we’re on the subject of Onder Law, it appears Sen. Scott Sifton has joined Onder Law Firm.  See his profile on their website here.  Sifton’s term ends in January.

New Third Party Ads in Gov’s Race

Third parties for both gubernatorial candidates released new negative ads yesterday.

·         Pro-Mike Parson PAC Uniting Missouri released “Pattern of Corruption.”  See it here.

·         Democratic Governor’s Association released “Failed.”  See it here.

Five weeks left, more to come….

New Committees

Missouri for Fairs Courts was formed.  It’s a PAC. It’s treasurer is Thomas Madden.

Common Sense Conservative Democrats PAC was formed.  It’s a PAC.  It has the same treasurer and mailing address as Missouri for Fair Courts.

Lobbyists Registrations

Tom Dempsey and David Jackson added Confluence Charter Schools.

Gamble & Schlemeier deleted Renovate America Inc.

$5K+ Contributions

CWA-COPE Political Contributions Federal Committee - $17,150 from Communications Workers of America- COPE PCC (Washington DC).

House Democratic Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Ameren Missouri.

Majority Forward - $15,000 from MSCEW PAC Federal Committee.

Association of MO Electric Cooperatives (AMEC PAC) - $10,000 from Associated Electric Co-op Inc.

Common Sense Conservative Democrats PAC - $10,000 from Laborers Union Local #110 Voluntary Political Fund.

Committee to Elect Neal Barnes - $6,000 from Neal Barnes.

Missouri AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education - $6,452 from Missouri State AFL-CIO.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $25,000 from Tony PAC.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $35,000 from Franklin County Leadership PAC.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $25,000 from Missourians for Mike Cierpiot.

Uniting Missouri PAC - $30,000 from Ameren Missouri.

Uniting Missouri PAC - $10,000 from Stone & Alter Real Estate.

Uniting Missouri PAC - $10,000 from University Square Company.

CLEAN Missouri - $51,400 from Missouri WIN.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Dave Muntzel and Chris Benjamin.