MOScout Daily Update: Greitens in 2022? - Lembke Back on Staff - Moody See Revenues Exceeding CRE - Wallace Passes and more...
Greitens in 2022?
More than ever, it feels like we’ll see former governor Eric Greitens on the 2022 ballot. Yesterday he released a new promotional video on Twitter aimed at rewriting his time brief time as governor. See it here. It’s full of misinformation, including the complete lie that the woman with whom he had the affair “dreamed up the allegation.”
The video is the latest of a series of moves that Greitens has made to cast himself as a martyr, victimized by liberals.
· In his January campaign finance filing, Greitens reported $246,303 cash in his old campaign committee. He spent $47,222 on digital media during the most recent period. If he ran for US Senate, as some think he might, he wouldn’t be able to use this money.
· A Dec 2-3 MOScout/Remington poll put Greiten behind, but not out of striking range from incumbent Roy Blunt, trailing 43% to 32% with 25% undecided.
And
That poll may also show a potential path for Greitens to make his comeback… Trump it up.
TYPE OF GOP: Thinking about the various types of voters within the Republican party, which type of voter do you consider yourself to be? Traditional and Establishment, Evangelical, a Trump Republican, Libertarian, an Outsider or something else?
Traditional and Establishment: 19%
Evangelical: 18%
Trump Republican: 44%
Libertarian: 3%
Outsider: 5%
Something else: 12%
House Outbreak
In the absence of an official statement about the extent of the COVID outbreak in the House rumors and speculation are proliferating.
The ballpark figure being thrown around is that between 30-50 folks in all have tested positive. That is said to include at least 10 state representatives.
I’m told there are Senate staff infections as well, though it’s obviously not nearly as prevalent on that side of the building right now. Again, this is just talk. But as far as I can tell, no real contact tracing is being attempted.
Denizen: “A few reps were wondering around meeting with Senators without masks [yesterday]. I was like wtf are you guys doing here? Kinda defeats the whole purpose [of the House pausing].”
Sign of Our Times
The Senate didn’t have any business to conduct on the floor yesterday, but Sen. Mike Moon spent a bit of time regurgitating online conspiracy theories… foreign influence over the voting machines, Antifa bussed in to join the capitol riot…
Moody Sees Excess Revenue
Budget watcher Jim Moody (find his reports here) sees state tax receipts exceeding the consensus revenue estimate this fiscal year.
He believes this, in part, because “when doing collections comparisons this year, there are due dates on April 15, 2021 and June 15, 2021 compared to no due dates a year ago.”
What It Means
· Although there are still some worries about next fiscal year, this should make a less stressful budgeting process this year.
· And it gives Governor Mike Parson a little more leeway if he wants to unveil any new initiatives.
Lembke Back on Staff
Former Sen. Jim Lembke is officially on staff in the Senate again. I’m told that Lembke is working for most, but not all, Conservative Caucus members (Burlison, Eigel, Hoskins, Koenig, Moon, and Onder).
What It Means
Devoting resources to a staff member is a sign that the Conservative Caucus is serious about exerting some influence over the legislative session. But there’s also the possibility that Lembke’s role in various primaries during the last cycle will complicate efforts for the CC to build bridges. We’ll see…
More on Kunce
One reader pointed out that Lucas Kunce – who’s floating a possible U.S. Senate bid in 2022 – ran for state representative back in 2006. See it here.
· The reader adds: “He has no chance, but my hazy recollection is he was skilled and well-liked.”
RIP Wallace
Former Rep. Maynard Wallace has died. See the obituary here.
Maynard Leon Wallace, 77 years, 8 months, 26 days old, passed at his home suddenly on January 17, 2021. Maynard was born April 21, 1943 in Pond Fork, MO in a log house to Archie and Ruby Rae (Mahan) Wallace… He became a successful high school basketball coach despite never having the opportunity to play in high school or college. Maynard spent 33 years in public education which included many years as Superintendent of Schools at Forsyth and Ava. Maynard served eight years in the Missouri State Legislature and never had a close election. He served six years on the Missouri State Tourism Commission and was Chairman of the Education Committee. He also served three years on the State Board of Education. He was very pleased to own the farm that was homesteaded by his great- grandparents in the1860's and has been owned by family ever since…
Lobbyists Registrations
Angela Bullock Gabel added Angela Bullock Gabel.
Kyna Iman added Roeslein & Associates Inc, and American Heart Association; and deleted Missouri Hospice & Palliative Care Association.
Chris Moody, Angie Schulte, Ginger Steinmetz, and Noel Torpey deleted Altria Client Services LLC and Its Affiliates - Philip Morris USA Inc., John Middleton Co., and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co.
Chris Moody deleted B & B Amusement of Illinois, Maritz Motivation Solutions, Kansas City Southern Railway, and The Accountants Coalition.
Ginger Steinmetz deleted AMIkids, and B & B Amusement of Illinois.
Casey Allen Wasser deleted Tiger Fiber.
Gamble & Schlemeier deleted Center for Hearing & Speech.