MOScout Daily Update: Vescovo Eyes Auditor's Race - Gregory Lands Big Check - COVID Bedevils Senate - Gov Makes Vac Change and more...

Vescovo Eyes Auditor’s Race?

In what could potentially shake-up the Republican primary for state auditor, Speaker Rob Vescovo amended his campaign committee paperwork to state that he’s seeking a “statewide” office in 2022.  The only statewide office up for election that year is auditor.

·         One observer says that this isn’t the placeholder amendment we sometimes see from termed legislators.  He would have used “2024 statewide” if that were the case.

·         “Auditor is definitely on his radar. Most of your readers will remember that Rob was seen as an extreme underdog in his race for Floor Leader against Kirk Matthews, but Rob’s extreme work ethic won over the caucus. They will also remember that Rob has a personal relationship (before politics) with David Humphreys that netted a $1 million check for HRCC during the 2018 election cycle. Rob’s combination of hustle, conservative record, and contacts would make him more than formidable as an Auditor candidate in 2022.”

·         Vescovo’s cash on hand: $185,264

Meanwhile Gregory Drops Fat Check

Alliance for Economic Progress sent $200K yesterday to Show Me Growth PAC, the third-party political action committee associated with Rep. David Gregory.  Post-Dispatch’s Jack Suntrup notes that the non-profit’s contribution obscured the ultimate source of the donation.  And that the paperwork of the Alliance includes both Democratic lawyer Chuck Hatfield and Republican consultant Gregg Keller.  Find the intersection of those two players and I guess you have some idea who’s betting big on Gregory. 

What It Means

The check – aside from the dark money hullabaloo – is a sign from Gregory that he’s not going to be big-footed out of the race.  He’s serious and he’s raising money to show it.

Also

·         Politicos see Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick’s entry hurtling toward certainty.   He holds several advantages over others in the field: experience running statewide, and a larger platform for earned media and fundraising.

·         And Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman is still in the mix, with one insider saying that she “doesn't feel the need to make a quick decision on the Auditor's race.” And other that she’s “focused on raising money to help out her colleagues with tough races. With respect to the Auditor’s race, her main concern is that Republicans nominate a candidate who can defeat Nicole Galloway and restore accountability to the State Auditor’s Office… [She’s] keeping her options open.”

ROTO (Reminder of the Obvious)

We still don’t know if Auditor Nicole Galloway is 100% running for re-election.  And Dems don’t have a particularly deep bench right now.

COVID Concerns Derail Senate Afternoon

Even as the general assembly attempts to continue their session with some level of normalcy, COVID continues to bedevil them.

Word was that the Senate had planned to start debate on the COVID liability bill yesterday, but that plan went askew when Jim Lembke tested positive for COVID.  Lembke is staffing the Conservative Caucus.  Thus some of those senators and their staff began precautionary isolation.

As did Minority Leader John Rizzo.  In a statement he implored people to wear masks in order to lower the risk of contagion.

·         There’s some question – depending on how many senators decide they should isolate due to contact – whether the Senate will be hobbled by difficulty raising a quorum.

·         I’m told some Dem senators may skip this afternoon’s State of the State address, not out of any protest, but just for safety concerns.

Here’s An Idea

If we’re going to play business as usual, maybe the governor should deem legislators, and their staff (lobbyists and bloggers are on their own), as essential workers and get them some vaccinations.  Otherwise, were probably in for a start-and-stop session.

Gov Moves to Correct Vaccine Distribution

Hours after Governor Mike Parson issued a statement (see it here) decrying the CDC’s vaccine dashboard as being used to create “a narrative” that the state’s vaccine distribution was failing, the Post-Dispatch reported that his administration took action to expedite vaccinations.

Scrambling in response to the slow rollout of coronavirus vaccines in his state, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is poised to take unused doses back from pharmacies and distribute them to mass vaccination sites operated by the National Guard.  With the Republican governor facing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that rank Missouri as having the most sluggish vaccination rate in the nation, Parson spokeswoman Kelli Jones said Tuesday night the administration is looking at diverting 25,000 doses from CVS and Walgreens. “We asked for 25,000 back already and are asking for more,” Jones said…

Lobbyists Vent about Senate Witness System Flounders

In Senate Appropriations yesterday lobbyist Andy Arnold said that the Senate’s witness system wouldn’t let him submit testimony online.  He’s not alone.  I asked around and folks expressed frustration…

·         The Senate witness registration system is a total bust and a pain in the ass. It won't let some people register, and when it does, it only allows one person to register for one bill at a time. Got two clients that like a bill? Tough luck.  Oh, and submitting testimony via the web apparently doesn't get the testimony into the official record anyway. At least not yet on the bills I've been tracking… I was hoping I could tell clients to stay away from the capitol for health reasons, but now… you need to come to the capitol and sit in virus-infested hearing rooms so that the chair gives you "2 minutes" to provide your expert testimony.

·         The senates is now working (for me anyway) but it doesn’t seem like it’s getting read aloud or shared with the committee members so what’s the point

·         That’s terrible. I did upload two pieces of testimony. It seemed like it went okay. But I sent our contract lobbyist to the hearing nonetheless.

·         I actually just got it going this morning.  I think they know that it isn’t working correctly but I’m not sure if they know for whom is not working correctly…

Gravy Graves

Missouri Independent reports that “a Kansas City law firm run by some of the state’s most well-connected Republicans has been paid $395,000 by the cash-strapped Missouri Gaming Commission to study how the casino regulator investigates license applicants.  Graves Garrett partner Nathan Garrett, in a three-page engagement letter, described the work as ‘serving as Independent Counsel in investigating Missouri gaming license background investigations, processing and awards.’  He agreed to reduce his normal hourly rate from $595 to $495, with others at the firm billing from $195 to $405 an hour. The agreement does not set a cap on total costs or a deadline for completing the work… There was no formal bidding process, in part because the Gaming Commission is exempt from state purchasing rules and in part because a 1980 opinion from the Attorney General’s Office states that no state agency has to seek proposals before hiring private attorneys… The Graves in Graves Garrett is Todd Graves, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, former Missouri Republican Party chairman and brother of U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio…”

Lobbyists Registrations

Jeffrey Altman added Tiny Home Industry Association, and CoreMedica.

Gamble & Schlemeier added           National Restaurant Association, and C-PACE Alliance.

Catalyst added Theatre Owners of Mid-America.

Kelsey Robinson added Steven R Carroll & Associates.

$5K+ Contributions

Me Growth PAC (pro-Gregory PAC) - $200,000 from Alliance for Economic Progress.

Together KC - $25,000 from Polsinelli.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Sen. Jill Schupp.