MOScout Daily Update: Parson Scapegoats Reporter - Hartzler 3Q - Map Contest - Panels Announced and more...

Parson Scapegoats Reporter for Security Flaw

It was a bonkers day from the governor yesterday.

On Tuesday, a Post-Dispatch reporter privately alerted the state that social security numbers of 100,000 Missouri teachers were accessible in the “source code” (go to any website and right-click and you’ll see the source code) of a state webpage.  The Post held the story until the state could take the webpage down so as to not increase the risk of the numbers being stolen.

Yesterday, Governor Mike Parson accused the reporter of being a hacker, promised to try to prosecute the reporter, and said the investigation might cost $50 million.  Whaaaa?

I couldn’t find a single Republican that supports Parson on any part of this. He’s out there on his own, looking ridiculous. 

·         One lobbyist summed up the feeling: “He's basically become Greitens with more staff drama and fewer affairs.”

A top Republican called the press conference a “train wreck.”   Aside from the stupidity of acting like the reporter is the problem, the speech was incoherent.

Parson said the reporter was attempting “to embarrass the state and sell headlines for their news outlet.”  And then fifteen seconds later, makes it sound like they’re going after some mystery criminal, “We will not rest until we clearly understand the intentions of this individual and why they were targeting Missouri teachers.”  Huh?

The only thing that could have made it worse would have been if he took questions. 

The Good News for Parson

This habit of using his bully pulpit in childish ways will not define his tenure.  Attacking the reporter who found an inexcusable security flaw, accusing a respected veteran capitol reporter of working for a 501c4, writing a letter to legislators whining about the State of the State location… these will all be forgotten except among the hallway perhaps where old stories are forever retold.

For history, Parson’s tenure will be defined by his response to the COVID outbreak, and all of these embarrassments will fade away.

Hartzler 3Q

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler announced that her campaign raised $446,155 in the third quarter and now has $1.65 million cash on-hand.  The campaign was emphatic in noting that this gave her “a significant advantage of $530,000 over the campaign’s nearest opponent.”  They did not mention Eric Schmitt by name.

What It Means

Hartzler’s putting together a strong campaign.  There are definite scenarios that look good for her candidacy.  The most likely one: Donald Trump never comes through for Billy Long, Schmitt gets hit hard on China, Eric Greitens is branded a quitter and fades, Mark McCloskey never gains traction, and she’s the last woman standing.

Meanwhile

Eric Greitens continues to boast that his own polling shows him up by 19 points in the race.  It’s a sign – some think – that he’ll be filing a weak quarter. 

It’s also interesting that the last time Greitens shared his “internal polling,” he claimed to have a 37-point lead.  By that data, the trendline isn’t good for him with the election still ten months away.

Map Games

Press release: The Fair Maps Missouri coalition today launched a public contest with cash prizes to encourage the public to work on their best ideas for new State House, State Senate and Congressional maps in Missouri. The mapping contest portal and Districtr map-drawing tool are hosted by the MGGG academic team at Tufts University, with support and direct involvement from redistricting experts at Missouri universities. To learn more and to see contest rules, visit www.OpenMapsMO.org. Cash prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd-best maps in each of the state house, state senate, and congressional categories…

Panels Announced

The Appellate Judicial Commission, announced panels to fill vacancies. 

The nominees to the vacancy on the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals are: Shaun J. Mackelprang, Jalilah Otto, and Janet L. Sutton.

The nominees to the vacancy on the Missouri Eastern District Court of Appeals are: Kathleen S. Hamilton, Jeffery T. McPherson, and Cristian M. Stevens.

Lobbyists Registrations

Heath Clarkston, Doug Nelson, and Kurt Schaefer added Avenue Healthcare Development.

$5K+ Contributions

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $25,000 from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Missouri.

Uniting Missouri PAC - $50,000 from Evergy Metro Inc.

Committee To Elect Daniel Swem (running for Presiding Commissioner Newton County) - $20,000 from Daniel Swem.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Chrissy Sommer.