MOScout Daily Update: Health Depts Pull Back COVID Efforts - Tax Cuts Coming? - Ehlmann Fundy and more...

Health Departments Buckle Under Ruling

Some local health departments announced they were ceasing all COVID related activity.  Springfield News Leader reported that the Laclede Health Department would stop “contact tracing, case investigations, quarantine orders, public announcements of data related to COVID-19 cases and deaths, along with the end of other measures.”

Pemiscot County and Stoddard County made similar announcements.

It’s not clear this is what Attorney General Eric Schmitt intended with his letter to health departments outlining the impact of Judge Daniel Green’s ruling.  However, for some departments it’s not just mask mandates that have been outlawed, but more routine public health services as well.

Tax Cuts Coming?

The Hill reports that “state lawmakers preparing to convene legislative sessions in the new year are confronted with a scenario unlike any they, or most of their predecessors, have ever experienced: budgets that are flush with cash after a year of record-setting surpluses… Across both blue states and red states, and just in time for midterm elections, legislators and governors are making plans to lower rates and cut bills… A dozen states this year introduced measures to reduce corporate or personal income rates, and a 13th — Arkansas — will consider cutting rates in a special session… Only five states — Florida, New York, New Jersey, Washington and Missouri — raised or created new income or sales taxes.”

With our state’s coffers overflowing, are tax cuts coming to the MO Legislature next year?  There are several ideas out there.  Among them…

·         Rep. Nick Schroer (HB 1623) and Sen. Bill Eigel (SB 739) propose to accelerate the current formula for lowering the state’s income tax rates. 

·         Separately Eigel (SB 870) wishes eliminate the two lowest income tax brackets.

·         Rep. Alan Gray (HB 1817) would exempt retail food from sales tax.

·         Rep. David Gregory (HB 1558) wants to give a tax break to police officers.

But

Others would prefer to use the surplus to tackle big projects.  One reader: The time has come to rebuild interstate 70 from Blue Springs to Wentzville and add the third lane. If you don’t commit to the project and do it now, when will you ever be able to…

Ehlmann Fundy

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann held a packed fundraiser Wednesday night with approximately 200 people in attendance.

Veteran political consultant John Hancock said that in forty years in the business he’d never seen a basket stuffed so full with cash and checks.

Ehlmann’s up for re-election, being challenged by Sen. Bob Onder.  In early messaging, Onder is running to the right on hot-button issues like pushing back on COVID restrictions. Ehlmann is pointing to his record: good government with no scandals or “drama,” and continued growth in the county.

Good Signs for School Choicers?

The SCOTUSBlog, a widely viewed online news source following the US Supreme Court, reports on the oral arguments in the Carson V Makin case.

The Supreme Court heard oral argument on Wednesday in a challenge to a Maine program that pays tuition for some students to attend private school when their own school district does not operate a public secondary school. Two Maine couples argue that the state’s refusal to provide funds for students to attend schools that provide religious instruction violates the Constitution, and after nearly two hours of oral argument the court’s conservative justices appeared to agree. Although the lawyer representing Maine on Wednesday emphasized that the court’s decision would directly affect only a small number of Maine families, a ruling for the parents could mean that state and local governments that opt to subsidize private schools would be required to allow families to use taxpayer funds to pay for religious schools.

Medlin Passes

Paula Lynn Medlin, a legislative assistant, passed away on Sunday. The funeral is today at 11AM.  See the obituary here.

For 8 years, she managed the complex schedule of former Secretary of State James Baker and ensured the office was ran with precision. After the passing of [her husband] Daniel, she moved home to Missouri to be close to her family. Paula ended her career as a Legislative Assistant in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Lobbyists Registrations

Kathy Lowery added Stray Dog Policy Inc, and Stray Dog Capital, LLC. 

Paul Mouton added Math Nation, Familyforward, Missouri Biotechnology Association, Missouri Health Connection, MERS/Missouri Goodwill Industries, and Husch Blackwell Strategies

$5K+ Contributions

The 1821 PAC - $5,500 from Marigny Capital Services.

Mighty Missouri PAC (pro-Vescovo) - $10,000 from Evergy Metro Inc.