MOScout Daily Update: Parson Proposes Pay Raise - Prefiled Bills Hint at Next Session's Battles - Hatfield Win Award and more...

Parson to Boost State Pay

Press release: Governor Mike Parson announced that he will recommend a 5.5 percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and $15 per hour minimum base pay standard for all state employees across state government.

·         "With many positions across state government facing turnover rates anywhere from 10-100 percent and vacancy rates from 30-100 percent, it is past time for us to make these investments in our state workforce, which remains one of the lowest paid the nation," Governor Parson said…

·         The recommendation will be included in Governor Parson's Supplemental Budget request… These salary adjustments will require General Assembly approval before they can go into effect...

·         Going forward, Governor Parson's FY 23 pay plan proposal includes a similar 5.5 percent COLA recommendation and totals $218 million, including $123 million in GR…

Both House Budget Chair Cody Smith and Senate Appropriations Chair Dan Hegeman are quoted in the press release as supportive of the proposal. 

·         MOScouter: “I think it will happen, you’ve got crisis level staffing in mental health facilities and prisons… If we don’t do it we are gonna be in trouble.”

But on Twitter, some GOPers were cool to the idea.…

·         Sen. Denny Hoskins: Not sure what revenue source @GovParsonMO

·          is planning to use to pay for the state employee raises, but as a member of the Senate appropriations committee, I look forward to cutting the 5,500 vacant state government positions to fund employee raises.

·         Sen. Bill Eigel: Lots of small government Republicans that voted for the GOP last year probably didn’t see this policy move coming.  Of course, they didn’t see the gas tax increase coming either.

·         Staffer Adam Rapert: Asking a Republican legislature to approve spending more $$$ on government…during a midterm election year, and after a different 2% raise goes into affect in Jan. Would be nice but I’m not gunna hold my breath

The Bigger Picture

The state is flush with cash.  Tax receipts have continued to show strength, and there’s oodles of federal money with more on the way.

But I wonder if the fights over how to spend the money may end up being fiercer than previous fights – during tight times – over where to cut budgets.

·         The conservative position is one of caution: one-time infusions from the federal government shouldn’t lead to unstainable, ongoing expenditures or expansions in government.

·         The liberal position is “if not now, when?” The state has billions sitting in its coffers; it should be invested in our priorities.

This will likely define the budget fights ahead.

Pre-Filings and What They Mean

I spent yesterday skimming through the pre-filed bills.  A few thoughts…

No bills from Speaker Rob Vescovo or Speaker-designate Dean Plocher.

·         Vescovo fulfilled his top priority last session with adoption legislation. 

·         Plocher appears to be a different type of speaker ahead.  We’ll see, but I’d guess at less heavy-handed, more servant-leadership, follow-the-will-of-the-caucus.

Rep. Nick Schroer’s pre-filed bills are typical of the red-meat targets that Republicans running in hot primaries will be pushing.  Look for the House to pass legislation in each of these areas, and the battle to be in the Senate.

·         Anti-vaccine mandates.

·         Gun laws.

·         Critical race theory.

In the Senate, education reform could be center ring again.

·         Floor Leaser Caleb Rowden has one pre-filed bill.  It deals with virtual schools.

·         Education Chair Cindy O’Laughlin has a full pipeline.

Other Senate tealeaves…

·         Sen. Dan Hegeman’s SB 631 could be the tort reform battle this session.  It reduces the time to bring a personal injury suit from 5 years to 3 years.

·         Conservative Caucus members have anti-abortion, anti-CRT, and anti-vaccine legislation filed.  Look for a Senate blow-up at some point if those issues don’t move.

·         Finally, sports betting and video gaming machines is once again among the issues that senators are pre-filing bills to deal with.  We’ll see if they can make some progress this year.

Paladin

On Twitter, lobbyist Andy Arnold explains the meaning behind his new Paladin PAC: The meaning of "Paladin". Historically, a Paladin was any of the twelve peers of Charlemagne's court, a knight renowned for heroism and chivalry. In 1957, CBS aired a western TV series called "Have Gun Will Travel" where the main characters name was Paladin, a gun for hire...

·         Former PSC Chair Kevin Gunn has been using “Paladin” for years with his Paladin Energy Strategies.

Hatfield Wins Honor

Chuck Hatfield was named “Lawyer of the Year” by Missouri Lawyers Media – even though there are still weeks remaining in the year.

See the press release here.

New Committees

Bob Oreskovic formed a candidate committee (Supporters of Bob Oreskovic) to run for House 109 as a Republican.  Rep. John Simmons is the incumbent.

Lobbyists Registrations

George Oestreich added Northwest Health Services Inc. and deleted Compass Health Network  

Sarah Ritter added Operation Food Search.

Francis G. Slay deleted 1221 Locust LLC.

Sharon Geuea Jones deleted MCIA, and Fair Access Missouri.

$5K+ Contributions

Old McDonald PAC (pro-Deaton) - $10,000 from MO Majority PAC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Kiki Curls, Rodney Hubbard, Nick Maddux, Bree Bowen, and Churie Spreng.