MOScout Daily Update: Senate Starts Emergency Powers Debate - More Medicaid $$$? - Torch Sues MSHP - E-Tax Renewals Coming and more...
Onder Rolls Out Emergency Limits Bill
The Senate started debate on SB 12 yesterday. This bill includes portions of seven different Senate bills heard in the Sen. Bob Onder’s Health and Pensions Committee. They’re all aimed at limiting the ability of local jurisdictions to use emergency powers to shut down various activities. See the summary here.
The bills was laid over after several hours of debate, reaching a climax with Sens. Andrew Koenig and Jill Schupp erupting into an emotional back and forth. On the one, hand the debate was beginning to border on personal attacks; on the other hand, it was an almost perfect embodiment of the different reactions to COVID. The two senators were incredulous how the other one just doesn’t get it.
· Koenig thought that Schupp’s presence on the Senate floor exemplified how society should deal with the contagion: everyone chooses the risk you can live with. Society shouldn’t tell people they can’t take a risk.
· Schupp thought Koenig was oblivious to the fact that she didn’t want to be on the floor; she didn’t want to take the risk; she was present out of duty, not choice. Society shouldn’t tell people they must take a risk.
More Good Budget News?
It looks like Missouri will potentially see millions more in federal dollars to help pay for Medicaid over the next two years.
Larry Levitt, VP of health policy with Kaiser Family Foundation, tweets that “the House Energy & Commerce Committee just released its part of COVID relief. There's a BIG new incentive for the 12 states that haven't expanded Medicaid to do so. The federal government would pay an extra 5% of ALL their Medicaid costs for 2 years.”
It appears that Missouri would benefit. Even though expansion has already passed here, it hasn’t been implemented yet. See the language here (page 23).
Congratulations
Caleb and Aubrey Rowden are infanticipating “kiddo #3” for a late summer arrival…
Torch Goes on the Offense
Pro Tem Dave Schatz and Sen. Dan Hegeman said yesterday on the Senate floor that Torch Electronics was suing state to prevent enforcement action by Highway Patrol. Torch is one of the big players in the “gray” gambling machines which Schatz and Hegeman are trying to explicitly outlaw with legislation this session.
Missouri Independent reports: Torch Electronics LLC filed its lawsuit in Cole County against the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. The company alleges that the state exceeded its authority by removing Torch machines from Warrenton Oil’s convenience stores, as well as other locations. “These government officials continue to threaten to remove Torch devices based solely on their own incorrect interpretations of Missouri gambling laws,” the lawsuit, filed by Jefferson City attorney Charles Hatfield, states…
FYI
Torch’s Missouri lobbyists: Scott Dieckhaus, Tracy King, Brittany Robbins, Thomas Robbins, and Steven Tilley.
Cities Face E-Tax Renewals
Both St. Louis and Kansas City face upcoming votes in which their residents will be asked if they wish to continue their cities’ earning tax. This occurs every five years. It was one of Rex Sinquefield’s legislative achievements years ago. The question will be on the April ballot. In Kansas City, Together KC has been steadily raising money from civic companies to put together a robust renewal campaign. I haven’t seen any such effort in St. Louis. Perhaps its previous landslide renewal has led to complacency? Perhaps the March-April mayoral race has distracted from such an endeavor?
We’ll see….
Blunt Reacts to Senate Trial
CNN reporter Manu Raju reports on Senator Roy Blunt’s reaction to the Senate trial of President Donald Trump so far: Roy Blunt, who is up for reelection in 2022, told me this when asked if the new video changed his mind about convicting Trump: "Well, you know, you have a summer where people all over the country are doing similar kinds of things… I don't know what the other side will show from Seattle and Portland and other places, but you're going to see similar kinds of tragedies there as well."
Englund Starts Anti-Hawley PAC
Former Rep. Vicki Englund, who ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer last year, has started a federal PAC aimed at defeating Senator Josh Hawley, who’s up for re-election in 2024. See it here.
Long Lead Twitterer in Congress
Axios reports that Rep. Billy Long is the most prolific tweeter in Congress.
By the numbers: Republican Rep. Billy Long of Missouri was the most active, with 265.4 average tweets per week from his personal account.
Page Lawsuit
KSDK reports on a lawsuit by a Black police officer passed over for promotion by County Executive Sam Page. See it here.
In the fall of 2019, it looked like the fix was in for St. Louis County Lt. Col. Troy Doyle to become the department’s first Black police chief. But it all came crashing to a halt when County Executive Sam Page started having campaign contribution problems, according to a discrimination lawsuit Doyle filed Tuesday. In one conversation, Page told Doyle he was getting “push back” regarding the appointment of an African American chief of police, and that he was “having difficulty pushing this across the finish line,” a phrase he commonly used when referring to Doyle’s appointment to chief, according to the suit.
Ultimately, then Capt. Mary Barton, a white woman with a lower rank, was selected to lead the department to appease campaign donors who did not want to see a Black police chief, according to the suit. Not long after Barton’s appointment, donations started coming from one or more large corporations or their political action committees, according to the suit….
Dogan Reacts
Rep. Shamed Dogan – who’s looking at running against Page next year – issued a statement: "Like all St. Louis County residents, I was outraged to learn the latest details of Lt. Col. Troy Doyle's allegations of racial discrimination and retaliation at the hands of County Executive Sam Page, including Page's refusal to support Doyle because of the objections of unnamed donors who didn't want to see an African-American police chief… This type of corruption has no place in government and I call on these very serious allegations to be investigated by the Missouri House."
Franks Targeted by Phoenix Police?
Former Rep. Bruce Franks claims he was “targeted” by Phoenix police after being arrested in a protest there. ABC15’s investigation supports his claim. See their report here.
ABC15 reviewed dozens of hours of police body camera video and surveillance footage from the incident. In addition, the station obtained nearly 200 pages of Phoenix Police reports and the entire grand jury transcript. The evidence shows the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office didn’t show the grand jury a single second of video and only presented jurors with officers’ testimony. Under oath, those officers testified Franks did many things that video proves he clearly did not do…
House Appts
· Speaker Rob Vescovo appointed Reps. Barry Hovis, Rodger Reedy, and LaKeySha Bosley to the Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement; and removed Rep. Sara Walsh from the Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement.
· Minority Leader Crystal Quade appointed Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins to the Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect; and removed Rep. Keri Ingle from Committee on Utilities, replacing her with Rep. Paula Brown.
Lobbyists Registrations
Gamble & Schlemeier added PACE Funding Group.
Daniel Joseph Dew added Pacific Legal Foundation.
Jerry Hobbs added Children's Education Council of Missouri.
Garrett Webb added Strategic Capitol Consulting LLC.
Mark Rhoads deleted Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities.
$5K+ Contributions
Midwest Region Laborers' Political League Education Fund - $6,360 from Laborers Supplemental Dues Fund.
Secure The Vote - $10,000 from Missouri WIN.
One St Louis PAC (pro-Lewis Reed) - $20,000 from Robert Clark.
One St Louis PAC - $35,000 from Clayco.
Gateway to Progress PAC - $10,000 from Daniel Ludeman.
Together KC - $25,000 from Evergy Metro Inc.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Doug Richey, Amy Blunt, Elad Gross, Don Wells, and Steve Brown.
Reminder… Something New
Next week I’m going to add a new text feature to the MOScout service. I’m anticipating sending no more than one a day, and some days none. If you’d like to opt-in, please reply to this email with your cell phone number. There is no additional cost to your subscription for this feature.
· Even if I already have your cell phone, to opt-in you must reply to this email with your cellphone number.
Thanks!