MOScout Daily Update: Snow Day for Legislature - Redistricting Calendar - Hinkle on SB 51 - New Term Limits Tweak? and more...

Good morning.  It’s Presidents’ Day.  State offices are closed. And although the legislature usually works this day, the prospect of a big snowfall with sub-zero windchills has both the House and Senate calling it a snow day.  Committee hearings will be rescheduled for later in the week. 

And

Here’s the real story to watch today… from the Springfield News-Leader: City Utilities said late Sunday that the energy market's supply of natural gas available for the Springfield area is "critical" and that the public should make every effort to minimize energy use during the current cold snap.  CU stopped short of issuing a "peak advisory" alert at this time, chief spokesperson Joel Alexander said. But he said it was "potentially" possible that a peak advisory or even "rolling blackout or brownout" conditions could be seen in Springfield in the near future.

Hinkle on SB 51

Don Hinkle, the influential editor of the Missouri Baptist’s Pathway, wrote a column raising concerns about the COVID liability bill.  See it here.

The “camel’s nose” is Senate Bill 51. It began as a much-needed and generally regarded non-controversial piece of legislation that would provide protection from frivolous, COVID-related liability for hospitals and businesses, especially smaller, family-owned establishments. Unfortunately, it has turned into a dangerous, convoluted monstrosity that threatens our First Amendment rights and leaves churches and small businesses vulnerable to COVID liability.

On Facebook, later he explained a bit more…

I just spoke to Sens. Tony Luetkemeyer and Mike Moon. Both have the best interests of Missouri at heart. I know Gov Parson wants a COVID liability protection bill for Missouri hospitals and businesses. But the bill "feels" like a solution looking for a problem. While the intent is to protect churches, we want to make sure that this does not invite future government intrusion into the ministries of the church (the separation of church state liberals are MIA on this one).

What It Means

·         Baptists and other advocates of religious freedom may be seeking some changes on the House side. 

·         Lawmakers had expressed an urgency at getting this to the governor’s desk, and these concerns may slow it down.

Special for Redistricting?

With new reports that the “Census Bureau has concluded that it cannot release the population figures needed for drawing new districts for state legislatures and the House of Representatives until late September,” it’s becoming clear that Missouri will not be following its usual calendar for redistricting this year.

·         The silver lining is that the jockeying over lines can be a complicating issue when mixed in with other legislative horse-trading.  This would seem to lessen the chances of that occurring.

·         One would expect a special session in early November or so to handle the congressional districts, and a furious timeline for the commissions which draw the state House and Senate districts.  There are a few pauses baked into the timeline (meeting 15 days after appointment, three public hearing required), but it appears it can mostly be expedited into a crunched timeframe.

·         Still some politicos have wondered if it will require an emergency change in filing dates for state legislative races – if the districts won’t be fully cemented by next February!

And More on Prison Gerrymandering

Prison Policy Institute adds to my blurb last week… “In Missouri, the cities of Fulton, Pacific, Boonville, and Chillicothe all have districts that are approximately 40-50% incarcerated, and Mississippi, Moniteau, and Cooper Counties all have districts that are between 15-25% incarcerated. At the same time, numerous jurisdictions in Missouri (for example, Cole, Pike, and Randolph Counties, as well as the cities of Bonne Terre, Clayton, Farmington, Hillsboro, Jefferson, Licking, Tipton, and Vandalia) have previously recognized the problem of prison gerrymandering and avoided it by adjusting Census data prior to redistricting.”

New Term Limit Formula

Over the past several years a bipartisan consensus has emerged in the building that term limits have degraded the legislature’s effectiveness.  Term limits are still seemingly popular with the broader public, based on skepticism of “career politicians.”

Bills have been filed previously to take the current structure of 8-year limits in each chamber and trade it for an overall 16-year term limit between chambers.  Proponents say it will reduce the Survivor-type battles between state reps angling for the state senate seat in their area.  Furthermore, it would allow individuals to find a policy area and dig in.  For example, decide veteran issues are important to you; become chair of that committee in the House and stay doing that work for your tenure instead of getting termed out just as you master the issues.

These efforts haven’t gained enough traction to pass the general assembly.

A new proposal from Rep. Aaron Griesheimer presents a new twist.  See it here.

Members of the General Assembly elected for the first time on or after November 8, 2022, shall serve no more than twelve years in any one house or total in both houses.

·         It would increase the amount of time one could stay in their chamber and use their experience. 

·         But, by reducing the overall amount of time allowed to serve, it could appeal to the ordinary voters. 

It’s scheduled for a hearing in Rep. Dan Shaul’s Elections and Elected Officials Committee on Wednesday.

Early Childhood Boost?

Linda Rallo’s Aligned cheers Rep. Brenda Shield’s HB 973 in their latest newsletter.

This bill would provide more funding in the state foundation formula for early childhood education and deliver up to $53 million to districts and charters annually. Representative Brenda Shields told committee members that although we include early childhood in the foundation formula, we only fund a small portion of Pre-K in school districts. "Expanding the foundation to include 10 percent of the free- and reduced-lunch population is imperative to Missouri's future - 85% of a child's brain is developed in the first 1,000 days of a child's life and 95% of a child's brain is developed by the age of 5. Knowing this, it is evident that our greatest return on investment is to provide these services to low-income children at a very early age."

Meet Leadership Counts

I’m told by an STL politico that Leadership Counts is a pro-Lewis Reed PAC.  So here’s the run-down of PACs involved with the St. Louis City mayoral race – that I’m aware of…

·         314 Forward – pro-Tishuara Jones.

·         Gateway Progress PAC – pro-Cara Spencer.

·         Leadership Counts – pro-Lewis Reed.

·         One St. Louis PAC – pro-Lewis Reed.

Coming Soon… MOScout 1st Draft

Thanks to everyone who’s signed up the new MOScout feature of text delivered news.  I worked this weekend to refine it, and plan to roll it out this week. 

·         I’m expecting to send one text a day, three or four days a week.

·         It’s won’t be a traditional “breaking news” item.  But more of an early look at a blurb that will be in the following morning’s update. 

·         I try hard to respect your time.  Write succinctly, adding value where I can.  If at any point this new feature is not helping you, or it’s not what you had in mind, please let me know and I will take you off the list immediately.  No hard feelings.  I don’t want to be one more piece of clutter hitting your phone.

·         And of course, feedback is always welcome.  About content obviously, not also functionality. 

·         THANKS!  I love trying something new.  You make that possible.

New Committees

Supporting Our Schools was formed.  It’s a PAC.  Its treasurer is Ben Conover.  This looks like it might be associated with an effort to limit charters in St. Louis City.

Lobbyists Registrations

Philip Pulliam added Bank of America Corporation.          

Garrett Webb added Maryville University.

$5K+ Contributions

Leadership Counts (pro-Lewis Reed) - $7,400 from SLC Holdings LLC.

Leadership Counts - $12,500 from Stone & Alter Real Estate.

Leadership Counts - $12,500 from University Square Company.

314 Forward (pro-Tishuara Jones) - $10,000 from Alison Ferring.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Reps. Hannah Kelly and Jeff Coleman, and Tim Flook.