MOScout Daily Update: Basye Contra MSBA - More on Rex - Jones: Say Yes STL - Ameren Upgrades - R Rate < 1 and more...
Basye Contra MSBA
House Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Chuck Basye sent a scathing letter to Missouri School Boards Association Executive Director Melissa Randol. See it here. While this type of communication isn’t 100% unprecedented. It’s highly unusual. Committee chairs normally let their actions do the talking.
For several weeks running, my colleagues and I have listened to a succession of misleading and inaccurate statements by MSBA officials about both existing state education data as well as the details of several sorely needed reform measures under consideration by my colleagues and me in the Legislature… In the interest of setting the record straight and ensuring that this vital discussion take place amid facts, not fear, I offer the following fact-check to MSBA’s erroneous assertions – and ask that you update all MSBA communications to accurately reflect these missing or misspoken details.
I appreciate your passion for education and look forward to an earnest discussion on education issues. I am disappointed your letter addressed to me was sent to the press before we have had an opportunity to have any discussions on the items you raise in your letter. As we’ve seen too many discussions devolve into less than professional debates over policy matters, I believe that we should represent professional conduct for our citizens - particularly our students - who are observing our actions. We are all better served by using verifiable facts and data. That is the basis MSBA uses for our positions and our testimony and I take issue with allegations that our statements are less than truthful and factual…
What It Means
The education reform debate is running very very hot this session. There are some big battles coming, and right now folks on both sides are having trouble agreeing – and engaging – on the facts – instead looking to wage the war on the public perception front. That’s a bad sign for anyone looking for compromise.
More on New Sinquefield Direction
I wrote yesterday about Rex Sinquefield hiring Kate Casas and David Jackson to advance his Jefferson City agenda.
Here’s some more talk inside the building about this development…
· In reaction to my writing yesterday that the new approach will be “less Rex, more Sinquefield. That is, look for greater involvement of Jeanne Sinquefield and daughter Katie Sinquefield,” some think this could be good news for advocates of criminal justice reform. They cite the Post-Dispatch report that Katie joined her father in a meeting with Governor Mike Parson to talk about the state’s clemency process.
· Another calls criminal justice “a good bipartisan issue and good fit as Jackson already has clients in the space and serves on the board of a local re-entry non-profit.”
· Still, the overall talk is that we won’t hear a lot out of the Sinquefield family in the near term. Casas and Jackson won’t be jumping in to strong-arm or lobby on any specific bills. They are telling legislators they are going to be doing more listening than talking.
· It’d be wrong to pigeonhole the Sinquefield agenda narrowly. The Sinquefield family cares about kids and about attracting jobs to Missouri. With that big picture, you could eventually see more policy goals generated over time and emerging from their conversations and relationships.
Driving the Day: Grid Talk
With all the talk of upgrading the grid, Ameren will release its 2020 Progress Report on its Smart Energy Plan.
The report touts 1,500 projects completed in the last two years including…
· 200+ smart switches.
· 14 new or upgraded substations.
· 133,000 smart meters.
· 38% of investment aimed toward grid modernization.
Late Nights Ahead?
MissouriNet’s Brian Hauswirth reports on Twitter that Senate Pro Tem Dave Schatz sees “some longer nights later in Jefferson City, to make up the time” for the Senate’s lost week.
R Rate Below 1
The COVID crisis is waning. Among the many great indicators that the worst is behind us, Dr. Randall Williams mentioned briefing that the statewide rate of transmission (the R rate) is now below 1. See page 4 of the weekly analytics to find the regional breakdowns.
· Hospitalizations peaked November / December in each region.
· 10.9% of Missourians have received their first dose of vaccine.
Jones: Say Yes
St. Louis City Treasurer Tishaura Jones released her first ad of the mayoral primary. See it here.
We need to say Yes to the St. Louis we could have.
Say yes to a St. Louis that’s ready to tackle the 21st century.
You should be about to succeed here regardless of your skin color, who you love, your documentation status, or what language you speak.
I want to build a city where everyone feels welcome…
What It Means
Jones’ first ad is a stunning contrast to her opponents. Whereas Lewis Reed and Cara Spencer have talked about the problems besetting the city, crime in particular, Jones goes upbeat with an aspirational first message.
It seems to offer voters a choice between problem-solvers and visionary.
Fitzwater Files Anti-Harassment Bill
Ethics Chair Travis Fitzwater filed HB 1183 which prohibits sexual harassment against an unpaid intern.
From the bill… An elected public official may be considered an employer under subdivision (1) of this subsection, and such an official shall be personally liable, in his or her capacity, for violations of this subsection… Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any defense of sovereign immunity, official immunity, or legislative immunity shall be waived in any civil action relating to an unlawful employment practice…
Tough Vote to Win Over
Republican Rep. Andrew McDaniel is a tough vote to win over. Yesterday the House third read HB 476 giving military members civilian licensing credentials, HB 271 to make a local government expenditure database, and HB 362 tweaking the sunshine exemptions.
They all won approval: 148-1, 149-2, and 149-1.
Voting no on each one… Rep. McDaniel.
More Reader Feedback on Rolling Blackouts
· The problem with Politico’s analysis of the rolling blackouts ultimately blaming the “freaky weather” in Texas is that the exact same thing happened in 2011 during a polar vortex. Reports were issued (some by FERC who doesn’t have any jurisdiction) and recommendations were made...but due to the unique nature of the regulatory environment very little was actually ordered or done. Contrast that to Missouri that suffered prolonged outages during winter ice storms and summer storms that were traced back to poor vegetation management by utilities. The MoPSC ordered a more robust program of tree trimming and vegetation management. Outages due to that issue have been reduced exponentially. Costs were recovered and it was included in some rate increases, but it got done and outages decreased and reliability increased. That contrast is a big part of this story.
· This energy crisis isn’t about grid reliability or transmission, it’s about producing energy. It’s a lack of generated electricity to transmit. Nothing has been reported that points to a shortage of electric transmission resources as being a cause. More interconnections and more pipelines should probably be contemplated to address but trying to make a case for more transmission lines with this crisis, is off base. Nice try but off base
Help Wanted
American Association of Orthodontists seeks Director of Advocacy / Government Affairs. “Works with and at the direction of the AAO’s CEO, Board of Trustees, and volunteer leadership to build and execute the AAO’s Advocacy initiatives and projects. Oversees the AAO’s advocacy efforts at both the state and federal levels and serves as staff liaison, treasurer, and fundraiser for the AAO’s Political Action Committee. Manages the AAO’s Advocacy Department and its staff to provide advocacy support to the AAO and its related entities… Pay: $133,000.00 - $175,000.00 per year…” See the ad here.
Lobbyists Registrations
Catalyst added Justice Action Network.
Jean Evans added Black Bear Fuels, LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
SCOPE PAC - $10,000 from Missouri Medical Political Action Committee.
American Property Casualty Insurance Association Political Account - $57,005 from American Property Casualty Insurance Association.
UAW Region 5 Midwest States Political Action Committee (PAC) (MO) - $6,000 from UAW Region 4 Exchange Account.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Alex Eaton, Lynne Schlosser, Ron Gladney, and Rodney Schad.