MOScout Daily Update: O'Laughlin Returns - Anti-Censoring Bills Hearing - AV Polling STL Mayor's Race and more...

It looks like we’ll have a busy week in the General Assembly.  Just this week, and then two more weeks before Spring Break.  There’s a normally a push to get a top priority or two done before that intermission.

O’Laughlin Returns

Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin – out for weeks with an illness – will be back in the building today.

She wrote on Facebook: Tomorrow will be my first day back… If I had come back last week I wasn’t sure if I could get from the garage where I park and walk all the way through the tunnel and into the building. I did think if I could just get in the building and sit down at least I’d be there… Senator Eric Burlison gave me his parking pass which puts me inside the building and I wouldn’t have to walk up the tunnel which is long and uphill all the way. My energy was sorely lacking a week ago. Now however I am feeling pretty good and I know I could walk up that tunnel and I’d be fine even If I was a little slow….

O’Laughlin’s vote is considered critical for the Senate to add an emergency clause to SB 51, the COVID liability bill.

And there’s talk that later in the week, her education bill, SB 55, will come up for debate.

House to Tackle Unemployment Overpayments

In the House, it looks like bills relating to unemployment overpayments is on tap.  They rolled up all their bills from committee (both Republican and Democrat alike) into Rep. J Eggleston’s HB 1083.  It’s due to be voted out of Eggleston’s Rules Committee (2PM today), and would be ready for the House floor.

Anti-Censoring Bills

The General Laws Committee (5PM today) will hear a couple of bills appear to be in reaction to last month events when Twitter and Facebook kicked off Donald Trump from their platform for spreading lies about voter fraud.  While the tech giants’ actions upset some conservatives, there are other conservatives aghast at the prospect of the government telling private companies how to run their business.

·         Rep. Hardy Billington’s HB 932 – Expressly makes social media site civilly liable for censorship. A person whose content is restricted, censored, or suppressed under this section, or a person who reasonably otherwise would have received the content, is entitled to civil damages…

·         General Laws Chair Curtis Trent’s HB 783 – Defines “online company” very broadly and requires a separate terms of service agreement explain prohibited behaviors.

·         Rep. Jeff Coleman’s HB 482 – “Stop Social Media Censorship Act” Hate speech shall not be a justifiable basis for a social media website to censor users.

Interesting to see if the attorney general’s office testifies on these bills as two of them envision a role for the AG.

And

·         Recent Gallup polling on the issue of regulating tech giants shows bipartisan support for the idea.  See it here.  Asked: Do you think the government should increase, decrease or not change its regulation of technology companies such as Amazon, Facebook and Google?  53% of Republicans want an increase, along with 58% of Independents, and 60% of Democrats.

FYI

Facebook’s Missouri lobbyists: Amy Blunt, Andy Blunt, and Ginger Steinmetz.

Twitter has no registered lobbyists in Missouri.

American Viewpoint Polling in STL Mayor’s Race

American Viewpoint is polling the St. Louis City mayoral race. 

It’s interesting because American Viewpoint works with Republican candidates.  And while the mayoral race is non-partisan, the three leading candidates are Democratic office-holders.

Perhaps some corporate interests or civic entity is considering adding some last minute support but wants to get a lay of the land first?

And

One reader eying the race offers these thoughts: Being mayor is about solving problems. It is way more practical than ideological. Every hour of every day. Filling potholes. Picking up trash. Putting out fires. Literally. Eliminating blight. Creating jobs. Housing prisoners. Balancing budgets and above all, keeping people safe.

MEC Fines 6 County PAC

The Missouri Ethics Commission fined 6 County PAC $1,000 for not reporting that their expenditures were in support of Elaine Gannon.  See the order here.

New MEC Opinions

The Missouri Ethics Commission issued two new opinions.

·         The Missouri Constitution does not expressly prohibit a former member of the General Assembly from employing lobbyists, but the former member is prohibited from soliciting lobbying clients and should avoid taking any actions in conjunction with the employed lobbyists that could be interpreted as acting as a paid lobbyist.  See the opinion here.

·         Clean Energy Development Boards are political subdivisions, so their officers must avoid the conflict of interest prohibitions in Section 105.452 and Section 105.454.  See the opinion here.

MOScout 1st Draft

I sent three of my new text “1st Draft” last week.  Thanks for the feedback.  Just a quick note…

·         If you signed up but didn’t get it, try adding the number to your address book (636-306-5203).

·         If you signed up and realize this isn’t for you, let me know and I will take you off (no hard feelings, promise).

·         If you meant to sign up, and forgot, you can do so by replying to the morning email with your cell number.

Thanks!

New Committees

Missourians for Higher Education was formed.  It’s a PAC.  Its treasurer is Bill Skaggs.  Its deputy treasurer is George Husted.

Lobbyists Registrations

Ronald Jay Mies added Senior Advisors.

Salvatore Panettiere added Empower Missouri.

Bardgett & Associates deleted North Medical Group, LLC.

$5K+ Contributions

Gateway to Progress PAC (pro-Cara Spencer) - $10,000 from MOTO Collection LLC.

MO Cable PAC - $6,427 from Mediacom Communications Corporation.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Rep. Josh Hulbert.