MOScout Daily Update: House Perfects ESA - Tier 3 Coming? - Buzz on Limbaugh - Greitens Watch and more...
House Perfects ESA
In a tight vote, the House perfected HB 349, which establishes “Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program.” It’s a tax credit program to help students pay for tuition to private schools.
The bill was perfected with 83 votes, just one more than needed. See the vote total here.
What It Means
· According to this week’s actions, it now appears that the school choice movement has corralled 83 votes in the House, along with 18 votes in the Senate.
· This is a huge accomplishment for Speaker Rob Vescovo, and Floor Leader Caleb Rowden, one that eluded their predecessors.
· Leadership in both chambers have proven they’re more than committed to moving forward. Now they have to hold their slim majorities together to get something across the finish line.
And
About 40 Missouri legislators have registered to participate in the Hunt Institute’s Missouri Legislators Retreat, starting today.
See the “Issue Brief” assembled by Hunt on the topic of education here.
Press release: With the COVID-19 pandemic having shed light on the myriad issues facing public education, the third annual Missouri Legislators Retreat, taking place virtually on February 25-26, 2021, could not be more timely.
The four co-chairs of this year’s Retreat are Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Senator Cindy O’Laughlin, Chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee, and Representative Chuck Basye, Chair of the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee. 38 legislators will gather to discuss topics across the full education continuum, including investment in child care, K-12 school funding, teacher retention and recruitment,
accountability, school choice, and the digital divide.
Driving the Day: Tier 3 Time?
John Holt reports that Governor Mike Parson “strongly hints #MO will move to next phase of vaccinations, including teachers, daycare, & grocery store workers.” He says to look for an announcement today…
While everyone wants teachers, grocery workers, (and even bloggers) to get vaccinated as quickly as possible, it’s the older folks who are most vulnerable. There’s just no way around the data.
· According to the Missouri’s COVID dashboard, those over 65 account for 85% of the COVID deaths in Missouri. (Add in 60-64 year-olds and it goes up to 92% of deaths).
· People under 40 account for .7% of Missouri’s COVID deaths, even though the highest case count is in the 18-39 year-old range.
Is it time to expand who’s eligible? According to the vaccine data dashboard, we’ve vaccinated…
· 39.3% of Missourians 85 and older.
· 26.6% of those aged 75-84.
· And 30.3% of those 65-74.
Life Returns to Capitol
Yesterday felt a bit more like business as usual in the capitol. There was a rally (featuring Mark and Pat McCloskey, remember them?) in the first-floor rotunda. See a picture here.
· It’s the first large gathering of folks in the building I think I’ve seen since COVID hit.
· Even walking the halls, it felt like there were more non-professionals around.
· No busloads of children from schools yet. But I think roll-out of vaccines and the drop in cases, plus hints of Spring, are starting to change behaviors. We’ll see…
Buzz About Limbaugh
There’s some buzz around Chris Limbaugh.
Limbaugh was Prosecuting Attorney in Cape Girardeau before becoming Governor Mike Parson’s general counsel. He was recently appointed Associate Circuit Judge in Cole County. But the judgeship might just be a way station for Limbaugh.
One Jeff City politico thinks Limbaugh’s name should be included on any list of possible statewide Republican candidates. He points out that the name ID associated with the Limbaugh name in a Missouri Republican primary would rival the so-called gold standard embodied in the Ashcroft name.
· One Dem concurs with this analysis, adding that Limbaugh is a natural politician. He “lights up a room when he enters it.” And he’d be especially formidable in a statewide race because he has a big rolodex and could tap into national money.
· A second Dem sees another path ahead: “probably Supreme Court like father then federal court next like grandfather…”
We’ll see….
McDaniel: Corrections Off Til April
Rep. Andrew McDaniel told his committee that he doesn’t plan to hold another Corrections Committee meeting until April.
Watch the strange ending of the committee hearing here.
McDaniel abruptly rejects the idea of a ten-minute recess saying: “Nah, I move we move out of executive session and I move that this committee stands adjourned.”
See the bills now left in limbo here.
Greitens Fans 2022 Talk
Former governor Eric Greitens continues his media appearances hinting at a possible primary challenge to Senator Roy Blunt in 2022. See it here.
I think it was really disappointing to see, you know, Roy Blunt who should be fighting for the people of Missouri. Instead, he’s criticizing President Trump. He’s right there with Biden and Obama. And clearly appears to be loyal to insiders and Mitch McConnell. So I haven’t made any decisions, but obviously want to continue to fight for the people of Missouri.
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Parson made the following appointments…
· Anne-Marie Clarke to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education.
· Paul Cordia, Jill Irvin, Alex LeCure, and Michelle Miller to the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board.
· Carrie Gallagher Crompton, Jennifer Ingraham, Giridhar Sriperumbudoor, and William (Skip) Stephens to the Missouri Community Service Commission.
· Brian Neuner to the Mental Health Commission.
Taylor for School Board
Former Rep. Sylvester Taylor formed a candidate committee to run for the board of the Hazelwood School District. See the paperwork here.
Lobbyists Registrations
Nexus Group added Missouri Installment Lenders Association.
Brittany Hyatt Robbins added Missouri Insurance Coalition.
Bradley Schad added Missouri Corn Growers Association.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Rob Mayer.