MOScout Daily Update: Brunner, Fitz Floated for Senate - WWJD? - Gas Tax Stalls in Senate - Steward Adds Lobbyists and more...
All Eyes on Ashcroft
Senator Roy Blunt’s bombshell announcement that he won’t seek re-election continues to dominate the talk of Missouri politicos.
Yesterday brought even more possible Republican candidates to replace him…
· Businessman John Brunner, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2016 and Senate in 2012, put out an intriguing Facebook: I hear the call of battle...Is it time to volunteer, one more time, to advance to the front lines, to fight the good fight for freedom?! Is it time again to Stand With Liberty?!
· State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, already mentioned to be a 2022 auditor candidate, is apparently also mulling jumping into this fray.
Folks trying to game out the scenarios generally focus on Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, and his formidable name ID. If he jumps in, it’s thought that he’s the front-runner, and others – like Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe – might decide to wait, instead running for governor in 2024.
But if Ashcroft passes, it could embolden others to join the field.
And there is a psychological arithmetic involved. The more folks that get in, the more folks think they have a path.
· If Attorney General Eric Schmitt and former governor Eric Greitens were both in, could Congressman Jason Smith see a path to statewide victory catapulted by his Southeast base?
· And if the three of them were in, could Congresswoman Ann Wagner see a path as the only woman in a four-way primary?
WWJD
What Will Jay Do? Scott Charton hears that Ashcroft is going to run for Senate. Inside the building, the sentiment is that he’ll pass and run for governor. So I guess… we’ll see….
And the Dominoes
Another reason the Senate race has captivated the capitol is because of its potential to create chain reactions.
For example, if Congressman Billy Long runs for Senate, there’d be a robust free-for-all for his congressional seat. Assuming that race enticed a couple state senators to run for Congress, it’d open up those districts for state representative with aspirations.
Similar scenarios would play out in the 2nd and 8th Congressional Districts if Wagner or Smith decided to run.
Also
Governor Mike Parson could get more appointment opportunities. One reader writes: Think about this. If Fitz wins Auditor and Ashcroft, Schmitt, or Kehoe win Senate, Parson will get 2 more statewide appointments. That would be a total of 5…
Senate Debates Gas Tax
The Senate failed to find a compromise on a proposed phase-in of a gas tax, SB 262, and laid the bill over after several hours of debate.
House Perfects Tax Bill
The House perfected HB 554 which included, among other items, a provision to capture sales tax for purchases over the internet.
This is a first step, but the bill still has a long way to go…
Moon Lays Markers
Sen. Mike Moon spoke early in the day – perhaps reflecting on his vote the previous night – about the importance of sticking to the constitution. He declared that he’d be voting No a lot in the Senate – even on bills he liked – if they didn’t meet his standard of constitutionality.
He’d stood in favor of Sen. Bill Eigel’s SB 24 (personal property tax elimination) during the standing division the night before, but had seemed hesitant, rising slowly. Yesterday he explained, “Stuff added to it that didn’t mix very well... I’m all for reducing taxes but it has to be done in a way that [meets the constitution].”
Brown for Senate 26
Post-Dispatch reports on Ben Brown, who filed to succeed Sen. Dave Schatz in Senate 26.
A St. Louis-area restaurant owner who has opposed county health orders restricting businesses announced a bid for a Missouri Senate seat Tuesday… Brown is a resident of Washington, Missouri, and the owner of Satchmo’s Bar and Grill in Chesterfield. He has been a vocal opponent of St. Louis County Executive Sam Page. Brown’s restaurant was one of five shut down in late 2020 for defying public health orders. The restaurant was also one of dozens that sued the county to declare the health order invalid….
Bailey New Gov General Counsel
Press release: Governor Mike Parson announced that Andrew Bailey has assumed the role of General Counsel for the Office of the Governor effective March 1, 2021. Mr. Bailey, of Rhineland, has served as Deputy General Counsel for the Office of the Governor since April 2019. Prior to joining the Governor's Office, he served as General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Corrections…
Mayoral Forum
St. Louis REALTORS, Missouri Growth Association, and ULI St. Louis will host a forum for the St. Louis City mayoral forum today. It’s at 10AM. See the link here.
Paint For a Cause
Press release: Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe and Lincoln University will collaborate to offer the Missouri Bicentennial Paint For A Cause in Jefferson City on Wednesday, March 10. Artists Aaron Horrell and Barb Bailey have traveled around the state with panels from the 12 foot by 30 foot mural featuring various symbols of Missouri. The pair, along with volunteers, assists citizens with painting small triangles to mark their place in this historic piece, which will eventually be permanently housed in the Truman Building in Jefferson City.
Visitors may make their painting contribution to the mural outside Room 224 of the Missouri State Capitol from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m….
eMailbag on Blunt
From a progressive advocate: I sent a thank you message to Sen. Blunt this morning along with a note of sadness that he is not seeking re-election. I think it is very bad for democracy that legislators who honor governmental institutions and maintain professionalism above partisanship - when it comes to something like inauguration day festivities and peaceful transfers of power - are fleeing from office. Sen. Blunt's office was responsive to concerns… [he] worked with Rep. Luetkemeyer and Rep. Cleaver on some important housing legislation… While I disagreed with some of his votes - including how he voted on the Trump impeachments - he took some important actions that I applaud. I believe he took public service more seriously than ideology.
Lobbyists Registrations
Franc Flotron, John Gaskin, Janet Hirshman, Jerry Hobbs, David McCracken, Richard McIntosh, and Bill Stouffer added David Steward.
Tracy King added US Term Limits.
Richard McIntosh added Leading Age Missouri, and The Nine Network of Public Media.
Brittany Hyatt Robbins added Protection Plus LLC.
John Kilper added Missouri-American Water Company.
$5K+ Contributions
MO Beverage PAC - $7,173 from Heartland Coca Cola.
Together KC - $125,000 from International Association of Fire Fighters Local 42.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Tishaura Jones, Eddy Justice, Matt Jessee, Jamey Murphy, and Luke Scavuzzo.