MOScout Daily Update: Shaul To Chair House Redistricting - STL Mayoral Primary Today - Tax Increases on Muni Ballots - Gov Releases $$$ - Ed Reform Continues and more...

Shaul to Chair House Redistricting Committee

Speaker Rob Vescovo announced the establishment of the Special Committee on Redistricting.  This committee will draft legislation to redraw the congressional districts in Missouri according to the new census data.  That data is way behind schedule.  There are reports that it may not be available until September.  That could mean an end-of-the-year special session in order to pass new lines before filing opens in 2022.

Chair: Rep. Dan Shaul.

Vice-Chair: Rep. Hannah Kelly.

Ranking Minority Member: Rep. Jerome Barnes.

Members: Reps. Ben Baker, Donna Baringer, Chuck Basye, LaKeySha Bosley, Shamed Dogan, J. Eggleston, Travis Fitzwater, and Don Rone.

See the Senate’s Redistricting Committee here.

Driving the Day: STL Mayoral Primary

St. Louis City holds its mayoral primary today.  Incumbent Mayor Lyda Krewson is not seeking re-election.  There are four candidates with three strongly vying for two spots in next month’s run-off election.  City Treasurer Tishaura Jones is considered the “progressive” candidate; Board of Alderman President Lewis Reed is considered the most “establishment” candidate; and Alderwoman Cara Spencer resides somewhere between those two.  Andrew Jones isn’t expected to garner many votes.

This is St. Louis’ first experience with “approval voting,” in which voters may vote for as many candidates as they “approve of.”  As a result, there’s anextra  air of unpredictability surrounding today’s election.

Meanwhile Coming in April

Next month, municipal elections happen across Missouri, there will be scores of funding questions before votes.

For example, in addition to a plethora of school bonding issues, there’s a library tax in Lincoln County, a capital improvement tax in Cole County, a sales tax for a justice center in Perry County, and renewal of Branson's infrastructure tourism tax.

Some conservatives see local tax increases as noxious. They talk of local “overreach” being as detrimental as state or federal overreach.  And they particularly dislike low-turnout municipal elections as a venue to decide these issues.

·         Sen. Bill Eigel has filed SJR 5 to requires all new local taxes be approved in a general election.

And

Coming in April, St. Louis City and Kansas City must once again approve their earnings taxes.  This is a legacy from the Travis Brown era Rex Sinquefield agenda.  Every five years the voters of those cities must renew the taxes.

Kansas City has been mobilizing their civic community for the vote through a committee, KC Together.

St. Louis is just now getting started.  Mayor Krewson and City Collector of Revenue Gregg FX Daly announced the creation of “Yes on Prop E – Earnings Tax STL,” and each contributed $25K to the effort. “Currently, 36% of the City’s general fund revenue is comprised of earnings tax collections. Without this crucial revenue stream, the City would be forced to dramatically decrease services or increase property and sales taxes.”

Parson Releases Remaining Restrictions

With the continuing solid state tax receipts, Governor Mike Parson “announced the release of the remaining $280,783,940 in FY21 general revenue restrictions… Due to the financial impact of COVID-19, the state previously restricted approximately $438 million in FY21 spending to ensure a balanced budget and the necessary funds to combat the virus moving forward…”

Find the list of released funds here.

Rural MO on Ed Reform

As I wrote over the weekend, the big education reform bill in the Senate only lets charters expand to counties of 30,000 residents or more.   Still many rural educators are fighting the measure.

From the Macon Home Press: A collection of rural public schools in Northeast Missouri have banned together to fight what they are deeming to be harmful legislation to the well being of public education and especially the school districts in rural Missouri. Led by Hannibal School Board President, Mark Bross, board presidents from over 30 school districts in the 18th State Senate District have signed onto a resolution opposing Senate Bill 55 which was filed and is sponsored by State Senator Cindy O'Laughlin from Shelbina, Mo.

It’s a head scratcher because in addition to the carve out the current Senate version would use education transportation funding as a trigger to institute the reforms.  This would create an incentive for the government to send more money to rural districts that rely heavily on transportation for their sprawling student population.

Perhaps educators see this as “the camel’s nose under the tent.”  They might believe that this legislation brings charters are one step closer to eventually entering their area.

And Ed Reform Agenda Continues

Ed reform never sleeps.  In today’s Senate Education Committee…

·         Sen. O’Laughlin’s SB 133 would close schools which are regularly in the bottom 5% of Missouri schools in performance.  A companion (HB 541) will be heard in the House Committee today (8AM) as well.

·         Sen. Bob Onder’s SB 400 would also change some provision of how accreditation is designated.

Concealed Carry Next Step

One MOScouter sent this screen shot of one Missourian testifying on a gun bill yesterday with what appears to be a concealed puppy.  See it here.

Dinkins Reports Interests

From the House Journal:

Pursuant to Section 105.461, RSMo, I am hereby filing a written report of personal interest in legislation on which the House of Representatives may vote during the legislative session. I am a member of the Public School Retirement System. I am a business owner of Twin Rivers Landing, which is located in Reynolds County, Missouri.  Please publish this letter in the Journal of the House. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office. 

Sincerely,

Chris Dinkins

New Committees

Real Republicans was formed.  It’s a PAC.  Its treasurer is Connie Combs.

Lobbyists Registrations

Michael Clark added Americans for Prosperity.

Bob Jacobi added Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City.

Andrew “Drew” Weber added Rolwes Development L.L.C., and Pinnacle Land Development L.L.C.   

$5K+ Contributions

Yes on Prop E - Earnings Tax STL - $25,000 from The Krewson Committee.

Yes on Prop E - Earnings Tax STL - $25,000 from Friends of Gregory FX Daly.

A Better Missouri Political Action Committee - $10,000 from Anheuser-Busch Cos.

Together KC - $20,000 from Spire Missouri Inc.     

Together KC - $7,500 from D Patrick Curran.          

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rob Monsees, William “Buddy” Hardin, and Titus Bond.