MOScout Daily Update: Kehoe Says No Go on Senate - HB 20 Watch - Wagner's Math - Schmitt and RAGA - Fair Maps MO and more...

Kehoe Decides Against Senate Bid

Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe issued a statement that he won’t seek to replace Senator Roy Blunt…

I am humbled to know so many Missourians see an even greater leadership role for me in Missouri. I will continue to use my years of job-creating business experience, what I have learned on the farm, in leading for conservative views and values in the state senate, and now as Lieutenant Governor to increase opportunity, freedom and security for all Missourians.

I will work to unify the party behind a strong nominee committed to representing Missouri's conservative, common-sense views and values in the United States Senate.

While Claudia and I have been honored by the encouragement and offers of support for me to serve as Missouri’s next US Senator, my true calling remains to work on behalf of Missourians in Missouri as Lieutenant Governor and as a candidate for Governor in 2024.

What It Means

·         Right now AG Eric Schmitt and former governor Eric Greitens are presumed in; SOS Jay Ashcroft and LG Mike Kehoe are out; and the large “looking at it” category includes: Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, Congressmen Vicky Hartzler, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Billy Long, Jason Smith, and Ann Wagner, and businessman John Brunner.  Did I miss anyone?

·         One of Kehoe’s top consultants was Palm Strategies. We’ll see if a different candidate snaps them up.

Driving the Day: HB 20 Watch

The legislature returns today.  Committee hearing start back up at Noon.  House Budget will be going over the budget bills.  And we’ll see if there are any signs of an emerging plan on funding Medicaid expansion.

Budget Chair Cody Smith has segregate those funds away from the normal budget bills into HB 20. 

·         It’s possible the House would not pass the bill, but would accept the Senate adding it to the budget. 

·         It’s possible this is simply to tee up a constitutional challenge: they don’t pass it, a citizen sues that they’re not following the new constitutional amendment, and the legislature replies that they can’t be bound to make appropriations.

Smith has previously appeared undecided about what course of action to take.  On the one hand, I think he truly believes that Medicaid expansion will fuel an even greater strain on general revenue in the years to come.  On the other, the voters have spoken – and there are a lot of rural counties with high poverty and struggling hospitals that could use that funding.

Wagner’s Embellishment

The Hill reports on the crowd looking at running for Roy Blunt’s seat.  Congresswoman Ann Wagner gets a nice quote which one MOScout reader describes as “an embellishment.”

·         “There’s a bunch of us in Missouri looking at it. We’re all friends … but you gotta look at it,” Wagner, who passed on a Senate bid in 2018, told The Hill. “My district is 34 percent of the GOP primary electorate so, of course, I’m very interested. Everyone knows I’ve had an interest in taking the work I’ve done in the House to the U.S. Senate, to fight back on this Biden agenda and get something done for Missouri. It would be just a great honor.”

In 2020, Wagner’s congressional district amounted to less than 10% of the Republican vote in the August primary ballot.  Of course, with the Democratic primary for St. Louis County Executive on that ballot, many will argue that GOPers took a Dem ballot during the primary that cycle.

In 2018, the 2nd Congressional District accounted for a greater share, over 12%, of the Republican primary ballots.  But still hard to make the numbers work for 34%.

Politico on Schmitt

Politico reports on Republican AGs pushing back on the Biden agenda, much as Dem AGs worked to thwart President Donald Trump.  Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt gets some spotlight action.  See it here.

·         “We’re standing up and fighting back,” said Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who is leading a coalition of states suing Biden over an executive order pertaining to the “social cost” of greenhouse gas emissions.  Republican attorneys general, said Schmitt, vice chair of the Republican Attorneys General Association, “play a very important role in checking a very aggressive administrative state that’s been unleashed.”

eMailbag on Schmitt’s Suits

Congratulations to AG Schmitt on his leadership in filing a lawsuit with other state AGs to ensure that states taking relief money may still cut taxes. I appreciated his strong assertion about the unconstitutionality of that American Rescue Plan provision. Also, can you please provide an update on the progress of his lawsuits against the Chinese Communist Party regarding the virus, and his lawsuit to invalidate the 2020 Pennsylvania election? Thanks.

Fair Maps Missouri

In the lobbyist registrations (below) David Klarich added Fair Maps Missouri.  According the SOS site, this is a fictious name for Missouri WIN, which previously donated to progressive campaigns and causes.  See the paperwork here.

KC Southern Bid

Wall Street Journal reports “Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. agreed to acquire Kansas City Southern in a transaction valued at about $25 billion that would create the first freight-rail network linking Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.

The combination, which faces a lengthy regulatory review, is a long-term wager on an interconnected North American economy…. It marks the third major U.S. railroad that the Canadian company has targeted in its quest to create a transcontinental network. Canadian Pacific abandoned the two prior efforts—in 2014 and 2016—amid resistance from the takeover targets themselves as well as opposition from rivals, shippers and U.S. regulators.

Keith Creel, chief executive of Canadian Pacific, said lessons were learned from the failed bids. He expects Kansas City’s support for the proposed merger and said the lack of rail-line duplication between the two companies will minimize potential regulatory concerns…”

MEC Fines Eslinger IE PAC

The Missouri Ethics Commission fined Conservative Leadership of the Ozarks for failing to disclose that seventeen of its expenditures were in support of a candidate.  See the consent order here.  Conservative Leadership, which was fined $1,000, was the independent expenditure PAC supporting Karla Eslinger in her successful senate race.

Lobbyists Registrations

Kyna Iman added J & J Ventures.

David Klarich added Inheritage LLC, and Fair Maps Missouri.

$5K+ Contributions

Debbie Cook for Mayor - $10,000 from CHIPP Political Account.

Missourians for Higher Education - $15,000 from KC BizPAC.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $7,500 from Hegeman for Missouri.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Bill Hardwick, David Jackson, Nancy Giddens, Will Kraus, Paul LeVota, Sylvester Brown Jr., and Steve Hunter.