MOScout Daily Update: House Budget Rejects MedEx Funding - Where's SB 55? - More Senate Talk - Twin Fates of SB 12 & SB 24 and more....

House Budget Rejects MedEx Funding

The House Budget Committee rejected HB 20 by a vote of 20-9 yesterday. It was a party-line vote.  Read Missouri Independent’s report here. 

What It Means

·         Specifically, for Medicaid expansion, this issue now seems destined to be fought out in the courts.  Whether the legislature ultimately passes or doesn’t pass MedEx funding, there will be a lawsuit.  And the courts will determine if the legislature is bound by the constitutional amendment passed by voters.

·         In the bigger picture, this episode demonstrates that the Republican House supermajority, having surfed through two supposedly tough cycles with basically no loss in their legislative ranks, is unconcerned that their actions contravening the vote of Missourians will result in political damage.

Daily MOSenate Talk

·         Former US Attorney Tim Garrison takes his name off the list of potential candidates.  See it here.  “I wanted there to be an alternative to a manifestly unfit candidate whose nominate would put a safe seat in jeopardy and further demean the already-low state of our political discourse.  The developments of the last few days give me confidence these concerns will be met.”

·         Senate Floor Leader Caleb Rowden says: “My thoughts about Eric Greitens haven’t changed.  I think he was unfit for office then. I think he’s unfit for office now.”

·         And then… Senate Pro Tem Dave Schatz says the field of candidates has not yet been determined, and leaves open the possibility he might run: “The people of Missouri deserve, and Washington DC desperately needs, a bit more country common sense. If I’m best able to deliver it, I’ll run. If not, I won’t.”

·         And one politico wonders if we won’t see some movement from the congressional delegation after the quarterly fundraising deadline ends next week.  We’ll see…

Where’s SB 55?

Weeks have passed since the Senate education reform bill, SB 55, seemed poised for passage.  Yet it remains waiting on the informal calendar. 

This has created whispers.  Does it’s absence from the floor mean that a critical vote has slipped from reformers’ grasp?

One lobbyist tells me “No,” saying that Rowden has simply been fulfilling commitments to other members for floor time on some bills, and “It’ll be coming in the near future.”

·         Meanwhile, the House’s ESA bill, HB 349, is working its way toward the Senate floor and might be a better vehicle at this point.

FYI

Seven weeks left in session….

Conservative Caucus Faces Setbacks

The defeat of Sen. Bob Onder’s SB 12 felt eerily reminiscent of Sen. Bill Eigel’s SB 24.  Although SB 24 has been resurrected and placed on the informal calendar, they both lost perfection votes after long hours of debate.

In both cases a number of the Republican “regulars” sided with Democrats in providing the votes for opposition.

In both cases Senate leadership – Pro Tem Dave Schatz and Floor Leader Caleb Rowden – sided with the conservative caucus, as if saying with hands-up, “Don’t blame us.”

Are these two occurrences a mere coincidence?

Perhaps they are indicative that the Senate Republican Caucus contains a cautious element.  Acting as a counterweight to the Conservative Caucus, they reject what they views as overly aggressive measures.

Is this dynamic at play in education reform (see above)?

Meet Missourians for Higher Education

Missourians for Higher Education have been collecting big checks recently. 

·         $25K from Heavy Constructors Association

·         $15K from KC BizPAC.

·         $10K from TIFEC.

·         $10K from J.E. Dunn Construction.

·         $10K from The Civic Council of Greater Kansas City.

·         $10K from City Wide Facility Solutions.

This is the campaign vehicle to help the Metropolitan Community College expand their taxing district in the KC metro area.

In opposition, Citizens Against Junior College Tax Hike was formed two weeks ago.  There’s no indication they will have substantial funding.

The question will be on the ballot on April 6.

Previewing the Weekender

Passover starts this weekend, but first… MOScout’s Weekender will bring an early US Senate poll.  Plus, all of the other regular features: Who Won the Week, and the Hallway Index.

Lobbyists Registrations

Richard McIntosh added yes. every kid., Inc.         

Jacqueline Esposito and Michael Zimmer added World Education Services.

Andy Blunt, Chris Moody, Angie Schulte, Ginger Steinmetz, and Noel Torpey deleted Union Electric Co. DBA Amerenue, Ameren Services, Ameren Corp.   

$5K+ Contributions

Missourians for Higher Education - $10,000 from City Wide Facility Solutions.

Naral Pro-Choice Missouri PAC - $10,000 from Action St. Louis Power Project.

Page PAC - $25,000 from Sam and Marilyn Fox General Expense Account.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Ed Smith.