MOScout Weekender: Vescovo Packs Conservation - Greitens to Hit Lincoln Days - Poll on STL Mayoral Race - Hallway's Gubby Approv - WWTW and more...

Vescovo Packs Conservation

Speaker Rob Vescovo employed the powers of his office this week to add 5 Republicans to the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee.

With the new legislators (GOP Reps. Chris Dinkins, Derek Grier, Justin Hill, Andrew McDaniel, and Suzie Pollock, plus Dem Reps. Tracy McCreery and Patty Lewis) the committee has doubled in size.

Word is that Vescovo added them to have enough votes to pass HJR 55 out of that committee. HJR 55 would make the conservative commission elected positions. 

·         It’s a plan one lobbyist without a dog in the fight rolled his eyes at: One step on a slippery slope back to the "long ballot." Will we add back the elected state Superintendent of Schools and the Register of Lands, too?

Look for the new House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee to vote out HJR 55 on Monday night.  And then the committee will return to its normal size again?

Greitens to Do the Lincoln Days Circuit?

Eric Greitens is scheduled to be a speaker at the Macon County Lincoln Days on April 16. 

While that’s the only one I’ve heard about, it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s planning to make the round to as many as will have him.

Sure looks like he’s prepping for a 2022 run…

Remington/MOScout Poll: STL Mayoral General

Survey conducted March 3 through March 4, 2021. 544 likely Municipal Primary Election voters participated in the survey. Survey weighted to match expected turnout demographics for the Municipal Primary Election. Margin of Error is +/-4.4%. Totals do not always equal 100% due to rounding. See full results here.

Q1: Candidates in the April 6th General Election for Mayor of St. Louis are Tishuara Jones and Cara Spencer. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?

Tishaura Jones: 43%

Cara Spencer: 37%

Undecided: 20%

I will now read you Proposition E as it will appear on your ballot in April. Please indicate, after hearing the proposition, whether you would vote yes or if you would vote no if the election were held today.

Q2: PROPOSITION E: Shall the earnings tax of 1%, imposed by the City of St. Louis, be continued for a period of five (5) years commencing January 1 immediately following the date of this election?

If the election were held today, would you vote yes or would you vote no?

Yes: 59%

No: 21%

Undecided: 20%

Q3: Do you think the City of St. Louis is heading in the right direction or is it going off on the wrong track?

Right direction: 26%

Wrong track: 39%

Not sure: 25%

Q4: What is the most important task facing the next Mayor?

Making the city safer: 52%

Improving the schools: 14%

Attracting more jobs: 12%

Something else: 5%

Not sure: 16%

MOScout’s Hallway Index: Gubby Approval

Here’s a look at the in-the-building job approval rating for Governor Mike Parson. 20 replies…

RESULTS

1. 1. Strongly approve… 10%

2. Somewhat approve… 45%

3. Somewhat disapprove… 30%

4. Strongly disapprove… 15%

Sample of Comments

·         When he sticks to governing, and being a traditional Republican, he's good. When he punches down at the House and Media, not so much.

·         It’s going to be hard to please everyone...

·         The stuff that’s made legislators crazy doesn’t really impact most client interests.

·         I think folks generally approve but have to say I'm super disappointed in the lack of vaccines getting to the St. Louis and Kansas City areas. Know scores of folks driving to other areas because they're eligible but can't find vaccines near them. Meanwhile appointments in rural areas go unfilled and there's pressure to accelerate the phases.

·         It is hard to be upset with Parson’s handling of COVID when he protected liberties and had better infection rates than blue states...

·         Disappointing. Forgot everything he learned as a legislator.

·         Does not seem to have a stellar relationship with both chambers. Parson does not possess his own identity and anyone can see it.

Who Won the Week?

Steven Roberts and Barbara Washington – As the Senate seemingly debates a new tort reform bill each week, freshmen lawyers Roberts and Washington are giving the Dem caucus some added firepower on the floor.

Aaron Greisheimer – Chaired one of the most controversial and probably most emotionally charged hearings of the session (transgendered kids and sports) and handled it perfectly.

Dan Shaul – Gets the nod to lead the House Redistricting Committee. 

Schools – With revenue numbers still solid, the governor released the remains of his budget restrictions.  That’s $123 million for the foundation formula.

Find a downloadable version here.

$5K+ Contributions

Together KC - $100,000 from Industry Advancement Fund.

Nexus PAC - $25,000 from Paric Holdings, Inc.

Missourians for Higher Education - $25,000 from Heavy Constructors Association.

Brent Brown for Springfield - $20,000 from Coalition for Building a Better Tomorrow.

Show Me Integrity Action Fund - $15,000 from Show-Me Integrity.

Gateway to Progress PAC - $10,000 from Post Holdings Inc.

MILA PAC - $9,600 from World Acceptance Corporation.

Missourians for a New Approach - $10,293 from New Approach PAC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Kit Bond, Christine Page, and Todd Patterson.

Sunday: Rep. Rory Rowland, Rich AuBuchon, Frank Barnitz, Jeff Layman, and Benjamin Peters.