MOScout Daily Update: Roeber Resigns - Senate Works Through Night - State of the Senate - MFTI Pushes Gas Tax and more...
Roeber Resigns
Rep. Rick Roeber resigned, effective April 16. Roeber has been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegations of child abuse.
Yesterday, Missouri Independent reported that Speaker Rob Vescovo and House Ethics Chair Travis Fitzwater “asked Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker to help ensure the safety of a minor child with whom Roeber reportedly has regular contact.”
That seems to have finally pushed Roeber to give up the fight.
What It Means
It’s a big win for Vescovo as he’s taken a zero-tolerance approach to House ethics. He was consistently a hard-liner for dealing with Roeber at each step of the way. And that consistency paid off.
When you think of where the House was just six years ago when John Diehl was hiding in his office to avoid questions from Virginia Young, they’ve come a long way.
· For what it’s worth, observers think the same fate awaits Rep. Tricia Derges…
Senate Works Through The Night
In a show of determined effort, the Senate worked through the night. After hours and hours of debate, SB 44, a bill regulating reimbursements for water and sewer utilities, was perfected.
Instead of calling it a night, the Senate then moved on to perfect SB 71.
And finally, after midnight, they began work on SB 3, a tort reform bill. That bill was finally set aside just an hour or so ago – after five hours of debate.
It felt like a statement that despite the recent drama, the Senate intended to keep ploughing ahead.
And
The Senate won’t have a morning session. Check those hearing schedules as some may be cancelled or postponed. And with the legislative softball tournament scheduled for tonight, today should be an early day for the legislature.
The State of the Senate
Despite the nice night of work, the Senate feels fragile.
Lobbyists assessments vary…
· It’s a fucking powder keg and I expect it to explode more than once.
· I’m not as concerned as some others. I think what happened [two nights ago] tends to happen and shut things down for a few days. But it always feels like what happened leads to some deals getting done.
· I think term limits have ruined the Senate as an institution in a way that will be irreparable.
· Are you kidding me. The senate is broke. No team play. Everybody is acting like Greitens. Me me me
There at least three sides to the Senate right now: “The Regulars,” the majority of Republicans; the Conservative Caucus, and the Democrats.
Some Regulars are dismissive of the Conservative Caucus.
From someone supportive of the Regulars: They are a chaos fraction- not a conservative caucus. There is nothing about expanding gambling, starting a new tax credit (education savings accounts) and taking away local control that is conservative. They are about what is expediently good for their personal political careers.
The Conservative Caucus feels dismissed by leadership.
Whereas a pro tem has traditionally carried very little of his own legislation, Pro Tem Dave Schatz has pushed through the gas tax, as well as offering several amendments on various bills. And when he took a point of order “under advisement” the other night to go to another bill of his, the mechanical licensing, it was the tipping point for them.
Democrats are surfing the tension.
They’re trying to stay out of the way, subtly adding a little fuel to the fire when they can, and hoping the Republican supermajority doesn’t re-congeal in the next month.
Hope
· “Conservatives” meet with Schatz yesterday and had a little “airing of grievances.”
· Sens. Dan Hegeman and Paul Wieland had their pow wow on the FRA tax. No announcement, but presumably some progress was made.
MFTI Pushes Gas Tax
The consensus is that the gas tax legislation faces an uphill battle in the House.
Missourians For Transportation Investment (MFTI) delivered to all House members, arguing for its passage. See the letter here.
From a supporter: “Twenty-nine organizations from around the state have signed onto a letter supporting the passage of Senate Bill 262… Senate Bill 262 passed the Senate on a bipartisan 21-13 vote and is now awaiting deliberation in the Missouri House. The letter’s cosigners represent a broad coalition of supporters from the transportation, agriculture, and business industries. The letter includes support from local Chambers of Commerce, including St. Louis, Kansas City, Poplar Bluff, Cape Girardeau, St. Charles, Springfield, St. Joseph and Joplin. Literally every local Chamber in every major metropolitan statistical area in Missouri. In the agriculture industry, the Missouri Corn Growers, Missouri Soybean and Missouri Cattlemen’s’ Associations have all signed on as well. Multiple business groups such as Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Transportation Development Council, Kansas City Economic Development Corporation and American Traffic Safety Services Association have all pledged their support for SB262. It’s time for Missouri to address our funding problem and begin building for the future. Missouri has taken a ‘kick-the-can’ approach for two decades, and as a result we have an ANNUAL transportation funding shortfall of $825 million. Continuing the wait-and-see approach is only going to increase that funding deficit. Our funding shortfall won’t be resolved by a one-time infusion of federal dollars. We need a sustainable solution and we need to quit passing this debt on to future generations.”
Schupp Sounds Hopeful Note on Education
In her capitol report, Sen. Jill Schupp sounded a hopeful note about the work the Education Committee is doing…
For the first time I can remember as an elected state legislator, instead of simply arguing over specific bills that pit one education or alternative group against another, many of us serving on the Education committee are having real conversations above and beyond just hearing and disposing of bills. We are talking about ways to truly get at the heart of helping our children learn to read so that they can read to learn. We are starting from a place where we can agree on a vision, and then talking about how to make it a reality.
This bipartisan work is truly focused on our kids and Missouri's future. I'm hopeful these thoughtful discussions continue as we work to build upon our educational foundation to give all of our kids, regardless of who they are and where they are, the opportunity to grow and learn and become the person they would like to be.
eMailbag
· I’m surprised you used Nietzsche instead of Hobbes’s “where every man is an Enemy to every man” “Nasty, brutish, and short”
Lobbyists Registrations
Trent Watson added American Heart Association.
Rodney Hubbard added Missouri Bankers Association.
Caroline Hoover and Salvatore Panettiere added Kansas City Royals.
$5K+ Contributions
Together KC - $10,000 from T-Mobile USA Inc.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Brad Robinson, Lori Rasmussen, and Mark Boyko.