MOScout Daily Update: Greitens Gambit - Roeber Report - MONA Momentum - 3rd Read Fails - McCloskey Moves and more...

MONA Moves

Rep. Tom Hannegan’s HB 275 was discharged from the House Committee on Children and Families.  It’s a rarely used procedure (House Rule 35) where 55 House members file a petition to move a bill out of committee and onto the House Calendar.

This bill is added sexual orientation and gender identity to Missouri’s anti-discrimination laws.

9 Republicans joined Democrats in signing the discharge petition.  They were: Reps. Hannegan, Phil Christofanelli, Shamed Dogan, Bill Falkner, Andrew McDaniel, Shane Roden, Chris Sander, Adam Schwadron, and Michael Stephens.

Meanwhile

Yesterday in the Senate, Sen. Greg Razer attempted to add an amendment that would outlaw employment discrimination against gay and transgender individuals.  See the amendment here.  Sens. Rick Brattin, Mike Moon, and Bob Onder spoke against the amendment, indicating resistance.  But the bill was laid over before coming to a vote.

FYI

The Remington/MOScout poll from the weekend shows Missourians support adding discrimination protection.

Q3: SB 81 prohibits discrimination based upon a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. Do you support or oppose this bill?

Support: 43%

Oppose: 35%

Not sure: 22%

House Ethics Releases Roeber Report

The House Ethics Committee released its report on Rep. Rick Roeber.  Missourinet uploaded the report.  You can read it here. 

The Committee finds, based upon the clear and convincing testimony and other evidence received by the Committee, that: 

a.      Respondent sexually abused Child 1 when Child 1 was nine years old.

b.      Respondent sexually abused Child 2 when Child 2 was five years old.

c.       Respondent attempted to sexually abuse Child 1 and Child 2 on other occasions.

d.      Respondent physically and mentally abused his children.

e.       Witness 1 and her children repeatedly sought the assistance of law enforcement, family services, counselors, and the court system, to remedy the abuse suffered by these children and to hold Respondent accountable.

f.        Witness 1 and her children, for almost three decades, have provided consistent statements and sworn testimony detailing the sexual, physical, and mental abuse suffered by these children.

g.      Respondent has never been held accountable for his conduct.

Ethics Chair Travis Fitzwater filed HC 2.  See it here.  It calls for Roeber to be expelled, and to pay for the cost of the investigation, $1,574.

Missouri Independent reports that “only one member of the Missouri House has ever been expelled, in 1865. The charge at that time was disloyalty to the Union.”

This is expected to come to the House floor on Wednesday.

Veteran observer: I am someone that agrees with Rob Vescovo on nothing. Legacies are sometimes policies; those often fade away. To the people that work in the building – partisan staff, nonpartisan staff,  lobbyists – his legacy will be one of not excusing bad behavior on the part of members. And that is one hell of a legacy.

US Senate Watch

·         US Senate candidate Eric Greitens named Kimberly Guilfoyle as his campaign’s “national chair.” Politico reports: Guilfoyle is “a top official on former President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign and Donald Trump Jr.’s girlfriend… The personnel announcement is a potential boon for Greitens, who resigned in 2018 amid allegations of sexual assault and multiple other scandals, as he works to tether himself to the Trump political brand and deflect criticism from national Republicans who have criticized his decision to enter the race.”  What It Means: So far, this roadmap for Greitens (and others) appears to be to wrap themselves in Trump.

·         Meanwhile Mark McCloskey is dropping hints on Facebook about a possible candidacy…  Referring to hats he’s had printed up: We gave away all the hats that we had made, but we are ordering a new run.  Pirates please note, they are trademarked.  As soon as we get new hats I'll figure out a way to get them out there to everyone.  Maybe a campaign contribution (should that need arise).  What It Means: My guess is that he doesn’t run, but is finding this a good opportunity to “build his brand.”

Effort to Reconfigure Term Limits

Show Me Integrity announced on Twitter that they will pursue an initiative petition to revamp term limits in Missouri.

·         Their plan would allow legislators to serve 16 years total between the two chambers instead of the current 8 years in each chamber.

·         It would also place a term limit on leadership positions of 6 years.

This plan would likely have bipartisan support.  Similar frameworks have been proposed over the years.

3rd Read Fails in House

Yesterday a couple of bills failed to pass on third read, an oddity in the House.  Rep. Tony Lovasco’s HB 512 (72-82) and Rep. Rodger Reedy’s HB 394 (70-83) went down. Lavosco’s bill had the State Treasurer language on it.

One denizen: Republican members have to learn to do the leg work and not take the caucus as an automatic vote.

Grain Belt

Grain Belt is back in the center ring.  Missouri Independent reports on it here.

The proposed Grain Belt Express, being developed by Chicago-based Invenergy, would run from near Dodge City, Kansas, to Indiana, moving 4,000 megawatts of power per year.  In Missouri, 39 municipal utility providers have signed up and expect to save $12.8 million per year. Grain Belt promises thousands of jobs — both to construct and operate the line. The company could revise its plans to drop off more power in Kansas and Missouri, saving up to $7 billion a year over 20 years for up to $2.4 million residents… But even as Invenergy begins negotiations with farmers to compensate them for running the line across their land, it’s still facing resistance from both landowners and Missouri lawmakers. The Missouri House once again voted overwhelmingly in favor of legislation designed to pump the brakes on Grain Belt’s plans.

And

It looks like there’s an anti-Grain Belt rally coming tomorrow.  See it here.

Lobbyists Registrations

Jenifer Javia added yes. every kid., Inc.                  

Paul Anthony Agathen added Missouri Landowners Alliance (anti-Grain Belt group).

Heath Clarkston added Automated Health Systems, Inc.   

Tim Green added Arnold and Associates.

Larry Luster and Arthur Turner added J & J Ventures.

$5K+ Contributions

Midwest Region Laborers' Political League Education Fund - $5,168 from Laborers Supplemental Dues Fund.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Chris Moody, and Chris Roepe.

Condolences

Floor Leader Dean Plocher began session with a moment of silence for Judy Kempker, Director of Administration, who died after a two-year battle with cancer.  One long-timer: People lie when folks die and talk about how wonderful they are. That's usually bullshit. It ain’t here.