MOScout Daily Update: Final Stretch - Hoskins Strikes Back - MedEx Now in Gov's Hands - SPD Changes Recruiting and more....
The Final Stretch
As the legislative session winds down, there’s no shortage of big bills left for legislators to work through. In addition to finishing the budget next week some of the big priorities left…
· FRA tax renewal
· Wayfair internet tax
· Education reform
· COVID liability
· Gas tax increase
· Protection of children
Meanwhile the Senate’s current fractured and fragile nature appears to limit the capacity of that chamber.
Yesterday, for example, Sen. Denny Hoskins killed Sen. Mike Moon’s ceremonial resolution against profiling of motorcyclists. Hoskins started by running through lots of other examples of profiling society should guard against (everything from racial profiling to people whose hub-caps spin at the stoplight). Then he offered an amendment to put the resolution to a vote of the people – the same amendment that Moon had added to Hoskins’ gaming bill earlier in the week. It had the same effect as Moon’s amendment: boom, like a shot to the heart.
These are both Republicans. These are both members of the Conservative Caucus. That’s how you know we’re in the final weeks of session.
Still, Sen. Jeanie Riddle navigated the sometimes very testy chamber to pass HB 273. This bill started as Rep. Tom Hannigan’s two sentence bill saying that someone who only shampoos should have to be a licensed cosmetologist. (One of the sentences was a definition of shampooing.) And it ended up as a 99-page professional registration hodge-podge bill.
MedEx Ball in Gov’s Court
With both chambers of the legislature having voted against funding Medicaid expansion, the ball is in the governor’s court. He has several options: unilaterally implement and say he’s following the will the people; follow the legislature’s lead, say there’s no funding to implement and face a court challenge; or call a special session to demand it gets done.
The third option would seem to be politically suicidal even for a termed governor.
Why he might go ahead and implement…
· He’s already on the record saying he accepted the vote as a reflection of the will of the people.
· It avoids a protracted court and public relations battle which would distract from the rest of his agenda.
· The state is flush with cash right now. If the state was in a tight budgetary situation, it might feel different.
The governor’s statement, by the way, via Twitter: We will assess our options and legal requirements on how to move forward with Medicaid expansion, once the budget is finalized.
Springfield Relaxes Recruiting Policies
Springfield News-Reader reports that the Springfield Police Department has “tweaked” its recruiting standards as vacancies have “plagued” the force. See it here.
· To bolster recruiting, the department relaxed two existing policies. First off, officers are now allowed to sport visible tattoos on their arms. Secondly, the department also tweaked its marijuana policy back in January.
· Prior to January, recruits had to have gone three years without using any drugs, including marijuana, before they could take the written and physical tests that are part of the pre-hiring process with the Springfield Police Department. Now, recruits who come from states where marijuana is not legal for recreational use have to be marijuana-free for a year before they can take the written and physical tests. And for recruits who come from states where marijuana is legal for recreational use, there's no waiting period.
· "You can come from Colorado on Friday having just smoked a joint and come test here on Monday," [Police Chief] Williams said.
$5K+ Contributions
American Property Casualty Insurance Association Political Account - $8,363 from American Property Casualty Insurance Association.
One St Louis PAC - $15,000 from Imperial Court Investment LLC.
Lobbyists Registrations
Tyler Coward added Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
Paul Mouton added AM Trace, LLC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Andy Blunt, and Julie Murphy Finn.