MOScout Daily Update: Final Week of Session - Key to ESAs Success - Koenig Won Week! - COVID Deaths Drop - Testimony Language a Killer? and more...

One Weeks Left…

Both chambers convene at 2PM today.  They have until 6PM Friday to finish their business.

·         Missourinet does a “where we are” recap here. 

·         As does St. Louis Public Radio here.

Among the big issues remaining…

·         “Wayfair,” implementing a sales tax on internet purchases.  This is one of the governor’s top priorities and there’s bipartisan support to “level the playing field” for IRL stores.  Still, determining how the revenues will be divvied up has prevented quick passage.

·         Gas tax.  After the Senate moved on ESAs, Sen. Dave Schatz’ gas tax bill was voted out of House Rules Committee.  It’s expected we’ll see a vote on the House floor this week.  There’s plenty of support from the business community for this, but it’ll faces opposition from conservatives. The idea of raising taxes – even for a core function of government – is a tough sell with many Missouri Republicans.

·         FRA tax – This tax to draw down federal dollars is considered a must-pass bill.  It seems every year folks play chicken with it.  Still, this year it seems like the farthest we’ve gotten in playing that game.  The insertion of the pro-life issue has raised the stakes.  See MOIndy’s article here.

COVID Deaths Becoming Rare

·         COVID deaths are becoming rare. According to state dashboards, only 3 of Missouri’s 114 counties reported COVID deaths in the past week.

·         Yet hospitalizations haven’t budged.  They’re still in the 700-range.  Hospitals are still deploying resources and beds to the fight.

·         Vaccinations are drifting lower.  After peaking with a high of 80,000 doses administered on April 9, vaccination demand seems to have sputtered.  It’s been two weeks now consistently below 40,000 doses/day, often far below that rate.

·         Only 31% of Missourians are fully vaccinated now.

·         However, that number is approaching 70% in the older age ranges where folks are most vulnerable.

Secret of ESA’s Success?

Reflecting on the session-long struggle to pass Educational Saving Accounts, here are the indispensable components…

·         Bicameral leadership support.  The effort had the early, vocal and continued support of leaders in both the House and Senate side.  In particular, Speaker Rob Vescovo and Floor Leader Caleb Rowden pushed and pushed.  Vescovo was wise to strike in his first year as speaker was when he has maximum power.  It’s easy for controversial items to get caught in an inter-chamber crossfire.  Having support at the top on both sides was crucial.

·         Targeted language. The final bill was crafted to shave the edge off the opposition’s resistance. The population limit in the bill limited the ESAs so as not to include rural areas. And the transportation funding trigger meant that they would likely see an increase in state dollars to make it happen.  Together that weakened resistance among some rural Republicans who would normally stick with their superintendents on the education issues.

·         Carrots and sticks. One lobbyist remarked that, “we will probably never know all the politics that went into this.”  Indeed, there were rumors that Dems agreed to not stand and filibuster if the GOP took Voter ID off the table.  Other rumors were flying: that Sen. Jason Bean cut a deal, or that Sens. Justin Brown and Jeanie Riddle were nervous about retribution for their legislation needing House passage.  There was probably some good cop (Rowden), bad cop (Vescovo) work at play.

Rumorville: Bill-Killing Language?

Word is that the governor’s office doesn’t like the language in HB 1069 which would add teeth to the legislature’s ability to compel testimony.

The language is also in SB 53 and SB 91, and some are wondering if its inclusion could risk a veto.

The language appears to be a reaction to Scott Faughn’s testimony a few years ago regarding the source of the $120,000 payment to Al Watkins.

MOScouters Shake Fist at Drebes

I heard from several folks that I erred in not naming Sen. Andrew Koenig as having “won the week.”

·         Andrew has carried this bill since his time in the house and works a whip list as hard as anyone. He is trusted by his colleagues to be a fair and reasonable broker.

·         I feel like Andrew Koenig had been championing this issue since his first day in the House and has been laser focused on getting it finished. Also Kenny Ross has worked his ass off on behalf of Rob [Vescovo] and also deserves some serious credit.

·         Andrew Koenig won the week!.. [He’s] the senator with the BEST ability to carry big legislation across the line and navigate the factions in the senate…

Gubby Appts

·         Governor Mike Parson appointed Corey R. Moon as Associate Circuit Judge for the 2nd Judicial Circuit.

·         Governor Mike Parson appointed Megan Benton as Associate Circuit Judge for the 6th Judicial Circuit.

eMailbag

The $500,000.00 in the budget for the AG to pursue the illegitimate gray machines after the same AG failed to spend the $300,000 for eliminating them...could this be the first shot fired by Senate Pro Tem Dave Schatz to his potential U.S. Senate primary opponent, Eric Schmitt?  Inquiring minds want to know.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Ron Hicks, and Michelle Sherod.