MOScout Daily Update: Fitz Against De-Banking Fossilers - Smith Deliberations - McCloskey on Racism - Worker Shortage - STL Redistricting Drama and more...

Fitz Against De-Banking Fossil Firms

Axios reports that State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is among 15 Republican state treasurers signing a letter that they’re prepared to use their financial clout to push back against Biden carbon policies.

More than a dozen Republican state treasurers are threatening to pull assets from large financial institutions if they agree to decarbonize their lending and investment portfolios… The Biden administration — led by special presidential climate envoy John Kerry — has leaned on the banks to help reduce U.S. carbon emissions. That's prompted GOP lawmakers to criticize efforts to "de-bank" fossil fuel firms. The treasurers collectively control hundreds of billions worth of assets.

Read their letter to John Kerry, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, here.

[W]e intend to put banks and financial institutions on notice of our position, as we urge them not to give in to pressure from the Biden Administration to refuse to lend to or invest in coal,  oil,  and  natural  gas  companies.  As  the  chief  financial  officers  of  our  respective  states,  we  entrust banks and financial institutions with billions of our taxpayers’ dollars. It is only logical that we will give significant weight to the fact that an institution engaged in tactics that will harm the people whose money they are handling before entering into or extending any contract.

MOIndy on Smith Senate Deliberations

Missouri Independent reports on Congressman Jason Smith’s deliberations to enter the US Senate race.  Read it here.

GOP political operatives, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Smith will likely get into the race if he can either obtain the former president’s endorsement or win assurances that Trump will stay out of the primary contest entirely.  Otherwise, they expect to see Smith to seek another term representing the 8th Congressional District…. Smith isn’t likely to make a final decision before Lincoln Days…

Meanwhile

Alisa Nelson reports on candidate Mark McCloskey saying racism is “hard to find.”

There may be some racism somewhere, but it’s hard to find. Right now, I think that in every major city in America and throughout every county in the state of Missouri, you can find people of every color, every background that have made a tremendous success of themselves.

And

One lobbyist sent me a Facebook announcement from a parody candidate… Chris Gardner.  See it here.

After thoughtful consideration, I am announcing today my candidacy for United States senator from the Great State of Missouri. This now makes two current, and one former, Central West End residents performing rural cosplay. Enjoy the pandering and phoniness.

After This Tax Cut, Tougher High Water Mark

One reader remarks on yesterday’s blurb that surging revenues will likely trigger a state income tax cut…

Seems obvious we will hit 509 trigger. What people haven’t started talking about is that with all the extra revenue this year because of the tax due date change, it’s going to be several years before the next cut unless the law is changed. Revenue has to exceed the highest of the previous 3 fiscal years by $150 million. That probably isn’t going to happen again until this year rolls off the 3 year look back.

If Ever a Time for Workforce Development…

On Twitter there’s a reprint of a SoberLook (graphic news service) chart highlighting the worker shortage in the manufacturing sector.  See it here.

The commentary: US manufacturers are struggling with shortages of skilled labor. It’s amusing to hear politicians and the media talk about “bringing back” manufacturing jobs. The jobs are already here. The workers are not.

One answer: more immigrants.  This Axios article highlights Kansas City’s success in attracting immigrants.  Read it here.  With population growth in the U.S. slower than it has been for the last 100 years, both high-skilled and low-skilled industries across America have come to rely more on immigrants to power their workforces.

Haahr Gets New Gig

Kaitlyn Schallhorn reports that former speaker Elijah Haahr has “been named the executive director of the new Noble Health Foundation. He'll be focusing on breaking down barriers to rural health care in Missouri.”

STL Redistricting Drama

St. Louis City’s redistricting will have an added twist: the board of aldermen, in addition to adjusting for population, is also poised to cut their numbers in half.

There’s a proposal to undo that voter-approved plan, but it’s expected to fail. The ward consolidation will add an extra layer of drama to the redistricting process.  Board President Lewis Reed will direct the process through his appointment of the redistricting committee. 

One city observer muses about his possible redistricting play… Reed might be inclined to push the more progressive alderpeople into ward consolidations with each other.  It would make for Hunger Games type political theater.  But also…

·         It could help protect some Reed allies.

·         And reverse the gains the “flip the board” progressives achieved in the last election.

New Committees

Sally Brooks formed a candidate committee (Brooks for Missouri) to run for House 118 as a Democrat.  This is Republican Rep. Michael McGirl’s seat.

Lobbyists Registrations

Korb Maxwell deleted Brookfield Residential Services LLC, Hanna Land Acquisition LLC, Hardage Hotels I LLC, Hope City Fellowship, KC Executive Park LLC, KWB LLC, Faultless Laundry Company, High Aspirations Inc., LTD Enterprises LLC, Passover Properties LLC, Soccer Village Properties LLC, Star Development Corp., Valent Aerostructures, and KDM 4400 LLC c/o Block RA Inc.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Raychel Proudie, and Eric Wilson.