MOScout Daily Update: Wieland Blasts Senate Leadership - FRA's Path Forward - Allegations from Perkins Past - Auditor Report on Education Funding and more...
Wieland Blasts Leadership
In a letter apparently written to his fellow Republican senators, Sen. Paul Wieland blasts his caucus leadership, “apologizing” for trusting them. He all but calls for a change in leadership, saying he sees “no purpose” in caucusing with them in the future.
The letter shows the deep divisions that have beset the Senate’s majority caucus, and the occurred in the final week of session.
From the letter….
· What we witnessed in the last week of session was unprecedented. The very people that we entrusted to lead our caucus and the Senate not only lied to the minority leader, but actively worked with the Democrats to defeat a position we had agreed upon in our caucus.
· I apologize for being foolish enough to keep Senator Rowden appraised of my every move during the last week, only to have him be the true adversary I was fighting. I also apologize to the caucus for nominating Senator Schatz to be the Pro-Tem three years ago. At the time, I believed Dave was an honorable man and cared about the caucus more than his personal agenda.
· Without a change in leadership, I have zero confidence that next year will be any better. I see no purpose in caucusing with leaders who have made it clear that appeasing the Democrats is more important than working to further the Majority caucus’s goals.
FRA’s Path Forward
The divisions within the Senate make the path for passing the FRA tax renewal even more fraught than they were during session. What was once considered a no-brainer because it’s so critical to Medicaid funding is now a tricky issue. At present it’s hard to see the tax passing the Senate without the Onder language attached.
· One lobbyist shrugs, “I think you have to give Onder and Wieland a version of what they want and then make the Democrats filibuster.”
· Another source agrees: “I do think it’s always difficult to peel off members on a pro life vote.”
· One possible compromise… “a sever ability clause that would let the courts strip it without the rest of the FRA.”
House Ethics to Investigate Perkins Allegations
Post-Dispatch reported a disturbing allegation from the past of Rep. Chad Perkins. See it here. The report says that Perkins engaged in a sexual relationship with a teenager six years ago (when he was in his thirties), and that one of the episodes occurred when he was on-duty as a policeman, and she was drunk. The Post reports that Speaker Rob Vescovo has “forwarded the information to the House Ethics Committee.”
· According to a report obtained from Frankford Police Chief Josh Baker in response to an open records request, state Rep. Chad Perkins, a Bowling Green Republican, allegedly accepted “sexual favors from a teenage girl while on duty” as a police officer.
· Perkins said his relationship with the teen was consensual and the controversy is the product of a local political feud over his decision to not publicly endorse Baker’s wife in her bid for Pike County assessor in the 2020 election.
· The report said the allegations surfaced when an employee at a local gas station said two girls were in the store in July 2020 “showing people messages between Chad Perkins and the (teen) indicating that he had sex with her while on duty as a Bowling Green police officer.” The report notes that the incident occurred while Perkins was responding to a call about a drunk teen at the city park.
· Perkins, who said he is a “single man,” said his relationship with the teen was consensual. “There’s nothing to that. Nothing ever happened while I was on duty,” he said. “I live a single man lifestyle.”
· On May 21, 2015, the teen said, “Thanks for throwing me under the bus. ... Jay told me you showed him all the messages I sent you.”
“Hold on. I’m trying to come up with the right words,” Perkins said. “Jay and I are good friends. So he and I shared a lot of stuff. He told me and I told him. I know that don’t make it right but I’m sorry.”
“Oh but I’m sure you left out the part about us when you were on duty and I was drunk,” she said.
Auditor Report on Education Funding
Auditor Nicole Galloway released a report on elementary and secondary school funding. See it here.
Key findings….
· State funding for elementary and secondary education has kept up with inflation over the past decade.
· [However Missouri’s education funding] continues to be significantly less than state funding provided by other states.
· [Missouri relies on funding] from local sources at a significantly higher level than the national average.
Judicial Applicants
The Appellate Judicial Commission announced the applicants for the vacancy on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Mary
Kay Hoff.
They are: Peter W. Gullborg, Kathleen S. Hamilton, Renée D. Hardin-Tammons, Joseph B. Kloecker Jr., Ellen S. Levy, Jeffery T. McPherson, Darrell E. Missey, Eric S. Peterson, David E. Roland, Jason M. Sengheiser, John P. Torbitzky, and David R. Truman
Lobbyists Registrations
Amy Blunt added Macro Companies.
Jessica Burch Hembree added American Heart Association.
John Arthur Young added Lombardo Homes of St. Louis; and deleted Fischer & Frichtel Custom Homes LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
American Property Casualty Insurance Association Political Account - $9,889 from American Property Casualty Insurance Association.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Robbie Sauls, Elijah Haahr, Olivia Wilson, and Daniela Velázquez.
Saturday: Rep. Kevin Windham, Chris Dunn, Damon Porter, Chuck Banks, and Glenn Klippenstein.
Sunday: Galen Higdon and Stacy Reliford.
Memorial Day: Joan Barry, Ethan Todd and Ryan Dillon.
MOScout Schedule
Off the long weekend for Memorial Day. See you Tuesday. Normal schedule with Weekender, Sunday6 will resume next week.