MOScout Daily Update: Parson Says "No Guarantee" On FRA Special - Walsh for Congress? - Jones Outlines $$$ - Hot May Revenues and more...
Parson: “No Guarantee” on FRA Special
In an interview with Missourinet (listen to it here) Governor Mike Parson says that there’s “no guarantee” of a special session on FRA. Perhaps gun-shy after last year’s meandering and fruitless special session, he wants a legislative agreement in place before calling it. He mentions that budget restrictions might be necessary. This is directly opposite the prevailing attitude on FRA which is “of course there’ll be a special; it has to happen.”
· I don’t think there’s any guarantee that we’re going to call a special session for FRA. I think there’s other actions we’d have to go forward to be able to do that which would create things that aren’t very fun to do but the reality of it is that’s a very important piece of legislation and not to get that across the finish line at the end of a regular session is problematic… I don’t know if there’s a guarantee that there’s going to be a special session on FRA…
· The problem is by not passing that, ‘course we’ll have to go down the restriction route on that which I’m sure that’s what’s going to happen even at the current level before we can get anything done on the FRA.
· I think, for one, there’s no agreement on the FRA. So I’m not for sure if you call a special session tomorrow that necessarily means you’re going to get it done. And I think it’s going to really be up to the House leadership and the Senate leadership and Cody and Dan, the people really involved in this, to come to me and tell me that they got a plan in place and they’re gonna get it passed. Short of that we’re not calling a special session.
What It Means
This is an embarrassment for Republicans.
They have supermajorities in both chambers, the governor’s mansion – in fact all but one statewide office. Yet the governor – popular in his own party, having just won re-election last year by double digits – is talking about budget restrictions because they can figure how to pass a tax renewal which is opposed by no one.
Have the fractures become so big (governor vs speaker, CC vs Regulars) that they can’t govern? Is it unfathomable that the governor would call everyone together in his office and say we gotta hammer this out?
Humphreys Not Engaged on FRA
I’m told that David Humphreys is not engaged in the discussions on the FRA nor the pro-life amendments being discussed.
Walsh Making Calls For Congress
While Missouri politicos wait for the all-but-certain announcement from Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler that she’s entering the US Senate race, Rep. Sara Walsh is not waiting. Word is that she’s making calls to supporters about Hartzler’s seat.
Jones Outlines First Fed $$$ Plans
Mayor Tishaura Jones published a draft plan to spend the first $68 million of over $500 million in federal funds coming to the City of St. Louis. Read the draft here.
Plan priorities…
· Critical Health Needs: Begin mobile vaccination efforts, community canvassing and more to increase vaccine access in low-income communities
· Housing and Utility Assistance: Expand and expedite rental and mortgage assistance efforts, including legal assistance
· Support for Unhoused Neighbors: Fund an intentional encampment for those not ready for a shelter environment as well as a 24-hour shelter
· Economic Relief: Facilitate small business grants, provide startups and small businesses ready to scale with technical assistance and workforce development
· Youth & Job Programming: Expand youth programming at recreation centers, adding social workers to recreation centers to address the behavioral and mental health needs of young people in St. Louis and making recreation centers vaccine hubs for youth
· Expanding Internet Access: Install Public wifi points in portions of the city with lowest rates of internet access, partnership with St. Louis Public Libraries (SLPL) to increase access to phones, tablets, routers and mobile hotspots.
MO Supreme Court Voids 2018 Paycheck Bill
Missouri Independent reports that the “Missouri Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s ruling Tuesday and struck down a 2018 law that sought to impose new restrictions on collective bargaining for public sector unions while exempting public safety unions from the requirements. In a 5-2 decision, the court ruled that the bill violated public employees’ constitutional right to receive equal protection under the law. The unconstitutional provisions permeated throughout the bill and could not be severed — resulting in the bill being declared null and void in its entirety.”
Another Reminder
Just another reminder that cyber-security should be near the top of any public policy agenda.
Read the NYTimes article here.
· A cyberattack on the world’s largest meat processor forced the shutdown of nine beef plants in the United States on Tuesday, according to union officials, and disrupted production at poultry and pork plants. The attack could upset the nation’s meat markets and raises new questions about the vulnerability of critical American businesses.
· JBS, which is based in Brazil and accounts for one-fifth of the daily U.S. cattle harvest, said in a statement late Tuesday that it had made “significant progress resolving the cyberattack.”
· The company, JBS, said the majority of its plants would reopen on Wednesday.
Hot May Revenues
State revenues spiked in May, more than doubling what they were in May 2020. Of course, we’re in an era of absurd comps. This May we had the delayed Tax Day, and we had no tax day last May and we were in the throes of the pandemic.
This summer this effect will reverse as we have comps against 2020 months where there were Tax Days.
Still, there’s no denying that the state coffers are overflowing, $1.95 billion more in collections fiscal-year-to-date than last year.
Folks Harsh on Haahr
Hitting the in-box yesterday were a few folks harshing on former Speaker Elijah Haahr’s new gig saying that he could have done more for rural health when he was in a position of political power. Here’s one: Glad Elijah is working to bring healthcare to rural MO. If only there was a public policy he could have supported as a state lawmaker to help achieve a similar goal. They could have called it Medical Aid. Maybe expanded its access to folks who need it. But since that wasn’t a thing, I guess we’ll go this route......
New Committees
Wendy Hausman formed a candidate committee (Hausman for Missouri) to run for House 107 as a Republican. This is Rep. Nick Schroer’s seat. He’s not termed yet. Although depending where the lines are drawn he may have a residency issue….
Grand River PAC was formed. Its treasurer is Melissa Largent.
Lobbyists Registrations
Todd “TC” Clodfelter added Todd Clodfelter.
Don Stamper added Old Hawthorne Development.
Doug Stone added Cas-KC-Neda LLC, and Big Garages. ::C.
Terry Brewer LaFont deleted Missouri Health Care Association.
Trent Watson deleted American Heart Association.
Casey Wasser deleted Dish Network LLC.
David Sweeney deleted HOK.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Dean Dohrman, and Dick Burke.