MOScout Daily Update: Redistricting Dominoes - Atty $$ to Eigel - WWT and McIntosh Split - MO Schools with Rebel Names and more...
Dominoes and Redistricting
A pair of press releases yesterday out of Southwest Missouri show the domino effect of redistricting.
Rep. Curtis Trent announced he’ll be running for Senate 20. That’s where Sen. Eric Burlison is running for US Senate. In Trent’s place, Darin Chappell, a city administrator, quickly announced he was running for state representative.
All this is happening without maps showing where exactly Senate 20, or House 133 will be next year. But the unknowns involved in redistricting aren’t dissuading the ambitious from announcing their plans. That’s because…
· Money. These are critical fundraising months ahead. The more money you bring to the table, the more likely you can make a potential opponent think twice about running. And it’s money you don’t have to raise next spring. Trent’s press release notes that he’s “the first candidate to declare for the 20th Senate District and starts with a significant fundraising advantage of over $150,000 cash on hand.”
· Logistics. Consultants are managing dozens of candidates and races. Rather than wait for the crush when the maps come out – in January before February filling?? – they need to have candidates in the pipeline.
Still
I expect deference to incumbents. For example, it’s possible that Sen. Lincoln Hough, now in the Senate District 30, gets drawn into the new 20th. In that case, Trent would likely return to running for House re-election, and Chappell would likewise withdraw his bid. That attitude will likely reign across Missouri.
Eigel PAC Takes MATA $$$
In the large contributions below, there’s trial attorney money flowing into Sen. Bill Eigel’s PAC. Nash & Franciskato contributed $10,000 to MO Republican Attorneys for Civil Justice PAC. The treasurer of that PAC is MATA’s director of development Stacy Steen. The money was then sent to Believe in Life and Liberty, the PAC aligned with Eigel.
Why It Matters
· There’s long been rumbling/grumbling among Senate Republicans of ties between the trial attorneys and the Conservative Caucus. They’ve asserted it hinders Missouri Republicans’ long-term war of attrition against personal injury lawyers under the banner of “tort reform.”
And
I would note conservatism and trail attorney are not necessarily ideological enemies. There are some conservatives who believe that a robust court system is preferable to overreaching government regulations as a means for keeping business malfeasants and rogues in check. We just don’t hear that argument made much in Missouri.
WWT and McIntosh Part
Lots of talk among the hallway crowd yesterday about Jack Suntrup’s article on World Wide Technology and lobbyist Richard McIntosh splitting. Read it here.
A spokeswoman for World Wide Technology told the Post-Dispatch on Sunday the company dumped the firm, Flotron & McIntosh, "earlier this year." David Steward, the company's founder and chairman, has also dropped the lobbying firm, in his personal capacity, according to the spokeswoman. But McIntosh and Flotron have not updated their ethics paperwork to reflect the change.
And this bit… [Franc] Flotron, when reached by phone Monday, said he was retired and didn't know why the relationship was still listed… And a woman who answered the phone at the lobbying firm said “yes and no” when asked if Flotron was retired. She said he hasn’t been to Jefferson City, but was still working.
The Chatter
· World Wide Technology is huge. St. Louis Business Journal lists it as the second largest private company in St. Louis, estimating annual revenue at $13.4 billion. We’ll see what direction they turn in hiring new representation in Jefferson City. The contract probably goes to one of the big firms.
· Steward is one of MOGOP’s mega-donor, someone who can write a six or seven figure check without any hemming or hawing. Who will have his ear as 2022 approaches? Some wonder if Jim Lembke will step into the void as Steward’s political advisor.
· While there were rumors of a WWT/McIntosh split, no one had heard that Flotron was retiring. One lobbyist said it sounded like a phased-out retirement. But it could also be someone who’s had a long career in politics and is just tired of the drama.
SPLC: MO Schools Named After Confederate Leaders
Press release: While the South still leads the nation in schools named after Confederate generals, the Southern Poverty Law Center is calling on non-Southern states to rename schools honoring Confederate leaders… Non-Southern states with schools honoring Confederate leaders are Missouri (5), Minnesota (3), California (2) and Washington (1)…
They identify these schools…
· In Breckenridge, MO: Breckenridge Elementary, and Breckenridge High
· In Republic, MO: McCulloch Elementary School, and Price Elementary School.
· In University City, MO: Jackson Park Elementary.
Senate’s Interim Medicaid Committee Reports Out
Press release: The Missouri Senate Interim Committee on Medicaid Accountability and Taxpayer Protection, chaired by Sen. Bill White, R-Joplin, issued its first report detailing recommendations related to abortion providers and their family planning affiliates through MO HealthNet. According to state law, Missouri has a compelling interest in protecting life, including the unborn. As a result, the committee recommended several reforms designed to protect human life and ensure Missouri tax dollars are spent in accordance with the values of Missourians.
See the report here. It was not signed by the three Democrats on the committee.
Dogan Contra Page
Republican Rep. Shamed Dogan, running for St. Louis County Executive on the new mask mandate in that county: "Sam Page and Dr. Khan have once again proven they are only interested in governing through executive fiat. I have serious concerns about the legality of today’s order and will be encouraging Attorney General Schmitt to take immediate legal action. I also call on Dr. Khan to be fired for his discredited lies to and about St. Louis County residents….”
And A Modest Proposal
Rep. Shane Roden on Facebook: I'm thinking of pre-filing legislation for next year that would prevent any elected or non elected bureaucrat with a BMI greater than 25 from enacting any health orders, ordinance, laws in this state. For the record I know I am over the 25 bmi, however I will never try and tell you how to be healthy.
Lobbyists Registrations
Dustin Backes added Missouri Soybean Association.
Phillip Scaglia added PLTR-SSP @ KCI LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
MO Republican Attorneys for Civil Justice PAC - $10,000 from Nash & Franciskato LLC.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $10,000 from MO Republican Attorney for Civil Justice PAC.
UAW Region 5 Midwest States Political Action Committee (PAC) (MO) - $6,000 from UAW Region 4 Exchange Account.
Legal Missouri 2022 - $25,000 from Beleaf Medical.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, Phil Arnzen, Alix Cossette, Tommie Pierson Jr., Michael Brown, Nathan Cooper, and Dana Loesch.