MOScout Daily Update: LGBT Display Removed - Schmitt Against Masks - August Budget Numbers and more...
LGBT Display Removed
Missouri Independent reports on a gay rights exhibit being “removed from the Missouri Capitol after only a few days on display.” Read it here.
· Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, released a statement Thursday decrying the move, saying he was “disappointed and angry that Missouri State Parks would bend to pressure from those who want to see people like me stripped of our rights and our dignity as American citizens.”
· The exhibit was part of the Missouri State Museum in the Capitol building which, which includes numerous exhibits on state history. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said later in the day, through a spokeswoman, that the exhibit was removed because it didn’t get approved by a state board he sits on. However, a review of five years of meeting minutes of that board going show no evidence that museum exhibits has ever been a topic of discussion.
· Word of the removal spread on Facebook following a post by Uriah Stark, legislative aide for state Rep. Mitch Boggs, R-La Russell. He celebrated the decision to remove the exhibit, giving credit to Republican Reps. Ann Kelley of Lamar and Brian Seitz of Branson.
· “Thanks to the efforts of several of our great elected officials, the exhibit has been removed from the Missouri State Museum! To God be the glory!” Stark posted.
What It Means
Surprising Republicans are going down this road. They have so many other topics they could be talking about right now. Being anti-gay is a political loser – even in red Missouri.
Schmitt to Kids: No Masks for You!
Press release: While litigation over the mask mandates continues, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt today sent a letter to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Jackson County Executive Frank White noting the exceptions to the City and County’s mask mandates, and providing “legal direction” to the public on these important exceptions, specifically for those with disabilities or those under the age of 18. This letter serves as “legal direction” to Kansas City and Jackson County on who qualifies for an exemption from the mask mandates...
The letter finishes with, “I direct that any resident or visitor subject to any physical or legal disability—including any minor under the age of 18—is exempt from the mask-wearing mandate under Section 3.B.2 of the ordinance, provided that he or she (or a parent or guardian, in the case of minors) believes that wearing a mask or face covering will have any significant adverse impact on their personal, mental, or physical welfare. It is also the legal direction of my office that face coverings or masks constitute ‘a substantial impairment to … health and well-being’ for minors, especially for young children, as medical studies have concluded.”
August Budget Numbers
August state tax receipts were 3% below August 2020 numbers. That brings the year-to-date number to -22.5% or $483 million below last year’s collection. But it’s critical to remember the context. This note from budget: Due to the COVID pandemic, the 2020 income tax filing deadlines in April and June were moved to July 15, 2020. As a result, approximately $783,800,000 in income tax receipts were shifted from FY20 in to FY21. Therefore, the comparison of FY21 to FY22 will be negatively impacted throughout FY22.
· The bottom-line: despite the poor comparisons, there’s no real budget shortfall right now.
Knoth for Commish
Nick Knoth announced he’s running to replace retiring Boone County Commissioner Dan Atwill. See it here.
If elected, Nick Knoth’s unifying, proactive leadership would focus on three priority areas for Boone County: increasing quality of life, improving infrastructure, and supporting economic development. His experience and past accomplishments in leading regional coalitions and advocacy efforts, such as with the Mid-Missouri I-70 Task Force and Columbia Community Partnership, demonstrate his ability to effectively champion Boone County’s interests and bring diverse stakeholders together to move a common cause forward.
eMailbag: The ‘Does Anyones’
· Does anyone really believe Justin Hill or J Eggleston will spend $100,000 or actually have $100,000 to spend?
· Does anyone think the trend of reps bringing their buddy over to be chief of staff is a good idea? It's always either a buddy thing or a primary payoff and they are the WORST staff. Really degrades the already weak professionalism…
New Committees
Humane Society Legislative Fund of Missouri PAC was formed. Its treasurer is David Mason.
Lobbyists Registrations
Allison Feikes added Steady Platform, Inc.
John CE Gaskin, David McCracken, and Richard McIntosh added Chesterfield Sports Association.
$5K+ Contributions
United We Stand PAC - $50,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Missouri Realtors PAC Inc - $10,000 from St. Louis Association of REALTORS.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $15,000 from Dealers Interested in Government.
UFCW Active Ballot Club-Missouri Federal Committee - $10,000 from United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Active Ballot Club (Washington DC).
Missouri Democratic State Committee - $10,000 from Schupp For Senate.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Warren Wood.
Saturday: Emily van Schenkhof, and Jane Cunningham.
Sunday: Jack Danforth, Katie Casas, Jenee' Lowe, Rachel Storch, Lana Ladd Baker, John CE Gaskin III, and Fred Wessels.
Monday: Sarah Wood Martin, and Sam Murphey.
MOScout Schedule
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend. No updates this weekend, or Monday. See you Tuesday….