MOScout Daily Update: GOP Optimism Rises - No Safe Space for Business - Jones No on A3 and more...
Republican Optimism Rises
Republicans are feeling that the momentum has shifted in their favor. Things reached a nadir a three or four months ago after the Dobbs decision. Axios reports that it’s “Inflation, inflation, inflation. Abortion may have peaked too soon as a motivating issue…”
Here in Missouri where the suburbs are the battleground, one Republican consultant says that education has been a surprisingly strong issue for the GOP. It’s historically been a Democratic strength, but a confluence of factors has helped Republicans claim it this cycle. They’ve embraced hot-button issues, for sure, like CRT, and trans athletics. But many voters are still angry about the “lost year” of virtual learning. And while school boards are non-partisan, Democrats have gotten tagged with those now-unpopular decisions.
And
Post-Dispatch’s Jack Suntrup looks at competitive House races here. He notes the money advantages Republicans hold…
· The House Republican Campaign Committee, according to its latest fundraising report filed Monday, had nearly $1.3 million on hand headed into October. The House Democratic Campaign Committee, meanwhile, entered October with $62,000 on hand…
Big Picture: No Safe Space for Business
It feels like “external affairs” may be the hot growth occupation of the next decade. It seems every corporation is walking a tightrope now amid our politically polarized society.
The archetype for raising tensions is Disney and Ron DeSantis in Florida. The Washington Post has a good article about it here.
Big corporations, that depend on attracting talent for a large diverse workforce, have embraced policies (LGBT rights, abortion rights) that many on the far-right find “woke.” It’s good business practice, but – in a red state – perhaps bad politics.
· In Missouri, we’ve seen pillar universities like Washington University targeted, or more recently, the attorney general’s office direct extra attention at Missouri State University.
· And companies aren’t just being judged from right. Centene, for example, is criticized for its political contributions to members of Congress who voted against certifying election results.
Businesses seem to have to decide if they’re going to throw up a flag and declare themselves for one side in the cultural war. Or if they’re going to be conspicuously quiet and try to go unnoticed amid unending parade of the outraged.
Jones a No on A3
Mayor Tishaura Jones is expected to publicly announce her opposition to the pro-legalization ballot issue today. The rumor is that Congresswoman Cori Bush will do so as well – we’ll see.
It would seem to complete the spectrum of opposition from left to right (MO GOP came out against it last week).
Meanwhile…
Post-Dispatch reports that the medical marijuana business has tight margins, and some are looking to full legalization to make their business models work. Read it here.
· More than 200,000 Missourians hold a medical marijuana card, which is more than 3% of the state’s population. They’re buying their pot to the tune of $34.33 million in September alone, according to industry publication Greenway Magazine…
· But high taxes and high regulation are holding back profits, shop owners and product manufacturers say. And that leaves them banking on the approval of recreational marijuana by voters in November to push their businesses into the black.
Future of Funerals
Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe jokes it’s a business “everyone is dying to get into.” Could “human composting” be coming to anytime soon to Missouri. Seen as an environmentally friendly way to deal with one’s remains, there are now five states that allow it. It’s also potentially cheaper. Read about it here.
A few years ago, outdoor funeral pyre-style funerals (ala Return of the Jedi) were approved by the legislature only to be vetoed by Governor Mike Parson.
Tomorrow Night – Smith and Smith
Tomorrow night (Tuesday), hosted Left Bank Books, Jeff Smith will sit down with Democratic consultant/pundit Lis Smith and talk about her book, Any Given Tuesday.
· 7PM, and you can also watch it on Left Banks’ YouTube channel here.
New Committees
Fraternal Order Of Police, Lodge 15 PAC - Jenn Hibbs, treasurer.
Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, Inc. PAC (Everytown Federal PAC) - Randee Newmark Steffen, treasurer.
Lobbyists Registrations
Samantha Williams added AmerenUE, Amerenue, Ameren Services, and Ameren Corp.
$5K+ Contributions
Majority Forward - $30,000 from Safer Families for Missouri.
Majority Forward - $10,000 from DougPAC.
Make Liberty Win Missouri - $11230 from Make Liberty Win Federal.
Freedom Incorporated - $40,000 from Show Me Change.
Gladius PAC - $10,000 from Rex Sinquefield.
Progress PAC - $23,257 from David Boger.
Legal Missouri 2022 - $10,000 from Curador Holdings Inc.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Alex Riley, Chuck Hatfield, Brian Wahby, Jay Wasson, Jon Galloway, Craig Stevenson, and Mark Niebling.