MOScout Daily Update: New McCreery Ad, Hruza Bio - Walton $$$ to GOP - VLT Co Puts $100K Into PAC - WSJ on Tax Cut and more...

Senate 24 Heats Up

·       New Tracy McCreery ad (see it here)… touts her endorsements from police and firefighters. The ad features a former police chief from the district lauding her: “Tracy, she’s against defunding the police. She’s always supported the police… Not only does Tracy talk the talk, but she walks the walk.”

·       Meanwhile Team Hruza released a six-minute biographical video (see it here) telling his remarkable story.  See it here.  It starts with George Hruza’s mom in a concentrations camp, then later his family’s defection from communist Hungary, and eventual arrival in the United States.  “I’m running for Senate because of family, because to me the kids are our future and I feel that future is under threat.”

Sparks PAC Formed

Sparks PAC was formed.  See the paperwork here.  It is in support of Justin Sparks who’s running as a Republican in House 110.  Recall that this is the Bruce DeGroot seat in St. Louis County.  DeGroot won the primary and then withdrew as he plans to staff Sen-elect Curtis Trent.  Sparks, a sergeant with the Special Response Unit of the St. Louis County Police, was chosen by the Republican committee.  It’s a safe Republican seat (+25%).

Watching the $$$

·       Jim Walton contributed $50K to the Republican Senate’s campaign committee.  According to Investopedia, “Jim Walton is the youngest son of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart Inc… As an heir to the Walmart fortune, Jim Walton boasts a net worth of $71.5 billion in 2022.”

·       J & J Ventures put $100K into a PAC associated with its lobbyist, Andy Arnold. J & J operates video lottery terminals.  Policy debates on VLTs has been entangled sports betting the last couple of session, and sports betting is apparently high on next session’s agenda.

WSJ on MO Tax Cuts

The Wall Street Journal editorial board weighs in on the Missouri tax cuts.  As you’d expected they cheer the drop in income tax rates, but mourn that the corporate tax cut was abandoned.  See it here.

·       Mr. Parson is right that one-time checks produce less long-term economic return on the money…

·       The state’s coming 4.5% top income-tax rate may make it a belle compared with Nebraska and Iowa, but it barely edges out Oklahoma’s 4.75% and pales next to zero-rate Tennessee. Its 4% corporate rate is highly competitive, but the state’s $4.9 billion surplus—more than double the record set last year—provides a good opportunity to go lower.

Chess Drama

St. Louis – thanks to Rex Sinquefield – is now a chess mecca, and so it’s the backdrop in a lot of the current drama gripping the sport.  Washington Post reports on the cheating controversy here.

“We take great pride in being able to host the top chess players from across the world at the Saint Louis Chess Club,” executive director Tony Rich said in a statement Wednesday morning. “As with all events, it’s imperative that we maintain high standards for fair tournament play. We always have — and will continue — to implement extensive anti-cheating measures.

Lobbyists Registrations

Jacqueline Bardgett, John Bardgett, Mark Habbas, and Chris Roepe added James Hardie Building Products Inc.

David Winton added Aperio Consulting Group.

David Winton and Jessica Petrie deleted Common Sense Leadership Fund, Inc.

Chris Roepe deleted Associated Industries of Missouri.

$5K+ Contributions

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $20,000 from CFM Insurance Inc.

American Dream PAC - $15,000 from Ameren Missouri.

American Dream PAC - $20,000 from Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $50,000 from Jim Walton (Bentonville AR).

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Evergy Metro Inc.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Drury Development Corporation.

Paladin PAC - $100,000 from J&J Ventures Gaming of Missouri, LLC.

Missouri Gaming PAC - $15,000 from Boyd Gaming Corporation (Las Vegas NV).

Legal Missouri 2022 - $40,000 from OXG LLC.

Together KC - $10,000 from Robinson Catering Co Inc.

Bayer US LLC Missouri PAC - $10,000 from Bayer US LLC Employee Political Action Committee.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. John Simmons, and Yancy Williams.