MOScout Daily Update: Koenig for Ed Chair? - Dominoes - Schmitt, Hawley No on McConnell - Jobs Report and more...

The Case for Koenig To Take Ed Chair

With Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin’s recent election to Floor Leader, the Senate Education chairmanship will be vacated.  Last week I ran through three possible scenarios: Sen. Rick Brattin, the current vice-chair; Sen. Karla Eslinger, an experience educator; or Sen. Andrew Koenig, who’s been a champion of education reforms during his tenure.

The best guess now is that it will be Koenig.

·       Education reforms has been a top priority for both Pro Tem-elect Caleb Rowden, and O’Laughlin.  They’ll probably want someone of their ilk taking the gavel.

·       Koenig was one of the prime movers behind getting Education Saving Accounts passed.  And he has a well-earned reputation in the Senate as being able to advance thorny issues.

Also

The Dobbs decision eclipsed many other Supreme Court cases last year.  But Carson v Macon was pretty important for education reformers as it appears to widen the door for state funds to be used to support religious schools.

Dominoes

If Koenig does go to Education, it opens up the Ways and Means Committee.  I could see Sen. Bill Eigel being given that committee.  It’d be a good fit for his interest in tax policy.

That would open General Laws – which I imagine (no inside information just guessing) would be a good place for Sen. Mike Bernskoetter to handle a wide variety of issues.  And that would put Sen. Jason Bean in the Agriculture Committee. 

All guess-work, by the way.

Hawley Schmitt Vote Against McConnell

Missouri’s two U.S. Senators voted on the losing side of the leadership race yesterday.

·       Josh Hawley tweeted his No vote.

·       Daniel Desrochers reports: Sen. Elect Schmitt said he made a pledge to support new leadership in the Republican caucus and he “honored that pledge today.”

Mitch McConnell won 37-10.

Jobs Report

Missouri’s October jobs report had good news across the board.  While the unemployment rate ticked up, we’re at such low levels that it’s relatively meaningless.  Meanwhile the state added thousands of jobs, and just as importantly added more people to the workforce.  See the report here.

However

Missouri Budget Project released its State of Working Missouri report.  See it here.  It shows that, over the long-term, the average Missourian isn’t bringing home much more money than they did two decades ago. 

Note this chart is “median wage.”  Half Missourians making more; half making less.  Income inequality means folks at the higher end can see their incomes continue to rise (pulling up the average) while the median remains stuck. 

Book Ban

Springfield News Leader reports that 300 books are under scrutiny in school districts across the state because parents worry their kids will be corrupted by their contents.  A lot of great authors on this list.  Read it here.

Help Wanted

Quade Seeks Legislative Staffer. “The duties of this position include extensive research and analysis of legislative issues as requested by House minority leadership or the minority caucus, preparation of reports on the impact of legislation, and facilitating the drafting of legislation and amendments. The selected candidate must be available to work extremely long hours during the legislative session from January through May… Starting salary range is $60,000 - $67,000 commensurate with applicable experience, education, and budget….”

See the ad here.

eMailbag

Public safety should be a priority shared by everyone in government, but it will never be solved by using the ideology of either political party. If our state wanted to reduce crime, to enhance the welfare of our people and draw more businesses to Missouri, we would have to look at root causes of violence, the easy access that criminals now have to firearms as well as looking at ways to truly cooperate with and support law enforcement. The problem here isn’t Kim Gardner, although she is a part of the problem… it would take elected officials at all levels being interested in the social science of crime prevention and partnerships between parties and state and local government.

New Committees

Northland Values PAC was formed.  It’s allied with Wes Rogers.  Its treasurer is Sara Ennis.                                                        

Blue Jay Leadership Fund was formed.  It’s a PAC.  Its treasurer is Anthony Lonsdale.

Liberty and Justice PAC was formed.  Its treasurer is Tom Burcham.

$5K+ Contributions

Southern Drawl PAC - $15,000 from Rex Sinquefield.

Association of MO Electric Cooperatives (AMEC PAC) - $10,000 from Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative.

MSCEW PAC Federal Cmte - $12,500 from IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund.