MOScout Daily Update: Sinquefield Sends $250K to Kehoe PAC - Rowden and O'Laughlin Huddle - Hawley's TikTok Bill - Treasurer Talk and more...

Quick Friday update…

Sinquefield Sends $250K to Kehoe PAC

Mega-GOP donor Rex Sinquefield donated $250,000 to American Dream PAC, which is supporting Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe’s 2024 gubernatorial campaign.

·       Sinquefield made a similar contribution at the end of 2021, so it’s not a stretch to imagine this isn’t the last check Kehoe will see from Sinquefield.

·       With this check, American Dream has recorded nearly $1M ($937K) in contributions since the end of last quarter.  Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s PAC, Committee for Liberty, has yet to receive a single $5K+ contribution this quarter.

Rowden and O’Laughlin Huddle

Senate Pro Tem Caleb Rowden and staff had a nearly two-hour meeting with Senate Floor Leader Cindy O’Laughlin and staff yesterday. Most people seem to think their relationship is strong.  They share many, if not most, of the same priorities. If both are engaged and focused on checking priority boxes… it could be a much different year in the Missouri Senate.

What are some of the shared priorities?…

·       Initiative petition reform.

·       Sports betting.

·       Reining in CRT in schools.

·       Regulating transgender athletics.

·       Limiting foreign ownership of farm land.

·       Giving women Medicaid access for postpartum care.

Treasurer Talk

Still no consensus among the building denizens who the governor will ultimately choose to be the next treasurer.  Another name in the mix: Sen. Holly Rehder… And for those looking around the corner, it’s quite possible if she isn’t tapped for the appointment, she could be on the 2024 ballot for the position.

·       Expect an announcement before the Christmas break.  In other words: next week.

Hawley’s TikTok Bill Passes Senate

The Hill reports on Senator Josh Hawley’s bill to keep TikTok off government employees’ smart phones.  Read it here.

·       The Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation that would ban the use of TikTok on government phones and devices as part of the push to combat security concerns related to the Chinese-owned social media company. 

·       The “No TikTok on Government Devices Act,” introduced by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), was passed via unanimous consent late Wednesday, meaning that no member objected to the bill. The proposal would “prohibit certain individuals from downloading or using TikTok on any device issued by the United States or a government corporation.”

·       The move comes as state governments, especially those led by Republicans, have taken steps to limit the use of the app on state-owned devices. Thirteen states overall have taken action against TikTok, which is owned by ByteDance, a Beijing-owned entity. Eleven of those actions have taken place since the beginning of the month. 

Lobbyists Registrations

Jon Hensley added ATEX Group II LLC.

Richard McIntosh and David McCracken added Dade County Health, LLC.     

David Sweeney added AK St. Louis Owner, LLC. 

John Parris terminated his lobbyist registration.     

$5K+ Contributions

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $250,000 from Rex Sinquefield.

Missouri Democratic State Committee - $10,322 from MDP Federal Account 4.

BLAC PAC Inc. - $10,000 from Midtown Grocers LLC.

HBS MO State PAC - $10,000 from Midwest Solar DevCo (Scottsdale, AZ).

Missouri Forward PAC (pro-Rowden) - $10,000 from CECMO PAC.

Saint Charles Organization of Republicans - $6,023 from Overstock Outlet.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Jennifer Durham, Lillian Williams, and Jon Carpenter.