MOScout Daily Update: Kehoe PAC Hit $1M - Rex Gives to Rizzo - Rowden Talks Priorities - MOScout Readers Poll and more...
1 Big Thing: Kehoe PAC Hits $1M
In the gubernatorial race, Lieutenant Mike Kehoe’s PAC, American Dream PAC, has raised over $1M in large contributions so far this quarter.
Meanwhile Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s PAC, Committee for Liberty, hasn’t recorded a single large contribution this quarter.
The fundraising quarter ends this Saturday. Last quarter, Ashcroft received two big checks at the deadline, so that could happen again. But it currently looks like Kehoe will take the fundraising lead with this quarter’s results.
But…
Team Ashcroft insists that the breathless reporting of quarter-by-quarter numbers misses the big picture: Ashcroft has a last name worth uncalculatable goodwill with Republican primary voters. Kehoe has to millions just to bring his name ID up to Ashcroft’s level.
MOScout’s End of the Year Readers Poll
It’s time for the end-of-the-year MOScout Readers Poll. A couple questions looking backwards, a couple questions looking forwards. Only 11 questions in all. Take it here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P5LYGQB.
I’ll share results tomorrow.
Rowden Talks Next Session
Missourinet nabs a hot interview with Senate Pro Tem Caleb Rowden as he outlines the priorities for the incoming session. Listen to it here.
Rowden says the top priorities are:
· Education reform / Parents Bill of Rights.
· Initiative Petition reform – Rowden says he’s less interested in making process more “cumbersome,” but supports raising the threshold for a constitutional change.
· Transgender athletes.
· Investments in adoption and foster care – Rowden would use some of the state’s huge fund balance to make adoption a less expensive process.
· Sports betting – “The path is not any easier than it has been… but there’s more pressure on us now [Kansas having passed it].”
· Tort reform – Sounds like Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer’s SB 117 is a priority.
· Personal property tax reform.
Hallway chatter says that IP reforms rises to the top. Why? If Speaker Dean Plocher can deliver, it’s the perfect signature issue for his rumored 2024 bid to replace Jay Ashcroft as secretary of state…
· ROMO (Reminder of the Obvious): Republicans control both chambers and the governor’s mansion. If they don’t get mired in intra-party squabbles, they can pass anything they want.
Lobbyists Registrations
Steven Tilley, Thomas Robbins, Brittany Hyatt Robbins, and Christopher Schoeman added MoCanCure II.
Jay Hahn deleted Gateway Air Conditioning Contractors.
Randy Scherr deleted American Progressive Bag Alliance, City of Branson, Davita Healthcare Partners Inc, and Rock Creek Wind Project LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $5,300 from Stephen Bradford.
Truth in Campaigns (pro-Rizzo) - $25,000 from Rex Sinquefield.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to James Harris, LuAnn Madsen, Renee Hulshof, and Sue Entlicher.
MOScout Schedule
Another short week / long weekend. Taking off after tomorrow morning’s update. Will be back Tuesday (January 3).