MOScout Daily Update: Acrimony Grows Deeper in Divided Senate - Hurst for Bruce and more...

Acrimony Grows Deeper in Divided Senate

Matters got even worse yesterday as the divided Missouri Senate lost another day without progress on the congressional redistricting map.

There were rumors of the capitol police being called to break up a fight between senators.  That’s not true, but it represents the degradation in civility that’s occurred.

Sen. Mike Cierpiot made a derogatory “introduction” of former Sen. Jim Lembke.  Lembke is an advisor to some members of the Conservative Caucus.  He’s viewed by others in the building as an unhelpful influence.

Apparently Cierpiot and Sen. Bill Eigel were in Pro Tem Dave Schatz’ office in the midst of an argument over Cierpiot’s “introduction” when a capitol policeman, hearing the ruckus, popped in to make sure everything was copesetic.  One source says, “it was a big nothing burger after that.”

An Aside

I’ve written this before, but I’ll just throw it out there again.  The Missouri Senate rules are based in part on the US Senate rules.  Many of the seemingly meaningless traditions are meant to bolster civility and statesmanship.  You address the dais not the people you’re debating so that the issues aren’t personalized and you’re less prone to personal attacks.  You don’t use another senator’s name so you’re less likely to make the debate about another senator instead of the issue.

There’s a meanness in the body right now.  At some point it became OK to be a jerk if you were “standing up” for something.  And that’s bad news for an institution which is built for compromise.

Today

The Senate reconvenes today at 10AM, but no one I’m talking to has any expectation that anything productive will happen.  Yesterday’s big achievement was approving the Senate Journal from Monday.

Amid this festering feud, Republicans will meet this weekend (starting tonight) for Lincoln Days.  It’s the annual big get-together for Republicans across the state.  2022 candidates will be in full meet-and-greet mode with the rank-and-file assembled.  We’ll see if the Jeff City animosity bubbles up in St. Charles where the event is being held this year.

What If

One scenario now being talking about is the possibility that the Senate simply won’t be able to find a compromise.  This still seems a remote scenario, but with the rift deepening each day maybe its likelihood is growing.

The talk now is what if in the face of Senate inaction, someone seeks judicial relief in two weeks when filing opens.  Is there a scenario out there where the courts have to step in and draw the congressional maps?

Hurst for Bruce

In CD-4, former Missouri Farm Bureau president Blake Hurst endorsed Republican Kalena Bruce.

What does make her unique is her resume, her integrity, her intelligence, and her ability to understand and communicate complicated issues. Congress needs new blood, and Congress needs people like Kalena.

 Kalena grew up on a farm, and she is a farmer today.  She understands agriculture on an intellectual level, with a firm knowledge of the legislation surrounding Missouri’s leading industry…

Lobbyists Registrations

Dustin Backes added Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA).

Gamble & Schlemeier added Allegis/Redwood/Maxim Public Affairs, LLC.

Heath Clarkston, Doug Nelson, and Kurt Schaefer added DIRECTV, LLC.

Jim Gwinner added Bamboo Health, Inc.

Thomas Robbins added Rose Management Group LLC.

Jay Hahn deleted W.E. Shoehigh, LLC on behalf of Microsoft Corporation , and on behalf of Accela Inc.                                                                   

$5K+ Contributions

Worth for Collector - $10,000 from Michelle Worth.

Roorda For Senate - $5,001 from Jeff Roorda - Revocable Trust.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Doug Richey, Amy Blunt, Elad Gross, Steve Brown, and Don Wells.