MOScout Daily Update: RightPath PAC Raises $2M - Mug Fight - Derges Admits Breaking Laws and more...

RightPath PAC Raises $2M

RightPath PAC is a new political action committee, formed just last month.  Yesterday it recorded over $2 million in large contributions.  See the listing below in the “$5K+ Contributions.”

Among the donors recorded were some of St. Louis’ biggest business names: Taylor, McDonnell, Kemper, Brauer…

It appears that there’s concern about the inability of Jefferson City to act productively and marshalling resources to try to “right the path.”

·         I’m told that the PAC is unlikely to make any decisions about how to direct their resources until after filing has closed. 

·         And also: don’t be surprised to see more checks.

The Middle Fights Back?

It’s too early to tell exactly how the RightPath PAC will impact 2022.  Still, I imagine they’re interested in preventing the Senate civil war from deepening.  If that’s the case, they’ll likely eschew supporting Conservative Caucus candidates, and it would be the latest of a few efforts to pull folks back from the increasing polarization in politics.

·         This impulse appears to also be at the heart of the Better Elections initiative.  Folks describe that probable impact as blunting the ability of fringe candidates to win races.

·         And the Senate Women, The Eleven, have made a point that the body needs to build relationships, work across the aisle, focus on results not on scoring points and winning the day on social media.

Mug Fight

US Senator Josh Hawley has embraced the image of him saluting the January 6 protestors with a fist pump.  In fact, it may be one of the images which has boosted his popularity with the Republican base in Missouri.  He’s seen as a fighter for Trump.

·         Team Hawley is selling a coffee mug with the image.  See it here.

·         But Congressman Billy Long – poking Hawley over his endorsement of rival Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler – took to Twitter to say the mugs are actually… “Made in China.”  See it here.

MOIndy: Derges’ State Run-In

Missouri Independent reports on Rep. Tricia Derges admitting to breaking state laws, even as she fights a federal indictment.  She reached a settlement “the state health department, resulting in a three-year probation of her narcotics license while admitting to illegally purchasing and prescribing pharmaceutical drugs.” See it here.

·         The administrative settlement, signed Jan. 28 with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, acknowledges that state Rep. Patricia Derges, R-Nixa, violated state and federal controlled substance laws…

·         Despite acknowledging breaking the law, Derges’s attorney, Albert Watkins of Kodner Watkins in St. Louis, said the drug purchases and prescriptions “are not criminal,” as Derges didn’t intend to break a law she had little, if any, understanding of…

·         Derges told investigators with the state health department that controlled substance laws were not taught in her medical school and she could not find a place in a medical residency program. Derges is a licensed assistant physician, which is a mid-level practitioner beneath a board-certified medical doctor, and she received her medical training at the Caribbean Medical University in the Netherland Antilles…

Odd Pairing

What does frozen desert licensure and perinatal substance abuse have in common?  They’re the two topics of statutes that HB 2331 would repeal.  This bill repeals in their entirety Sections 191.743, 196.866, and 196.868, RSMo, dealing with frozen desert licensure and perinatal substance abuse.  Rep. Ben Baker’s bill will get a hearing tomorrow in his Downsizing Government Committee.

·         Lobbyist: That’s one hell of a summary.   

Sharp Named Ranking Member on Policy Committee

Speaker Rob Vescovo named Rep. Mark Sharp to be Ranking Minority Member on the

Special Committee on Public Policy.  This is the speaker’s new committee. It’s where the sports wagering bills have been referred.

Rematch in 157?

Wally Long has formed a committee to run for House 157.  He lost last cycle to Rep. Mitch Boggs by 284 votes.  It looks like this will be a rematch.

That’ll Be One Tough Yard Sign To Design

Bing Schimmelpfenning formed a candidate committee to run for House 62.  Schimmelpfenning is the executive director of the Harrisonville Chamber of Commerce. Schimmelpfenning ran for House in 2018 losing to Rep. Mike Haffner (placing third in a three-way primary).  But it looks like Haffner will still be in House to the north of Harrisonville, while Schimmelpfenning will run in House 62 which is to the south of Harrisonville.

Carpenters Ethics Case Dismissed

The Missouri Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint against the Carpenters’ Union that their PAC, Carpenters Help In The Political Process (CHIPP), has used another PAC to concealed their identity as campaign contributors.  The Commission found no reasonable grounds exits to support the allegation.  Read it here.

eMailbag on Unsettled US Senate Field

Totally disagree that we are too far in for candidates to assess viability. For Christ's sake filing hasn't even started! Lots of candidates drop out every year much later than this.

eMailbag on Senate Mess

It is unfathomable that there are public statements about the Senate not needing to pass legislation… These men and women who are elected by citizens to represent their constituents and there are PLENTY of Missourians who have interests they would like to see considered and who do not care about souless or personal ambitions.

Lobbyists Registrations

Travis Butchello added Healthcare Distribution Alliance.

Philip “Duke” de Haas added AGA Service Company, and USTIA.

John Phillip Deters added Fletcher Stovall.

Kathyrne Harper added Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities.

Sharon Geuea Jones added Missouri Healthcare for All.

Gamble & Schlemeier deleted PeopleForBikes Coalition, C-PACE Alliance, Jones Family Investments LLC, Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, Ticketnetwork, Rx Outreach, and Empower Missouri (formerly Mo Association For Social Welfare).

$5K+ Contributions

RightPath PAC - $200,000 from George Bauer (New Canaan CT).

RightPath PAC - $200,000 from Blackford Brauer c/o John M. Hillhouse.

RightPath PAC - $200,000 from Joyce Buchheit.

RightPath PAC - $200,000 from Andrew Bursky (Greenwich CT).

RightPath PAC - $200,000 from George Couch (Pebble Beach CA).

RightPath PAC - $200,000 from Hunter Engineering Company.

RightPath PAC - $200,000 from Alicia McDonnell.

RightPath PAC - $200,000 from John McDonnell.

RightPath PAC - $150,000 from Anna Ntenta (Miami FL).

RightPath PAC - $100,000 from Andrew Taylor.

RightPath PAC - $50,000 from David Farrell.

RightPath PAC - $50,000 from David Kemper.

RightPath PAC - $50,000 from Lawrence Thomas.

RightPath PAC - $25,000 from Henry Warshaw.

RightPath PAC - $25,000 from Susan Warshaw.

Friends of Jane Puszkar - $10,000 from M Jane Puszkar.

Legal Missouri 2022 - $15,000 from Green Four Ventures LLC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Reps. Jeff Coleman, Hannah Kelly, Kendall Kani Martínez-Wright, and Timothy Flook.