MOScout Daily Update: Criminal Justice Reform Polling - House Budget To Exec Supplemental - Senate to Talk Map? - Supremes Hear About SAPA and more...
Where we are…
· Two weeks until 2022 candidate filing open.
· Five weeks until the legislative spring break.
Waiting on…
· The judicial commission to unveil the new state senate districts.
· Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson to announce whether he’ll file charges against the Post-Dispatch reporter for “hacking” the state’s website. The Missouri Highway Patrol turned over its report to him five weeks ago.
Big News Day Ahead
In the House, the Budget Committee this morning (11AM , HR3) is poised to exec out two big bills. One if the supplemental appropriations bill, and the other would be a ballot question to go before voters in November to give the legislature greater control over Medicaid Expansion.
· The Post -Dispatch reports that the supplemental budget cuts some of Governor Mike Parson’s proposal to raise all state workers’ wages to $15/hour.
In the Senate, it’s expected that the congressional map will be top of the agenda. There’s no indication that compromise has been reached, or even really attempted during the long weekend. Some Conservative Caucus members instead spent energy to promote a prayer walk for a 7-1 map.
The guess then would be that we see the same stand-off we saw last week. 6-2ers believe they have the votes to pass the House map while 7-1ers think they have the legs to stand and prevent a vote.
No predictions here, but it seems to me a possibility that we see an all-nighter to force a compromise if not Monday, sometime this week.
And the Missouri Supreme Court has a hot case involving SAPA teed up on its docket (1:30PM)… SC99290, City of St Louis; St. Louis County; and Jackson County v. State of Missouri; and Eric Schmitt, Attorney General of Missouri, an appeal from Cole County involving the right to declaratory relief and constitutional validity of Second Amendment Protection Act.
Things should quiet down on Tuesday when the House and Senate convene for the State of the Judiciary.
Criminal Justice Reform
Supporters of criminal justice reform are circulating polling from the Justice Action Network, conducted by OnMessage Inc.
Among the highlights:
· 70% of Missouri voters believe the state’s criminal justice needs improvement.
· 72% of Missourians, and 66% Republicans, agree that “Missouri should allow people with less serious criminal records, who have remained crime free for a period of time, to seal or expunge records so they have a better shot of finding employment.” (Sen. Brian Williams’ SB 687 and Sen. Barbara Washington’s SB 856).
· 64% of voters support setting “the maximum sentence for misdemeanors and ordinance violations to 18 months.” (Rep. Ron Hicks’ HB 2248, and Sen. Washington SB 896).
· 58% support a proposal eliminating the practice of issuing bench warrants, while still allowing fines to be referred to collections. (Rep. Lane Roberts’ HB 1702)
· 55% support a proposal requiring the establishment of a Correctional Center Nursery Program up to 18 months. (Rep. Bruce DeGroot/ Curtis Trent’s HB 1897, Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer’s SB 834).
Justice Action Network is repped in Jefferson City by Catalyst and Bryan Cave.
Better Elections Adds $600K
In the large contributions (below) there’s another $600K deposited into the The Better Elections Campaign from the nonprofit Article IV. Better Election is in the midst of gathering signature for its initiative petition.
· One reader who supports the proposal: Petition workers on the ground say frustration and anger about the current chaotic dysfunction on display in Jefferson City seem to have boosted receptiveness and support for the proposal. Instant runoff rules may be new to some readers, but the data is clear - voters like the choices, and they like what it does to campaigning and governing. There are incentives for better candidates to run and to campaign for every vote, not just at the political extremes as party primaries now work. A few politicians who fear competition are understandably nervous.
In addition to the ranked voting component, the Better Elections Amendment includes popular and easy to understand election security, such as requiring voting machines to be checked and certified ahead of elections, and requiring a paper trail so voters may be assured that their vote is counted as they cast it. The amendment also requires special elections to fill vacancies in elected posts - most voters signing petitions are expressing surprise this isn’t already required.
See the Better Election website here.
Help Wanted
Varsity Tutors seeks a Head of Government Affairs. “The Head of Government Affairs will oversee efforts related to federal, state, and local government entities, especially state and local educational agencies (SEAs and LEAs) to build and sustain growth and education impact. The individual in this role will act as an entrepreneur and be responsible for executing Varsity Tutors' key growth objectives within this particular sector of the business. This role will also help build a government relations function to create professional relationships with members of federal, state, and local government entities and identify partnership and RFP opportunities that will continue to drive company growth and expansion.” See it here.
Lobbyists Registrations
Rodney Gray, Susan Henderson Moore, and Cara Alexander added UCB Inc.
James Harris added Aunt Bertha, a Public Benefit Corporation d/b/a findhelp.
Jay Reichard added Lincoln Strategy Group.
Tracy King, Brittany Hyatt Robbins, Christopher Schoeman, and Garrett Webb added Wireless Infrastructure Association.
$5K+ Contributions
Better Elections - $602,000 from Article IV (Alexandria VA).
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Trish Miller.