MOScout Daily Update: Senate Map Debate Goes Through Night - Merideth Mulls Exit - House Perfects IP Change - Hardin in House 106 and more...
Senate Filibuster Continues
The Senate continues to “debate” the congressional map at this early hour. Right now, Sen. Andrew Koenig is a book.
The Senate took up the House bill (HB 2117) in the afternoon. After some debate, Sen. Bill Eigel offered a 7-1 map amendment which ultimately failed 8-24. The eight senators voting for 7-1 were the Conservative Caucus members plus Sen. Paul Wieland.
Sen. Steve Roberts offered a second amendment to make changes in CD-1 and CD-2. But there continues to be a lot talk about “7-1.”
How This Ends
Having gone this far (to 5:30AM right now), it’s unlikely the majority of senators who support the House map will retreat.
The State of the Judiciary address, scheduled before a joint session this morning at 10AM, was postponed, allowing the Senate to continue on its path without an artificial deadline.
Still there are plenty if legs between the Conservative Caucus and Democrats to continue the filibuster. This makes a 6-2 “strong” map compromise the most likely outcome. We’ll see…
· For what it’s worth lobbyists have zero interest in the map. They’d like this issue behind the legislature to clear the deck for getting normal bills passed.
Merideth Mulls Exit
Rep. Peter Merideth on Facebook announced that he’s considering not running for re-election…
Friends, two weeks to candidate filing and this is the new District 80. It’s increasingly likely that I will not be seeking re-election. So… if you live in these new lines (sorry, Shaw friends!) and have thought about taking this job on (or you know someone that should), start thinking about it more seriously. And reach out! I’d love to answer questions about what it’s like and offer any advice.
Note: This is not a formal announcement, as I’m still discussing with my family whether we can handle another two years. But I didn’t want to wait any longer to let folks know it’s likely, in case you need time to start figuring out your plans.
· This is a safe Democratic seat in St. Louis City. But Dems would suffer losing a strong voice like Merideth’s (in particular on Budget where he’s ranking minority member and on the House floor).
House Perfects IP Reform Bill
The House perfected HJR 79 which increases the threshold necessary to pass a constitutional amendment. Right now, it’s a simple majority; this would move it to 2/3. It would also increase the number of signatures necessary for voters to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
At caucus early this year, House Republicans identified this as one of their top priorities for session. But it still faces a long road. After passing the House, it must pass the Senate where it would face Democratic resistance, and then it would have to be approved by the voters themselves.
And
The House Budget Committee passed out a constitutional amendment to give the legislature the ability to change eligibly requirements for Medicaid Expansion. See the resolution here. It, too, faces a similarly long path to passage.
Hardin in House 106
William “Buddy” Hardin IV formed a candidate committee to run for House 106, and anted in $20,000 to seed his campaign.
House 106 is a St. Charles district that leans Republican. It was previously represented by the late Tom Hannegan.
Hardin has been an active Republican mostly behind the scenes for years.
He’s the treasurer for Voters for Good Government.
· That committee spent hundreds of thousands of dollars against Sen. Bill Eigel in this 2020 primary, as well as several pieces against Sen. Holly Rehder during the same cycle. In addition to being treasurer, Hardin’s Sonovox received $5K for consulting from the committee.
· More recently. Good Government waded into the St. Louis City mayoral primary last year, producing a web ad attacking Cara Spencer for defunding the police. The committee didn’t have the cash for the $5,750 piece, so they just added it to the committee’s debt.
· Voters for Good Government, ironically, has had some trouble with the Missouri Ethics Commission. It was fined in 2013 for concealing the receipt and the purpose of an expenditure.
He’s the principal officer of the Adam Smith Foundation.
· They’ve made large contributions to various committees and campaigns over the years, both inside Missouri and outside. As a 501c4, they don’t have to disclose their donors.
Spainhower to PayIt
Theckla Spainhower has moved over to the private side. She’s taken a job with PayIt as Government Relations Manager. See their website here.
Spainhower was formerly chief of staff to Sen. Bob Onder.
PayIt’s lobbyists in Jefferson City are: Scott Swain, David Sweeney, and Steven Tilley.
Dohrman to JCPER
Former Rep. Dean Dohrman announced on LinkedIn that he’s the new executive director of the Joint Committee on Public Employee Pension. “The Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement (JCPER) is a bipartisan, bicameral committee responsible for providing the Missouri General Assembly with information, analysis and recommendations concerning Missouri’s 120+ public employee retirement systems. The JCPER conducts annual reviews and analysis of all state and local government retirement systems to determine necessary recommendations for changes in statutory law. The JCPER responds to fiscal note requests on all retirement related legislation providing responses identifying the actuarial impact and disclosure of the amortized funding obligations. The JCPER prepares reports annually on the financial condition of retirement systems through review of the actuarial valuation, comprehensive annual financial reports, audit reports, consultant reports, as well as third-party provider reports.”
Lobbyists Registrations
Kaegan Mays-Williams added Everytown For Gun Safety Action Fund.
Heath Clarkston, Doug Nelson and Kurt Schaefer deleted Corizon Health LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Voters for Buddy Hardin - $20,000 from William Buddy Hardin.
Mednax Inc PAC Missouri - Federal Committee - $40,000 from Mednax, Inc. Federal Political Action Committee.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Terry Swinger, and Kathie Conway.