MOScout Daily Update: Senate Stalled on Map - New PACs Supporting GOPers - Smith Out of US Senate Race - Supremes on MMJ Confidentiality and more...
Senate Grinds Away At Map
The Senate finally adjourned around midnight, breaking without much to show in the way of passing a new congressional map. They will reconvene at noon. A few thoughts…
While there’s no obvious progress, staff were scurrying now and then from office to office with maps indicating that there are efforts to find a solution.
· The problem is that the essential situation remains unchanged: the Conservative Caucus-ish (that is, plus or minus one of their members) has not expanded their voting bloc on the issue, yet they have enough legs to stand and filibuster to prevent other maps from coming to a vote.
· Underlying this problem is the question of what would constitute a compromise for the filibusterers. Their 7-1 map was rejected by the body, yet there was still lots of talk yesterday that this was their goal.
And…
Circulating last night was a “Redistricting Scandal” document, apparently created by MORinoWatch.com, though he gives “a lot of credit to the 100PAC,” the Jim Lembke / Bill Eigel vehicle.
It suggests that Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer is at the center of the “scandal” of not allowing a 7-1 map. This is likely to enflame the situation more.
· Especially because it also accuses some Senate staff of being part of the “scandal.” The reaction to attacking staff has ranged from anger to disgust among other staffers and lobbyists who view it as a degradation of decorum. It could deplete any good will to seek a compromise.
I should add one more piece of speculation here. One lobbyist pointed to this weekend’s Lincoln Days as a potentially important circle on the calendar. If the Conservative Caucus could stall the map vote until then, and the Senate breaks, Sens. Bob Onder and Bill Eigel, and congressional candidates Sens. Rick Brattin, Eric Burlison and Mike Moon could enjoy a victory lap at the St. Charles event. They could use that event to increase grassroots pressure on leadership and others to revisit the 7-1 map and come into next week with some momentum on their side.
What It Means
As I wrote yesterday, lobbyists don’t care about the map. 8-0, 4-4. They don’t care. But they worry that this debate is deepening the rift within the Republican Caucus and will make passing legislation even more difficult.
New PAC for GOP State Senate Candidates
Two new PACs were formed to support Republican state senate candidates facing fierce primaries.
· Patriots for Riedel – PAC was formed to support Scott Riedel. Riedel is running in Senate 16 against incumbent Sen. Justin Brown. Brown has big money lead. His candidate committee has $79K on-hand while his PAC has $105K on-hand. Meanwhile Riedel’s candidate committee only had $879 o-hand and his PAC is obviously just starting. See Riedel’s website here.
· Conservative Leadership for Missouri PAC was formed to support Bob Jones. Jones is running in Senate 26 against Ben Brown. Brown has an early lead in organizing as he’s been working the grassroots circuit since taking on St. Louis County Executive Sam Page over COVID restrictions. Jones just jumped into the December weeks before the end of the year after Aaron Griesheimer bowed out to take a job on the private side.
Smith Out for Senate
Congressman Jason Smith makes it official that he’s running for re-election. While I think everyone assumed this by now, there was always the chance he’d jump into the US Senate race at the last minute.
With two weeks until candidate filing opens, he makes it official. See it here.
And
· Mark McCloskey was disciplined by the Missouri Supreme Court. He tells the Post-Dispatch that “he was unhappy with the decision and was considering appealing it to the U.S. Supreme Court.”
· Tim Garrison, former United States Attorney, pokes Eric Greitens on Twitter: I can’t stand phonies. And I’d bet all my worldly goods recent #Dem @EricGreitens never once open-carried before trying to resurrect his political career. I’m sure the #gun is real. The #politician is #fake.
Supremes on MMJ Confidentiality
Missouri Independent reports on a ruling from the Missouri Supreme Court. “In a unanimous decision Tuesday, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that a lower court was justified in ordering the state health department to disclose medical marijuana application info that it had argued was confidential.”
The confidentiality provision in the constitutional amendment that voters passed has allowed questions of fairness to fester and flourish. For example, MOIndy earlier asked if whether ownership limits were adhered to. And inside the capitol there have been rumors of conflicts of interests.
Hopefully, this ruling is the beginning of letting folks have access to information to allay these concerns. We’ll see…
Querry Passes
Sandy Querry, a prominent Democrat, passed away last week. Visitation is scheduled for Friday. See her obituary here.
At an early age she was introduced to Democratic politics by her father. As an adult she participated in more political campaigns than can be listed on this page.
She was a member of the Jackson County Democratic Committee for over 40 years, a member of the Missouri State Democratic Committee for many years, a member of the National Democratic Committee in Washington, DC for 16 years and several local Democratic clubs. During these years she met President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Senators, U.S. Congressman, Governors, Mayors, and many other prominent elected officials. She was a delegate to three Presidential inaugurations.
Lobbyists Registrations
Tom Carter added Carter Consulting LLC, and Noble Health Corporation.
Jay Hahn added Adobe Inc.
Charles King added Charles King.
William Shoehigh deleted Hahn-O'Daniel LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
RightPath PAC - $50,000 from Sandy Loewentheil (Purchase NY).
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Jered Taylor, and Ryann Summerford.