MOScout Daily Update: Biden to the Middle (Not So Fast)? - What TX Means for MO? - Fitz Nyet on Red $$$ - New Broadband Comm - Schlafly Fight Goes On and more...
Biden to the Middle?
Politico Playbook saw signs in last night’s State of the Union speech that President Joe Biden was trying to move to the middle.
In Year Two, the Biden administration is moving to the center — at least that’s what Tuesday night suggests. Biden talked about some progressive priorities, but didn’t bang the gong…
On policing: “The answer is not to ‘defund the police,’” Biden said. “The answer is to fund the police with the resources and training they need to protect our communities.”
If MO Dems were happy that the national party might be moving closer to “Missourah values,” reality returned quickly…
· Rep. CORI BUSH (D-Mo.) took to Twitter to push back on Biden’s call to “fund the police.” “With all due respect,” she wrote, “You didn’t mention saving Black lives once in this speech. All our country has done is given more funding to police. The result? 2021 set a record for fatal police shootings. Defund the police. Invest in our communities.”
TX Primary Mean Anything to MO?
Cook Report’s Dave Wasserman reports on a Texas congressional primary… Navy SEAL-turned-cognitive scientist Morgan Luttrell (R) demolishing the field in the open, safely GOP #TX08. This is a big win for Kevin McCarthy over Ted Cruz, who backed pro-Freedom Caucus Christian Collins (R).
· MO politicos wonder what it means for Missouri. One take: It shows that Ted Cruz doesn’t have very much horsepower in his home state and is meaningless for Eric Schmitt in Missouri.
February Revenues Solid Again
State tax receipts showed another impressive month of gains. February 2022 revenues were up 5.4% over February 2021. And individual income tax receipts, an important driver of tax revenues, were up an impressive 15.7%.
New Broadband Committee
Speaker Rob Vescovo created the Special Committee on Broadband and Infrastructure. Rep. Louis Riggs, who has been a leader on the issue in the House, was appointed chair. Rep. Cyndi Buchheit-Courtway is vice-chair. Other members: Reps. John Black, Tracy McCreery, Michael O’Donnell, Doug Richey, and Wes Rogers. The committee will report to Rules – Legislative Oversight.
This comes at time of great attention to issues of rural infrastructure. The governor has called for $400 million to be invested in rural broadband, though the details of how it will be spent remain vague. And the governor’s budget includes $100 million for improving the state’s “low-volume” rural roads.
And
Hitting the in-box yesterday from the Department of Economic Development: The Department of Economic Development (DED) announced today that Missouri has been awarded a $42.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for broadband expansion.
Fitz Says Nyet to Russian Investments
State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick moved to get the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System to divest of Russian holdings.
“Vladimir Putin is a madman and it’s time for the world to cut him off. In Missouri, that starts with MOSERS… I’m calling on all other Missouri pension plans to follow suit in ensuring no public funds are used to help prop up the Russian economy as long as these atrocities continue.”
· MOSERS’ Russians investments appear to be a tiny tiny sliver of their portfolio and obviously worth a lot less than they were two weeks ago.
Parson Picks Health Veteran to Lead DHSS
Statement from Governor Mike Parson: We are excited to announce Paula Nickelson as the new DHSS Acting Director. Paula was a key player in Missouri's COVID-19 response efforts and has been a valued member at DHSS for more than 22 years. We are confident in her abilities and proud to welcome her to our Cabinet as we move forward from the COVID pandemic and prepare for what comes next in public health…
What It Means
· Looks like a safe pick after some tumult in the position.
Schlafly Fight Goes On
Phyllis Schlafly died in 2016. Her children are still fighting over her legacy and the organization assets she left behind.
Rachel Lippmann reports that the Missouri Supreme Court will hear a suit between Bruce Schlafly and Cori Anne.
Former Missouri Republican Party Chair Ed Martin is now the head of the Schlafly organization, to the chagrin of some heirs (but not others).
Help Wanted
Build Missouri Health seeks Executive Director. “Build Missouri Health, a subsidiary of Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH), seeks its inaugural Executive Director… The ideal candidate to launch Build Missouri Health will have proven success in building strong relationships, developing resources, and leading with vision. With support from MFH’s Board and staff, Build Missouri Health is poised to advance work in key strategic areas of healthy and supportive housing, public health workforce development and environmental justice. These advancements will be made through opportunities to provide administrative backbone services to large scale projects, convening likeminded partners and engaging the full community.” See the ad here.
New Candidate Fililngs
Bob Jones filed to run in Senate 26 (Franklin County). This was expected. He’s the business candidate to replace Sen. Dave Schatz, running against COVID-resister Ben Brown, and Rep. Nate Tate.
Jeff Farnan filed to run in House 1 (Northwest corner), creating a 5-way Republican primary.
Rep. Jerome Barnes filed for re-election in House 28.
David D Norman filed to run in House 41 (Troy) as a Democrat. This is a safe Republican seat.
Terry William Burgess filed to run in House 113 (Imperial) as a Republican, creating a primary there.
Stephanos Freeman withdrew from running in House 131, and filed to run as a Republican in House 132 (Springfield). The presumed Dmeocratic candidate will be Minority Leader Crystal Quade (who hasn’t filed yet, presumably waiting on the state senate maps just in case).
$5K+ Contributions
Committee for Liberty (pro-Ashcroft) - $10,000 from Sam Hamra.
MO Renewable Fuels Association Political Action Committee - $10,000 from Missouri Corn Growers Association Inc.
Legal Missouri 2022 - $110,000 from New Growth Horizon LLC.
Legal Missouri 2022 - $12,500 from V# Holdings Missouri LLC.
Lobbyists Registrations
Mike Gibbons and Tricia Workman added CharacterPlus.
Jon Mandel and Damon Stewart added DirecTV LLC.
Thomas Clinton Hall added Tom Hall.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Mitch Boggs, Rob Monsees, Titus Bond, and William “Buddy” Hardin.