MOScout Daily Update: Erdman for Schatz - Hick's Freedom Bill - Hartzler's Latest Ad - Team PAC Hits Schmitt - Lee for LG? - The Moon Look and more...
Erdman for Schatz
Making the rounds among Kansas City businesspeople yesterday was a letter from Kansas City Southern’s Warren Erdman introducing folks to Sen. Dave Schatz. From the email…
Today, I am reaching out to introduce you to my friend and a trusted leader in Missouri, state Senate President Pro Tempore, Dave Schatz. Dave is a filed candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator Blunt’s retirement.
As a past U.S. Senate chief of staff, I saw the impact and importance of having representation in the Senate that cares about our state and region and is willing to be the workhorse that gets important things done for our communities. Today’s politics seem to force candidates and even some elected officials to focus a lot of attention on media soundbites and headlines.
That's where I think Senator Schatz is different.
Dave is someone I trust and appreciate because he is a leader with a track record of getting the job done…
I would like to invite you to have a simple, introductory conversation or maybe even an in-person meeting with Dave when he’s next in Kansas City because I believe that once you get to know him, you'll agree that he's a leader who would put our regional interests first, ahead of personal ambition….
· One KC-ian: “That’s a great pick up for Schatz… Erdman is a mainstay and respected in the KC business community on issues across the board. Big get for Schatz over here.”
Driving the Day: Hicks’ Marijuana Bill
Rep. Ron Hick’s Cannabis Freedom Bill (HB 2704) will get a hearing this morning in the House Public Safety Committee (8AM, HR 5). There’s a lot in the 74-page bill, but it would legalize the possession and consumption of marijuana as well as allow people to grow their own weed.
This bill comes as a coalition of marijuana businesspeople have been pursuing an initiative petition to legalize the drug, albeit with a different regulatory framework.
And
At 10AM the General Assembly will convene to hear the State of the Judiciary address.
Hartzler Ad Touts Twitter Fight
Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler’s latest ad (see it here) follows on her fight with Twitter after they locked her account.
“Radical liberals control our government. They also run the media and Big Tech. They don’t just want to silence me. They want to cancel you. Let’s fight back.”
Greitens PAC Hits Schmitt
TEAM PAC, a pro-Eric Greitens Super PAC, produced a slick 8-page hit piece on Attorney General Eric Schmitt. I heard from three lobbyists who had the piece mailed to their office perhaps in an effort to generate some buzz in the capitol?
Lee Antes $50K
In the large contributions (below) Rick Lee anted $50,000 into his committee. As a reminder… Rick Lee, M.D., J.D., M.B.A . is a Republican from St. Louis County, who formed an exploratory committee to run for statewide office in 2024 next month.
It’s said that he’s looking at Lieutenant Governor. And that he’s working with James Harris.
Gregory Fundy Thursday
Speaker-Elect Dean Plocher is hosting another fundraiser for David Gregory in the Auditor's race. This time in Jefferson City. Rep. Mike Haffner, potentially the next Floor Leader, has also signed on as co-host along with a slew of Gregory's colleagues in the Missouri House representing districts in at least 12 counties in central Missouri. A strong showing of Gregory's high-level fundraising and grassroots strength.
On the host committee: Reps. David Griffith, Kent Haden, Bruce Sassmann, Cheri Toalson Reisch, and Rudy Veit.
Moon’s Signature Look
Sen. Mike Moon appears to be adopting the overalls-and-tie outfit as his signature look. Is there a Moon fashion line in the offering? Perhaps a “spring collection” coming to catwalk near you? Here he is at the Jasper/Newton County Lincoln Day…
eMailbag on Map Battle
MoScout seems to repeat the narrative that “it’s all St Charles County’s fault” and that the promotion of a 7-1 map is insincere. Nothing could be further from the truth… HB 2117 map and successive maps have had numerous problems apart from St. Charles County - how strong or weak to leave CD2, whether Jeffco goes in the 8th or the 2nd or the 3rd, whether CD 7 or 8 gets Taney County or Webster County, whether to put Lawrence in the 7th or 4th, whether both military bases go in one CD, and of course how to configure CD1. And many of the map iterations seem more motivated by “sticking it to” this or that senator than sincerely getting to a compromise.
Help Wanted
SEIU MO/KS State Council seeks Director. “Facilitate, convene and manage a collaborative planning process - partnering with SEIU Missouri/Kansas Locals, the International Union, and stakeholders to design a plan to meet statewide political and organizing objectives and goals…. Execute an integrated statewide program across SEIU Missouri/Kansas Locals and priority campaigns to expand working people’s power in Missouri/Kansas… Lead lobbying programs and support legislative field strategy for priority campaigns at the state and federal level… This position is statewide, but preference is to be based in the St Louis or Kansas City metro areas. The salary range for this position is $75,000 - $95,000…” See the ad here.
Gubby Re-Appts
Governor Mike Parson nominated the following people for reappointments…
· Loran Coleman and Sherry Lynn Farrell – the Missouri Real Estate Commission.
· Teresa Coyan and Lynne Unnerstall – the Mental Health Commission.
· Connie Diekman – the State Committee of Dietitians.
· Astra Ferris – the Missouri Workforce Development Board.
· Dr. Donna Gloe – the Missouri State Board of Nursing.
· Randy Little – the State Fair Commission.
· Kelly L. McClelland – the Missouri Veterans’ Commission.
· Roger S. Walleck – the Workers’ Compensation Determinations Review Board.
· Darla Wierzbicki – the Clay County Board of Election Commissioners.
$5K+ Contributions
MO Beverage PAC - $7,173 from Heartland Coca-Cola.
Pattonville Campaign for Kids - $8,500 from SM Wilson.
Lee for Missouri - $50,000 from Rick Lee.
Lobbyists Registrations
Tori Schafer added American Civil Liberties Union – Missouri.
Becky Kip added iHeartMedia, Inc.
Shawn Rhoads added DirecTV LLC, and Dish Network LLC.
Scott Swain added Americans for Fair Energy Prices.
David Winton and Jessica Petrie added Common Sense Leadership Fund, Inc.
Jay Hahn added City of Warrensburg.
Scott Dieckhaus added City of Crestwood; and deleted Arnold and Associates, Missouri Solar Energy Industries Association (MOSEIA), and Iowa 80 Group, Inc.
Harry Gallagher deleted Colonial Management Group, LP.
Ralph Bellar deleted CB 1211 McGee, LLC.
Charlie Miller deleted CFRE - Bourgmont, LLC - Series KC Lofts, and Peners Mens Wear.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to David Steelman.