MOScout Daily Update: Cody Cash Fast Tracked - Roberts Rebuts Allegation - AFP Hearts Schmitt - Jones Eyes Guaranteed Basic Income and more...

Cody Cash Fast Tracked

House Budget Chair Cody Smith’s HB 3021, which would give Missourians a $500 tax credit, was voted out of the Budget Committee yesterday.  And Smith told the Committee he hoped to fast-track the legislation to have it perfected and passed this week.

The credit has a $1 billion cost.  But with the state coffer overflowing right now the debate centered more on eligibility and mechanics of the credit rather than the fiscal note.

Meanwhile

The Senate Appropriations Committee will continue today to go page by page through the budget making its changes.

Yesterday was full of small additions from Committee members.  Rudi Keller has a good rundown here.  He notes the two huge changes…

·         “$214 million [more] for school transportation.”

·         “Reviving Gov. Mike Parson’s proposed $500 million deposit to boost the investment fund that pays most state worker pensions [MOSERS].”

AFP For Schmitt

According to an FEC filing earlier this week, American for Prosperity has expended over $750,000 in support of Eric Schmitt.  They’ve had people canvassing for Schmitt across the state.  See the filing here.

Americans for Prosperity has a libertarian bent which is probably less Trumpian than Schmitt’s current rhetoric, but in line with his SB 5 reforms from his state Senate days.

And

The pro-Eric Greitens PAC, Missouri First Action Inc, spent $69K on direct mail in support of Greitens.  See the filing here.

King to AT&T

Press release: AT&T to Welcome Tracy King as Regional Vice President of External Affairs… King will join AT&T Missouri in mid-May where she will bring her governmental affairs expertise to the AT&T Missouri External Affairs team.

King has worked with and advocated on behalf of the telecommunication industry for most of her career, including being a contract consultant and lobbyist for AT&T during part of her career. Currently, she is with Strategic Capitol Consulting, a government affairs and consulting firm founded by former Speaker of the House Steve Tilley. She has also served as Vice President of Government Affairs for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 12 years with a primary focus on tax, economic development, budget, and telecommunication issues…

King will officially start her role at AT&T on May 16th, enabling her to support her existing clients through the remainder of the Missouri legislative session…

·         In a note to friends and colleagues, Strategic Capitol Consulting said the departure was “bittersweet,” but the job was “the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Roberts Battles Allegations

Sen. Steve Roberts did a round of media to rebut the previous allegation from the late Cora Walker that he raped her.  Speaking to the Post-Dispatch (see it here) and KMOV (see it here), Roberts released an agreement between himself and Walker in which she agreed to stop accusing him while he was able to maintain his innocence.

But…yesterday, on Twitter, Amy Harms who had separately accused Roberts of sexual assault in a bar, reiterated her claims. See the Riverfront Times article here.

What It Means

Roberts is working early to inoculate himself against these allegations.  The assumption is that if the race with Congresswoman Cori Bush becomes close, we’ll see this story go front and center from Team Bush.

Jones Eyes New Outlays

In her State of the City address (read it here), St. Louis City Mayor Tishaura Jones offered some new proposals…

·         “My administration is exploring the potential of a Guaranteed Basic Income program for St. Louis families - monthly payments to help struggling families get out of poverty and stay out of poverty.”

·         “$1 million to cover paid family leave for City employees, to keep our benefits competitive and show our working families how much we value their dedication.”

·         “$150 million commitment for North St. Louis through our remaining American Rescue Plan funds, to begin bridging the racial wealth gap that splits our city in two. It’s time to put St. Louis on the road to economic justice.”

$5K+ Contributions

Sharpe For Rep - $10,000 from Greg Sharpe.

UAW Region 5 Midwest States Political Action Committee (PAC) (MO) - $6,000 from UAW Region 4 Exchange Account.

Legal Missouri 2022 - $50,000 from Timothy OHern.

Lobbyists Registrations

Richard McIntosh, David McCracken, and John Gaskin added Security Concepts Training Group, and KPMG LLP.

Eapen Thampy added ARMJ Enterprises.  

Guy Black added Philips North America.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Chris Moody and Chris Roepe.