MOScout Daily Update: Senate Budget Day Largely Drama-Free - MO Prosper Makes Endorsement - Sanchez Kicks Off - Greitens Fall Out and more....
Senate Zips Through Budget
All the worrying that the Senate would get bogged down in the budget melted away as they zipped through the thirteen budget bills yesterday.
There were only two moments of drama.
First, Sen. Rick Brattin offered an amendment to restore $500,000 which Sen. Lincoln Hough had cut from the Attorney General’s office in committee. While there’s a tradition of supporting the Appropriations Chairman and not amending the budget, it was surprising that the amendment only garnered nine Yes votes (Brattin, Burlison, Eigel, Hoskins, Luetkemeyer, Moon, O’Laughlin, Onder, and Wieland).
One observer thought it was slap to Schmitt: Tells you about his standing…if Ashcroft had asked for election integrity money, he would have gotten a blank check.
But I’d wager the money gets added back in during conference, Hough’s point having been made.
The other moment of suspense was a fiery speech by Sen. Bill Eigel in which he decried the bloated budget. He blasted his Republican colleagues, saying that they campaign as constitutional conservatives and then govern differently.
He said the budget was full of excessive spending, citing a “dinosaur museum.” One building veteran wondered if the campaign rhetoric of Eigel’s speech is what the Conservative Caucus wanted from the proceedings, to draw a clear distinction as they look forward towards primaries.
And one Senate source fact-checking Eigel’s speech texted me, “there is no dinosaur museum in the budget… Eigel was bitching about something not in the bill.”
Also, interesting to note, Sen. Andrew Koenig, didn’t go along with the Conservative Caucus script.
Almost all of the Conservative Caucus voted against all the budget bills (with the exception of public debt which they all voted for). Sen. Denny Hoskins peeled off on a few. But Koenig voted for nearly every single budget bill and against the Brattin amendment.
Missouri Prosper Makes Endorsement
Press Release: Dr. Mike Tsichlis, candidate for Missouri House District 96, announced receiving the endorsement of Missouri Prosper…
“Mike stood against excessive and non-parent authorized private student data collection. He
publicly called out the use of critical race theory and divisive learning in the Lindbergh School
District. He locked arms with families to oppose unrestricted access by minors of library
materials with graphic content. And he fought to expand transparency and parental
engagement within the district.”
Tsichlis is in a hot primary to succeed Rep. David Gregory. His opponent, Brad Christ, has been one of the top fundraisers ($84K on-hand) for House so far this cycle.
Why It Matters
Missouri Prosper (see their website here) has been a force in the anti-CRT efforts. This shows that some of the battles from school boards over the past year may have an impact on legislative races.
Sanchez Kicks Off in House 106
Linda Sanchez will be kicking off her House 106 campaign today. See the invite here. This is the seat left vacant by the passing of Rep. Tom Hannegan.
Her host committee includes the late Hannegan's husband, Scott Mell, as well as Meredith Borgmeyer (of St. Charles Mayor Dan Borgmeyer).
This is a four-way primary, including behind the scenes player Buddy Hardin.
· Of note: If elected, Sanchez would be one of the few Mexican-Americans serving in the General Assembly.
Greitens Ride Around Fall Out
KMBC reports on fall-out from Eric Greitens’ KC ride around publicity stunt. See it here.
The Kansas City Police Department said Tuesday that it is investigating a police employee related to political activity in connection with a ride-along involving former Missouri Gov. and current U.S. Senate candidate Eric Greitens.
"There is an ongoing criminal investigation involving a department member regarding prohibited political activity associated with RSMo chapter 84. The member has been placed on paid suspension during the investigation," a police department spokesman said Tuesday night.
Smith Book
Lis Smith, an old girlfriend of lobbyist Jeff Smith, has written a memoir. She worked on several campaigns, most notably Pete Buttigieg’s presidential bid.
“[An] intimate portrayal of a sometimes rocky personal journey, it breaks all the rules. Smith doesn’t pretend to be perfect—she owns the controversial choices that landed her in the tabloids…”
eMailbag on MOCorn’s Fearlessness
MoCorn endorses Schatz’s opponent for US Senate with two weeks of session left?.. Might have waited til May 14 for that press release…. I’m guessing all of the corn legislation doesn’t see the light of day after that decision!
eMailbag on Trans Issue
“Trans Athletes as Wedge Issue” is not just a wedge issue for the GOP. It’s a wedge issue for American parents. And if the left does not figure this out, it will continue to banish the Democrat Party into the electoral wasteland.
New Committees
PAT PAC was formed. Its treasurer is Melissa Largent.
Lobbyists Registrations
Jeffrey Altmann added Platinum Neighbors Inc; and deleted DJA Distribution, Center For Rural Health Innovation, and Noble Health Corporation.
Jeremy Kudon added Bally's Corporation, FBG Enterprises LLC, FanDuel Group Inc, DraftKings Inc, and BetMGM LLC.
Jane Dueker terminated her lobbyists registration. She’d had four clients: Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, St. Louis County Police Association, St. Louis Police Officers Association, and MCTA – The Missouri Internet & Television Association.
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Leadership Fund - $10,000 from Accel Entertainment Gaming LLC.
Mo Coalition for Video Lottery PAC - $6,000 from Golden Entertainment.
Mo Coalition for Video Lottery PAC - $10,000 from Accel Entertainment Gaming.
Missouri First - $20,000 from Altria Client Services LLC.
Friends Of Tom Oldenburg - $7,550 from Tom Oldenburg.
Coleman For Commissioner - $6,200 from Forrest Coleman.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Reps. Michael Davis and Wiley Price, Ryan McKenna, Tony Dugger, and Chris Vas.