MOScout Daily Update: Sheena Has Proof of Abuse? - Firefighters for Kehoe? - Ashcroft Polling Memo - MOFed for Children Plans $1M PAC and more...
MOIndy: Sheena Has Proof of Abuse
Breaking this morning… Missouri Independent reports… “Former Missouri First Lady Sheena Greitens says in a new court filing that she has photos and other evidence to back up her claims that former Gov. Eric Greitens physically abused her and their children as his political career unraveled.”
Welcome to the Gubby 2024 Race
Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe will officially announce for governor this morning at The Millbottom with firefighters there to cheer him on, the implication being that he’s about to snag another high-profile endorsement. The Missouri Fraternal Order of Police gave Kehoe their support back in February.
But… It’s no coincidence that Team Ashcroft is circulating a polling memo showing Jay Ashcroft starts with a big lead in this race. The poll – paid for by Ashcroft’s PAC and conducted by Public Opinion Strategies last month – gives Ashcroft a 54%-19% lead.
· "Jay is known by nearly every Republican voter (93% total heard of). Jay is well-liked by Republican primary voters, 61% favorable - 11% unfavorable. Jay’s personal image is overwhelmingly positive with every Republican subgroup. By comparison, just 49% of Republican voters have heard of Kehoe, and just one-in-five have a favorable impression of him, 20% favorable – 4% unfavorable."
And Ashcroft’s fundraising has come alive with a rush of checks recently, amid talk that lobbyist Steve Tilley is helping Ashcroft.
Still, one Kehoe supporter says the trial attorney checks that have hit Ashcroft’s PAC in the last week will help Kehoe collect business support. “Every businessperson in the state now clearly knows who their candidate for Gov in 2024 is.”
Grab a seat, it’s on.
Driving the Day: Budget
The House is expected to debate the budget bills on the floor today.
· One lobbyist What will be remarkable to me is if the Republicans vote against funding worthy causes when the state is as flush with cash as it is. Which part of the electorate are we winning over by saying we have billions more than we need in the state coffers?
Driving the Night: Election Results
Municipal elections occurring today. Aside from the Jefferson City School Board, I’ll be watching…
· Franklin County where results might give a hint about the strength of Ben Brown’s grassroots game in the upcoming Senate 26 primary.
· Kansas City’s ballot where Together KC spent $250K to support Questions 1 (sewer bond) and 2 (renew tax for healthcare).
Plus…
· Former Rod Jetton chief of staff Chris Benjamin is running for Metropolitan Community College Trustee.
· Justin Coyan, husband of lobbyist Teresa Coyan, is running for Logan-Rogersville School District.
Let me know what you’re watching that might be of interest to MOScouters.
MOFed Starts to Bulk Up PAC
Missouri Federation for Children PAC received its first major donation ($25K from American Federation for Children Inc.) in what will eventually be $1 million-ish war-chest that will support school choice candidates through Independent Expenditures.
· Of course, on the other side of the equation, MO National Education Association PAC reported $660,000 in its committee at the start of the year.
Legal Missouri 2022
In the large contributions (below) Legal Missouri 2022 which is aiming to bring full legalization to the Missouri ballot this November recorded about $280,000 yesterday.
That brings their total raise this year to $1.6 million, after raising about a million the year before.
Anti-Invenergy Bill Gets Spotlight
Post-Dispatch reports: Although previous efforts to zap the Grain Belt Express power line have stalled, Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, told reporters last week that he expects the chamber will approve legislation placing roadblocks in the way of the development. “We’re going to push that through,” Rowden said…
The House bill is designed to hamper the project’s developers, Invenergy Transmission, from pursuing condemnation if landowners won’t sell easements, which means allowing a piece of their land to be used for the power line.
· Rep. Mike Haffner is the bill’s sponsor.
· Invenergy added Jeff Aboussie and David Klarich to their lobbying team recently.
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Parson announced six appointments to various boards and commissions and filled one county office vacancy.
· Brian Bender, of Atlanta, was appointed to the Safe Drinking Water Commission.
· Rodney Campbell Jr., of Fenton, was appointed to the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission.
· Nicholas Gerth, of Ballwin, was appointed to the State Lottery Commission.
· Janet Judd, of Ballwin, was appointed to the Missouri Real Estate Commission.
· Dennis Knipmeyer, of Higginsville, was appointed to the Safe Drinking Water Commission.
· Antonio Maldonado, of Florissant, was appointed to the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.
· Mark Smith, of Piedmont, was appointed as the Wayne County Coroner.
eMailbag: House 29 In Play
One reader disputes my characterization of House 29 as “solidly Republican,” noting it’s currently repped by Rep. Rory Rowland. While the Independence area seems to be turning redder, this district isn’t there yet.
eMailbag: Greitens Game
Last weekend we played this game called salad bowl. You write down a bunch of names of people - could be fictional, non-fictional, famous, people you know. The first round you say as many words as you need without saying the name - and your team has to guess. The second round you can only say one word, the third round you can’t say anything and only mime. Someone put Eric Greitens name in the bowl. By the third round, his name was figured out just by a single choking motion to the neck. There you go…his legacy.
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Federation for Children PAC - $25,000 from American Federation for Children Inc (Washington DC).
ASAPAC MO Federal Committee - $15,000 from American Society of Anesthesiologists Political Action Committee.
Page PAC - $15,000 from ASAPAC MO Federal Committee.
Legal Missouri 2022 – $100,000 from Good Day Farm Missouri LLC.
Legal Missouri 2022 – $100,000 from BD Health Ventures LLC.
Legal Missouri 2022 – $50,000 from Grassroots OpCo LLC.
Legal Missouri 2022 – $20,000 from Midwest Roots LLC.
Legal Missouri 2022 – $12,500 from Certified Alternative Medicine Providers LLC.
Lobbyists Registrations
Jeffrey Aboussie added Invenergy.
Doug Gray added Jackson County 4 Kids.
David Winton and Jessica Petrie added The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
Jessica Pabst added Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association.
Henrio Thelemaque added RecoVET Healthcare.
Emma Leigh Shankland added StateLine Strategies LLP; and deleted Missouri Port Authority Association, Reach Healthcare Foundation, South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, and Missouri Soybean Association.