MOScout Daily Update: Pro-Long PAC Ad Touts Trump - Hartzler/Hawley Mailer - NYTimes on Greitens - Election Takeaways and more...
Long PAC Touts Trump Praise
WINMO PAC, a pro-Billy Long PAC, is running an ad that uses the recent “non-endorsement” endorsement from President Donald Trump. See it here.
WINMO only had about $165,000 in its coffers at it last report filing, so it’s unclear how much firepower is behind the ad.
But it shows an effort to boost Long’s poll numbers. It’s said that Trump like Long, but is loathe to endorse a “loser.” If Long can pull his poll numbers out of the single digits and into a more competitive position, it increases his chances at winning Trump’s endorsement.
· Without Trump’s endorsement, Long’s campaign seems doomed.
Hartzler Gets Hawley Fundraising Help
US Senator Josh Hawley lends his name in a recent fundraising appeal from Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler. Hawley appears to be following up his endorsement with specific help – such as this mailer.
The mailer mentions Hawley January 6 actions being vilified by “the Left” before moving on to his support for Hartzler.
Election Results
Coming of takeaways from yesterday’s election results…
· Many communities are still shunning the use tax after the Wayfair ruling. Last night many Prop U’s went down across St. Louis County. Prop U’s lost in Ballwin, Cottleville, Chesterfield, Dardenne Prairie, DeSoto, Ellisville, Eureka, Fenton, Festus, Grantwood Village, Herculaneum, Innsbrook, Jennings, Manchester, Northwoods, Overland, St. Peter’s, and Town and Country.
· Sen. Paul Wieland says the JeffCo County Exec is “out-of-touch” after a new tax for parks was crushed with 74% No. Wieland is running for that spot – against the incumbent Dennis Gannon, husband of Sen. Elaine Gannon.
· Rep. Shamed Dogan, running for St. Louis County Executive, was buoyed by results in that county. Prop B was aimed at incumbent Sam Page who has remained a working anesthesiologist. It would forbid the county executive from working any other job.
· The Franklin County “We The People” group lost most of their elections. “Lost everything but one race (Washington School Board – Kelly Brinkmann). Brinkmann worked her tail off. The other school board member elected was Frank Wood - lobbyist Mike Wood’s brother and former High School Principal.”
· One conservative sees gains on many school board elections… “many pro-parent, conservative candidates all across the state [won] including in Rockwood, Valley Park, Pattonville, all over St. Charles, in Springfield and throughout SW MO. Basically, aftershocks from Virginia governor’s race came to Missouri.”
· And… one reader heralded lobbyist Erika Leonard as the “Queen of Jeff City” after her school board victory.
House Works Budget
Missouri Independent reports on yesterday’s budget work on the House floor. Read it here.
The Missouri House gave first round approval Tuesday to a package of budget bills spending $46.2 billion, with Republicans defeating repeated Democratic efforts to tap the state’s record surplus.
The budget includes boosts to higher education funding, both for institutions and scholarships, as well as funding one of last year’s most controversial issues, Medicaid expansion. During debate, Republicans blocked Democratic amendments to make large increases in funding for school transportation, teacher pay and home health care for people with disabilities.
The biggest point of contention as the debate started was whether to tap into the general revenue surplus that could be $3 billion or more at the end of the fiscal year in 2023. Gov. Mike Parson’s original budget proposal anticipated a surplus of $1.5 billion and cuts in the House Budget Committee were expected to increase that to $1.8 billion.
NYTimes on MOSen Race
NYTimes reports on Missouri’s US Senate race – including the latest allegations against Eric Greitens and the emergence of Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine. Read it here.
Lurid allegations of blackmail, sexual misconduct and child abuse would doom most politicians. Not Eric Greitens. Or at least not yet…
Instead of stepping aside, Eric Greitens has made a brazen attempt to defy political gravity. Short on cash and bereft of allies, he has vowed to fight on, arguing without evidence that national Republican figures are conspiring with his ex-wife to sully his reputation, which she denies.
“I want to tell you directly, Karl Rove and Mitch McConnell,” Greitens said late last month in a video shared on his social media accounts. “Hear me now. You are disgusting cowards. And we are coming for you.”
· James Harris gets quoted… Harris recounted a conversation with a donor who recently turned down a fund-raising pitch by Greitens, saying his wife would “kill me” if he gave money to the former governor.
Candidate Filing
Ben Keathley filed to run in House 101 as a Republican. This is the Derek Grier district. Filing has been held open because Grier withdrew on the last day of the filing window. Keathley, a former Chesterfield City Council member, now faces John Brunner in the Republican primary. See Keathley’s website here.
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri American Water Company Employees Political Action Committee - $10,000 from Fred M. Luth & Sons.
Lobbyists Registrations
Andy Blunt added Indivior.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Lane Roberts, Mark Jones, Craig Overfelt, Cathy Brown, and John McCaherty.