MOScout Daily Update: Senate Passes Map - Map Winners - WWHD? - Greitens Get $$$$? - Parson Legacy and more....

Senate Passes New House Map

In a relatively swift series of actions following another day of Republican infighting, the Senate passed the new House map and completed the acrimonious congressional redistricting.

Discharge

Rather than vote the new map out of the Senate Redistricting Committee, the Senate “Regular Republicans” utilized a relatively arcane maneuver to discharge the bill from committee.  Jason Hancock reported that this was last used in the Senate back some forty-ish years ago.

On the Senate floor, Sen. Bob Onder called it a “sneak attack.”  And it did have the effect of preventing the Conservative Caucus from filibustering before the bill came to the floor.  That scenario could have unfolded.  If, for example, the Regulars voted it out of committee and waited until today, there could have been an all-day filibuster of the Journal.

PQ

The discharge petition required 12 signatures, which seemingly put the majority of the chamber within striking distance of being able to PQ the bill itself – if necessary.

Redistricting, a constitutional duty, seemed worthy of a PQ.  And the bubbling resentment among Regular Republicans that the Conservative Caucus was sinking good bills with controversial amendments made it a real possibility.

Still, in my counting of votes, I imagined that Sen. Paul Wieland would join the Conservative Caucus and the Regulars would have needed some Dems to get to that number. 

There were a number of theories floating around (Sen. Andrew Koenig, for example, had been very quiet through the day and was a bridge between camps during map negotiations), including speculation that the Dems would go along in exchange for assurances that other legislation would not come up.  Another rumor is that the Regulars were considering PQ-ing Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder’s SB 690 as well, so the CC could face multiple PQs if they didn’t relent.

·         Regardless, one lobbyist said “They were absolutely going to get PQ’d.” And this was confirmed by a Senate source who says the Regulars “had PQ signatures. More than enough.”

Map Winners and Losers

Here’s a quick look at who folks see as winners in the new map…

Congresswoman Ann Wagner – She’s won re-election in the tightest Republican Congressional district even as her opponents have raised oodles of money and generated lots of excitement.  Now the district shifts about 7 points redder.  It’s hard to see her getting beaten

Dems Down the Road – But the consensus, not just Conservative Caucus fearmongering, is that as the demographic trends continue, Dems could have a shot at flipping CD-2 nearer to the end of the decade.

Sen. Steven Roberts – Russell Neiss, on Twitter, sees the St. Louis Jewish community largely falling into CD-1.  This is thought to help Roberts in his campaign to unseat Cori Bush who has called Israel an “apartheid state.”

The Non-Boone County CD-4 Candidates – Boone County is split – half in CD-3, and half in CD-4 – in the map.  One consultant describes talking away half of Boone’s voting base from Rep. Sara Walsh and Taylor Burks as “a huge blow to them.”  That should boost the chances of the other candidates: Mark Alford, Sen. Rick Brattin, and Kalena Bruce.

Meanwhile Ashcroft

AP’s David Lieb reported that Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft “said that even if lawmakers were to approve a new U.S. House map before Friday’s deadline to pass legislation, it wouldn’t leave local election authorities with enough time to ensure that everyone’s voting addresses are accurately assigned to the new districts.”

What Will The House Do?

The House’s final day will be without a dance partner.  All that’s left for them is to decide if there’s any Senate bills on their calendar that they might want to pick up and pass. (Jokesters say the House will be perfecting House bills today).    See the calendar here.

It wouldn’t surprise me if there’s some frustration on the House side that the Senate has adjourned early, and they demonstrate it by denying senators legislative accomplishments.  We’ll see…

Greitens Lands Another Mega Check?

Axios’ Lachlan Markay reports that “Fitness influencer Andy Frisella says he's donating ‘seven figures’ to a pro-Eric Greitens super PAC.”

STL Alderman To Be Indicted?

KSDK reports… John Collins Muhammad Jr. is resigning as alderman of St. Louis' 21st Ward effective Thursday, citing "mistakes" he has made that he will "take full responsibility for."

A source tells 5 On Your Side's Christine Byers that Alderman Collins Muhammad is under federal investigation for bribery.

·         Collins Muhammad is the brother of Rep. Kimberly Ann Collins.

Gubby Appts

Amanda Kuehn, of Ste. Genevieve, was appointed as the Ste. Genevieve County Public Administrator.

Dustin Stanton, of Centralia, was appointed as the Boone County Treasurer.

Gretta Tripp, of Eagle Rock, was appointed as the Barry County Treasurer.

Sarah Turner, of Stockton, was appointed as the Cedar County Circuit Clerk.

eMailbag on Parson’s Legacy

The covid pandemic was the single greatest challenge to face America’s governors since at least the Great Depression. Parson, despite relentless pressure and abuse, did not shut the state down, did not institute ineffective statewide mandates, and did not try to micromanage our wide range of communities and localities. By not panicking for panic’s sake, he saved countless thousands of Missourians their jobs and livelihoods and tens of thousands of in-classroom school days for our state’s children, among other real world impacts.  This stuff matters.  That’s Parson’s legacy.

Regarding the comment that Parson has zero legacy as governor… Parson risked some political capital by supporting a gas tax increase that ultimately failed with voters in 2018, soon after he ascended to governor. With the 2020 election ahead, he could have just not done that. But he did, and when a similar gas tax hit his desk for signature after that defeat, Parson enacted it… it may be the last substantial state infusion of road and bridge money for a while.

$5K+ Contributions

Teamsters Local 600 DRIVE PAC – $13,182 from Missouri PAC Federal Committee.

Teamsters Local 600 DRIVE PAC – $5,103 from Missouri PAC Federal Committee.

Legal Missouri 2022 - $17,500 from Terrapin Investment Fund IV LLC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Maura Browning, Beth Low, and Corey Jackson.

Sunday: Rep. John Wiemann and Angie Schulte.

MOScout Schedule

I’m taking the weekend off.  Next update will be Monday morning.