MOScout Daily Update: Time to Revisit Foundation Formula? - Two New US Senate Polls - Alter for MEC - Gunn, Wagner on Panel and more...
Education Reform
A lot of attention was given to the charter equity funding bill this past session. That’s in part because anything “charter” is a hot button issue for defenders of established public schools.
But perhaps the most important education bill last session was Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin’s SB 681.
That’s the opinion of Aligned… “Aligned believes that SB 681 is the most significant piece of legislation passed in recent years and directly aligns with our core principles of student-centered innovation.”
Among the components…
· Emphasis on reading as the core skill. It requires schools to have reading success plan and catch students falling behind in their reading skill earlier.
· "Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act" requires schools to test for lead and develop a plan to reduce lead in school water.
· The omnibus also included the language from SB 660 (Arthur) and HB 1956 (Richey) to create competency-based education, which is an approach that emphasizes material mastery over seat-time.
And Next?
Looking ahead, education advocates now are talking about that big beast, the foundation formula.
· The last revision to the scheme which determines funding for school districts across the state was implemented in 2006.
· Population changes and property value changes mean that it’s time to reconfigure the funding mechanism.
· It’s always a tough battle because it’s more or less a zero-sum game unless you’re adding more money to the pot.
Two Divergent Polls on US Senate Race
KRCG TV released a SurveyUSA poll conducted last week which shows Eric Greitens with a healthy lead. See the news article here.
Greitens – 26%
Eric Schmitt – 17%
Vicky Hartzler – 11%
Billy Long – 7%
Mark McCloskey – 2%
Dave Schatz – unlisted
Undecided – 28%
This is quite different from Remington Research’s poll on the US Senate race taken during the same timeframe.
Schmitt - 29%
Hartzler - 23%
Greitens - 21%
Other - 10%
Undecided - 17%
And
On the Dem side I guess Lucas Kunce can technically say he’s leading Trudy Busch Valentine. But 10% to 8% is within the margin of error of the SurveyUSA poll. And with 63% undecided and Valentine just starting to spend money – I think the game is up here.
Dem Candidates Drop
Although Rep. Sara Walsh’s official exit from CD-4 yesterday was highest profile drop, there were two others withdrawals.
· Matt Mallinson (Democrat) withdrew from House 20 (Independence). Mallinson was a pharmacy owner and former mayor of Sugar Creek. His withdrawal leaves Dems without a candidate in this district.
· Kyle Edwards (Democrat) withdrew from House 106 (St. Charles). This is the late Tom Hannegan’s district. There’s a four-way Republican primary which could get nasty, and now no Dem to face the winner in November.
Gunn, Wagner on Merit Selection Panel
It is hereby ordered that a Merit Selection Panel for the appointment of two United States Magistrate Judges is established and the following persons are appointed as members thereto:
Amy Collignon Gunn – Chair
Scott Baucum
Betsy Cohen
David Gantt
Lois Jackson
Pamela Means
Michelle Nasser
Tim Noelker
Kevin O’Malley
Craig Schlueter
Karen Tokarz
Ray Wagner
The panel evaluates the applicants for the two open federal magistrate spots in the Eastern District. They will recommend 8-10 candidates for the two spots. The Judges will then vote and appoint from the candidates recommended by the merit selection committee. And because these magistrates sometimes get elevated to Federal District Court Judge, it’s an important position.
Alter for MEC
Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, running in Senate 22, is gathering up local support.
Former state senator Bill Alter is one of the hosts of her upcoming fundraiser.
Other supporters: Jon Selsor (former Rep), John Giancola (President of JeffCo Patriots), Alan Leaderbrand (Jefferson County Republican Club President), Kim Shemwell (Jefferson County Federated Republican Women President), Dan Kroupa (Treasurer Arnold and Fox C-6 School Board member), Tammy Fadler (JeffCo realtor), Sandy Vest (Festus business leader), Tim Surdyke (JeffCo business leader), Jacqui Ortmann (Arnold Chamber of Commerce past President), and Don Wieland (long-time Republican activist and father of State Senator Paul Wieland)
$5K+ Contributions
Teamsters Local Union No 688 Political Action Committee - $26,260 from Missouri PAC Federal Committee.
Missouri Democratic State Committee - $6,850 from Kristina Belfiore (Yarrow Point, WA).
Page PAC - $5,001 from St. Louis Association of Realtors Political Action Committee.
Lobbyists Registrations
Benjamin John Travlos added Missouri Farm Bureau; and deleted Missouri Corn Growers.
Tashayla Donohoe added Quality Schools Coalition; and deleted Civic Council of Greater Kansas City.
Gamble & Schlemeier deleted National Restaurant Association.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Carolyn Kindle Betz.