MOScout Daily Update: ACEC for Kehoe - DeWitt Shakes Fist - Parson on Cody Cash - Schatz Jabs Onder - MFB Endorsements and more...

First in MOScout: ACEC for Kehoe

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Missouri (ACEC/MO) will officially endorse Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe for governor in 2024 today.

ACEC/MO, representing over 100 companies that have over 11,000 employees in Missouri, has pledged to engage all member companies for Kehoe’s campaign.

What It Means

Kehoe has aggressively sought early endorsements as part of his campaign to undermine those who would assume the Ashcroft last name has this race predetermined.

Other early endorsements Kehoe has secured: Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Corn Growers Association, Missouri Agribusiness Association, Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, and Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters.

·         And this kicker: The Kehoe campaign plans to make additional announcements from statewide organizations over the coming months.

Driving the Day: MOFarm PAC

Speaking of endorsements, one politico tells me that the Missouri Farm Bureau PAC’s trustees will meet today. And they face an important decision: how to proceed in 2022 endorsements.

According to their webpage, “Endorsements are usually considered following the primary election.”

But this source thinks that tradition may be retired.  Most of Missouri’s legislative races are decided in the primary.  The rural areas uniformly elect Republicans; the urban areas are entirely Democratic; and there’s just a handful of swing suburban House district in play.  For example, there may be one competitive state senate seat this November.

·         In this line of thinking, MO Farm’s PAC is wasting their firepower by waiting until after the primary to endorse.

If they decide to proceed with some primary endorsements and call a meeting for that purpose, this politico wonders if Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler would have the inside track for their support in the US Senate primary.

She’s a farmer, which is a very good start.  Plus, MOFarm’s Eric Bohl is her former chief of staff.

·         Still, this may be a lot of fuss over nothing.  Isn’t there really only one endorsement in that race which will have a significant impact? Donald Trump.

DeWitt Shakes Fist At Senate

St. Louis Business Journal reports on Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III’s disappointment with sporting betting legislation dying in the Senate. Read it here.

·         “It’s very disappointing,” DeWitt said. “We’ve been at this now for a few years. We’ve had several chances at it. All of our neighboring states have it. We were very hopeful this year and it didn’t happen.”

·         DeWitt said the General Assembly's inability to pass the sports betting legislation likely goes beyond the issue itself, and is a result of political infighting within the Senate. That's been a battle between a main Republican caucus and a smaller caucus of conservative senators, with a new committee of St. Louisans, some connected to Washington University, seeking to reshape the Senate amid the stalemate.

·         “There’s probably a bigger issue here in regards to the Senate. In talking to our lobbyists, they see a culture there that’s not conducive to getting stuff done," DeWitt said.

What It Means

·         Perhaps, having been stymied and seen the toll of gridlock, the business community will be more engaged – and discerning – in the Republican primaries this cycle.

·         Similarly, one MOScouter sees support building for the ranked voting.  “This environment of legislative dysfunction is quietly but steadily building business support behind the Better Elections Amendment. David Kemper of Commerce Bank and John McDonnell have written five-figure checks. Look for more coming. The business community is fed up, and not just in St. Louis. Measures that influential and conservative corporate leaders should have expected would advance fast through a business oriented General Assembly died due to Conservative Caucus filibusters and games. They’re fed up.”

Parson on Session Shortcomings

Governor Mike Parson uncharacteristically doesn’t cite workforce development (hello? worker shortage anyone?) or business-friendly legislation when surveying the wreckage from the session.  Instead, he lists social issues.  See it here.

I think there was a lot of things left on the table we shouldn’t have left on the table.

·         I think the Parents Bill of Rights should have been a priority. We should have got that done.

·         I think we should have definitely addressed the gender, transgender issue that’s out there. I think that should have been addressed in this state so we make a clear understanding which way we’re headed in that so people know…

·         CRT. Not having a discussion about that. Not figuring out how to deal with that and give guidance…

And

Parson tells Fox2 that he wants the wealthy to share in the Cody Cash tax credit.  See it here.

The bill calls for up to a $500 non-refundable tax credit for single workers and a maximum of $1,500 for married couples filing jointly. The refunds would go only to individuals earning less than $150,000 and couples making less than $300,000 annually. Parson says he would rather cut taxes for all Missourians. He has until mid-July to decide whether to sign or veto the bill.

Schatz Removes Onder as Chair

Yesterday Pro Tem Dave Schatz removed Sen. Bob Onder as Chair of the Senate’s Health and Pensions Committee.  He appointed Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder in his place.  See the letter here.

With the legislature no longer in session, this looks to be a largely symbolic move.  A metaphoric final punch after the bell.

·         Onder was a thorn in leadership’s side all session.

·         Onder and Thompson Rehder tangled repeatedly on the Senate floor as he seemed to give her bills extraordinary scrutiny, particularly after she held a press conference blasting the Conservative Caucus. 

US Senate Hits

·         Heartland Signal reports that “U.S. Rep. Vicki Hartzler, received a total of $5,000 from Debbie-Jo White, listed by the FEC as a camp director for Kanankuk Ministries.”  That’s the place where rampant abuse has been alleged.

·         And a screed by former Sen. Jane Cunningham is circulating in which she recites her many disappointments with Attorney General Eric Schmitt from his time in the state senate. See the manifesto here.

Internet for All

Press release: Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that 34 states and territories have “Signed On” to participate in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Internet for All initiative, which will invest $45 billion to provide affordable, reliable high-speed internet for everyone in America by the end of the decade. 

·         Missouri isn’t among them – yet.

But with $42.45 billion in funding available, it must be one someone’s To Do list.  Read about the Internet for All initiative here.

$5K+ Contributions

Reform St Louis County Now (pro-Dogan) - $50,000 from Alicia McDonnell.

St. Charles Realtors PAC - $10,703 from Missouri REALTORS PAC, Inc.

Kansas City Regional Association Of Realtors Missouri RPAC - $27,745 from Missouri Realtors PAC, Inc.

Committee to Elect Carl M. Ward Judge, Division 7 - $6,000 from Matthew and Angela Lowe.

Jackson County 4 Kids - $10,000 from Jackson County CASA.

Lobbyists Registrations

Tracy King added Southwestern Bell Telephone Company DBA AT&T Missouri and its Affiliates; and deleted all of her former clients.

Michael Grote added City of Republic, Missouri.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Will Wheeler, Chuck Purgason, Gary Cross, and Scott Callicott.