MOScout Daily Update: Two Weeks Left - Farmers Vs Lawyers - Valentine Kick Off Invite - Trump Gives Long a Shout-Out and more...
Two Weeks Left
Senate convenes an hour earlier than usual today, starting up at 3PM…
One building denizen says this is the critical week. In addition to the budget, we’ll see what’s getting into position for passage on the final week. “Stuff that gets loaded up and sent to the other side this week has a realistic chance of going to conference and still getting passed, next week? Not so much.”
Here’s what could influence whether it’s a good week or bad week…
· What’s the receptivity to “all the Biden Bucks” in the ARPA budget? Senate Appropriations will hold its hearing on those budget bills today at 2PM.
· Any last effort at a compromise map is this week?
· Does Sen. Mike Moon want to come back to his trans athlete bill after the Senate couldn’t muster a quorum last week? If he does, and the body doesn’t, is he going to open a book and burn one of the ten days left?
Also on the Senate’s agenda…
· Rep. Cody Smith’s HJR 117 to make changes to the Medicaid expansion. Definitely not popular with the Democrats and probably another huge time suck.
· Pro Tem Dave Schatz wants the Mechanical Contractors bill to get floor time.
· Plus, the Conservative Caucus is presumably itching for some kind of CRT legislation or Parents Bill of Rights.
Famers vs Lawyers?
Missouri Farm Bureau has a mail campaign going (see it here) to raise awareness about an issue they’re battling – class action lawsuits.
They’re pushing for changes…
· We believe lawyers should not receive attorney’s fees in liability cases they solicit, file, and which no judgments are awarded. Any plaintiff and their attorney who initiate a lawsuit should be responsible for all litigation costs, including defendant’s attorney fees, if the plaintiff loses.
· We believe that when lawyers handle civil suits on a contingency basis they should be required to disclose these arrangements.
See their website around the issue here.
Valentine Kick-off Coming
Trudy Busch Valentine will launch her US Senate campaign next week. It’ll be at Grant’s Farm of course. Here’s a look at the invite…
And
Dems point to national pundits to say that this race should be on folks’ radar.
· CNN: #10 Most Likely to Flip. See it here. It’s still all about Eric Greitens in Missouri…
· NYMag: Midterm Guide. See it here. Missouri: Greitens gives Republicans grief.
Long Touts Trump Shout-Out
Congressman Billy Long continues to find hope in any glimmer of recognition from Donald Trump. It feels like a doomed campaign at this point, but here he is on Twitter relishing a quick shout out from the former president at an hours-long rally in Nebraska.
eMailbag on Valentine Poll Numbers
I was worried the TBV numbers would be terrible…but they aren’t bad…keeps almost everyone under 50 and she hasn’t spent a dime yet. There aren’t great but they are not discouraging by any stretch considering the resources she can bring…(the Greitens numbers are really the only important numbers. If it’s Hartzler, I think Hartzler wins in a walk)
$5K+ Contributions
Legal Missouri 2022 - $15,000 from Triad Bank.
Legal Missouri 2022 - $15,000 from Heya Missouri Holdings Inc.
Legal Missouri 2022 - $10,000 from MO Retail Products Group Inc.
Legal Missouri 2022 - $20,000 from Midwest Roots LLC.
Legal Missouri 2022 - $10,000 from Missouri joint Ventures LLC.
Committee for Liberty (pro-Ashcroft) - $5,200 from H Smith McGehee.
Missourians Against unfair Taxes - $15,000 from Joseph Corse.
Lobbyists Registrations
Alex Eaton, Rebecca Lohmann, Daniel Pfeifer, Greg Porter, and David Willis added Passport Labs Inc.
Sam Ames added The Trevor Project.
Tim O’Connell added Greater St. Louis, Inc.
Alex Plungis added Commonwealth gaming.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Scott Dieckhaus, Jac Cardetti, and David Smith.