MOScout Daily Update: MO Kids Killed By Guns - Cameras in Greitens' Courtroom? - More Talk on Next HEWD Commish - New MEC Commissioners and more...

Kids Killed By Guns in Missouri

Axios this morning reports on the recent development that kids are most likely to die because of guns.  Until just a year or two ago, cars accidents were always the top killer of children.  But cars have become safer, and guns haven’t.  Read it here.

Missouri makes the list of top states, adjusted for population, kids dying by guns.

Greitens v Greitens: Cameras In Courtroom?

According to the Casenet (20BA-FC00579 - SHEENA E. GREITENS V. ERIC R. GREITENS), it looks like there will be cameras allowed in the courtroom.

5/25/22: Media requests granted.

With a hearing set for tomorrow, one politico wonders if having cameras documenting Greitens in court will lead to any erosion of support for him in the polls.

We’ll see…

And

Real Clear Politics has a rundown on US Senate polls.  See it here.  Their current average poll has Greitens +2.6%.

More Talk About Next HEWD Commish

With Zora Mulligan set to depart, and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education embarking on a search, there’s more talk about possible replacement candidates.

The Board appoints the commissioner.  See the statute here.  Yet some see expect there’ll be some influence of politics regardless.

·         One thinks that former Rep. Kathy Swan would be a tough sell because there may still be hard feelings from her last campaign.

·         Another thinks you could see the Governor’s team push their own candidate.  One rumored name from the second floor is Kayla Hahn!

New MEC Commissioners

Governor Mike Parson appointed two new Missouri Ethics Commission commissioners.  There’s still one vacancy but the commission now has a quorum and can conduct business.  Parson appointed former state representative Kathie Conway, and a minister, Bill Villapiano.

·         Villiapiano is from the city of Houston, which (of course) is located in Texas County.  He ran unsuccessfully for presiding commissioner of that county in 2018 (as a Republican), losing in the primary.

·         You can follow Kathie Conway on Twitter here.  It appears her previous account was suspended by Twitter.

The Commission will meet today.  See the agenda here.

Torch Money to Tilley PACs

Missouri Independent reports on Torch Electronics recent slew of checks.  Read it here.

·         A company accused of operating illegal gambling machines in Missouri made six $40,000 donations this week to a constellation of political action committees run by its lobbyist…

·         Each of the PACs is connected to Steve Tilley, a former House speaker who serves as Torch’s lobbyist…

·         Torch owns games that operate like slot machines in locations around the state. The Missouri Gaming Commission has deemed them gambling devices, which are prohibited outside of licensed casinos, and the state highway patrol considers them illegal. Several local prosecutors are also pursuing criminal charges against the companies that own and house the machines.

·         Legislative efforts to outlaw Torch’s machines have failed to gain traction in recent years, with Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz recently complaining that the failure is in part due to heavy lobbying by Torch….

·         Torch has argued, both in its lawsuit and in legislative hearings, that their machines are not gambling devices. Since they reveal the outcome of the wager before a player moves forward, they are not a game of chance, the company contends, and therefore not illegal.

Ladd to Lead MOCANN

Dena Ladd is the new board chair of the Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association.

Press release: Dena Ladd, of St. Louis, spent the previous 12 years as the executive director of an organization that works to promote and protect medical research in Missouri. She stepped down from that role in early March. She also played a role in the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures campaign, a 2006 ballot initiative in which voters approved a constitutional amendment ensuring that any stem cell research and treatment allowed under federal law would also be legal in Missouri…

Ladd has also served as executive director of the Missouri Leadership Council PAC and is currently the principal of DSL Consulting, focusing on government relations, economic and business development, research and policy strategy.

eMailbag on 100 PAC $$$

Lobbyist: The 100 PAC just told the business community who NOT to support in the primaries. There’d better be a lot more money coming from them cuz they just cut the legs out from under those candidates with regard to fundraising.

Lobbyists Registrations

Doug Stone added Richard Keller Trust, Ice Cream Factory LLC, and Springfield Plaza Real Estate Inc; and deleted Madison Avenue Investors LLC.

Angie Schulte deleted Workday.

Tom Carter terminated his registration.  His clients were Carter Consulting LLC, and Noble Health Corporation.

$5K+ Contributions

UAW Region 5 Midwest States Political Action Committee (PAC) (MO) - $6,000 from UAW Region 4 Exchange Account.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Rep. Raychel Proudie, and Eric Wilson.

MOScout Schedule

The MOScout offices will be closed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in observance of Memorial Day.