MOScout Daily Update: Kehoe Lands New Endorsement - More on Senate Committees - Pinner Pounded - Parson Tangles with Arthur and more...

Kehoe Lands New Endorsement

Today the Missouri Forest Products Association (MFPA) will announce they’re endorsing Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe for Missouri governor.

·       This will be the 11th early endorsement that Kehoe has landed from a significant interest group, following endorsements from other groups like the Missouri Corn Growers Association, the Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters, the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, and the Missouri Soybean Association.

·       Missouri Forest Products Association has over 300 members representing Missouri’s primary and secondary wood industry, supplier and service industries, loggers, and landowners.

·       The Kehoe campaign says they “plan to make additional announcements from statewide organizations over the coming months.”

More on Potential Senate Committee Chairs

Thanks to those who provided feedback on my guessing about who will chair Senate committees next session.  Some of the comments…

·       Sen. Sandy Crawford will take Insurance and Banking (Wieland termed).

·       Sen. Elaine Gannon could do Local Government and Elections – when Crawford moves to Banking.

·       Sen. Rick Brattin could be tapped for Veterans Committee because of his military background.

·       “I think Sen. Holly Rehder might go to GAFO.”

And this reminder…

·       “Caleb Rowden can (and should) combine some committees are there are not so many.”  One person, for example, offered this suggestion: “I'd love to see Health & Pensions disbanded. Add pensions to Insurance & Banking and make it Seniors, Families, and Veterans Health. The Committee is way too duplicative by itself.”   Another had this notion: “Combine small business and eco devo.”

So here’s my worksheet.  It’s based on Rowden winning pro tem and Sen. Mike Bernskoetter becoming floor leader. And it doesn’t combine any committees.  Perhaps this weekend I’ll try to draw up scenarios in which Sens. Cindy O’Laughlin or Andrew Koenig win that race.

MO Freedom Foundation

Missouri Freedom Foundation LLC spearheaded the effort to “oust 5 RINO Missouri senators from their seats in the August 2nd primary.”  Defeating Sen. Bill White was their only victory, but there were other close calls.  And the residual hard feelings from those campaigns remain.

For those keeping an eye on MO Freedom Foundation…

·       In the $5K+ Contributions (below), they’re sending money to a relatively new PAC, Back on Track PAC.

·       Find their website here.

Rumorville: Pinner Says “No Mas”?

One MOScouter sends this eye-opening nugget about Republican Katherine Pinner’s appearance last night in front the St. Louis Young Republicans…

Word is that County Executive candidate Pinner got tough questions at the YR meeting tonight and told the Central Committee chair she's going to drop out…

Parson Punches Down, Gets Jabbed

Governor Mike Parson tweeted at Sen. Lauren Arthur who admonished the governor for vetoing the Cody Cash bill… .@LaurenArthurMO this is pure propaganda. That bill FAILED to appropriate the neccesary funds to deliver on your promise of $500 & $1000. Our administration likes to keep our promises, so when we say tax cuts for ALL working Missourians, we mean it!

But then went quiet after her zinging counterpunch: Bold strategy: trying to dunk on a democratic senator by trashing a bill DRAFTED and PASSED by the GOP supermajority with bipartisan support. Special session seems to be going well.

eMailbag on Student Loans Political Impact

President Joe Biden’s student loan debt forgiveness will do more actual good for the wallets of many single young adults than the $170 average annual savings projected by Mike Parson for his envisioned tax cut. But Biden has gifted a great talking point to Parson and the Legislature’s Republican majority: “Let’s give some tax relief to average Missourians who don’t have college loans but are helping pay for Biden’s Big Bailout with their hard-earned tax dollars.” Never underestimate brooding resentment and grievance as a prime political motivator.

eMailbag on Pursuing Pro-Choice Rs

·       What good would a handful of suburban Pro choice R votes do? They’d still vote for Rs to have the gavel, and pro choice groups would still get steamrolled… It’d actually be smart for anti-choice Rs to let that happen cuz they could muddy the water on that issue and look like their side is the moderates with a range of views, while still controlling an anti-choice agenda with their majority. For pro-choice folks, Dems have to get out of a superminority and have the governor back - or focus on federal power. There really isn’t an alternative there IMO.

·       Your advice to pro-choice advocates is very good but infeasible, because no pro-choice R could ever clear a primary field or win a contested primary at this point. Won't see a Kathyln Fares or Betty Sims for the foreseeable future.

Lobbyists Registrations

Lisa Rawlins added Cognoa.                    

Irl Scissors added Kinder Morgan.          

Jake Silverman deleted Steven Millikan and Family.

$5K+ Contributions

Back on Track PAC - $6,000 from Missouri Freedom Foundation LLC.

Uniting Missouri PAC (pro-Parson) - $10,000 from The 1821.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Stephanie Bell, Anne Zerr, Robert Butler, Chris Kirby and Ray Salva.