MOScout Daily Update: Veto Session and Special Sessions Start Today - Dobbs Effect - Hinkle Transition - NYT on Stock Trading and more...

Veto/Special Sessions

Today both chambers will convene for their regularly scheduled Veto Session, as well as for the governor’s extraordinary session.  The two are linked obviously.  The governor vetoed a few bills which he wants passed in the special session – with some changes.

The concurrent sessions sound confusing but shouldn’t be in practice.  The Senate is scheduled to gavel in for special session at 11:30AM.  Both chambers will gavel in Veto Session at Noon. And then the House will gavel in for special session at 1PM.

I had expected that the Veto Sessions would be in-out affairs, but… one lobbyist last night said they think the chambers will let the Veto Session continue.  The implication here (though I don’t think it will happen) is that if they couldn’t come agreements on tax cuts / ag credits, they could return to Veto Session and attempt overrides on those bills.

We’ll see…

Talk About Tax Cuts

Walking around High Street last night between fundraisers here’s the chatter on the state of tax cuts…

·       While there’s still no agreement on the scope of the tax cuts, there’s no acrimony between the chambers – a good sign that a compromise can be achieved.

·       Two general plans: One would accelerate the income tax cuts along the lines of the governor’s proposal.  The other would do this AND implement new triggers to continue cutting the rate into the future.

·       Some still want corporate tax cut in the mix, but one source thinks governor’s opposition will keep that out.

·       Those who would urge caution in overdoing the tax cut point to the indicators of a possible recession on the horizon.  That includes yesterday’s stock market plunge as well as the continued inversion of the yield curve.  One veteran of the building recalled how painful it is when you have to cut $1 billion from the state budget.

Dobbs As Game-Changer?

Last night there was also talk about the “Dobbs Effect.”

·       One Missouri Republican operative told me that polling has generally been drifting against Republicans since the Dobbs decision. 

·       This dovetails with an on-the-ground report from a Dem rep knocking doors in here suburban district: she’s been amazed at the cross section of voters who are bringing up reproductive rights when asked what issues are on their mind.

Meanwhile

Politico Playbook reports on the new national ban proposal: After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, most Republicans stuck to a simple message: The decision merely sent the issue back to the states; it was not a prelude to any national ban on abortion. Sen. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-S.C.) tossed all that out the window Tuesday…

·       Dems’ Senate candidate Trudy Valentine was quick to issue a statement: “Politicians need to get the hell out of our doctors’ offices… Unfortunately, here in Missouri, Eric Schmitt has already proven just how extreme and out-of-touch he is on this issue. He personally signed — and then bragged about — triggering the country's first abortion ban that provides NO exceptions even in cases of rape and incest that involve child victims.”

And

Axios reports on Dems enlisting doctors to talk about the issue to voters.  Emily Hyatt — an emergency medicine doctor who lives in Kansas but works in Missouri — told Axios she recently volunteered to help Rep. Sharice Davids' (D-Kan.) campaign when it was seeking a doctor for an abortion ad. With less than 24 hours' notice, Hyatt found a colleague to cover her ER shift so she could film. "I've always been a person who doesn't want to talk politics," she said. "But this is the hill I will die on."

Hinkle Moves to Full-Time Police Role

The Pathway reports that its “founding editor, Don Hinkle, has announced that, effective on Jan. 1, 2023, he will step aside from the Baptist state newspaper to focus entirely on his role as the Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) public policy advisor. He will hold the title of editor emeritus at the newspaper. This year marks the 20th anniversary of The Pathway and of Hinkle’s tenure as editor. For several years now, Hinkle has served dual roles – being both the newspaper’s editor and the public policy advisor for the MBC.”

Cole County Circuit Clerk Seeks Audit

News Tribune reports that the “incoming Cole County circuit clerk is asking for a state audit of the office because he alleges some funds were misappropriated during the outgoing circuit clerk's term.”

·       Mark Eichholz, who won the August Republican primary against incumbent Dawnell Davidson, has no opposition from a Democrat in the November general election and will officially take over the office at the first of next year…

·       Eichholz was asked if there was any specific violations. The one example he cited was the purchasing of food by Davidson during the pandemic when the courthouse was closed for in-person proceedings. He said she would then go to the back entrance of the courthouse and give that food to employees who were told to stay at home as part of COVID-19 protocols. Eiccholz said it was his understanding that under state law, food can only be purchased with state funds when there is training or official meetings taking place in the courthouse.

·       Davidson provided the following statement… " Occasionally, during the height of the pandemic, I made the decision to provide lunch for my staff. I did so to boost morale during a difficult time and to show my appreciation for their hard work. I stand by that decision."

NYTimes on Congressional Stock Trading

The New York Times ran a piece yesterday about members of Congress whose stock trades look like a conflict of interest.  Read it here.

·       Roy Blunt – In one 2021 trade, Mr. Blunt’s wife sold $15,000 to $50,000 of stock in the tobacco company Philip Morris while Mr. Blunt was on a subcommittee that has oversight over product safety. The panel held a hearing on e-cigarettes that same year. His office did not respond to requests for comment.

·       Billy Long – Mr. Long reported buying and selling shares of the power producer Southern Company roughly two dozen times while serving as a member of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on the environment. His office did not respond to requests for comment.

Dogan At MLC

Post Dispatch reports that Rep. Shamed Dogan attended the Missouri Lottery Commission meeting, suggesting he might be in the running to be its new executive director.

·       Asked if he is seeking to replace the recently retired May Scheve Reardon as the lottery’s top administrator, Dogan declined to comment..

$5K+ Contributions

Kingdom Leadership PAC (pro-Fitzwater) - $20,000 from Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council MO-KS Area PAC.

Uniting Missouri PAC (pro-Parson) - $10,000 from David Steward.

Local 41 Political Action Fund - $13,465 from International Brotherhood of Teamsters Missouri PAC - Federal Committee.

Missouri SMART TD PAC - $10,000 from Missouri SMART TD PAC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Neil Smith, Gene McNary, Don Hinkle, and Jon Dalton.