MOScout Daily Update: Special Session Talk - The Case Against A Big Tax Cut - Alford Fundy - McCreery Fundy - Veto Session Fundy List Update and more...
Quick Friday update…
Special Session Talk
Emily Manley reports that Senate Floor Leader Caleb Rowden informed his colleagues that they should plan to be in session the week after next to deal with the special session.
The hope is to solidify a plan on the governor’s tax cuts next week at Veto Session. When the Republican caucuses from each chamber meet next week, they’ll attempt to reach some consensus on a deal. That would allow 1st and 2nd reading of the special session bills, with floor action and passage the following week.
Here’s what a few folks are saying…
· “[I think the tax] cut will be bigger than Parson’s call. I would expect it to be in the $1b range.”
· “I think that deal would be adding some triggers [to the cut down to 4.8% rate].”
· One source expects “some gnashing of teeth.” Good bet!
The Case Against a Big Tax Cut
Some fiscal hawk Republicans will push back against an overlylarge tax cut on the grounds that it could jeopardize the state’s financial footing when the next recession invariably hits.
But there’s also the case that if you have an extra $1B in the state coffers, a relatively marginal tax cut is not the most effective economic stimulant.
There’s a big difference between Ronald Reagan’s 1981 tax cut which lowered the top tax bracket from 70% (!!) to 50%, and moving the state rate from 5.3% to 4.8%. Does a little slice actually result in meaningful changes in behavior and increased economic activity? Put me in the highly skeptical camp.
I’d bet you get a bigger bang and larger increase in your workforce with a billion dollars targeted into child care subsidy for lower/middle-income working families.
Remember: businesses generally aren’t lacking customers right now; they’re lacking workers.
Just food for thought…
Updated Veto Session Fundraising Schedule
I made a few minor tweaks to my comprehensive list of Veto Session fundraisers. Find it here. Feel to download, share, print out etc.
Eyeballing the list, it’s interesting to note…
· The Realtors Association is one of the most popular places to hold a fundraiser. It will be hopping with (by my count) no fewer than five fundraisers there on Tuesday.
· Bar Vino’s getting action, but so is its sister venue, Bar Whiskey.
· And Speaker-elect Dean Plocher will be busy. He’s listed as a special guest at three different events. But clearly his actual fundraiser at Bar Whiskey (4:30-6PM) is a don’t-miss event. He’s hosting it with the Budget Chair Cody Smith and two of his trusted lieutenants, Reps. Dan Houx and Jeff Knight, who will likely have powerful chairmanships under him.
Fundy Invites and What They Mean
· Rep. Tracy McCreery’s invite to a September 28 fundraiser in St. Louis is billed as “Women for Tracy.” See the invite here. The host committee is a remarkable cross-section of women that shows the breadth of her support. Some are affiliated with business organizations and companies; others with healthcare providers such as nurses, physical therapists, dental hygienist, chiropractors. There’s CEOs, former mayors, former legislators, and prominent attorneys as well as, of course, governmental affairs folks.
· The September 21 fundraiser of Mark Alford in Columbia has also nice host committee including Sen. Caleb Rowden and former Rep. Caleb Jones as well as some well-known GA folks. It also includes a candidate Alford beat, Taylor Burks, who shows a lot of class by jumping in to help his former opponent. See the invite here.
Flotron Funeral
The funeral mass for Anne Lewis Flotron, wife of former state senator and long-time lobbyist Franc Flotron, was held yesterday. Among the attendees were Wesley Bell, Eric Burlison, Russell Gunn, Peter Kinder, Jamey Murphy, Jim Talent, and many more including of course the entire Flotron-McIntosh family
“Anne was a Harvard-trained landscape architect. You can’t drive far in St. Louis City or St. Louis County without seeing one of her designs. She wasn’t much for accolades. She just kinda did good stuff. Good design is not a matter of opinion.”
$5K+ Contributions
HealthPAC - $100,000 from MHA Management Services Corporation.
Legal Missouri 2022 - $25,000 from V3 Holdings Missouri LLC.
Legal Missouri 2022 - $40,000 from True Level Investments Inc.
Uniting Missouri PAC - $10,000 from MACO Development Company, L.L.C.
ATGS PAC - $30,000 from Armstrong Teasdale LLP.
Lobbyist Registrations
Craig Stevenson added Centene Corporation on behalf of its affiliates and subsidiaries.
Christopher Frantze deleted Westside Housing Organization, Axis KC LLC, and PCAKC LLC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Alan Green, Jorgen Schlemeier, Rod Jetton, Dave Plemmons, Mark Habbas, Zach Pollock, Jack Goodman, Garrett Webb, and Delbert Scott.