MOScout Daily Update: Rupp Takes PSC Chair - Malek Makes Hires - 2 Bill Rule in House - SOTS $$$ - New IPs Filed and more...

First in MOScout: Rupp Takes Chair of PSC

Governor Mike Parson appointed Scott Rupp as the new Chairman of the Public Service Commission.

·       No word on the governor moving to fill the vacancy created by Ryan Silvey’s resignation.

1 Big Thing: Plocher Limits Bill Flow

Lobbyists are abuzz with a big change this session… “The speaker has brought back slots.”

Speaker Dean Plocher has made it known that each committee will only be allowed two bills out of their committee before Spring Break, limiting the normal flood of bills piling up for floor attention.

·       With a limited number of vehicles, there will be more folks working to get their amendments included on bills, and the committee chairs will really have to commit to their priorities.

·       One Republican legislator cheered the decision.  “It’s a good thing for the people of Missouri, bills will be vetted more than the past years.  It will enable for a chair to put together a bill package that will move Missouri forward, this process will make it more clear and transparent process for all the systems of Missouri.”

Scooplette: Malek Makes Hires

State Treasurer Vivek Malek is hiring up for his office…

·       I’m told that Clayton Campbell will be Deputy Treasurer. Campbell was a District Director for Senator Josh Hawley from May 2019 to July 2021.  See Campbell’s bio here. 

·       And Malek is also adding Tom Deuschle to his staff.  Deuschle served under Governor John Ashcroft, and Governor Matt Blunt (as director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and then as Deputy Chief of Staff.)

SOTS: $, $, $, $....

Governor Mike Parson’s speech was money, money, money, money.  It makes sense given the state’s historic amount of cash sitting in the bank.  But it was still stunning.  The biggest new spending items…

·       $859 million to add lanes to I-70 around St. Louis, Kansas City and Columbia.

·       $273 million for COLA increase in state worker pay.

·       $272 million for capital improvement projects at Missouri’s public universities.

·       $78 million to help subsidize child care.

·       $70 million increase in core funding to higher education.

·       $56 million to provide early childhood education programs to 17,000 children from low-income households.

·       $50 million for school safety and security upgrades.

·       Plus, the foundation formula and the education transportation line item will again be fully funded.

What Was Missing

A tax cut of any kind. 

·       That might be why one Republican texted me: “[It’s a] Speech [Jay] Nixon would have given.”

·       And House Minority Leader Crystal Quade to praise the “solid progress” on “issues that Democrats have been fighting for for decades.”

But

·       Despite all the new spending, fiscal hawks should be relatively happy as Parson is still leaving a lot cash (billions) in the bank.

·       And interestingly Budget Director Dan Haug, answering a question from MO Indy’s Rudi Keller, explained why they’re being cautious.  Haug says the recent tax cut, a slowing economy, and a huge drop in capital gains will reduce state collections in the coming six months.

More IPs

·       Jobs with Justice filed 11 more initiative petitions.  This is the fourth batch of initiative petitions filed by the organization as they seemingly mull the direction they’ll pursue.  These IPs (see one of them here) would require employers to give their employees regulated breaks in their work day.  It fits into the other IPs they’ve filed as it’s a workers’ rights issue.

·       Another set of IPs would tackle the same issues from a local control angle.  Richard Speidel filed 6 IPs (see one of them here) which would give municipalities the ability to set their own minimum wage and paid sick leave policies.  Speidel is the treasurer of a campaign committee, 2024 Ballot Fund, which is supporting a “to be determined” 2024 ballot issue.

Medicinal Shrooms

Yesterday, Rep. Tony Lavasco introduced HB 869.  It would legalize “natural medicine” and create a regulatory framework for their use.

Earlier this week, CBS News reported on the potential therapeutic outcomes.  Read it here.

Psilocybin is the psychedelic chemical found in so-called "magic mushrooms." Research shows it may help treat depression in some patients, and it's growing in popularity as a therapeutic tool… Researchers, including those at Johns Hopkins Medicine, have been studying psilocybin therapy for a range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and addictions…

More on Bowlin

Jim Bowlin, the newly announced Republican candidate in Senate 15, has a website up and running.  Take a look here.

eMailbag: Gov Race

I don’t have a dog in the GOP 2024 Governor’s Primary fight. The idea that Eigel “has momentum” is laughable. Outside of Capitol insiders and people in his district, nobody knows who he is. Ashcroft not raising money for a 2024 campaign during the heat of the 2022 election is what ALL political leaders used to do. It’s called being a team player. Ashcroft is the odds on favorite to handily win the GOP nomination. The only person with any hope of catching him is the one who has been elected statewide and has already racked up numerous endorsements and donations…

Lobbyists Registrations

Jane Dueker added Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, St. Louis County Police Association, and St. Louis Police Officers Association.

Ashley Hayek added America First Works.

Richard McIntosh, Elizabeth Lauber and Jerry Hobbs added Missouri Association of Christian Child Care Agencies, Inc.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Michael Butler, Scott Faughn, and Michele Kratky.