MOScout Daily Update: Paid Sick Leave IP - New Senate Committees - Kunce in 2024? and more...
Quick Friday update…
First in MOScout: Paid Sick Leave IP
Jobs with Justice filed six new initiative petitions yesterday. Find them here. These deal with guaranteeing Missouri workers paid sick leave.
At the end of December Jobs with Justice filed eight versions of an IP which would continue to increase the state’s minimum wage rate.
What It Means
· This is a continuation of a trend of left-leaning groups circumventing the general assembly by using the initiative petition process. It’s led some Republicans to look at changing the IP process.
· Generally, these economic policies have been supported by Missouri voters. They have approved the minimum wage increase and Medicaid expansion by initiative petition.
· Politicos also view IPs as powerful organizing tools, helping to find new voters and get them to the polls on election day.
Senate Committees
The Senate adopted its new rules yesterday. No major changes to the way the upper chamber operates were among them. But we did see the committee structure for the coming two years. And there were some major changes there. See the committee list here.
· Emerging Issues is a newly formed committee. It will deal with “matters referred to it relating to recent trends and emerging issues.” I could see sports betting legislation going here, for example.
· Government Accountability and Fiscal Oversight were split into two committees. FO will retain the powerful role as a stopping point for reviewing legislation with a fiscal note over $250K. And GA will look at streamlining government, and has professional licensing folded into its mandate. The Professional Registration Committee was eliminated.
· Ways and Means was folded into the Economic Development Committee by adding “Tax Policy” to its title.
· “Pensions” was removed from the Health Committee, a totally rational move.
· “Workforce” was added to Education.
Kunce in 2024?
Obviously folks are starting to size up the 2024 ballot. Some like, LG Mike Kehoe, have decided it’s best to declare your intention and get going. But many others are holding back, thinking that they’ll just put a target on their back if they come out too early.
There are not a lot of names for Dems on the whole. Minority Leader Crystal Quade is mentioned for governor. And some folks think that Lucas Kunce will take a second shot at US Senate. Republican Senator Josh Hawley will be up for re-election in 2024.
Kunce was beaten in the primary last summer by Trudy Busch Valentine. But that race was closer than I anticipated, and Kunce is a proven fundraiser. So we’ll see if he wants it, and if the Dem establishment gets on-board with his campaign this time.
Lobbyists Registrations
Tracey Marie Bloch added Missouri Disability Empowerment.
Rodney Boyd and Kate Casas added Missouri Insurance Coalition.
Todd Clodfelter added Missouri Citizens Defense League, and Tag Team Strategies LLC; and deleted Tod Clodfelter.
Rhett Gum added CSC Holdings, LLC.
Jeff Lindsey added Charter Communications.
Abby Spieler added Missouri State Employees' Retirement System.
Daniel Stuart added Young Americans for Liberty Inc.
David Barklage deleted US Term Limits.
Catalyst deleted Missourians For Compassionate Care, Ygrene Energy Fund, The Parking Spot, Show Me Spin Gaming, EBC-Missouri LLC, Apical Capital, Goodwill of Western Missouri, Leafly, HopSkipDrive, Banner Public Affairs, Wheelhouse 20 LLC, Theatre Owners of Mid-America, BANJO, LaunchKC, Vapor Technology, Harvest, Curador Holdings Inc, Verano Holdings, and Shryne Group.
Sarah Wood Martin deleted Ginkgo Bioworks, OTGEXP, and Kinder Morgan.
Paul Mouton deleted Math Nation.
Scott Swain deleted American Board of Medical Specialties.
$5K+ Contributions
Mo Coalition for Video Lottery PAC - $50,000 from Accel Entertainment Gaming, LLC.
Old McDonald PAC (pro-Deaton) - $7,000 from Conservative Leaders of Missouri LLC.
Old McDonald PAC - $7,000 from Missouri Senior PAC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rob Vescovo, Bob Onder, and Mike Daus.