MOScout Daily Update: Plocher Collateral Damage? - AuBuchon to Bean? - Bean Feed Bits - Thomas Appt Controversy and more...

Plocher Collateral Damage: Swing Districts

There’s a simple reason why Republicans like Rep. Doug Richey calling for Speaker Dean Plocher’s resignation, while Democrats like Rep. Ian Mackey are saying, “Nah, it’s all cool, yo.”

Plocher twisting in the wind is bad for the GOP, but GOOD for Dems.  Expect to see news of Plocher’s plight in the capitol reports of all the Dems in swing suburban districts.

Rumorville: AuBuchon to Bean

Folks say that Kyle AuBuchon, who has been the Director of Boards and Commissions for Governor Mike Parson, will head to the third floor where he’ll staff Sen. Jason Bean next session.

·       Bean is mentioned as a possible Senate Floor Leader candidate.  That leadership election is a year away.

Bean Feed Bits

Newton County Republican annual “bean feed” occurred last Friday night…

·       Bob Onder sounded like a candidate running for LG as he jabbed Speaker Dean Plocher, “If public officials cannot live up to the of honesty and integrity that the people of Missouri deserve, they need to resign.  We need to drain the swamp.”

·       And Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft was the only gubernatorial candidate there. I’m told that Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe was at his daughter’s wedding, and that Bill Eigel had RSVPed yes, but then changed that to no.

Fitz Dings Chariton County on Planning

Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released audit of Chariton County which scolded the county for failing to “craft accurate budgets” which could result in lower taxes for residents. Read the audit here.

·       As of December 31, 2022, the GR Fund balance for the county was nearly $8 million, which is the equivalent of approximately 4.6 years of funding based on current levels of operating disbursements of the fund. The audit points out that even with the significant accumulated GR Fund balance, the County Commission continues to assess a property tax rate that results in more than $600,000 in property tax collections each year with no documented long-term plan for the use of this money.

·       Specifically, the County Commission's failure to craft budgets that reasonably reflect the actual amount of disbursements the county will make each year is the main factor causing the budgets to be unreliable. For the years 2020 through 2022, the Commission significantly overestimated disbursements by more than $4.3 million in total. The audit notes that this approach to budgeting is misleading to the public and paints an inaccurate picture of the county's financial condition.

Chariton County is represented by Sen. Rusty Black, and Rep. Tim Taylor.

MO Champion of Children Poll

Catching up from last week, a poll was released by the Missouri Champion of Children coalition.  It’s interesting in that it shows that increasing energy and attention in childcare and early childhood education is one of the rare bipartisan consensus issues now. See the poll here.

Press release: The poll of 600 likely general election voters in Missouri was conducted October 3-5, 2023 by Victory Enterprises. It found that majorities of Democrats, Republicans and Independents believe quality early childhood education leads to better outcomes for kids, helps the economy by supporting working parents, and reduces crime rates in local communities…

The poll also tested numerous policy proposals to address childcare and early childhood education accessibility and affordability challenges. Each proposal received majority support from voters across the political spectrum, including:

·       72% support creating a state fund to match local investments in childcare and early education.

·       74% support tax incentives for charitable contributions to childcare providers.

·       84% support tax incentives for businesses that provide childcare benefits.

Murphy-Kerns Rematch

It looks like we’ll have a rematch in House 94 (South St. Louis County). Democrat Kyle Kerns announced he’s running again.  He’ll take on Republican incumbent Rep. Jim Murphy in what one would expect to be a swing district, but remains stubbornly red. 

·       It was a Trump +6.3% district in 2020.

·       Murphy soundly repelled Kerns in 2022, 57% to 43%.

Thomas to  JCity Parks and Rec Commission

News Tribune reports that Mayor Ron Fitzwater appointed Sen. Lincoln Hough’s chief of staff Pat Thomas to the Parks and Recreation Commission, but not without some controversy…

·       Thomas was appointed to a full term on the Parks and Recreation Commission, replacing commissioner Donna Stallings… Ward 2 Councilman Aaron Mealy, who did not approve of replacing Stallings, said Thomas may be qualified to serve the commission, but it feels unfair to Stallings, who has only served one term…

·       Resident Mary Williams said it feels to her like the City Council had ripped something away from not only Stallings, but the Black community as a whole. Stallings and Williams are both Black women.

·       Williams said Ward 5 Councilman Mark Schwartz shouldn't have even been allowed to vote on the topic since he accepted an approximate $8,000 donation from Sen. Lincoln Hough's political action committee. Thomas works as Hough's chief of staff…

Lobbyists Registrations

David Winton added KC2026.

$5K+ Contributions

Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages - $41,014 from Abortion Action Missouri Foundation.

House Democratic Campaign Committee - $5,158 from Citizens for Crystal Quade.

The 100 PAC - $25,000 from Believe in Life and Liberty.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Kyna Iman, Bruce DeGroot, Mark Parkinson, and Vince Schoemehl.