MOScout Daily Update: Ag-ing the PSC - Pro-Hudson PAC - Litchenegger for Dinkins - Dems, Eigel Agree and more...

Ag-ing Up the PSC

Sen. Mike Bernskoetter and Rep. Mike Haffner have bills which would require the addition of Public Service Commissioners who are “actively engaged in production agriculture.”

Both would increase the size of the commission from five to seven members and forbid any congressional district from providing more than one commissioner.  Bernskoetter’s bill would require two commissioners to be active farmers, while Haffner’s would require three.

These appear to be a response to PSC approving the Grain Belt Express’s route through rural Missouri.

What It Means

Together with Senate Floor Leader Cindy O’Laughlin’s SB 758 which would chop PSC terms, we’re seeing a pushback against at the commission’s independence.

·       Supporters of the PSC say it’s important that they make decisions based on the best long-term outcomes for the state, rather than what’s politically easiest.

Driving the Day: SCOMO and Property Assessments

Among the cases set for oral arguments before the Missouri Supreme Court today are pair centering on property tax assessments in Jackson County.  Listen in here this morning.

·       Jesus Osete will be arguing for Tyler Technologies; Kenneth McClain for the property owners.

2024 Scooplettes

·       In House 137, Leading With Hein PAC was formed.  It’s in support of Rep. Stephanie Hein.  These PACs allow candidates to accept contributions in excess of the limits imposed on candidate committees.  House 136 is a toss-up Springfield district which Dems flipped last cycle.  It’s probably the Republicans’ top target in 2024. Trump won the district by .6% in 2020.

·       In Senate 27, former Rep. Donna Lichtenegger is backing Rep. Chris Dinkins.  Lichtenegger represented Jackson, the county seat of Cape Girardeau County, during her time in the legislature. She last ran unopposed in the 2016 republican primary where she received 6,132 votes.  Cape County produced 14,391 in the Rehder/Swan Primary.

·       In Senate 33, I’m told we’ll soon see a “Brad PAC.”  That will support Rep. Brad Hudson’s bid to replace Sen. Karla Eslinger, who will become the next Commissioner of Education.  And former Speaker Elijah Haahr will be leading the new Brad PAC.  Haahr has been quietly building a political consulting business.

GOPers Not Running From Pro-Life Debate

If Democrats can find a way to put a pro-choice initiative on the ballot, it seems a sure thing that abortion will be the centerpiece of the 2024 election cycle in Missouri. 

Republicans aren’t running from it.  The pre-filed bills show there’s no effort to tiptoe away from the subject. For example…

·       Sen. Mike Moon’s SB 775 would allow murder charges to be filed against a woman who has an abortion.

·       Rep. Mazzie Christensen (nee Boyd) filed HB 1576 which would classrooms to view the “Meet Baby Olivia” video developed by Live Action as part of any course materials and instruction relating to human sexuality.

Eigel, Dems Share Talking Point

Sen. Bill Eigel, running for governor, and Senate Democrats aiming to pick up seats for their party shared the same graphic on Twitter.  It’s a reminder that Eigel, like Bob Onder in the LG spot, is running as an outsider, saying that Republicans have failed in Jefferson City.

While the use of a single quarter of economic data is not a statistically great practice, the facts are in their favor.  For nearly two decades Missouri’s economic growth has lagged its neighboring states.

Happy Birthday Dad

Rep. LaKeysha Bosley’s HB 1595 would honor her dad’s birthday

December first each year is hereby designated as "Freeman Bosley, Sr. Day" in Missouri. The citizens of this state are encouraged to participate in appropriate events and activities to celebrate the legendary St. Louis City politician who retired in 2017 after thirty years of service to the city and was an advocate for young people participating in government and engaging in public service.

Lobbyist Registrations

Bob Priddy added National Museum of Transportation.

Elizabeth Grace Riley added Missouri Dental Association.

$5K+ Contributions

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $56,146 from Drury Displays, Inc.

American Dream PAC - $25,000 from CV Eureka LLC.

American Dream PAC - $10,000 from Evergy Metro Inc.

Americans First (pro-Hicks) - $10,000 from Rex Sinquefield.

Missouri Leadership PAC (pro-Riley) - $10,000 from Rex Sinquefield.

Great Missouri PAC (pro-Onder) - $18,000 from Missouri Senate Leadership PAC (Onder’s old PAC).

UAW Region 4 Midwest States PAC (MO) - $6,000 from Midwest State Cap Exchange.

Wood For Assessor - $10,000 from Brian Mertz.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Dan Shaul, Jennae Neustadt, and Curt Dougherty.