MOScout Daily Update: GOP Vetting Forces Organize - Declining Revenues - Hamra Doing Mail - MCN-Days Split and more...
Meet REPACCMO
The Springfield News-Leader notes that the Republican Association of Central Committees of MO “registered as a nonprofit corporation Oct. 3… [It] was created and is led by Cyndia Haggard, the chair of the Vernon County Republican Central Committee.”
REPACCMO is the organizing group of Republicans implementing a vetting process at the county central committee level to weed out RINOs, and protect the Republican brand.
According to the website (see it here), they’re backed in their endeavor by Sens. Rick Brattin, Bill Eigel, and Mike Moon.
The group appears to be down on Pro Tem Caleb Rowden and Speaker Dean Plocher for their actions last session. Though I would note that a number of these issues aren’t found anywhere in the Missouri State Republican platform which undermines the notion that their vetting is based an objective standard.
Declining Revenues Changes Budget Landscape
I’m revisiting Saturday’s top story this morning because it’s a pretty big deal. Governor Mike Parson and legislative leaders announced of their consensus revenue forecast, and included a decline in projected tax receipts.
They went from anticipating a .7% increase this current fiscal year to a .7% decrease. And they’re expecting only a .2% increase next fiscal year.
With inflation running 3%-ish, the costs of the goods and services that the state has to buy will inevitably rise. Flat revenues equals a real decline in the state’s purchasing power. That means in crafting next year’s budget lawmakers will either eat into the state’s reserves or make some budget cuts.
What It Means
· It will be much harder to insert new decision items into the budget.
· If the solution is to use some of the state’s cash reserves, fiscal hawks may seize on that as government spending more than it brings in. The budget process is already in a fragile position with the FRA tax needed to be renewed next session.
Hamra Mailer
Mike Hamra is doing direct mail…
Hamra is running for the Democratic nomination for governor against Minority Leader Crystal Quade. One Dem speculates that the mail was highly targeted to the most prolific Democratic donors in the state.
The thinking was that – while Quade has been a high-profile legislator for Dems for years – Hamra still needs to introduce himself to stalwart party supporters.
· One of Hamra’s assets in a general election would be that he doesn’t have a voting record. But the downside of not having a record is that you don’t have a record.
Latest Episode of The Maria Show
The Post-Dispatch looks at the recently settled lawsuit filed by former Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal alleging that her employer, St. Louis County Councilwoman Rita Heard Days, was unaccommodating for her mental disability. Read it here.
· Days sums up the situation: “It just was not working out for us.”
Liberty Merger
It looks like Liberty Hospital is adding some Jeff City firepower in the form of lobbying powerhouse Gamble & Schlemeier. The firm registered to represent the hospital as announced that it’s executing its letter of intent to merge with the University of Kansas Health System.
Some have growled at Kansas acquiring a Missouri asset. And, though it’s unclear if it’s related, Sen. Greg Razer has a pre-filed bill on the subject of hospital trustee powers.
· University of Kansas Health System hasn’t hired anyone yet…
Drama at Roe PAC Continues
NYTimes reports on continuing drama at the pro-Ron DeSantis PAC, Never Back Down. It’s quarterbacked by Jeff Roe, but there’s been criticism over its effectiveness. There’s about six weeks away until the Iowa caucus when we’ll see if the field organizing pays off. Read the article here.
· The latest shake-up caps a turbulent period at Never Back Down, which was formed earlier this year, well before Mr. DeSantis became a candidate for president, and sought to take on a number of functions that a campaign traditionally performs, such as building out a field operation in several states.
· Recently, the group’s senior officials engaged in internal battles as close allies of Mr. DeSantis based in Tallahassee created a new outside group, Fight Right, to which Never Back Down was expected to transfer $1 million. The fact of that transfer, which was to fund attacks on Mr. DeSantis’s closest rival in the presidential primary, Nikki Haley, was called “exceedingly objectionable” by another Never Back Down official, Ken Cuccinelli, in an email to colleagues.
Dunlap GoFundMe
As you consider your year-end giving, I’m re-upping this GoFundMe to help out the Dunlap family with their medical bills.
Ian Dunlap, a long-time hallway pro, is fighting a rare form of cancer.
Lobbyist Registrations
Andrew Arnold added Southwestern Bell Telephone Company DBA AT&T Missouri and its Affiliates.
Gamble & Schlemeier added New Liberty Hospital District, and New Liberty Hospital Corporation.
Mark Bruns added Safer St. Louis LLC; and deleted Missouri Cattlemens Association.
Doug Nelson and Heath Clarkston added Netflix.
Kathi Harness added Missouri Self Storage Owners Association; and deleted Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri, and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.
Rockne Miller added Alpha Engineering and Surveying LLC; and deleted R. Miller Companies LLC, and Lake Economic Alliance for Development.
Brad Thielemier added REJIS, JBT Consulting Group, and J&T Amusement LLC.
Noel Torpey added Expedia Group; and deleted Boulevard Brewing Co.
Kyna Iman deleted Roeslein & Associates Inc, and American Heart Association.
Charles Raymond Miller deleted River City Foundation.
Jeff Smith deleted Missouri Future, LLC.
Eapen Thampy deleted Seth Ferranti.
Michael Winter deleted Carol Jones, and Heartland Credit Union Association, and Multistate Associates Inc.
Jewell Patek deleted Pear Therapeutics (US), Inc.
Ryan Rowden deleted Repair Preservation Group Action Fund.
Mark Rhoads deleted Scout Motor Inc. c/o MultiState Associates LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Gladius PAC (pro-Christofanelli) - $10,000 from Blackford Brauer.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Jennifer Florida, and Sean Gagen.