MOScout Daily Update: Unsicker Tossed from Committees - Parson Lectures MOSERS - No Planned Parenthood IP? - Eigel on Swampy Republicans and more...
Quick Friday update…
Quade Removes Unsicker from Committees
Minority Leader Crystal Quade removed Rep. Sarah Unsicker from House committees following social media posts with Charles Johnson.
“During her time in the legislature, Rep. Sarah Unsicker has proven a strong advocate for society’s vulnerable, especially children. Recently, however, she has chosen to use social media to promote individuals who espouse baseless conspiracies and racist and anti-Semitic ideologies that are antithetical to the values of inclusiveness, tolerance and respect House Democrats are dedicated to upholding. As a result, I am removing Rep. Unsicker from all committees as the process of evaluating her future as a member of the House Democratic Caucus begins.”
No PP IP?
In a recent Kansas City Star article, Planned Parenthood lowers expectations about getting something to the ballot in 2024. “That timeline is going to be really, really tough,” said Emily Wales, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which has not backed a version of the proposals. “Missourians will have access restored. I don’t know that it will be possible for them to vote on this in 2024.”
Meanwhile Jamie Corley’s Missouri Women and Family Research Fund “moderate” IP proposal of allowing abortions in the first 12 weeks and adding exceptions for rape and health is still moving forward. They’ll be adding paid signatures gatherers in the next month while reviewing RFPs from the big national signature collection firms.
· Fundraising is the critical component to watch.
Parson Backs China Disinvestment
Governor Mike Parson sent a letter to the Board of Trustees of the Missouri State Employees Retirement System (MOSERS) asking them to reconsider State Treasurer Vivek Malek’s proposal to end Chinese investments from their portfolio.
What It Means
It’s not surprising that the governor is backing his appointee. But it does help to give the issue another breath of life as we enter 2024.
Eigel on Vetting…
Sen. Bill Eigel backs the new vetting procedure telling me that “Cyndia Haggard has done more for the Republican Party than all of the RINOs that will fail her vetting process combined. Yes, of course the Swamp finds her ‘arrogant.’ The Swamp can’t imagine that folks like Cyndia are changing Missouri by requiring candidates to have policy positions that actually match their Republican label. The strength of the MO Republican Party is grassroots champions like Cyndia, not hallway champions like Lincoln Hough.
Consider the names of those that would fail this very basic vetting process: [Caleb] Rowden, Hough, [Karla] Eslinger, [Elaine] Gannon, White… And that is but a fraction of those that would fail. Every R Senate incumbent running for reelection would fail. Extraordinary.
I love how the Jeff City swamp is furious that everyday MO Republicans would have the gall to oppose their hegemony. The Reckoning is coming.”
What It Means
Calling out fellow senators before session = one more reason to be pessimistic about the upcoming session.
Person Joins Catalyst
Press release: Catalyst founder Danny Pfeifer today announced Tashayla Person is joining the firm’s Missouri team as part of its growing strategic government relations practice. Person will focus on state government affairs in Missouri‘s State Capitol…
Person previously served as vice president for policy at the Quality Schools Coalition and before that as director of public policy for the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City. She spent 5 years working for Senator Pat Roberts in his official office in Washington D.C. as the national security policy advisor and one year as a regional field director of the Third Congressional District for the Roberts’ Senate campaign. Person is a graduate of the United States Naval War College and Kansas State University.
Mark Your Calendar
Governor Mike Parson will deliver the 2024 State of the State Address on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 3PM.
Lobbyist Registrations
'Tashayla Person' Donohoe added Catalyst and all their clients.
Olivia Jean Pener added clients of Sharon Geuea Jones.
$5K+ Contributions
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $25,000 from St Louis Police Assoc PAC.
Missouri Alliance PAC (pro-Patterson) - $10,000 from Missouri Hospital Assoc.
Main Street Employers PAC - $20,000 from James Davis (Hanover, MD).
MoCannTrade PAC - $6,000 from Blue Arrow Missouri LLC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sarah Topp, Peter Herschend, Linda Rallo, John Brunner, Patrick Bonnot, and Don Soffer.