MOScout Daily Update: Fauci to WashU - No Mo Slots - Fite to MOPS - Butler Exits - Long Hearts Schoeller - Baby Hummel and more...
Quick Friday update… Nothing big this morning, let’s just run through some bits…
Fauci to Speak at WashU
Expect the next flurry of jabs from conservatives at “too woke” Washington University after yesterday’s announcement that Dr. Anthony Fauci will give the commencement speech to Med School this year.
No Mo Slots
With the fight over “grey” machines potentially heating up as it could again get tangled up with the sports betting issue, No Mo Slots has started running ads on social media. See their website here.
People On the Move
· Frank Jung, who served as general counsel to the secretary of state’s office for years, is back after a brief retirement. He’s now legal counsel.
· Former Rep. Scott Lakin was appointed director of the St. Louis County’s Department of Revenue.
· Amy Fite, former Christian County Prosecuting Attorney, has joined the attorney general’s office as general counsel of the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services.
Butler Exits
Mark Maxwell scoops that St. Louis Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler is resigning as chair of the Missouri Democratic Party. He cites the needs to devote more time to his business, Open Concept. See it here.
Butler was re-elected to the position in December after an “online feud” put the party’s rifts on full display.
· Shirley Mata, vice-chair, will presumably take over.
Long Hearts Schoeller
I’d missed this Twitter endorsement from former Congressman Billy Long of Shane Schoeller for Secretary of State. He'll do a great job and would be the perfect candidate. Hard worker, dedicated, and he certainly has paid his dues in spades. Go Shane!!!
· Long won 5% of the vote in the US Senate Republican primary last summer.
Lovasco Shows Independent Streak
Reps. Tony Lovasco and Renee Reuter declined to join their fellow Republicans as the latest legislation concerning gender transition was voted out of House General Laws yesterday. Reuter voted No, and Lovasco voted Present.
Emily Manley quotes Lovasco: “I'm not convinced we need to rush into this. We want to get this 100% right because if we don't there are going to be problems.”
· Lovasco was one of two reps (the other was Rep. Michael Davis) to vote against the HB 14 supplemental budget earlier this week.
Parson Announces New Child Care Grant
Press release: Governor Mike Parson announced that new grant funding is available through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Childhood for eligible child care providers and businesses and/or community partners who want to work together to expand child care in their local community. The Innovation Start-up Grant application is now open on the Child Care Relief Funds website and must be submitted by May 31, 2023…
eMailbag: Gas Tax A Killer?
Can you please mention that Eric Schmitt supported gas tax and it didn't seem to hurt him at the polls on two statewide ballots afterward?
Congratulations
To Jake Hummel and Sarah Wood Martin on the birth of William Roark Hummel, born on Valentine’s Day!
Lobbyists Registrations
Dwight Scharnhorst added MTTA.
David Sweeney deleted Election Systems & Software, LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Realtors PAC Inc - $15,741 from Richard Capelli.
Common Sense Kansas City - $20,000 from Taxpayers Unlimited, Inc.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sen. Brian Williams, Jonathan Ratliff, and Pat Jakopchek.
Saturday: Jeffery Justus.
Sunday: Alex Eaton, Lynne Schlosser, Ron Gladney, Rodney Schad, and Jay Kanzler.
MOScout Schedule
No MOScout this weekend. See y’all on Monday.