MOScout Daily Update: Hoskins Vows War in Senate - Gardner Standoff Begins - Abortion IP Watch and more...
Quick Friday update…
1 Big Thing: Hoskins Vows War
Sen. Denny Hoskins stopped business on the Senate floor yesterday for hours as he fumed about fate of his sports betting/VLT bill, SB 1. That bill was voted down in Appropriations Committee earlier in the morning.
Hoskins, speaking about integrity and “keeping one’s word” insinuated that he’d been assured that SB 1 would be voted out and receive some debate time.
Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer’s SB 30 which is just a straight sports betting bill was voted out. But Hoskins vowed to sink it. He said last year he’d prepared 150 amendments to prevent it from becoming law, and this year he would prepared another 100 amendments in addition!
Hoskins said he’d tried to play nice, even going so far as to pass bills he didn’t like out of his own committee. But it would be no more Mr. Nice Guy now.
On Twitter he repeated this vow: When walk softly & carry a big stick doesn’t work, I’m forced to go back to walk loudly & carry a big stick. Unfortunately, I’ve passed more legislation to help my constituents that way.
What It Means
The fear is a loose reformation of the Conservative Caucus. Sens. Bill Eigel and Nick Schroer joined Hoskins’ filibuster at times. I don’t think that happens, but Hoskins will likely now engage in targeted attacks – and he will have support from at least a few other members when he does.
· Good news for Dems: the steady pace of Senate work will become bumpy.
· Not terrible news for Republicans: two weeks until Spring Break and a chance to reset.
Gardner Stays, Bailey Begins Removal Process
In a brief press conference yesterday, backed by supporters, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner refused to yield to calls for her resignation.
Attorney General Andrew Bailey started the process to remove her. See his initial filing here. Bailey’s complaint of “willful neglect” cites both the specific tragedy which fueled the current outcry, as well as general criticism of Gardner’s tenure.
· Respondent and her office willfully neglected to timely move to revoke bond and prosecute Daniel Riley, resulting in Ms. Edmonson’s near death and loss of her legs…
· Respondent has mismanaged her office, causing a mass exodus of employees…
· Respondent has a backlog of at least 3,000 cases that she has failed to review for charges, including some number of violent crimes…
What’s Next?
Gardner’s position doesn’t seem tenable. She’s without political support, and these proceedings will only degrade her ability to run her office effectively. My gut would say that she resigns within a week. But as readers know: I’m often wrong.
· Post-Dispatch reports that Governor Mike Parson called Mayor Tishaura Jones to reassure her that he’d accept input concerning a replacement appointee, saying: “I’m just not gonna go out here and do something on my own.”
Eyes on An Abortion IP
Amid the start of initiative petitions filed with the Secretary of State’s office, so far none have addressed reproductive rights.
Most expect that abortion rights advocates will ultimately coalesce behind an IP. Right now, the talks between various stakes-holders are happening outside of public view. But I’m told to expect some filed before the end of session. We’ll see multiple versions filed, then presumably the coalition behind the IPs will do polling and pick which one to try to put before the voters.
· Meanwhile… Republicans are advancing their own abortion questions to put before Missourians. See the Missouri Independent article on that here. It raises the prospect that we could have two abortion IPs before voters in 2024, each framing the issue differently.
eMailbag on Uniting MO Contributions
· Dave, Appreciate your logical speculation on why folks (Evergy) would financially support a termed Governor with no future political aspirations but the listed donor follows the Graves camp/Axiom candidates. And doubtful that the most noteworthy appointee (current AG) is their guy.
· Dave, the Uniting Missouri money will mostly be used to...pay consultants.
Lobbyists Registrations
Brandt Iden added FBG Enterprises, LLC.
Matthew Well added JPMC.
David Winton added Aviagen, Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
WSP USA Missouri PAC - $10,000 from WSP USA PAC (New York NY).
Missouri Agrees - $10,291 from Jack Danforth.
Missouri Agrees - $9,000 from Cathi Brain.
Missouri Realtors - $6,605 from T David Rogers.
BNSF Railway Company RAILPAC Missouri Federal Committee - $45,000 from BNSF Railway Company RAILPAC (Fort Worth TX).
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Peter Merideth, Tracy King, Rich Chrismer, Jolie Justus, Sonya Anderson, and Stephen Conway.