MOScout Daily Update: 2024 Watch - Bozarth to Treasurer's Office - Budget on Track and more....

The lobbying community was shocked yesterday as word spread that Jessica Pabst had passed away.

Pabst, 37, staffed Sen. Rob Mayer before becoming a lobbyist.  She worked with Jewel Patek, the Giddens Group, SSM Health and Centene before joining Husch Blackwell Strategies in 2021 as a principal.

Our prayers are with Jessica’s family during this terrible time.

2024 Spreadsheet

I’ve started the MOScout 2024 Watch spreadsheet.  Right now it only has statewide offices, but I’ll be adding in state senate districts and then state house “battleground” districts as we go forward.  I’ll add cash on-hand figures and allied PACs as well with the April quarterly results.

There’s a link on the home page.  You can also find it here.

Scouplette: Bozarth to Treas Office

Tipster says that Ray Bozarth is joining the State Treasurer’s office.  He’s the new chief of staff. Bozarth was previously State Deputy Director for US Senator Josh Hawley.

·       Bozarth is the second Hawley alum that Vivek Malek has lured to his office; the first being Deputy Treasurer Clayton Campbell.

Follow Up on Issues at Mid-Point

Missing from my list yesterday about the major priorities ahead in the second half of the legislative session was the perennial one: the budget.

Of course, that’s a constitutional demand on the legislature.  The “usual” timing roadmap is for the House to pass out the budget at Spring Break to the Senate.  I don’t know that this happens most years, but that timeframe has the legislature running a little behind.

·       The budget is one reason that Senate leadership is disinclined to “blow up” the Senate with a PQ over the transgender issues. 

·       The deadline to pass the budget is the first Friday of May.  A dysfunctional Senate could make passing the budget a difficult process.  Additionally, having some Dem votes helps; some Republicans tend to vote No on the Education budget bill and the Department of Health budget bill out of philosophical objections. 

Driving the Day: March Madness

All business pauses at 12:40 today as the Mizzou Tigers take on Utah State in the first round of the NCAA’s March Madness tournament.

New Federal PACs

Bryan Cave LLP Political Action Committee was formed. Treasurer: Barb Wilbers.                                                                    

Protecting Americans Project Action Fund was formed. Treasurer: Linda Lorraine.                                                                      

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, Inc. PAC was formed. Treasurer: Randee Newmark Steffen.

Lobbyists Registrations

Michele Roberts-Bauer added Associated Builders and Contractors.

David Willis added Common Goal Systems, Inc.

$5K+ Contributions

Missourians for Effective Leadership PAC - $17,000 from Burns & McDonnell Corporate Services, Inc.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Bill Owen, Melissa Randol, Jon Dolan, and Michelle Sherod.

Friday: Joe Maxwell, Earl Simms, Patrick Lynn, Tom Self, Todd Smith, and Pat Rowe Kerr.

Saturday: Rep. Tricia Byrnes, Francis Slay, Jim Farrell, and Tod Martin.

Sunday: Mun Choi.

MOScout Schedule

Short week alert!  No update tomorrow, Saturday or Sunday.  See y’all on Monday as we head into the second half of the legislative session.