MOScout Daily Update: Eigel Gets Hot at Cierpiot - Merideth in 2024? - Budget Mark-Up Day and more...

Services for Jessica Pabst are today.  Information is at the bottom of the post.

1 Big Thing: Eruptions on Senate Floor

On the Senate floor yesterday, Sen. Bill Eigel got hot at Sen. Mike Cierpiot for “killing” his bill through “a trapdoor committee.”

Eigel’s SB 8, which would reduce the personal property taxes, has been stuck in Fiscal Oversight because it doesn’t have the votes to get out.

“You now singlehandedly using the trapdoor of Fiscal Oversight, which we have talked about repeatedly in this chamber, instead of coming out here on the floor and having an honest discussion with your colleagues you will stand in the way of tax relief for every person in this state. How dare you senator!”

The debate got hot enough that Sen. Travis Fitzwater, on the dais, banged the gavel to remind senators to maintain decorum during debate.

·       Listen: I made a clip of the an excerpt of the debate here.

What It Means

The Senate still chugged along for another productive day, but the fiery exchange is a reminder of the rifts that remain among the Senate Republicans. And the potential landmines in these final months.

Driving the Day: Budget Mark-Up

Starting at 8AM, the Budget Committee will be going through the HB 1 – HB 15 and making changes to the state’s budget before it gets presented on the floor for approval next week.

·       In the hallway, some lobbyists expect the Senate will restore many of the cuts that House Budget Chair Cody Smith outlined yesterday.

·       That means we’re in the third inning maybe right now of this process.  Today’s action is real – it’s always best to have your items in – but the real real action will be in a month or so when the House and Senate have to wrangle the differences between heir two versions.

Rumorville: Merideth 2024?

Rep. Peter Merideth, in his final House term, is considering throwing his name in the hat for a statewide position.  The Dems don’t have a huge bench. So it’s not a hat that’s overflowing at the moment.

Lieutenant governor is one possibility, but Merideth would likely be more attracted to the policy portfolio of the secretary of state’s office.

We’ll see…

KHN on Noble Health

Kaiser Health News reports on the ongoing saga of the demise of two rural Missouri hospitals.  Read it here.

A year after private equity-backed Noble Health shuttered two rural Missouri hospitals, patients and former employees grapple with a broken local health system or missing out on millions in unpaid wages and benefits…

The hospitals in Audrain and Callaway counties remain closed as a slew of lawsuits and state and federal investigations grind forward.

In March, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey confirmed a civil investigation. He had previously told local talk radio that there was an “ongoing” investigation into “the hospital issue.”

eMailbag

·       On Cody Cuts: I don't know if Cody Smith has any statewide or other future political aspirations, but the zeroing out of childcare on top of his past efforts to cripple Medicaid expansion won't win him any friends in the business community.  Childcare support is a top priority for the state and local chambers and many corporations.  They are far more interested in those issues than tax cuts.

·       On House Tax Cuts: I wonder if legislators would be so excited about voting for tax cuts if they had to also pass a corresponding reduction in spending like they do in the budget amendment process.  What would 109 folks have voted to cut yesterday to afford the more than $1B in cuts?  35% from the foundation formula, all mental health services to kids with autism or people with developmental disabilities, closing prisons and letting all the bad guys out…?  The money in the treasury is mostly one-time and the music is going to stop.

Gubby Appts

Governor Mike Parson announced six appointments to various boards and commissions…

·       Jonas Arjes, of Walnut Shade, was appointed to the Missouri Development Finance Board.

·       Margaret Bultas, of Eureka, was appointed to the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

·       Jessica Craig, of Florence, was appointed to the Missouri Development Finance Board.

·       Chelley Odle, of Desloge, was appointed to the Amber Alert System Oversight Committee.

·       Tom Oelrichs, of Mora, was appointed to the State Milk Board.

·       Lyle Querry, of Independence, was appointed to the Jackson County Board of Election Commissioners.

Lobbyists Registrations

Kristina Howard and Jon Potter added Sorare, and Dapper Labs, Inc.     

Angie Schulte added Indivior, and NOMI Health.   

$5K+ Contributions

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $10,000 from Matthew Gornet.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Jacqueline Bardgett and Tom Loehner.

Jessica Pabst Services Today

A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, March 23, 2023, at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 400 St. Andrew Lane, Holts Summit, Mo. 65043, with the Reverend David Skillman and the Reverend Roberto Ike concelebrating. Graveside services and interment will be held at Riverview Cemetery in Jefferson City, Mo.

A reception will follow her graveside service at Revel Catering and Events, 102 East High Street, 2nd Level, Jefferson City, MO 65101, for family and friends to gather and share memories. There will be a time of sharing around 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the reception.