MOScout Daily Update: Senate Stalls on Transgender, Adjourns for Break - House Passes Open Enrollment - 2 Dems for AG? - Loy for House 163 and more...

Senate Adjourns for Break

The fragile peace between the former conservative Caucus crowd and regular Senate Republicans seemed to strain yesterday as the majority caucus struggled over how to confront a Democratic filibuster on transgender reassignment.

Sen. Greg Razer led the Dems to hold the floor, in an effort to force some compromise on SB 49.

It’s unclear whether discussions between Razer and the bill sponsor Sen. Mike Moon ever really moved very far.  The amount of time Razer was on the floor seemed to indicate that they didn’t.  And Moon doesn’t have a reputation as a dealmaker who will accept an accommodation to advance his agenda.

Around 6PM, Republicans faced a decision point.  They could make Dems stand through the night and hope to physically wear them down; they could PQ (shut off debate), but face the consequence of a crippled legislative session; or they could lay the bill over for now.

The Republican Caucus chose the latter.

And it wasn’t a popular choice with some senators…

·       Sen. Denny Hoskins tweeted: In my 15 years in the legislature, I’ve never adjourned a day early for Spring Break. I voted to stay & protect kids and pass SB49. This is embarrassing and very frustrating.

·       Sen. Ben Brown tweeted: Frustrating day in the Senate. No reason we should be adjourning a day early. The people of Missouri deserve better.

And it presumably wasn’t popular with Moon.  I assume they adjourned because tomorrow would just have been an upset Moon reading from a book.

One Republican sees possible backlash after break: Protecting children from puberty blockers, hormone therapies and procedures was a stated caucus priority. It will be interesting to see if the Conservative Caucus resumes or if conservative senators start obstructing legislation to push back at leadership for rolling over to Democrats.

But… This is hardly a surrender by the Republican majority.  This issue is definitely on the PQ list.  Across the Republican caucus, there’s support for that.  Dems have about two months to find a compromise – if not with Moon, with a majority of Republican caucus members – or face a PQ on this in the closing days of session.

What That Means… Easier said than done, but you want to get your bills passed before that final week, because there’s a potential blow-up over this issue looming now.

House Passes Open Enrollment

The House struck while the iron was hot on open enrollment, perhaps worried that if they lingered too long opponents would have time to peel off some critical votes.

Pro-OE numbers increased from the perfection vote from 82 to 85.

Added to the plus side were: Reps. Mazzie Boyd (she’d voted present), Dirk Deaton (he’d been absent), Holly Jones (previously present), and Bruce Sassmann (he’s been a No on perfection).

On the other side of the ledger, Rep. Lane Roberts moved from a Yes on perfection to a No on third read.

·       It heads to the Senate now where there will definitely be a few folks who will want to talk a lot about this issue.

Dem AG Primary Ahead?

From zero to two in one day.  Two Dems announced that they’re eying a run for attorney general yesterday.

·       First, Elad Gross – who’d hinted at an announcement last week – said he’s forming an exploratory committee.  Gross ran in 2020, losing in the primary to Rich Finneran.

·       Then, Rep. Sarah Unsicker tweeted: I've been quietly talking to people about running for Attorney General for a while, but tonight I want to make it official-I'm looking at running for Missouri's Attorney General after I term out of the House next year.

Whoever wins the Dem primary starts as the consensus underdog against whoever win the Republican nomination. 

2024 House Watch

Cathy Jo Loy formed a campaign committee to run for House 163.  That’s Rep. Cody Smith’s district.  He’s term limited.

Loy is a well-known activist.  She’s on the Jasper County Republican Central Committee, as well as Chair of the 7th Congressional District.  And she was appointed by Governor Mike Parson to the Missouri Public Charter School Commission.

Thomas Ross formed a campaign committee to primary Rep. Lane Roberts in House 161.  Ross lost to Roberts in 2020 (72% - 28%).  It appears his campaign will be targeting Roberts as a RINO.

From his Facebook post: I have tried to keep my opinions close to the vest and be supportive of our elected representative for Missouri 161. However, I believe Representative Roberts needs a reminder of who he is elected to represent.

NEWS FLASH: It isn't St. Louis.

I understand that his opinion is that what happens there affects Joplin, but we here in District 161 have our own issues that we have brought up and need addressed with urgency.

He claims to be pro 2nd amendment and yet he pushes bills either purposly attacking it or negligently overlooks it trying to get backers for a future political run. Either way, it is simply unacceptable.

Now is the time that WE THE PEOPLE need to speak up. Call your representatives and let them know that we are seeing true colors shine, and RINOS will be removed…

Paul Stratman formed a campaign committee to primary Rep. Bruce Sassmann in House 61.  The Osage County Unterrified Democrat reported that “long time Osage County Public Administrator Paul Stratman announced his resignation from office Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Osage County Republican Lincoln Day Banquet at the Lion’s Club Hall in Westphalia. He did, however, tell the crowd what he wants next. ‘I plan to run for [the Missouri State House of Representatives from this district] in 2024,’ he said... Stratman was first elected to the Public Administrator’s office in 2000. He won reelection for a sixth time in 2020.”

Office Space

Joe Lakin has office space available to rent in Jefferson City.  See it here.

Lobbyists Registrations

Jeffrey Aboussie added Osage River Gaming.

Ralph Bellar added RED LSE, LLC.

Tyler Coward added Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.    

Jay Hahn and Ryan DeBoef added Americans for Fair Energy Prices.     

Deanna Hemphill added Winton Policy Group.

Marc Parker added Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Jewell Patek added Missouri Gaming Association, Patriot Voices, and West Central Community Action Agency; and deleted Centerpointe Hospital, Ygrene Energy Fund, and Osage River Gaming.

Drew Weber deleted Dr. Allen B. McCoy, and The Classical Academy de Lafayette, Inc.

Charles Miller deleted S&G LC, Summit Redevelopment Corporation, and Flatiron Development LLC.

Caroline Hoover deleted Parents Bill of Rights PAC.

$5K+ Contributions

Missouri Agrees - $11,960 from The Center for Election Science.

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $5,650 from Tom Prater.

Missouri Leadership Fund - $10,000 from Rodney Thomas.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Luke Reed, Dave Monaghan, and Nathan Beard.

MOScout Schedule

I’ll be taking off for a long weekend.  No MOScout on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday.