MOScout Daily Update: What's Next for IP Reform - End of $$$ Shower - Bailey This, Baily That - McCreery Ouchy and more...

IP Reform Gets Another Round of Debate

The Senate once again spent several hours debating initiative petition reform.  Democrats filibustered and Floor Leader Cindy O’Laughlin called it a night relatively early.

I expect we’ll see this issue one more time – briefly – before the end of session.

It will likely be a compromise, accompanied with little debate.  Dems will stomp their feet a bit, but also know they have a chance to beat the proposal at the ballot box.

If a compromise doesn’t come in the next week, then we’ll see it return with the PQ ritual in the final week of session.

·       One Republican grumbled, “It’s kind of hard to pass IP reform when a couple of Republican senators are [out] enjoying cocktails.”  But in truth I’m not sure how much that mattered to the trajectory of this issue at this point.

1 Big Thing: The End of the $$$ Shower

Although the budget debate has had some very prickly moments, it’s an entirely different experience than when there’s a shortfall and everything is on the chopping blocks.  We may look back on these days with longing – when the legislature had the luxury to spend time debating DEI instead of whether services or programs get cut or zeroed.

·       With just a few days left in the month, tax collections are down 17% compared to April 2022.

·       Budget watcher Jim Moody says May will be worse!  He remains deeply pessimistic, believing we’ve seen the high-water mark for revenues for the next several years.

·       And the Daily Shot has a series of ugly-looking charts this morning, all seemingly signaling that the long-predicted recession may finally be pulling up the driveway.  (See the bottom of the post for some of those charts).

Fed Judge Swats Bailey Motion

Judge Henry Autrey gave Josh Divine and the Attorney General’s Office a dress down yesterday, after they tried to move a suit concerning gender-affirming care emergency rules to a federal venue.  Autrey sent the case back to St. Louis County Court “where it belongs,” and where the judge temporarily blocked the rules from taking effect.

·       One MOScouter said that “Bailey’s decision to avoid the scrutiny of Missouri courts over his emergency rule was baffling. A federal court should not be deciding such an important state issue. Doubtful that guys like Ted Ardini and Don Downing (or most recently, John Sauer and Jesus Osete) would make a similar move. Eric Schmitt defeated Sam Page’s attempt to do this a few years ago with STL County COVID mask mandate litigation.”

But

Remember Bailey is right on track with his free media campaign.  I opened up the Post-Dispatch and he’s on the front page as well as the op/ed page…

·       Front page: Circuit Court Judge Ellen Ribaudo delayed the enactment of a rule issued by Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey that uses an emergency provision in a state consumer protection law to significantly limit gender-affirming care.

·       Editorial: Bailey bails on court fight with unlicensed gaming figures who donate to him

·       Op/ed: Bailey's rules will needlessly and callously hurt people

Landfill Issue Not Done Yet!

I wrote yesterday that Sen. Rick Brattin could risk a backlash if he keeps bringing up the landfill issue in the Senate in these final weeks.  One building denizen thinks I’m wrong, and believes Brattin will continue to push, eventually winning colleagues to his position.

We’ll see…

McCreery From the Chair

Sen. Tracy McCreery submitted the following:

Kristina Martin

Secretary of the Senate

201 West Capitol Ave

Jefferson City, MO 65101

Kristina,

Due to the recent breaking of my ankle, I request that I temporarily be excused from adhering to Rule 76 under the Senate rules so that I am able to be recognized from my chair on the Senate floor. I also request that I am able to wear non-dress shoes. Please let me know of there are any questions or if anything further is needed from my office.

Thank you,

Tracy McCreery

·       Rule 76. When a senator is about to speak, he or she should rise respectfully and address himself or herself to the chair, standing at his or her seat, and wait until his or her name or designation is announced, when he or she shall proceed, addressing himself or herself always to the chair. If a senator is unable to stand due to a permanent physical disability, he or she, after seeking recognition from the chair, shall be recognized in lieu of standing. If a senator is unable to stand due to a temporary physical disability, he or she shall send a letter to the secretary of the senate, which shall be printed in the journal and subsequently shall be recognized from the chair in lieu of standing.

$5K+ Contributions

POL PAC - $17,500 from J.E. Dunn Construction Company.

Local 41 Political Action Fund - $15,570 from Missouri PAC Federal Committee.

Northland Strong PAC - $30,000 from Good Neighbor Housing LLC.

Missouri American Water Company Employees Political Action Committee - $10,000 from Plattin Creek Excavating, LLC dba PCX Construction.

Missouri American Water Company Employees Political Action Committee - $10,000 from Goodwin Brothers.

Lobbyists Registrations

Sohrab Shahandeh added CSC Holdings, LLC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Michael Davis, Ryan McKenna, Tony Dugger, Chris Vas, and Wiley Price IV.