MOScout Daily Update: Another Lost Day in the Senate and What It Means - Sander Hints at Party Switch - Ed Reform Stalls - Kehoe PAC Hits Ashcroft and more...
2 Days Left
The Senate had yet another unproductive day as Sen. Mike Moon, and a few others, whiled the day away. At times Moon asked about a specific bill. But also, he spent time reading from an anti-vax book. Moon said he’s upset that the House hadn’t passed his unborn child tax credit.
I don’t actually think they passed a bill yesterday.
For what it’s worth, the Senate didn’t adjourn; they recessed. It’s a minor parliamentary maneuver. It means that there’s no Journal from yesterday because we’re still technically on yesterday “legislative day.”
That means there won’t be a need to “approve the Journal” or any of the early orders of business which can sometimes create chokepoints when folks want to slow up the day’s business.
It’s still possible, of course, in the Senate to simply inquire of another senator and bring things to halt. But the Senate will start where they left, on the House Bills for Third Reading calendar.
The Bigger Picture
The result of these lost days is that a lot of legislation will die in the traffic jam. But the bigger picture shouldn’t be ignored.
The last few sessions have seen a sharp increase in the number of filibusters initiated by a small number of senators, sometimes three or four. The filibuster was once mostly a tool of the minority party to drive compromise on big issues with the majority party. It’s morphed into a tool for the Republican minority faction to thwart their own party’s agenda – or to leapfrog their agenda ahead of their caucus’ agenda.
As a result, filibusters have become a frequent occurrence to the regular course of business. They’re often sparked by minor issues (I want my tax credit to pass), or personal slights (the pro tem told me I couldn’t wear overalls) that reek of self-absorption.
What It Means: I imagine there will be a discussion at some point – in the interim perhaps, or in the years ahead – to make a change in the Senate Rules.
It will be a real lost for the institution. Unfettered debate has consistently improved the often-haphazard legislation passed by the House.
But the abuse of the filibuster is real. And some will want to restrain its careless misuse.
House Passes Trans Bills
As expected, the House passed the pair of bills dealing with transgender medical care and athletics. Three Republicans joined Democrats in dissension, one of them was Floor Leader Jon Patterson. The ledes…
· Post-Dispatch: Missouri House Republicans on Wednesday approved a four-year ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors, sending the measure to Gov. Mike Parson.
· Missouri Independent: The Missouri House sent legislation to the governor’s desk Wednesday morning barring transgender youth from beginning gender-affirming care.
· AP: Missouri lawmakers approved significant restrictions on transgender people Wednesday, sending the Republican governor bills to ban gender-affirming health care and prevent transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams.
Republican Rep. Chris Sander, an openly gay legislator, joined Democrats at a press conference afterwards and indicated that he’s considering switching parties. He said there’s a dozen or so Republican colleagues who privately express regret at their party’s stance, yet continue to vote with the majority.
Looking Around the Corner: This issue likely isn’t done. Look for Republicans to bring it back next year (an election year, y’all). The obvious next step: remove the sunset provision in this year’s legislation.
Ed Reform
Senate leadership, apparently determining that they lacked the ability to pass “open enrollment,” decided instead to bring up a more palatable bill from the education reform pipeline: HB 827, an expansion of virtual school options.
However, the bill ran into trouble when Sen. Lincoln Hough offered an amendment which mimicked the restrictions on the foreign land ownership bill the Senate passed earlier in session. Hough sought to prohibit foreign companies from providing online curricula for virtual schools.
· The bill was laid over without resolution.
IP Reform
Sen. Bill Eigel, who had previously expressed strong support for the “concurrent majority” provision in the initiative petition resolution, said yesterday it wasn’t a deal-breaker. He said he’d stand down and let the current conference committee report (57%) pass.
Ashcroft Hit: Career Politican
The pro-Mike Kehoe American Dream PAC launched a digital ad hitting Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for being “a career politician.”
It seems a natural line of attack to attempt to use Ashcroft’s high name ID against him.
Parson Seeks Names for STL Circuit Atty
Press release: Governor Mike Parson announced that he has publicly posted an application for individuals seeking appointment as the City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney. Qualified individuals may apply at boards.mo.gov.
“The prosecutor we appoint has a real opportunity to make meaningful and lasting change that strengthens public safety. We encourage any qualified person who is committed to the rule of law and thinks they have what it takes for this challenge ahead to apply and be considered.”
Due to this short timeline, the application will close on Monday, May 15 at 12 p.m. so that names can be considered and an appointment announced prior to June 1. In addition to statutory requirements, qualities being sought for the position can be found below:
· Commitment to the written rule of law
· Strong managerial experience
· Record of fair and just application of state and local law
· Member of the St. Louis community
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Agrees - $8,130 from The Center for Election Science.
Lobbyists Registrations
David Sweeney added Harris House.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sen. Greg Razer, Leslie Korte, Jerryl Christmas, and Abram Messer.
MOScout Schedule
It’s a weekend off for MOScout. After tomorrow morning’s update, no Weekly Summary, no weekend editions.