MOScout Daily Update: Fox to Fitz - Fitz and Bailey Spar - Gardner RN - Landfill Stalls Again and more...

Fox to Auditor’s Office

Long time House director of communications Trevor Fox has submitted his letter of resignation. I’m told he’ll be will be joining the State Auditor’s office after session ends.

Fox is widely respected in the building.  He’s been with the House for over 20 years, serving as director of communications for the last 13 years. 
During that time the chamber’s communication efforts have flourished, embracing streaming audio and then video, widening the availability of everyday citizens to follow the House’s daily workings.

His departure represents a terrible loss of institutional knowledge.

MOIndy: Fitz and Bailey Spat

Missouri Independent has a humdinger this morning. Read it here.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is trying to convince the state auditor’s office to increase the projected cost of an initiative petition seeking to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution… Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick has refused to make the changes Bailey demanded, arguing that the attorney general is trying to include “inaccurate information” in the fiscal summary that would appear on the ballot.

·       Bailey is pushing for a $12 billion fiscal note.  This is backed by pro-life groups who argue that the pro-choice IP would result in the state losing federal Medicaid money.

·       Fitzpatrick’s number is based on non-ideological sources, instead a compilation of estimates from various state agencies and local governments.

Whaaa??! Gardner Works on Nursing Degree

The Riverfront Times reported yesterday that “St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner is currently enrolled in an advanced nursing program at St. Louis University, the school's registrar's office has confirmed…Yesterday, Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued a subpoena to SLU's nursing school as part of his ongoing effort to remove Gardner from office.”

·       One source thinks that a Gardner resignation may finally be in the offering.  We’ll see, but for those looking around the corner on this issue, Governor Mike Parson would be charged with appointing her successor.

Senate Talks Landfill

The Senate spent significant time again yesterday debating the House’ “landfill” bill, HB 909.  It’s a top priority for Sen. Rick Brattin as his constituents are furious about the possible development. But with a gaggle of lobbyists engaged in both sides of the issues, it seems “lobby-locked” at this point.

·       One hallway observer: I guess it’s good for Dems that the longer they chew the clock on this one issue, the less time they have for the real GOP priorities.

DNR Eyes EV Trend

KRCG that the Department of Natural Resources is doing its part to build out the infrastructure to handle more electric vehicles in Missouri.  See the story here.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources officials started the installation of EV chargers across the state 3 years ago… Members of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Air Pollution Control Program were in the process of installing 22 EV charging stations across the state by June 2024.

·       One capitol veteran: Sounds "Woke." Parson administration full of inconsistent messages.

Budget Conference Chugs Through Compromises

The House and Senate budget conferees finally met last night, after the chambers’ respective chairmen met throughout the day to hammer out a compromise.

Rudi Keller’s tweets note two big issues: DEI language was stripped from the budget, and the $2.8 billion I-70 improvement included.

Seitz Meets Arthur

One lobbyist tells the funny story of two legislators who met for the first time this week in the rotunda.

“She is the Senate sponsor of his child abuse language but he never met her. She went to ask him not to put the language on one of her bills and he started yelling at her that he is an elected official and she is just a lobbyist and can't tell him what to do…”

She in this story was Sen. Lauren Arthur.  He was Rep. Brian Seitz. Neither Arthur’s SB 416, nor Seitz’ HB 367 appear to have a shot at crossing the finish line.

The bills are being opposed by insurance companies.  With a little over a week left, adding the language to others bills just endangers the underlying legislation.

Kids in the Crossfire

St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports…

·       Most of the victims were outside. Walking home from school. Playing in the park. Sitting on the stoop of their house. They didn’t know who fired the gun, and they didn’t know why.

·       The children treated for firearm injuries at St. Louis Children’s Hospital were predominantly innocent bystanders, according to recent findings by the University of Missouri School of Medicine in one of the first studies to delve into the circumstances behind the rising number of children getting shot.

·       “The majority of the kids we see are truly caught in the crossfire,” said Dr. Lindsay Clukies, a Washington University emergency medicine physician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

eMailbag: Webb Not Curtis

I hear the Mosley Senate Amendment was more relevant re: Steve Webb.  See story here.

$5K+ Contributions

American Dream PAC - $5,650 from Brenda Potterfield.

Lobbyists Registrations

Andrew Tantillo added EMD Millipore.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Jason Kander, and Ryan Clearwater.