MOScout Daily Update: Gardner Resigns - Brattin Protests - KC Building Trades for Kunce and more...
Quick Friday update…
Brattin Threatens Final Days
Sen. Rick Brattin gobbled up the entire Senate Day yesterday as he raged that he’s been unable to pass the “landfill” bill. Missouri Independent has a backgrounder on the issue here.
The Journal records that first 8 or 9 hours of session…
Senator Gannon assumed the Chair.
Senator Fitzwater assumed the Chair.
President Kehoe assumed the Chair.
Senator Fitzwater assumed the Chair.
President Kehoe assumed the Chair.
Senator Eslinger assumed the Chair.
Senator Coleman assumed the Chair.
Senator Cierpiot assumed the Chair.
Senator Rowden assumed the Chair.
On motion of Senator O'Laughlin the Senate recessed until 5:45 p.m.
When they returned from recess around 7PM, Brattin yielded the floor. The Senate approved the Journal, took in messages from the House and reports of Committees, and then adjourned.
One source said that there was “no deal as of yet” with Brattin. That means he may continue again today, threatening the chamber’s constitutional duty to pass a budget. But Brattin – who I believe would put that constitutional duty above his legislative agenda – may wait until next week to continue his protest. We’ll see.
Brattin’s position is difficult because he’s the one trying to change the law. Filibusters work more naturally when you’re trying to stop a law. He’s basically saying if I don’t get my law change, none of you will get anything – not a popular way of doing business.
Gardner Resignation
St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced her resignation yesterday after months of pressure from lawmakers and the general public.
Post- Dispatch reports that Sen. John Rizzo brokered the deal which included a pledge from Senate leaders to drop their efforts to for state control of her office. Listen to Post-Dispatch audio of Gardner telling her staff of her decision here.
Speculation now turns to Governor Mike Parson and who he will appoint to succeed Gardner…
· KSDK reports 22nd Judicial Circuit Judge Michael Noble and attorney Raphael Morris as “being considered for the governor’s appointment.”
· Alisa Nelson mentions Sen. Steven Roberts as a possibility.
From St. Louis, there are a number of African American women names being floated…
· City Counselor Sheena Hamilton.
· Judge Paula Bryant.
· Judge Annette Llewelyn.
· Assistant US Attorney Ashley Walker
Driving the Day: Budget Deadline
It’s budget day. The constitutional deadline is 6PM. Then lawmakers will break for the weekend, take a deep breath, and get ready for the final week…
Also Today
One building denizen notes that “Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, will be in Jefferson City for the St. Joseph Cathedral rededication. I suspect several Catholic lawmakers will not be in the Capitol from 10:30AM to 1PM Friday. He is the personal representative of the Holy Father.”
First in MOScout: Kunce Gets KC Building Trades
Lucas Kunce will announce that he’s landed the endorsement of the Greater Kansas City Building & Construction Trades Council, another brick in his road to the Democratic nomination for US Senate.
· “The Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council is proud to be among the first to endorse Lucas Kunce. Our time with Kunce has left us consistently impressed and with the distinct impression that he understands the seriousness of the issues facing not only our members, but our nation, in a way that is unique and born out of the lived experience of someone from a true working-class background,” said Business Manager Ralph Oropeza.
· The KC Building Trades represent tens of thousands of workers.
The June 1 Club
One MOScouter sent me this…
“Forever connected those two…”
$5K+ Contributions
David Mueller For The City - $6,895 from Dresden Capital Management, LLC.
UAW Region 4 Midwest States PAC (MO) - $6,000 from Midwest State Cap Exchange.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Mike Hafner, David Day, and John Hickey.