MOScout Weekender: Senate Rallies - Poll on Final Session Issues - Hallway Still Sees IP Reform Possible - WWTW and more...

Senate Rallies

The Senate showed its mercurial nature Friday, rallying and forging ahead with compromises after a squandered day had invoked a gloomy pessimism.

Sen. Rick Brattin’s roadblock concerning the landfill near his constituents was removed when Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas promised to bring the issue before the city council.

The Senate passed with little drama the budget which includes huge expenditures in Missouri’s highway system and new childcare and early childhood programs.

Remington/MOScout Poll: Final Issues in Session

Survey conducted May 3rd, 2023. 1,147 likely 2024 November Election voters participated in the survey. Survey weighted to match expected turnout demographics for the 2024 November Election. Margin of Error is +/-3% with a 95% level of confidence. Totals do not always equal 100% due to rounding. Survey conducted by Remington Research Group on behalf of Missouri Scout.  Find the full results here.

Q1: There is a proposal to prohibit foreign countries and companies from buying Missouri farm land.  Generally speaking, do you agree with this proposal?

Agree: 73%

Disagree: 13%

Not Sure: 14%

Q2: There is a proposal to raise the threshold to amendment the Missouri constitution. It currently takes a simple majority, but the proposal would raise the threshold to 54%Generally speaking, do you agree with this proposal?

Agree: 28%

Disagree: 36%

Not Sure: 36%

Q3: There is a proposal to place the St. Louis police force under state control. Generally speaking, do you agree with this proposal?

Agree: 25%

Disagree: 48%

Not Sure: 27%

Q4: There is a proposal to legalize sports betting in Missouri. Generally speaking, do you agree with this proposal?

Agree: 37%

Disagree: 45%

Not Sure: 15%

Q5: There is a proposal to allow public school students to enroll in a public school outside of their district.  Generally speaking, do you agree with this proposal?

Agree: 42%

Disagree: 39%

Not Sure: 19%

MOScout’s Hallway Index: Tough Issues In Final Stretch

I asked lobbyists which issue had the best chance of passing this session. 21 replies…  [Results from same questions asked in February in parathesis. “None of the Above” was not offered then.]

RESULTS

1. Initiative petition reform… 47.6% [20.8%]

2. Open enrollment… 14.3%  [33.3%]

3. Sports betting… 0%  [12.5%]

4. St Louis Police takeover… 14.3% [33.3%]

5. None of the above… 23.8% [N/A]

Sample of Comments

·       It’s a tossup between IP reform, and nothing at all.

·       Open Enrollment and IP reform

·       Been saying it every time you ask....IP reform. Gosh golly gee, I remember Parson talking about IP reform when he was in the House. I do think some version makes it.

·       They are all tough with very narrow path

·       Compromise IP or none of the above.

Who Won the Week?

Mike Parson — Historic investments in his two priorities: infrastructure and workforce, including full funding for his child care and early education budget proposals.

Caleb Rowden, John Rizzo, Cindy O’Laughlin, and Lincoln Hough – Negotiated perhaps the most substantive policy day in the Senate last 20 years (postpartum care, benefits cliff, and a budget that among other things includes fully funding the entire I-70 project), all while holding the Senate together during a meltdown.

Quinton Lucas – Helped hammer out the details of the landfill deal. Takes some credit and gets some $$ for KC.

Pro-Landfill team – The “Top Tier” “A Team” lobbyists that were derided on the Senate floor for being so effective. Anytime you’re being called such things is good for business.

Phil Christofanelli – His great relationships in the House and Senate and around the Capitol enabled him to deliver a remarkable number of budget priorities for his home county, including $5M for city water contamination in St. Charles, $6.6M for 370 in St. Peters, $7M for the replacement of the County's nearly obsolete 911 system, and $2.5M for county storm water projects.

$5K+ Contributions

Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages - $6,878 from Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action.

Nexus PAC - $10,000 from Paric Holdings, Inc.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Danny Busick.

Sunday: Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer, Rep. Brenda Shields, Scott Sifton, Stuart Murray, and Don Phillips.