MOScout Daily Update: High Ed Funding Watch - Sen. Milhaven?? - Bailey Wins by Losing? - Milton on Hunter Biden and more....
1 Big Thing: High Ed Funding
We’re about eight days away from a potentially big shift in the narrative about how the state funds its institutions of higher education.
The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) has a Juy 1 deadline to present a “study that makes recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly regarding higher education efficiency and possible reforms, considering current institutional missions and state fiscal resources.”
The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development chose NCHEMS to do the study in 2022. Their first report (see it here) dealt with performance-based funding, and criticized the current funding model.
The current model is “base-plus,” meaning for the most part, there are identical across-the-board increases for all institutions. It doesn’t take into account changes in enrollment, specific needs according to mission, or the continual exacerbation of disparities which already exist.
The new funding formula which NCHEMS will put forth will have several components, including performance-based funding.
1. Fixed costs that reflect a frugal level of funding for base operations.
2. Variable costs that account for variation among institutions in the resources needed to
fulfill the instructional component of their missions.
3. Performance incentives that seek to reward institutions for contributing to state goals.
4. Funding needs associated with unique mission functions, such as University of Missouri—
Columbia’s and Lincoln University’s Land-Grant missions…
5. Funding support for developing new or enhancing existing capacity that addresses specific
state priorities.
6. The payments the state makes to a given institution for specific goods or services on a
recurring basis. .
7. The appropriate balance between what state and students should be expected to share in
paying the costs specified by the model’s calculations.
What It Means
· The implementation of a formula for higher education, with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, could be one of the big issues in next year’s session.
· If the efforts to revise DESE’s foundation formula is any roadmap, the only way to pass an overhaul the funding model is to inject new money into the funding scheme so there are “no losers,” at least initially.
Rumorville: Milhaven Eyes Senate Race??
One MOScouter tips that St. Louis radio host McGraw Milhaven has been approached by, and is talking to, several influential business and political leaders in Missouri about taking on Senator Josh Hawley in the Republican primary next summer.
· Milhaven, a 24-year local morning radio host of KMOX and now KTRS, would bring some instant name ID to the race. But jumping into a US Senate race as your first foray into politics is like diving into the deep end before your first swimming lesson. We’ll see…
Packed Meeting About Library Dress Code
Post-Dispatch’s Ethan Colbert describes a jam-packed meeting in St. Charles about a librarian’s work attire.
The contentious meeting, which featured three hours of public comment, centered on a woman’s complaint that when she visited a branch of the St. Charles City-County Library, an unnamed worker was wearing makeup, nail polish and a goatee. LGBTQ supporters were swift to push back on the woman’s complaints, and they showed up in droves Tuesday night to counter complaints by the woman and her supporters.
What It Means
The reason that politicians dive into the cultural wedge issues: it gets people fired up.
Sabato’s View of MO: Red
Larry Sabato’s well-respected Crystal Ball puts both the MO AG and MO SOS races as “safe Republican.” See it here.
· AG: Missouri has become so solidly red that Democrats face huge hurdles in winning statewide office.
· SOS: Whoever wins the [Republican] nomination would be the heavy favorite against whichever Democrat wins the nomination.
Milton on Hunter
Missouri tax attorney Mark Milton is quoted in yesterday’s Politico piece about Hunter Biden. Milton serves as treasurer for several independent expenditure PACs for Missouri Republican pols. Read it here.
Mark Milton, who spent four years as a trial attorney in the Justice Department’s Tax Division, also said misdemeanor tax charges are unusual. He added that the court filings detailing the charges were “very bare bones,” which gives the public — and the judge who will handle sentencing — minimal clues regarding Hunter Biden’s financial wrongdoing. “In my experience, prosecutors want felonies in tax cases,” he said. “The fact that he’s only pleading guilty to misdemeanors suggests special treatment.”
Wooten Passes
Former Rep. Chuck Wooten passed away Tuesday morning in Springfield at the age 95.
From KY 3: Wooten served in the Navy after graduating from Springfield Senior High School. Several decades later, he turned to public service. He was elected to the Springfield City Council in the 1980s, serving as mayor pro tempore. He represented Greene County District 137 in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1988 to 1996.
· One reader: He is most known locally and statewide for his work on veterans’ affairs. He was the founding force behind the Missouri Veterans Cemetery located in Springfield which was approved in the late 1990s.
Draper Replacement Sought
Press release: The Appellate Judicial Commission is accepting applications for judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri to fill the vacancy to be created by the August 4, 2023, retirement of Judge George W. Draper III after nearly three decades of judicial service…
Citizens are encouraged to nominate well-qualified candidates for the commission’s consideration. The Missouri Constitution requires that a judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri be at least 30 years old, licensed to practice law in Missouri, a United States citizen for at least 15 years and a qualified Missouri voter for at least nine years next preceding selection.
Lawson Honored
Press release: Ewell Lawson received the Alan H. Richardson Statesmanship Award during the American Public Power Association’s National Conference in Seattle, Washington. The award honors public power leaders who work to achieve consensus on national issues important to public power utilities.
“Ewell is skilled at listening, relating, and then expressing himself in a way that fosters mutual understanding when pursuing solutions to critical challenges facing public power,” said Nicki Fuller, Chair of APPA’s Advisory Committee and Executive Director of the Southwestern Power Resources Association.
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Parson announced six appointments to various boards and commissions.
· Mick Campbell, of Jefferson City, was appointed as the Commissioner of Finance for the Director of Commerce and Insurance.
· Andrew Grimm, of Kirksville, was appointed to the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee.
· Darren Harris, of Kennett, was appointed to the State Board of Pharmacy.
· Al Li, of St Louis, was appointed to the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.
· Ken Teague, of Willard, was appointed to the Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Fund Board of Trustees.
· Tammy Thompson, of Kansas City, was appointed to the State Board of Pharmacy.
Help Wanted
Missouri Realtors seek Director, Government Affairs and Regional Advocacy. “This position requires someone who is outgoing, understands the importance of advocacy and can work across party lines. The Director must have excellent attention to detail, strong administrative skills, and the ability to communicate professionally and consistently in person, over the phone, and in writing. They will be expected to work both independently and as a member of a larger team.” See the ad here.
eMailbag: Bailey Winning by Losing
Andrew Bailey, recognizing two GOP statewides colliding is catnip for the media, just got a ton of earned media with the message being that he is pro-life. Some may see it as cynical, but if you’re in a knife fight with a nationally relevant candidate in a primary, you gotta do what it takes. Smart. Of course, if you’re in the building your take away is “Fitz smacking Bailey around.” But outside of the building, priceless earned media.
$5K+ Contributions
American Promise PAC (pro-Malek) - $10,000 from Vibhu Grover.
Missouri Health Plan Association PAC - $10,000 from United Healthcare Svs Inc. (Minneapolis, MN)
Local 41 Political Action Fund - $13,695 from Missouri PAC Federal Committee.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Chad Perkins, Margo McNeil, and Ann Auer.