MOScout Daily Update: Broadband $$$ - Watching Revenues - Sensible MO Forms Committee - Pereles in Senate 15 and more...
Pereles Forms Committee
As rumored, Joe Pereles has formed a candidate committee to run for Senate 15 as a Democrat. See the paperwork here. Republicans have a spirited primary brewing, and Pereles is the only Dem so far.
· From an online bio: Joe Pereles retired as Senior Vice President Development and General Counsel for Drury Hotels Company in December 2019, after spending 29 years with Drury. Prior to joining Drury in October 1990, Joe was a partner with the St. Louis law firm of Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale PC.
What It Means
It’s a Republican-lean district, but Dems are hopeful that the Dobbs decision will give their candidates in these suburban districts a bit of a lift, making races like this competitive.
Watching Revenues
We’re in the final days of the fiscal year.
As the close of business last Friday, the state’s net general revenue was at $12.96 billion, just about on the button to hit the consensus revenue figure of $13.1 billion by the end of the week.
Looking around the corner…
Budget watcher Jim Moody has been warning that the budget faces tough days ahead. He sees the waning fiscal stimulus together with the legislature’s series of tax cuts as creating headwinds for future revenues.
Moody has much more experience following the budget than me, but I’m less pessimistic.
The consensus revenue for next fiscal year is basically flat: $13.2 billion, a 0.7% increase. That seems completely achievable given the economy; Missouri’s unemployment rate is 2.5%.
But
While the actual number will likely be hit for both this year and next year, we may start to see actual budgetary pressure.
Inflation has been, and will be, the invisible helper to hitting revenue targets. For example, sales tax growth this year has been over 6%. That’s likely mostly been driving by higher prices. See below…
So even a moderating 4% inflation rate next year should power nominal growth to hit the revenue forecast. But the goods and services the state needs to buy will be increasing too – creating some budgetary pressure.
Thanks Roy: Broadband $$$
The White House yesterday announced $42 billion in grants to give states “the resources to connect every resident and small business to reliable, affordable high-speed internet by 2030.”
Missouri got a relatively huge allocation… $1.7 billion. (For comparison, consider that California – with 38 million residents – received $1.8 billion)
· “We appreciate Senator Roy Blunt's past efforts to secure this funding and the support of our partners at the NTIA as we continue to advance the critical priority of broadband expansion statewide,” Governor Mike Parson said. “This significant allocation will greatly assist our ongoing investments in Missouri's broadband infrastructure and build upon our recent $400 million investment. We're excited to be among the top five states in BEAD funding as we work to ensure every Missourian has access to a quality internet connection.”
Bailey’s Latest Trick
KCStar reports… Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker on Monday said her office will fight to uphold the conviction of Eric DeValkenaere, a Kansas City police officer convicted of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a Black man in 2019. Baker said Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a motion with the Missouri Court of Appeals seeking to overturn the conviction — a step unheard of in the legal community as the office is known to seek to uphold every conviction won in lower courts.
Former Sen. Claire McCaskill tweets: An unarmed black man was shot by a police officer, they staged the scene to plant a gun… The AG has a constitutional duty to handle appeals on behalf of the state after the state gets convictions. This AG is defending the convicted man instead. NEVER has this happened before.
· From Bailey’s filing: The death of Cameron Lamb was tragic; it did not need to happen. But… the evidence credited by the trial court does not, as a matter of law, support the trial court’s findings of guilt…
Sensible MO
Sensible MO – which told the Post-Dispatch weeks ago that they were a new non-profit hoping to put an initiative petition on the ballot to reform gun laws – has formed a campaign committee. See the paperwork here.
But I still haven’t seen an initiative petition filed with the secretary of state’s office that matches their aim of local control for gun laws.
The treasurer for the committee is former Sen. Joan Bray.
· Bray is also on the board of KDHX which is currently embroiled in controversy.
Smith in Spotlight
Congressman Jason Smith gets the spotlight in this opinion piece in Washington Post.
If you want to know how Donald Trump would govern if he wins in 2024 — or Ron DeSantis or for that matter Will Hurd — tune out the din of the Republican presidential campaign and cast your gaze toward the US House of Representatives. What you will see is that it’s not Trump’s party so much as Jason Smith’s. Jason who? Trump sucks up all the attention. But it is Smith, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, who would play the crucial role in setting the legislative agenda if the party retains the House and wins the presidency…
Soto Announces for House
Press release: Dave Soto, a respected real estate broker and property management professional, has officially announced his candidacy for State Representative in the upcoming Republican primary. With a steadfast commitment to conservative values and a proven track record of community involvement, Soto aims to bring his extensive experience and dedication to public service to benefit the constituents of his district….
· Incumbent Rep. Rick Francis is termed.
· Perryville has lots of Republicans so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a hot primary. Soto’s early jump will help him. As will the fact that he will have the backing of the powerful Realtors.
· See his website here.
Help Wanted
St. Louis Area Foodbank seeks Advocacy Manager. “Serve as the primary person interfacing with public officials and their key staff by attending meetings and events to advocate for the reduction of food insecurities. Champion key issues such as The Farm Bill, Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act, Older Americans Act, the Agricultural clearance program and funding programs such as TEFAP and CSFP… Develop and implement a grassroots advocacy strategy integrating online and offline engagement tactics, including social media messaging, web-based advocacy tools, and community forums… Seek out and maintain a list of opportunities for local grassroots advocates to engage and interact with government officials… Keep abreast of federal, state, and local legislation, policy and programming that may impact the mission of the foodbank while educating staff and Board members about the effects of policy and engagement opportunities.” See the ad here.
Lobbyists Registrations
Richard Brownlee deleted Missouri Limestone Producers Association.
$5K+ Contributions
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $10,000 from Missouri American Water Employees PAC.
Lathrop Gage Consulting PAC - $25,000 from Alkin Co.
Sander for Missouri - $20,444 from Christopher Sander.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Ross Branson and May Scheve Reardon.