MOScout Daily Update: Parson To Swing Budget Axe? - Massage Tax IP? - Wood Retires (Again) - Nixa's Book Challenge Committee and more...
Rumorville: Parson to Swing Budget Axe
With the deadline looming for Governor Mike Parson to sign next year’s budget, word is that he’ll be chopping out about $400 million in legislative spending.
We’ll see where the axe falls…
Massage Tax IP Filed
The latest initiative petition filed with the secretary of state would give local control to tax the massage business. See it here. It was filed by Brad Ketcher.
“Local voters shall have the right and option to set local transaction taxes relating to massage therapists and massage businesses.”
· I’ll admit it’s a bit of a head-scratcher to me. Considering it costs millions to fund an effort to collect signatures, and run a ballot campaign, this issue doesn’t have an obvious big backer.
Wood Retires - Again
On Facebook former Rep. David Wood writes: Turned in my ID badge, taking 3 days of vacation, and retiring again officially on Friday. I promised Cheryl Charlson Wood that I will give it a try and do more traveling. There may or may not be a betting pool on how long this will last. Looking forward to the next chapter in this adventure…
Kunce’s Latest Endorsments
Press release: St. Louis County Council Chairwoman Shalonda Webb, the Missouri State Council of Machinists, Hayti Heights Mayor Catrina Robinson, former Greene County Presiding Commissioner Dave Coonrod, and State Representative Ingrid Burnett joined the rapidly-growing statewide coalition supporting Lucas Kunce in Missouri’s U.S. Senate race.
Book Challenges Becoming Routine
It appears that parents’ concerns about books in school is becoming a new fixture in schools’ landscapes. Springfield News Leader reports that the Nixa School Board is creating a “standing committee” to deal with “book challenges.”
Nixa Public Schools has fielded book challenges from patrons and action during meetings this past week suggest more are expected. The school board met three times this week: a special meeting to decide the level of access to seven books, a full-day retreat — which included discussion of ways to streamline and improve the book challenge process — and the regular monthly meeting. District officials called for the creation of a standing committee to review future challenges and a revamped format to review books, curriculum and other materials before they enter the school or after they are challenged. "They are going to have a consistent committee," said Zac Rantz, chief communication officer.
La Vieille Mine
Fascinating twitter thread from the Missouri Mapper here on Old Mines, Missouri where some folks still speak French. And like the rest of Washington County, it’s shown an incredibly rapid swing red.
Lobbyists Registrations
Nate Giessmann added Union Electric Co. DBA Amerenue, Ameren Services, Ameren Corp.
$5K+ Contributions
St Louis Association of Realtors-PAC - $10,102 from Missouri REALTORS.
Justin Aldred For Boone - $25,000 from Justin Aldred.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Reps. Patty Lewis and Kathy Steinhoff, and Nancy Rice.
MOScout Schedule
Long Weekend Alert: I’ll be off Friday through the 4th. After tomorrow’s update, I’ll hit your in-box next on Wednesday the 5th.