MOScout Daily Update: Luetky for SCOMO? - Moody See Red - Ashcroft Anti-Abortion Language - New Eigel COS and more...

Luetkemeyer Applies to Join Supremes

Yesterday the Appellate Judicial Commission released the names of those applying to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court of Missouri created Judge George Draper’s coming retirement.

There are 22 applicants, 16 men and 6 women.

Several names will be familiar to folks around the capitol including Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, Chris Limbaugh, Governor Parson’s former general counsel who was then appointed to a judgeship in the 19th Judicial Circuit, and former Sen. Jack Goodman who sits on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District.

The applicants: Thomas C. Albus, Megan B. Benton, Becky J.W. Borthwick, Kelly C. Broniec, Sarah A. Castle, Thomas C. Clark II, Stephen S. Davis, Michael E. Gardner, Kenneth R. Garrett III, Ginger K. Gooch, Jack A.L. Goodman, Jennifer R. Growcock, Joseph B. Kloecker, Christopher K. Limbaugh, Anton H. Luetkemeyer, Shaun J. Mackelprang, Jeffery T. McPherson, David E. Roland, Cristian M. Stevens, John P. Torbitzky, Stanley J. Wallach, and Grant W. Wobig

·       The commission is expected to conduct interviews beginning at 12:30 p.m. Monday, August 21 and 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at the Supreme Court Building, 207 West High Street in Jefferson City. Interviews are open to the public, subject to available seating; they will not be available online.

·       The commission is expected to meet at approximately 1 p.m. Tuesday, August 22, after interviews conclude, at the Supreme Court Building to select the three nominees from this applicant pool for the governor’s consideration.

Moody Bearish on Revenue Picture

Former budget director Jim Moody, in his Moody Report, sees a potential billion-dollar shortfall coming in the current fiscal year… “it is not a stretch to get to a billion dollar drop from the FY 2023 final revenue number of $13.234 billion… The drop could, in fact, be larger than a billion dollars when FY 2024 ends.”

What It Means

·       If Moody’s forecast appears on target when the legislature reconvenes in January, it will cast cloud over the budget process and have the governor’s office looking at withholds.

·       But… the state’s huge cash reserve should help cushion any immediate panic.

Driving the Day: Pro-Choice IP Effort Back in Court

MissouriNet reports on today’s court hearing concerning the proposed initiative petition for reproductive rights.  Read it here.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft head to court Wednesday in part two of a battle over a proposed abortion rights ballot measure. The ACLU is suing Ashcroft over the language used to summarize to voters the intent of the potential 2024 proposal…

Ashcroft, a Republican who is running for governor, has submitted language that asks voters whether to:

• allow for “dangerous, unregulated, and unrestricted abortions, from conception to live birth, without requiring a medical license or potentially being subject to medical malpractice;”

• nullify “longstanding Missouri law protecting the right to life, including but not limited to partial-birth abortion;”

• allow for laws to be enacted regulating abortion procedures “after 24 weeks, while guaranteeing the right of any woman, including a minor, to end the life of their unborn child at any time; and”

• “require the government not to discriminate against persons providing or obtaining an abortion, potentially including tax-payer funding.”

The cynical view here is that it doesn’t matter if Ashcroft wins or loses, as long as he shows the GOP primary voters that he’s a “fighter.”

New Eigel COS

With Jacob Scott heading to the Missouri State Medical Association to join on their government relations team, Sherry Kuttenkuler Arthaud is getting promoted as Sen. Bill Eigel’s new chief of staff.

·       Before joining Eigel’s office Arthaud had staffed Mike Moon.

Quade Endorsements

Minority Leader Crystal Quade announced her “first round” of endorsements in her bid to become governor.  The endorsements were three Democratic state senators and her Democratic House Caucus, except for about a dozen members.  See the list here.

·       It makes sense for Quade to nail down endorsements and rev up the fundraising quickly to dissuade any other Dems (like Mike Hamra) from complicating her race.

Burlison Seeks UFO Questions – and Answers

Congressman Eric Burlison asked constituents to send him their UFO questions ahead of today’s congressional hearing on the topic.

Rep. Eric Burlison said, “My office has received numerous inquiries about tomorrow’s hearing. It’s obvious, there’s a lot of interest across Southwest Missouri and the nation about this topic. If you have a question you would like to see me ask one of the witnesses during my five minutes of questioning, head over to burlison.house.gov/contact.”

·       See Burlison’s speech at the press conference announcing the hearing here.

Roberts Sr. Meets Biden

Press release: St. Louisan Steven C. Roberts, JD, LLM, trustee emeritus for the Logan University Board of Trustees, president and founder of St. Louis-based Roberts Broadcasting Company, and a member of The U.S. Black Chambers Inc. (USBC) Board of Directors met with President Joe Biden and other senior administration officials as part of a delegation from the USBC on July 21.

The meetings, hosted by the White House Office of Public Engagement and National Economic Council, featured an exclusive discussion on the state of Black businesses in America and ways to expand economic access and opportunity for Black communities.

$5K+ Contributions

Mo Coalition for Video Lottery PAC - $62,000 from J&J Ventures Gaming of MO LLC (Effingham, IL).

Lobbyists Registrations

Roy Lindfield added Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Mike McMillan, and Donna Lichtenegger.