MOScout Daily Update: Koenig for Treasurer? - Big $$$ into Statewide PACs - Parson Line Item Vetoes - Aune for Minority Leader and more...
Rumorville: Koenig for Treasurer!
Sen. Andrew Koenig, who is term-limited, has a fundraiser coming up…
Rumors (and good sourcing) indicate that this is in preparation for a state treasurer’s run. Koenig would be taking on Governor Mike Parson’s hand-picked treasurer Vivek Malek. And of course, capitol watchers are expecting an announcement in the coming months from Rep. Cody Smith too.
The lay of the land…
· Incumbents generally want crowded primaries because they have established name ID, and any opposition is splintered in a multi-candidate field.
· Koenig brings two very big constituencies to the race. He’s been a pro-life champion his entire career, not just in rhetoric and voting, but in consistently moving significant pro-life legislation. He’s been a pro-school choice advocate just as vehemently. Both these groups are highly motivated voter blocs.
Koenig starts far behind in the money race. His totals from the April quarterly reports…
· Candidate committee: $56K COH.
· Freedom’s Promise PAC: $16K COH
Big $$$ At Deadline
A wave of checks came into PACs for statewide candidates at the end of the quarter…
· $172,500 for Bill Eigel’s PAC – nearly all of it from trial attorney firms.
· $85,000 for Mike Kehoe’s PAC.
· $5,800 for Jay Ashcroft’s PAC.
· Treasurer Vivek Malek continued to shovel money into his PAC, checks totaling $550,000
· And AG Andrew Bailey’s PAC received a $50,000 check from Rex Sinquefield.
We’ll get the official numbers on July 17 when quarterly reports are due, but here are the large contribution totals for various statewide PACs since April 1.
Governor
· Ashcroft - $105,800
· Eigel - $172,500
· Kehoe - $560,700
Treasurer
· Malek - $627,200
Attorney General
· Bailey - $60,000
· Scharf - $0.
What It Means
· Kehoe’s PAC had a million-dollar cash on-hand lead over Ashcroft’s PAC at the end of last quarter. These numbers mean he’ll be extending his lead even farther.
· Malek has been building a war-chest to face his inevitable primary opponent. He’ll now have over a million dollars cash on-hand in his PAC at this quarter’s end.
· Scharf apparently folded his PAC into the MO Club for Growth efforts. That may effectively hide how much firepower he’ll ultimately be bringing to the AG war.
1 Big Thing: Sens Growl At Gov’s Line-Item Vetoes
Governor Mike Parson signed the FY2024 budget last week, slicing off over $500 million in the process. See the various budget bills and accompanying gubernatorial letters outlining the cuts here.
Parson justified most of his vetoes as simple fiscal responsibility: The Fiscal Year 2024 budget that was passed by the Missouri General Assembly totals $53.5 billion, over $1.7 billion more than my recommended budget. Additionally, the Missouri General Assembly passed legislation which is estimated to result in a loss of ongoing general revenues exceeding $300 million and increasing ongoing general revenue expenditures by over $200 million. In addition, Missouri has consistently maintained a AAA bond rating and we will ensure a balanced budget for years to come. In light of all these factors, I have vetoed this provision in an effort to help ensure the financial stability of Missouri beyond my Administration and the current General Assembly…
But, many of the items he vetoed where specific earmarks that legislators were anxious to deliver to their constituents.
· One Senate-side source marveled at “the cross section of people Parson pissed off with the vetoes.” Some senators are hopping mad and itching for revenge. One assumes that tempers will cool, but if not, one possible target will be confirmation of the governor’s appointment of Kayla Hahn to the Public Service Commission.
Aune for Minority Leader
Rep. Ashley Aune announced that she’s running for minority leader. From the email blast…
House Democrats intend to end the Republican supermajority in 2024 by flipping at least three more seats—and that’s just the beginning. Continuing this momentum into 2025 and beyond will require bold leadership with a deep understanding of where our caucus has been and where our collective strength lies.
For the last five years, Crystal Quade has led the Democratic House Caucus with integrity, poise, and a passion for serving all Missourians. As the next minority floor leader, I will build upon Quade’s legacy—ensuring the caucus’ viability by continuing to invest in members and the Democratic infrastructure that has flipped four seats in the last two cycles…
What It Means
House minority leader has been one of the toughest jobs in the capitol in recent years. You have negligible power to enforce caucus discipline, so keeping everyone on the same page requires layers of charm, coaching and coaxing.
· Still, Aune will likely have competition for the spot. Names previously mentioned: Reps. Marlon Anderson, Jamie Johnson, and David Tyson Smith.
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Parson announced various appointments…
· Marcy Anderson, of Holden, was appointed as the Johnson County Circuit Clerk.
· Lacey Brumley, of Rolla, was appointed to the Missouri Board of Occupational Therapy.
· Jacob Clary, of Bloomfield, was appointed as the Stoddard County Assessor.
· Hadley Oden, of Hermann, was appointed as the Student Representative to the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors.
· Gary Polk, of Salem, was appointed as the Dent County District Two Commissioner.
· Kerry Robinson, of Ballwin, was appointed to the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Governors.
· Amy Stark, of Nixa, was appointed to the Missouri Board of Occupational Therapy.
Lobbyists Registrations
Jeff Altmann and Troy Stremming added J & J Ventures.
Amy Gunn added Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.
Phillip Scaglia added Centerpoint Medical Center.
Gamble & Schlemeier deleted Operation Sand, LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC (pro-Eigel) - $25,000 from Strong, Garner, Bauer.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $10,000 from Gorny Dandurand.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $25,000 from Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe, LC.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $25,000 from Langdon & Emison LLC.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $10,000 from Placzek Winget Placzek LLC.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $10,000 from Ortwerth Law LLC.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $10,000 from Barnes Law Firm LLC.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $10,000 from Sanders Law.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $10,000 from Brown & Crouppen PC.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $25,000 from Simmons Hanly Conroy (Alton, IL).
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $12,500 from 1776 PAC.
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $50,000 from Howard Wood.
American Dream PAC - $25,000 from Midwest Cement Company.
American Dream PAC - $10,000 from ACEC Missouri PAC.
Committee for Liberty (pro-Ashcroft) - $5,800 from MAC.
American Promise PAC (pro-Malek) - $500,000 from Pacifica Consulting Services, LLC.
American Promise PAC - $25,000 from Auto Plaza Motorsports, LLC.
American Promise PAC - $16,100 from 2S Business Management LLC.
American Promise PAC - $9,000 from Holiday Inn Express & Suites Crown Hospitality LLC.
Liberty and Justice PAC (pro-Bailey) - $50,000 from Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield.
Homefront PAC (pro-Webber) - $20,000 from United Food and Commercial Workers International (Washington, DC).
HealthPAC - $100,000 from MHA Management Services Corporation.
UAW Region 4 Midwest States PAC (MO) - $6,000 from Midwest State Cap Exchange.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Spire Missouri Inc.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Jake Zimmerman, Jerry Hunter, Chris Molendorp and Gary Dusenberg.