MOScout Daily Update: O'Laughlin Rages at PSC - Conservative Caucus Slate? - Jones-Roberts Rift - Malek Branding and more...
1 Big Thing: O’Laughlin Vows “Total Makeover” at PSC
Senate Floor Leader Cindy O’Laughlin on Facebook takes aim at the Public Service Commission for the coming changes to Evergy’s peak-time rates.
KCUR’s explainer: All of Evergy’s Missouri customers will see a steep price hike for the electricity they burn during the peak demand hours of late afternoon and early evening. It’s called time-of-use pricing and Jim Busch, the director of industry analysis at the Missouri Public Service Commission, said it makes sense… Electricity costs more to generate at peak times, like summer evenings when everyone’s running their air conditioners. Companies have to fire up auxiliary generators to meet that demand… Time-of-use rates reflect that added cost. Customers pay something closer to the actual cost to produce power at a given time — and have an incentive to use less electricity when it costs the most to produce.
O’Laughlin: The PSC is to be protecting and acting in the best interests of the customers and instead they are joining in the “Woke” movement which involves shutting down your power. They apparently also tried to order Ameren to do it but then let Ameren opt out.
It appears the Chair of the PSC, which is Scott Rupp is favorable to this idea since they are the ones ordering Evergy to do it. Seems if Ameren can opt out so should Evergy be able to. This is why people don’t trust government and I will be looking into every detail of this.
There is no rationale for this other than to take away your ability to function as an independent citizen. The PSC needs a total makeover and it will be my goal to accomplish this. They are to represent you and are obviously not carrying out that obligation…
These are the people responsible for rationing your electricity through price gouging…
The Coming Conservative Caucus Slate
With the expected entry of Sen. Andrew Koenig into the state treasurer’s race, we could have former Senate Conservative Caucus members in most of the statewide races…
· Governor: Bill Eigel.
· Lieutenant Governor: Bob Onder?
· Secretary of State: Denny Hoskins.
· Treasurer: Koenig.
What It Means
This will fuel suspicions that next session will be full of “drama” as these senators seek to define themselves as farther right.
Jones – Roberts Rift
KSDK sunshined Mayor Tishaura Jones text messages about replacing Kim Gardner and found disparaging messages about Sen. Steven Roberts as she sought to undermine his bid to become the next circuit attorney. Read it here.
· The surprise nugget: The idea to pick Gabe Gore apparently came from Worldwide Tech CEO David Steward.
What It Means
Same old shit. A city defined by its rifts as much as anything else. St. Louis is perpetually on the defense in Jefferson City, and yet two senators is too many for the mayor to get along with. “Keep St. Louis dysfunctional!”
State Hits FY2023 Consensus Revenue Target
Last week the books closed on fiscal year 2023. June’s final numbers showed that state general revenues came in at $13.23 billion for the year. That’s slightly above the $13.1 consensus revenue target. It’s actually right about at the FY2024 revenue target of $13.2 billion. So state budgeteers are now forecasting flat revenues for the year ahead.
Mata for House 17
Rep. Bill Allen has a Democratic challenger in House 17. Allen narrowly beat (49 votes) Mark Ellebracht.
Now Shirley Mata has a committee formed and will have her kick-off event next week. Mata is a UAW Local 249 member, and made waves briefly when she challenged then-Party Chair Michael Butler.
· President Joe Biden won this district in 2020 with 51.6%
Malek Branding
Team Malek is working hard to bolster his image and name ID ahead of potential challengers entering the race.
· Over the recent July 4 weekend, Treasurer Vivek Malek penned a patriotic column in The Joplin Globe, highlighting his journey from rural India to American citizenship: “My American journey, like those of so many generations who are legal citizens by choice, is proof that you can reach the stars under the Stars and Stripes…”
· Malek also ran a patriotic-themed TV ad in Springfield long with a shorter video ad texted over the holiday to thousands of likely 2024 Republican primary voters.
What It Means
Vivek’s strong fundraising means he’ll be entering this fight with plenty of ammo. Spending some of it early could help establish him as the default Republican incumbent.
Kunce Raises Another Million
Democrat Lucas Kunce, running for US Senate, announced he’d raised $1.2 million in the last quarter beating his previous record haul of $1.1 million from the quarter before.
Kunce now faces St. Louis County Prosecutor Welsey Bell in a battle for the Democratic nomination. The winner will face Senator Josh Hawley.
The big number shows the extent to which Kunce has cultivated a national online fundraising base – something that Bell won’t be able to replicate.
· But… Kunce spends heavily as well. Q1, he spent $440K, ending with $695K cash on-hand.
Gov’s Moves
Governor Mike Parson announced a few staff changes yesterday.
· He named Kelli Jones as his new Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of Governor. Jones previously served as Communications Director and chief media spokeswoman for the Office.
· Stephanie Whitaker is his new Communications Director. She has served as Communications Assistant, Communications Specialist, and most recently as Deputy Communications Director.
· Johnathan Shiflett is his Deputy Communications Director and Press Secretary for the Office of Governor. Shiflett joined the Office of Governor in January 2020 as a Communications and Policy Intern while pursuing his undergraduate degree. He has been with the Office ever since, serving as a Communications and Policy Specialist as well as State-Federal Affairs Liaison.
Lobbyists Registrations
Mike Gibbons and Trish Workman deleted Elle Management, LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Taney County Backs the Blue - $25,000 from Taney County Partnership.
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $10,000 from William Darr.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Susan Montee.