MOScout Daily Update: ESG Investing Woke or Smart? - Tuberville MO Impact - Shawan Loss - Schmitt to Iowa? and more...
1 Big Thing: ESG “Woke” Investing? Or Smart Investing?
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft has found himself embroiled in a lawsuit over his new rules dealing with ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance) investments.
The news was cheers by pro-Ashcroft pols: “Ashcroft will be headed to court as finance trade group sues his new ESG rule. Now, for the next few months, his efforts to take on ‘woke’ corporate culture will be in the headlines week after week. Huge initiative for him to have spearheaded with overwhelming popularity in a Republican primary.”
But I wonder looking back in ten years, folks won’t shake their heads at the move to make ESG investing a partisan issue.
· Across the country, a profound shift is taking place that is nearly invisible to most Americans. The nation that burned coal, oil and gas for more than a century to become the richest economy on the planet, as well as historically the most polluting, is rapidly shifting away from fossil fuels…
· Wind and solar power are breaking records, and renewables are now expected to overtake coal by 2025 as the world’s largest source of electricity. Automakers have made electric vehicles central to their business strategies and are openly talking about an expiration date on the internal combustion engine. Heating, cooling, cooking and some manufacturing are going electric…
And…
About two-thirds of the new investment in clean energy is in Republican-controlled states, where policymakers have historically resisted renewables. But with each passing month, the politics seem to matter less than the economics.
Last week’s groundbreaking in Missouri of a new $400 million battery materials plant for electric vehicles…
Of Note…
Jameson Ramirez tweets that Congressman Jason Smith has owned the Pioneer Fund since 2017, one of the first mutual funds to focus on “responsible investing.”
Week Ahead….
· Tuesday: State Board of Education Meeting. See the agenda here.
· Also Tuesday: Observers believe a 4th indictment against President Trump could come late Tuesday from prosecutors examining his efforts to overturn Georgia’s vote result.
· Thursday: Governor’s Ham Breakfast at the State Fair. It’s a big hub-bub of politicos. And my guess is we’ll see a show of force from Team Kehoe with lots of “Kehoe for governor” stickers in photos.
· Also Thursday: House Republicans begin their summer caucus. I’m told Dems raised over $100K at their fundraiser last week which is “a good bit more than they’ve usually” done.
Shawan Loss
I missed this, but on last Tuesday’s election, former Rep. Jeff Shawan ran and lost for the Ozark Border Cooperative Board of Directors. He lost 1592-649, running against an incumbent.
· Rumors are that Sen. Jason Bean may not run for re-election, but rather run for a statewide spot. Shawan previously ran for Bean’s seat. Does this latest loss impact whether he’d run again?
Schmitt to Iowa?
Semafor reports that Senator Eric Schmitt will be stumping for Donald Trump in Iowa…
Donald Trump is sending a parade of MAGA celebrities to keep himself the main focus at the Iowa State Fair this week. The efforts began on day one: Ahead of the former president’s trip, Kari Lake spent a few days on the ground stumping for Trump. Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt hit the ground running on Sunday, and a Trump campaign staffer told Semafor they also plan to bring in former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker, Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene throughout next week.
Committee Filings
· Rafael Madrigal formed a campaign committee to run for House 119. This will create a Republican primary with incumbent Rep. Brad Banderman. Madrigal is an alderman in Pacific Missouri.
· Former Rep. Lindell Shumake is staying in the game; he’s treasurer for Barry Louderman running for Hannibal mayor.
· Mark Boyko amended his campaign committee to run for House 90. See the paperwork here. That would create a Democratic primary with incumbent Rep. Barbara Phifer. Boyko ran unsuccessfully for Senate 15 in 2016, losing in the primary.
Tuberville MO Impact
Washington Post reports on the 301 military promotions that are being blocked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville. See the list here.
One is in Missouri…. Joy L. Grimes, Army National Guard - Joint Force Headquarters, Branch Chief, Missouri Army National Guard in Jefferson City, Mo
eMailbag on Parson Tattoo
I cannot imagine Jay Ashcroft having a tattoo. I bet you a drink he considers tattoos a defilement of our body.
Follow-up on SB24
The portion of the bill that was described in SB 24 isn’t actually the base bill, which instead deals with a critical illness pool. This path was actually taken to avoid the issues with worker’s comp. The worker’s comp provision is for the police, and it was added onto the bill in the House.
Lobbyists Registrations
Jennifer Anne Kozinn added North Kansas City Hospital Board of Trustees.
David Sweeney added SA Recycling.
$5K+ Contributions
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $22,000 from Rudy Farber.
Mo Coalition for Video Lottery PAC - $48,500 from Accel Entertainment Gaming, LLC.
Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages - $6,794 from Missouri Organizing and Voter Engagement Collaborative.
CN-MO PAC - $30,000 from Twin River.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. David Griffith, Ashley Bax, Nancy Cross, Tyler Travers, Ronda Stegmann, Doug Moore, Locke Thompson, and John Loudon.