MOScout Daily Update: Simmons Preps Rematch - Another Quade Path - GOPers on Trump - Altmann Sings Up Delta and more...

Simmons Vows Return

Former Rep. John Simmons is plotting a comeback.   He was ousted by Rep. Kyle Marquart in 2022 in an upset.  Marquart scored 48.6% in a 3-way primary, with then-incumbent Simmons receiving 46.1%.  It was a 168-vote margin.

Simmons is telling folks he’s running in 2024, and plans a kick-off next month for the House 109 bid.

Altmann to the Rescue

In the lobbyists registrations (below) Jeff Altmann signed up Delta Extraction as a client.  They’re the firm at the heart of the marijuana recall – 63,000 products – ordered on Monday.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) said that the products were not compliantly tracked in the statewide track and trace system that allows the DCR to verify the products came from marijuana grown in Missouri and that the product passed required testing.

·       Adding fuel to the controversy… Jack Suntrup reports in the Post-Dispatch that “Missouri official had planned to pick up video surveillance… But, on the day of the state’s visit, someone broke into the company’s Franklin County facility… and made off with computer servers containing the footage and facility access logs that investigators were seeking…”

Meanwhile… Missouri Independent reports that “Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick Missouri has begun an investigation into the state’s marijuana program… The audit is not a routine, scheduled review. It was initiated by Fitzpatrick after he pledged last year during his campaign to look into how Missouri oversees legalized cannabis.”

GOPers React to Trump Indictment

Statewide Republicans were generally quiet in response to the latest indictment, alleging criminal acts from Donald Trump as he attempting to remain in office after losing the 2020 election. 

Those offering support for Trump…

·       Attorney General Andrew Bailey: Leftists seriously just indicted President Trump for tweeting and Mark Meadows for texting. This is precisely why Missouri is taking Joe Biden to task over his censorship regime. If the First Amendment goes, it all goes.

·       Treasurer Vivek Malek: When @algore's lawyer stated that he did the exact same thing as what Donald Trump was indicted for in #Georgia, you know that the indictment is purely political. Politicizing the judicial system to go make political points is wrong and only increases the divide in our country.  It also diminishes the credibility of the justice system which should be beyond reproach. #TrumpIndictment

·       Denny Hoskins running for secretary of state: Retweeted Jim Jordan… Today’s indictment is just the latest political attack in the Democrats’ WITCH HUNT against President Trump.  He did nothing wrong!

Another Quade Path

Looking at the 2024 gubernatorial race, I’ve written that Democrat Crystal Quade’s narrow path, includes a Dobbs backlash together with Jay Ashcroft as the Republican nominee making a Todd Akins-esque gaffe about reproductive rights.

It’s a perfect storm scenario, but Jeff Smith, writing in the Missouri Independent, offers another path for hopeful Dems in 2024.  It requires fewer pieces of the puzzle to fall into place.  It his view Dems only need one big piece to go missing: Donald Trump… if Trump is not the Republican Party nominee and his diehard voters decide to stay home (or support 3rd party candidates)… Is it likely? Nah.

Morrison for Gov

A press release says that Eric D. Morrison, Pastor of Kingdom Word Ministries, will announce tomorrow that he will run for governor.

·       "No longer should we just be concerned about the needs of a chosen few. My goal is to meet the needs of all Missouri, regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, because we all pay taxes for representation on a fair and equal basis." Morrison plans to run on the platform of creating a better economic, public safety, healthcare, and education system in the State of Missouri.

·       Eric D. Morrison is a native of Kansas City, MO, and has served as Pastor of Kingdom Word Ministries, formerly Sunrise Missionary Baptist Church, for nearly 23 years. As a community servant and leader, Morrison has worked to improve conditions for the underserved and undereducated throughout Missouri. Having earned degrees in Biblical Studies, Christian Education, and Pastoral Theology from Western Baptist Bible College and Heart of America Theological Seminary, he has used his education to create and continue conversations surrounding social justice and reform.

It sounds like he’s running as a Democrat.  See his website here.

Gubby Appts

Governor Mike Parson made several new appointments.

·       Deanna Bokel, Michelle Mincks, and Libby Youse were appointed to the Board of Nursing Home Administrators.

·       Jhan Hurn was appointed to the Mental Health Commission.

·       Judith Meyer was appointed to the Missouri Charter Public School Commission.

·       Ruby Trice was appointed to the Behavioral Analyst Advisory Board.

·       Melissa Winston was appointed to the State Committee of Marital and Family Therapists.

Lobbyists Registrations

Altmann, Jeffrey added Delta Extraction.

Jay Hahn and Ryan DeBoef added Missouri Prime Beef Packers LCC.    

Richard McIntosh, Elizabeth Lauber, and Jerry Hobbs deleted Aspire Advocates.

$5K+ Contributions

Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages - $26,563 from Missouri Workers Power.

Missouri's Energy Future PAC - $15,000 from Ameren Missouri.

A Better Missouri Political Action Committee - $12,500 from Anheuser-Busch Cos.

Missouri First - $12,500 from Altria Client Services LLC (Richmond, VA).

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Minority Leader Crystal Quade, Rep. Rudy Veit, Jesus Osete, Randy Wright, and Sue Meredith.