MOScout Daily Update: Tyson's Crushing News - Rizzo Joins PSC TOU Fight - Martin Joins Senate 11 Race - Fitz 2026 Primary? and more...
Tyson Announces Closures
In a move which highlighted the economic fragility of rural communities dependent on multi-national companies, Tyson Foods announced two plant closings in Missouri. Josh Ayers of the Dexter Statesman reports on it here.
How devastating is this to these towns? Post-Dispatch reports that currently Tyson employs…
· 683 people in Dexter, a town with a population 7,900.
· 1,500 people in Noel, a town “about an hour south of Joplin” with a population on 2,100.
Gubernatorial candidate Jay Ashcroft says it wouldn’t have happened if he was governor. “Sadly our state has not been the partner it should have been and now thousands of hardworking Missourians will feel the consequences. As Gov, I will make sure that we keep rural jobs!”
· One Republican growls at Ashcroft’s assertion: Ashcroft is either very misinformed or straight untruthful with this shoot from the hip tweet. Local legislative leaders met with Tyson and repeatedly asked how to save the jobs and the company said there was nothing the state could do.
Another Suit in Pro-Choice IP
Missouri Independent reports on the latest lawsuit challenging the pro-choice initiative petition. This one, once again, says that the auditor has miscalculated the true cost of proposal. They believe that abortions will result in fewer tax-payers which amounts to lost revenue for the state. Read it here.
· State Rep. Hannah Kelly, R-Mountain Grove, and state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, are named plaintiffs in litigation along with Kathy Forck, a longtime anti-abortion advocate from New Bloomfield. The trio is challenging Republican state Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick’s conclusion that a proposed constitutional amendment rolling back Missouri’s abortion ban would have no cost to state government if it were approved by voters next year.
· Instead, plaintiffs in the case believe the cost estimate should state that legalizing abortion in Missouri could result in millions of dollars lost to local governments and billions for the state. Fitzpatrick’s estimate, the lawsuit says, is “inaccurate in a way that is both misleading to voters and obvious to and curable by the auditor.”
What It Means
Forget Fitzpatrick’s long record as being pro-life, I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t see a right-side challenge in the 2026 primary.
Driving the Day: Elections
Municipal elections today.
· On a lot of ballots… adding a local sales tax to marijuana.
Latest on O’Laughlin and PSC
Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo signed a joint letter with Majority Floor Leader Cindy O’Laughlin asking the Public Service Commission to reverse its position on time of use rates.
Meanwhile…
One reader wonders if the legislature will turn their attention to the municipal utilities next…
Has anyone commenting taken a look at municipal utilities in Missouri!? They literally have demand meters, which charge higher rates when peak demand is met. It costs ratepayers tons of money! Yet, no one says a thing about regulating the municipality owned utilities. So apparently it's only bad if you're publicly traded utility. Taxpayers be damned I guess....
Martin Joins Senate 11 Race
David Martin formed a campaign committee to run for Senate 11 as a Republican. See the paperwork here.
He’s the third Republican, joining Rep. Aaron McMullen and Joe Nicola, in this race to succeed termed Democratic Sen. John Rizzo.
Martin ran for House 29 in 2022. He won the 3-way Republican primary with 48%, but then lost to Democrat Aaron Crossley in a tight race (52%-48%).
From Martin’s House campaign: David Martin is a father, a truck driver, and a conservative running to be a voice for Central Jackson County in the Missouri state legislature. Like many Jackson Countians, David is tired of out-of-touch politicians who look the other way while ordinary Missourians struggle as a result of the problems they created. David is running to be a problem solver and a tireless conservative champion for the people of Independence and Kansas City.
· McMullen would be considered the favorite in the Senate 11 primary; the winner will face Democratic Rep. Robert Sauls.
Informed Consent IP Filed
Byron Keelin, with Freedom Principle MO, filed an initiative petition to enshrine the right of “informed consent.”
It’s a long way off from possibly being on the ballot. Just something to watch.
“No law, rule, order, ordinance, or regulation shall require, mandate, or coerce any person to receive or use a medical procedure, treatment, vaccine, prophylactic, pharmaceutical, or medical device nor discriminate against the individual who exercises this right.”
Papa Fite Featured
James Fite, dad to capitol denizen Farrah Fite, is featured in a News Tribune article about the “secret of living a fulfilling life.” Read it here.
· Fite is a regular at several restaurants in town, showing up in his 2023 white Corvette for breakfast at Oscar's Classic Diner every morning, and getting his usual dinner order -- a prime rib sandwich -- at Ecco Lounge in the evenings, where he is affectionately known as "Big Papa" by wait staff.
· He even rents out Oscar's for his annual birthday parties, which started when he moved to Jefferson City four years ago. "When I first moved here, I said, 'I don't have any friends!'" Fite said. "So my daughter and son-in-law held a birthday party here for me at Oscar's where 48 people came."
· Fite said he plans on living to be 100 and inviting everyone to his birthday party. "I don't know how I'm going to arrive," he said. "Maybe in a box, but I'm going to have it!"
Lobbyists Registrations
Rodney Boyd, Brian Grace, Kate Casas, Kelvin Simmons, Alex Eaton, Scott Swain, and Jasmine Wells added CFM Insurance, Inc.
Steven Tilley deleted PayIt, LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Fraternal Order Of Police, Lodge 15 PAC - $10,721 from FOP Lodge 15.
Credit Union Political Action Committee of Missouri - $10,000 from Together Credit Union.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays Shawn Furey, Robbyn Wahby, Greta Bax, and Casey Millburg.