MOScout Daily Update: Guns as 2024 Issue? - Patterson Wins Speaker Spot - Hicks Gets Primary - Pro-Boyd PAC and more...

1 Big Thing: Guns in 2024?

Greta Bax, lawyer with Stinson, filed six new initiative petitions dealing with gun restrictions.

·       139, 141 and 142 would require a permit to carry a concealed firearm.

·       140 would require background checks for private guns sales and sales at gun shows.

·       143 would establish “red flag” provisions.

·       144 prohibits that sale of a firearm to someone under 18.

These proposals are all constitutional amendments.  And my guess is that they all would poll pretty well.  Most Americans are OK with reasonable gun regulations.

Putting one of these on the 2024 ballot would give Democrats a strong issue to tout, particularly in swing suburban districts.

Meanwhile

Republicans trying to woo their base are happy to blast any suggestions of gun regulation. Attorney General Andrew Bailey, running in a fierce Republican primary, writes in a fundraising appeal that he’s “fighting three proposed constitutional amendments that allow Kansas City, Jackson County, St. Louis, and St. Louis County to pass local regulations that undermine your right to keep and bear arms. The 2nd Amendment is not up for negotiation.”

Driving the Day: Veto Session

The General Assemble convenes today for its Veto Session.  The focus will be on Governor Mike Parson’s line-item vetoes.  Those were in the House Budget Bills.  So, the action will start in the House.  The expectation is that the Senate won’t take up any House overrides.

Missouri Independent has an overview here.

·       Except for the administration of Gov. Jay Nixon – a Democrat who faced veto-proof Republican majorities in both chambers – successful veto overrides are relatively rare in the General Assembly.

One lobbyist joked that Sen. Lincoln Hough might love to bring up an override of a vetoed St. Charles line item to put Sen. Bill Eigel in a tough spot of speechifying against pork projects while voting for his own.  But the chances of that happening today are close to 0%.

Patterson Breaks Barrier Without A Sound

The House Republican Caucus voted to promote Rep. Jon Patterson to the speaker’s office in January 2025.

·       One MOScouter weighs in: The selection of Patterson as Missouri’s first Speaker-elect of color is an historic event, and a big reason it happened is because at no point in the last 5 years did Patterson ever suggest in any way that it would be an historic event. That sort of humility – and the awareness that few Republicans care about such "firsts" – was at the core of his appeal.

Parson Picks Broniec

Press release: Governor Mike Parson announced that he has selected the Honorable Kelly Broniec, 52, to be a Judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri. She will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge George W. Draper III.

·       One reader sees Attorney General Andrew Bailey as the Parson-whisperer behind the choice: “Broniec swore Bailey in... They’re tight.”

Lonsdale Will Run Again

I bumped into Rep. Chris Lonsdale at a fundraiser last night.  Lonsdale – who’s lost about 30 pounds on a walking regimen in the off-season – tips that, after a period of indecision, he’s resolved to run for re-election.

·       He realizes he’s rubbed some folks the wrong way, but he has a good relationship with Speaker-designate Patterson and thinks he can contribute for his constituents.

Hicks Gets Primary

It looks like Rep. Justin Hicks will face a primary challenge in 2024.  Missourians For Max Calfo was formed.

·       Calfo already has a website up and running (see it here).  It calls Hicks a RINO and throws some heavyweight punches.

·       Calfo interned for Congressman Jim Jordan and teaches in the Wentzville School District.

Pro-Boyd PAC

Made in Missouri was formed.  It’s a PAC to support Rep. Mazzie Boyd.  Its treasurer is Carla Grewe.  See the paperwork here.

PACs like these aren’t subject to campaign contribution limits.  And although candidate can raise money for them, they can’t direct their expenditures.  Politicians often form them when they’re considering higher office – or want to raise larger sums of money to help their caucus.

·       In Boyd’s case, perhaps she’s building a war-chest for re-election.  After unseating an incumbent last cycle, she might understand the potential for a primary challenge.

Trump Lawyer Wags Finger at Eigle

Jack Suntrup reports that a lawyer for Donald Trump has asked fundraisers for Sen. Bill Eigel to stop invoking his name in appeals.  Read it here.

·       “Neither Bill Eigel nor his BILL PAC have anything to do with President Trump or his campaign. He knows it and Targeted Victory knows it,” Trump campaign lawyer David Warrington wrote this month to BILL PAC’s treasurer and Targeted Victory’s counsel. “If you do not cease and desist this unauthorized use immediately, President Trump and his campaign will make sure everyone knows it,” the letter said.

Lobbyists Registrations

Jean Paul Bradshaw added Saint Luke's Health System.

Jeffrey Williams added Bayer U.S. LLC.

Rachel Hurley deleted Bayer U.S. LLC.

Eapen Thampy deleted Federal Storage and Green Fuel Partners.

$5K+ Contributions

Northland Forward (pro-Nurrenbern) - $7,500 from Matthew and Angela Lowe.

Physician Led Anesthesia Care PAC - $5,500 from Ozark Anesthesia Associates Inc.

MO Society of Anesthesiologists Political Action Committee - $8,000 from Ozark Anesthesia Associates Inc.

SCOPE PAC - $5,500 from Ozark Anesthesia Associates Inc.

Hahn DeBoef PAC - $25,000 from Mark Gardner.

House Democratic Campaign Committee - $5,191 from Citizens for Crystal Quade.

HCA Missouri Good Government Fund - $50,000 from HCA MidAmerica (Nashville, TN).

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Congresswoman Ann Wagner, and Sam Lee.