MOScout Daily Update: Casinos Wary of Sports Betting IPs - Eigel Contra Parson - Just Keep Scrolling? and more...

1 Big Thing: Casinos Skeptical of IPs

Casinos would likely oppose the new sports betting initiative petitions – should one of them make it to the 2024 ballot.

Although casinos and professional sports teams have generally been aligned in their efforts to legalize betting in Missouri, the specific framework of the IPs is different than what’s been proposed previously in the legislature.

The new sports betting initiative petitions contain provisions which would give the sports teams “a skin,” allowing them to operate a sports betting outlet as if they were casinos.

What It Means

The initiative petitions were seen as a potential leverage point to encourage the legislature to act on the issue before ceding control to the voters.  However, if the casinos were to oppose the IPs, that point of leverage is significantly weakened.

Veto Session Recap

As expected, the Senate refused to take up any overrides, leaving Governor Mike Parson’s budget cuts in place.

Sen. Bill Eigel stood and railed simultaneously against the big bloated budget and against some specific budget cuts.

His speech may have offered a glimpse of the next session…

·       Eigel and Sen. Denny Hoskins will be common debate partners.  Both running for statewide office in 2024, will routinely use the Senate floor as a platform to discuss how they would conduct business differently if they’re elected.

·       Eigel will spare no criticism of Parson.  Just as Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe will latch himself to the successes of the Parson Administration, Eigel is running against the way Parson has operated – lumping in with “the swamp.”

Just Keep Scrolling?

The Department of Health and Senior Services announced on Twitter the coming fall vaccines for COVID with a playful wink at Missourians who no longer trust vaccines.

 ·       I guess at least we’re not Florida where they’re recommending against getting the shot.

House Admin Stands Pat

On Tuesday, the House Administration and Accounts Committee discussed a proposal to purchase a new constituent service system.

The mundane topic became a hot-button topic in some circles after a whacky video was released by the Missouri Freedom Initiative creating suspicion about the move (and questioning if Speaker Dean Plocher was “an agent of the World Economic Forum”).

Ultimately the committee approved a motion by Rep. Dean Van Schoiack to stick with the current system for another two years.

Lobbyists Registrations

Will Cousineau added Michael Bond, and Cornerstone Government Affairs.

$5K+ Contributions

Great Outdoors PAC - $7,500 from Green Four Ventures LLC.

A Better Missouri Political Action Committee - $21,000 from Anheuser-Busch Cos.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $15,000 from Burns & McDonnell.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $10,000 from Drury Development Corporation.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $7,500 from H PAC.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $10,000 from Cigna Holding Company (Washington, DC).

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $18,000 from Missouri Law Enforcement for Good Government PAC.

International Brotherhood of Teamsters Missouri PAC - Federal Committee - $39,017 from DRIVE Committee (Washington, DC).

Protect Missouri Workers PAC - $15,000 from Simmons Hanly Conroy (Alton, IL).

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Brad Christ, Jon Dalton, and Gene McNary.