MOScout Daily Update: Lawyers Back Eigel - Oehlerking for Asst Floor - Roberts Requests Audit - Rook for Treasurer, Berry for LG and more...
Money Watch: Lawyers Back Eigel PAC
The pro-Bill Eigel PAC Believe in Life and Liberty received $140,000 yesterday. The checks were largely from trial attorneys. Eigel and other former conservative caucus members have been the recipients of contributions from trial attorneys as they stood last session preventing a tort reform bill from coming to a vote.
With the quarterly deadline a little over a week away, here are the large contribution totals to the three gubernatorial PACS this quarter…
· Ashcroft’s Liberty Committee: $131,525
· Eigel’s BILL PAC: $195,000
· Kehoe’s American Dream: $263,325
Oehlerking Announces for Asst Floor
In a letter to his Republican state representatives (see it here), Rep. Philip Oehlerking pledged to improve communications if elected Assistant Floor Leader.
[O]ne area I believe needs improvement is communication within our caucus. Our Democratic colleagues maintain message discipline and rapidly disseminate talking points, enabling them to control narratives in the media. As Republicans, we must be more proactive in crafting unified messaging that touts the good media the good work we’re doing for Missourians
As I meet with you, I will share a detailed and comprehensive ten point communications proposal…
More GOP Candidates
Two more Republican statewide candidates have joined the 2024 scrum. Neither are familiar names to the Jefferson City crowd.
· Lori Rook announced yesterday that she is a candidate for treasurer. She’s an attorney from Springfield. See her professional bio here.
· Paul Berry III is running for lieutenant governor. See his Facebook page here, and website here.
I have added both to the 2024 Watch spreadsheet. But until they display some fundraising or groundswell of support, one assumes they’ll be single-digit candidates.
Finding the Right Pro-Choice IP
One reader points out that as much as pro-choice activists would like an initiative petition that is “MO than Roe,” the reality is that Missouri voters aren’t anywhere near approving such a proposal.
The data…
· Gallup reports only 34% of Americans agree that abortions should be legal under any circumstance. See it here.
· That numbers appears to be similar in Missouri. Last year’s SLU/YouGov poll showed 32% of Missourians supporting a woman’s right to have an abortion for any reason.
HBCU Funding Disparity
Missouri Independent has a story about the historic underfunding of land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Read it here.
· According to a letter from Biden Administration officials, Missouri has underfunded Lincoln University by $361 million.
This has been an ongoing debate for some time. While I’m not sure this will have much impact on the budget writers in the legislature, it could serve as important evidence should a lawsuit be filed at some time to address the disparity.
We’ll see…
Roberts Asks Fitz for Jail Audit
Sen. Steven Roberts sent a letter to Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick auditor the St. Louis City Jail.
I am writing to express my deep concern with the operation of the St. Louis City Jail, which has,
in the past 24 months, experienced nine tragic deaths, horrifying riots, and a harrowing hostage
situation. To ensure the safety of jail staff, their law enforcement partners, and the offenders
housed within, I am requesting you initiate a thorough audit of this facility, its management, and
its finances under your authority in RSMo 22.221.
· The jail has been a source of criticism of Mayor Tishaura Jones. She and Roberts have been political combatants for many years.
Lobbyists Registrations
Nexus Group added GS STL CM Property Owner LLC.
Rachel Pinto added Everytown For Gun Safety Action Fund.
$5K+ Contributions
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC (pro-Eigel) - $25,000 from The Simon Law Firm, PC.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $25,000 from Strong Garner Bauer.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $25,000 from Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe, LC.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $25,000 from Langdon & Emison, LLC.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $20,000 from Joseph and Yvonne Cordell.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $10,000 from Shamberg, Johnson, and Bergman.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $10,000 from MO Coalition for Video Lottery PAC.
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $25,000 from August Busch.
417 PAC (pro-Trent) - $10,000 from MO Coalition for Video Lottery PAC.
1776 PAC (pro-Schroer) - $6,500 from Missouri C PAC.
1776 PAC - $10,000 from MO Coalition for Video Lottery PAC.
1776 PAC - $6,500 from Spirit of Missouri.
1776 PAC - $13,000 from Missouri Law Enforcement for Good Government PAC.
Missouri Gaming PAC - $16,235 from Harrah's North Kansas City (Las Vegas, NV).
Missouri Leadership PAC - $20,000 from Quality Schools Coalition.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, Kari Hoelscher, Joe Driskill, and Roman LeBlanc.