MOScout Daily Update: Another Special Committee - Scharf + Trump - Koenig Starts Sprint - Strong Joins G&S and more...

Jan 10

Another Special Committee

Speaker Dean Plocher announced another committee, Special Committee on Property Tax Reform.

It’s Chaired by Rep. Brad Christ. Rep. Aaron McMullen is Vice-Chair, and Rep. Robert Sauls is the Ranking Minority Member. Also on the committee: Reps. Ashley Bland Manlove, Chris Brown, Donnie Brown, Cyndi Buchheit-Courtway, Tricia Byrnes, Darin Chappell, Jeff Coleman, Aaron Crossley, Anthony Ealy, David Evans, Sherri Gallick, Wendy Hausman, Dave Hinman, Keri Ingle, Jamie Johnson, Chris Lonsdale, Mark Matthiesen, Peggy McGaugh, Mike McGirl, Jim Murphy, Chantelle Nickson-Clark, Sean Pouche, Raychel Proudie, Rodger Reedy, Mark Sharp, Travis Smith, Dan Stacy, and Kemp Strickler

· One Dem quipped: It’ll be interesting to see how many committees he needs to create to get his priorities done.

· Sauls is the second Democrat on the Ethics Committee that Plocher has installed as the top Democrat on one of these new special committees. Rep. Paula Brown is Vice-Chair of the Special Committee of Policy Review.

Scharf + Trump?

Attorney General candidate Will Scharf got to hang with Donald Trump yesterday at oral arguments that Trump should be immune from criminal prosecution.

The consensus among MO observers is that this is huge opportunity for Scharf to land Trump’s endorsement in his primary.

But the legal team’s insistence that an American president could order the assassination of a political opponent without criminal liability raised eyebrows. See the exchange here.

· MO GOPer: “2nd day in a row an idiot argument has been made for Trump from Team Missouri.”

Cooper Quote

Former Rep. Shannon Cooper, now a lobbyist with Giddens Group, in a hearing about a bill which exempts from legislators from some gun laws, said: “I would put on the record in fact, I've received more death threats as a lobbyist than I did as an elected official.”

Senate Ed’s Quick Start

This afternoon, the Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee will have its first hearing (1PM, Senate Lounge). In his last legislative session, Chair Andrew Koenig appears to be putting the pedal to the metal.

· Koenig’s SB 727 ups the amount of tax credits available in the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program from $50 million to $75 million.

· Koenig’s SB 729 would create a tax credit for 100% of private school tuition.

· Sen. Curtis Trent’s SB 804 adds “student growth” to DESE’s annual performance ratings of public schools.

And

Trent’s bill hints at pushback with the latest MSIP6 framework to grade school performance.

· See a Springfield News Leader article on the reception of MSIP6 here.

· The State Board of Education was set to discuss MSIP6 last meeting until it was pulled from the agenda.

· The raw data for MSIP6 was briefly removed from the DESE website this week.

· Complicating the collection and maintenance of data, word is that Stuart Koelling, Chief Data Officer for DESE has tendered his resignation.

Bernsy Gets Hot Button Issues

In yesterday’s Senate bill referrals, it became clear that Sen. Mike Bernskoetter’s General Laws will once again be the eipcenter for some of this session’s most contentious hearings. I expect that the unflappable Bernskoetter will remain unflapped during these hearings – but he may be tested.

· Sen. Rick Brattin’s SB 771 offers the presumption of self-defense, a bill that some law enforcement officials have characterized as “legalizing murder” because it would make claims of self-defense hard to disprove.

· Sen. Greg Razer’s SB 787 prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, a flashpoint between older conservatives and progressives.

· Sen. Steven Roberts’ SB 790 outlaws possession of a firearm by a minor. It’s popular in the urban areas, but is considered an outrage by 2A purists.

Concurrent Majorities

As the Republican supermajority tries to rein in initiative petitions, requiring concurrent majorities appears to be the most popular plan. It’s the method proposed by several House members.

· Brad Hudson’s HJR 76

· Ann Kelley’s HJR 81

· Adam Schnelting’s HJR 91

· Doug Richey’s HJR 94

· Chris Dinkins’ HJR 113

Concurrent majorities means that a statewide vote would have to pass by a simple majority just like now, AND also pass by majorities in a majority (5 of 8) of the state’s congressional districts. The idea is to give extra weight to rural voters who might otherwise be overwhelmed by suburban and urban voters.

Some observers think this plan is doomed: the idea is too complicated to explain to voters in a way to pass it in November.

Meanwhile

The Missouri Mapper looks at various types of concurrent majorities. It doesn’t have to be congressional districts. It could be House districts or Senate districts. See his analysis here.

· Interesting to note that Amendment 3 (legalizing marijuana) would have failed under the concurrent congressional majorities standard.

Strong Joins Gamble & Schlemeier

Press release: Gamble & Schlemeier, Missouri’s largest and top-ranked lobbying firm, is proud to announce the addition of Nikki Strong to its distinguished team of governmental affairs professionals. Bringing nearly two decades of lobbying experience, Nikki joins the firm as a seasoned lobbyist. Her extensive background in advocating for various sectors such as healthcare, education, and economic development will be a valuable addition to the Gamble & Schlemeier team.

Nikki Strong, a native of Jefferson City, brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to Gamble & Schlemeier. Inspired by her grandfather, Jim Strong, a former Missouri legislator, Nikki’s passion for government affairs was kindled at a young age. Her career highlights include significant roles at the Missouri Health Care Association and a decade of experience as a paralegal before her lobbying career…

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See the ad here.

Lobbyist Registrations

Jamie Burkhart added Missouri Association of School Administrators, and Missouri Council of School Administrators.

Ryan DeBoef added Good Dads, Inc.

John Cozad added Central Cass Fire District.

Richard McIntosh added Schaefer Law & Policy, LLC.

Justin Ouimette and Andrew Roth added State Freedom Caucus Network.

Lisa Pannett added ARMORVINE LLC.

Alex Tuttle added University Health Foundation.

Alan Meizlik added Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems, Inc.

Scott Woodruff added Home School Legal Defense Association.

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