MOScout Daily Update: Eigel and Scharf Team Up? - Davis Gets Primary - Senate Rules Debate - Ernst Joins HRCC and more...

Scharf and Eigel Team Up?

Next week, gubernatorial candidate Sen. Bill Eigel and attorney general candidate Will Scharf will do a joint event.

 ·       It’s interesting because the AG’s race is the only statewide slot in which the new Freedom Caucus doesn’t have a member running.

·       Eigel has been blistering in his criticism of Governor Mike Parson, so it’s natural he’d favor the insurgent candidate in the AG’s race instead of Parson’s appointee. And Scharf may be looking to tap into Eigel’s grassroots energy.

Davis Gets Primary

Press release: Former Summit Christian Academy Head Football Coach Todd Berck has announced he is running for the Republican nomination for Missouri House State Representative in the 56th District. Coach Berck lives in Raymore with his wife Becky, and is a strong law and order, small government, and social conservative… A small-town guy, Coach Berck grew up in Centralia, MO. He went on to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Southwest Baptist University while earning all-conference honors playing tight end for Bearcat football team. He also has a Specialist Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Todd and his wife Becky will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary this August. They have three grown children who are all teachers and two grandchildren…

·       House 56 is currently represented by Rep. Michael Davis.

·       One reason behind the Berck candidacy: the “Kill the Fill” landfill issue rallying Raymore.

·       Berck tells MOScout, “People want to see and hear from their elected leaders, especially in times of crisis.  I will be present and visible for my district!”

Senate Debates Rules

The Senate rejected a change to its rules which would have required Senate substitutes to wait a day before being debated.  Sen. Bill Eigel said he proposed the change to give senators time to read the bills.  The Senate sets the rules which will govern its proceedings at the start of each legislative session.  Rule changes are not rare, but they’re not frequent either, and they’re usually, like this proposal, a small tweak.

·       My guess is that the Freedom Caucus was gleeful that they got Pro Tem Caleb Rowden on the record saying that he hadn’t read every bill he’s voted on.  It may be a damaging soundbite. But it also describes 99% of the senators who have served in the chamber.  It’s impossible to read every line of every bill while juggling other senatorial duties.  Senators rely on staff, and the good word of other senators, to understand what they’re voting on.

·       Rowden, and others in opposition, noted that if you hadn’t read a bill up for a vote, you could simply stand up and inquire of the handler, “Hey walk me through this.”  It happens ALL THE TIME.  It’s an accepted practice of the Senate.  Debate has never been closed on someone asking to understand a bill, or asking about specific language within a bill.

·       In fact, ironically, Eigel’s proposal might have helped lobbyists more than anyone else.  Having time to gather opposition or build support for a change is invaluable.

·       The debate, which got heated at times, was nevertheless healthy.  All parties seemed to agree that they valued the Senate’s deliberative process and wished to guard against the “Houseification” of the upper chamber.

House Hears Open Enrollment

The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee heard Rep. Brad Pollitt’s open enrollment bill.  It would allow students to attend schools in a district other than the one they live in.

Some folks worry about the upheaval it could cause.  Pollitt’s bill, aimed at allaying those fears, allows districts to opt-in or out of the program, and limits the number of students that could leave any district to 3%.

Still, there was obvious consternation from Democrats on the committee as well as some Republicans, like Rep. Gary Bonacker who imagined a 3% decline each year for 10 years decimating a rural district.

Interestingly, Pollitt said he was dropping compromise language at the behest of the House’s Policy Development Caucus.  That would have capped student transfers at 1% in districts with high poverty. 

·       That commitment was made before public input.  And the Missouri Independent reports that its elimination moved MNEA’s Otto Fajen from a neutral position to opposition.

Ernst Joins HRCC

Press release: The House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) has announced Dallas Ernst as the new HRCC Political Director. This hire comes on the heels of the recent announcement of Hannah Beers Sutton as HRCC’ s New Executive Director. In his role as HRCC Political Director, Dallas Ernst will bring a wealth of political and communications expertise to the organization. The former Principal of Skyline Strategies, Ernst has played key roles in various Missouri Gubernatorial and U.S. Senate Campaigns…

Help Wanted

MO Budget Project seeks Outreach Strategist and Policy Analyst. “This position will contribute to our outreach and research on a variety of policies to expand economic opportunity and promote well-being in order to ensure that every Missourian has the opportunity to thrive. MBP seeks to expand the diversity of voices in state policy debates by identifying highly motivated candidates who have experience with communities that are traditionally underrepresented.”  See the posting here.

Money Watch

In today’s large contributions, there’s an unusual amount from DDI Media to the Kehoe PAC ($37,372.92).  Most checks are rounded figures. The odd number suggest an in-kind contribution, which in this case could be billboard space.

Lobbyist Registrations

Shanon Hawk added National Elevator Industry, Inc.

Morgan Householder added Missouri Credit Union Association.

Emma Leigh Shankland added KC Healthy Kids and its affiliates, including but not limited to Greater KC Food Policy Coalition.          

Alex Tuttle added Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.

[Note on Lobbyist Registrations: my listing has been varying from the official Missouri Ethics Commission listing for the past week or so because there are many lobbyists who inadvertently let their registrations lapse at the end of the year.  They are re-adding clients now, the same ones they had on December 31.  I am not listing those so that readers are only seeing new activity.]

$5K+ Contributions

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $37,372.92 from DDI Media.

Conservative Leadership for Southeast Missouri (pro-Bean) - $15,000 from Missouri Soybean Association.

Conservative Leadership for Southeast Missouri (pro-Bean) - $15,000 from Martin Grain Inc.

Conservative Leadership for Southeast Missouri (pro-Bean) - $10,000 from Sinquefield.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Scott Intagliata, and Judy Morgan.

MOScout Schedule

I’ll be off this weekend, as well as Monday (MLK Day) too.

Condolences

To Anne Marie Moy on the passing of her mother, Patricia “Patsy” Moy.  See the obituary here.