MOScout Daily Update: Parson to Act on Foreign Land - Eggleston to Majority Staff - Osage Casino $$$ and more...
And we’re back…
Tomorrow (Wednesday) the House and Senate will convene at noon, kicking off the legislative session.
But…
1 Big Thing: Pessimism Reigns
This will be the 18th session I’ve followed while writing Missouri Scout. And it has the lowest expectations of any session I remember.
· Weakened House Leadership. House speakers have much less power in their final year as lobbyists and legislators start to switch their energy and allegiance to the next speaker. Additionally, Speaker Dean Plocher is battling multiple scandals (double-dipping, Fireside, renovations), while thus far Speaker-designate Jon Patterson has been too polite to step into the vacuum.
· Senate Republican Caucus Divided. The re-emergence of the Conservative Caucus (rebranded as “Freedom Caucus”) promises to prevent the Republican majority in the Senate from acting with a single voice. If it unfolds like it did last time around, we’ll see multiple Republican filibusters of Republican legislation which could pass, but isn’t conservative enough for the right-wing to accept.
· Election Year. Five senators are running for statewide office, and 15 state representatives are running for state senate. The temptation to sabotage a rival’s legislative achievements will be running high.
· Lower Revenues. The consensus revenue figure was reduced last month. When compared to the inflation rate, general revenue will be negative this year and next. That will lead to a tighter budget and more conflict around appropriation bills.
· FRA Tax. This is the biggest possible trainwreck. It’s critical to the funding of the state’s Medicaid program. Two years ago, a fight over a pro-life provision forced the legislature into a special session. In theory that compromise offers a roadmap to getting past this issue. But in practice, (see above) an election year with weakened House leadership, a divided Senate caucus, and a resurgent Freedom Caucus, makes this ticking timebomb this session.
Driving the Day: Parson EO on Foreign Owned Land
Governor Mike Parson will hold a press conference at noon to announce an executive order on foreign-owned agricultural land in Missouri.
“Governor Parson will be joined by Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe as well as Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn, Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten, and Missouri National Guard Adjutant General Levon Cumpton.”
Why It Matters
Foreign-ownership of Missouri land has been a hot-button issue among the Republican gubernatorial candidates, each accusing the others of being weak on the issue.
· Sen. Bill Eigel has pre-filed two bills and one constitutional resolution on the issue. He ran Facebook ads on the topic in November, and has a page of his website dedicated to it.
· Both LG Mike Kehoe and SOS Jay Ashcroft are on the record against it.
· MOScout polling last year showed 73% of Missourians (and 79% of Republican voters) favor a ban.
· But, of course, the legislature failed to deliver on the issue last session, and there’s deep pessimism about their ability to get things done this session (see 1 Big Thing above).
Will this gubernatorial action reduce the perceived need to address the issue legislatively?
Osage Casino Gets $$$ Boost
Over the weekend, Osage River Gaming and Convention received nearly half a million dollars from RIS Inc. RIS is owned by developer Gary Prewitt (see a profile of him here) who’s trying to bring a new casino to the Lake of the Ozarks. This $432,500 check follows a similar $250,000 to the same committee last fall.
Osage River Gaming and Convention (see their filing here) is circulating an initiative petition for the 2024 ballot.
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
· allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to issue one additional gambling boat license to operate on the portion of the Osage River from the Missouri River to the Bagnell Dam;
· require the prescribed location shall include artificial spaces that contain water and are within 500 feet of the 100-year base flood elevation as established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
· require all state revenues derived from the issuance of the gambling boat license shall be appropriated to early-childhood literacy programs in public institutions of elementary education?
State governmental entities estimate one-time costs of $763,000, ongoing costs of $2.2 million annually, initial fee revenue of $271,000, ongoing admission and other fee revenue of $2.1 million annually, and annual gaming tax revenue of $14.3 million.
Eggleston Joins House Staff
Press releasee: The office of Majority Floor Leader Jon Patterson is thrilled to announce the appointment of J. Eggleston as the new Policy Director for the office. With an illustrious career in Missouri politics and a track record of leadership, J. Eggleston brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the team.
Eggleston’s legislative career spans eight successful years in the Missouri House of Representatives, where he served as Assistant Majority Floor Leader and chaired the Committees on Ethics and Rules-Administrative Oversight, respectively. His dedication to public service and his adept handling of complex legislative matters has earned him widespread respect among his peers… Eggleston starts this new role effective immediately.
Lobbyist Registrations
Ryan Rowden added Elevance Health and Its Affiliates dba Anthem, Inc.
Ryan DeBoef added Digital Monitoring Products, Inc.
Jerry Hobbs added Strategic Engagement Consulting.
Mark Rhoads added Central States Water Resources; and deleted SI Group Client Services.
Garrett Webb added Missouri Psychological Association; and deleted Legal Missouri 2022, Ernst & Young LLP, Everstream Solutions LLC, and Tremco CPG Incorporated.
Jon Hensley and Zach Pollock added Sovereign ISP LLC, City of Lee's Summit, and Missouri Housing Authorities.
Zach Pollock added Motion Picture Association of America, and Missouri Rental Dealers Association; and deleted The Britton Group LLC.
Tony Benz added Missouri Rental Dealers Association, and Missouri Dairy Products Association; and deleted The Britton Group LLC.
James Durham and Jennifer Durham deleted all of their clients.
Larry Case deleted Missouri Association of Insurance Agents.
Steve Jackson deleted Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.
Jeff Rainford deleted MC District Cooling, and Rockwood Management Corporation.
Michael Wood deleted Michael Wood and Associates, and Missouri State Teachers Association.
Gamble & Schlemeier deleted Cardinal Health Inc, and USS Missouri Memorial Association.
Mike Michaelson deleted Dr. Thomas Turnbaugh, and Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Osage River Gaming and Convention - $432,500 from RIS, Inc.
Gladius PAC (pro-Christofanelli) - $10,000 from RIGHTPATH PAC.
Gladius PAC - $10,000 from Missouri Health Plan Association PAC.
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $7,500 from Warrenton Oil Company.
Committee for Liberty (pro-Ashcroft) - $10,000 from Foley Industries (Wichita, KS).
Truth in Campaigns (pro-Rizzo) - $10,000 from Pulse PAC.
Truth in Campaigns - $10,000 from Evergy Metro Inc.
Uniting Missouri PAC (pro-Parson) - $50,000 from Eric Holland.
Missouri Alliance PAC (pro-Patterson) - $6,000 from Surgery by Surgeons PAC.
Missouri Values PAC (pro-Schwadron) - $10,000 from Wallis Co. Inc.
Independence PAC (pro-McMullen) - $10,000 from Missouri Health Plan Association PAC.
MO Six PAC (pro-Bernskoetter) - $20,000 from RightPath PAC.
Majority Forward (Senate Dems’ campaign committee) - $10,000 from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 124 Voluntary Fund.
Friends of Franiak - $10,000 from Tom Franiak.
Citizens for Integrity and Accountability - $15,000 from Liberty PAC.
Gromowsky for Prosecutor - $10,000 from KD Christian.
Parents for Mohammadkhani - $10,000 from Jeffrey Bauer.
Poor For Judge - $20,100 from Jerel Poor.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, Brittany Robbins, and Lyle Rowland.