MOScout Daily Update: Senate Rupture and What It Means - SOTS Day - $2M for Sports Betting and more…
Governor Mike Parson will give his final State of the State address today (3PM) in the House chamber.
· Folks expect a rhetorical stroll through the past 6 years, highlights and accomplishments.
· But also, one last push for some of his signature issues: infrastructure and workforce development, particularly expanding child care to help working parents.
Rowden Formalizes Senate Rupture
Senate Pro Tem Caleb Rowden removed four Freedom Caucus members from their committee chairmanships in a move which had only minor practical consequences but formalized the rupture within the Senate Republican Caucus.
Predictably, the Freedom Caucus seized the floor and expressed their disgust with leadership. Sen. Denny Hoskins ended his inquiry of Rowden with his empathic judgement: “You are the worst President Pro Tem in the history of the Missouri Senate.”
There is no immediate end in sight for the Freedom Caucus freezing action in the Senate. Great news for Dems.
Next
In the near term, very little has changed with the yesterday’s move. The truth is that the Freedom Caucus was pissed off a week ago. They’re pissed off now. They’ll be pissed off next week. Anger and outrage, anger and outrage…
Takeaways
First, this isn’t leadership versus Freedom Caucus. I’m not sure if the Freedom Caucus understands this. They continue to focus their ire at Senate leadership. This wasn’t a power move by leadership. This was leadership giving into their caucus. One source: Caleb and Cindy were going to have a mutiny within the regulars if punitive action wasn’t taken. That portion of the caucus is more united on this issue than anything I’ve ever seen.
The Regulars are fed up with the Freedom Caucus filibustering non-issues. “You got a problem with a bill? Fine. Stand up. But the Senate hasn’t had a bill yet on the floor and every day you’re standing up??”
Sen. Rusty Black compared it to discipling kids. The majority caucus feels like they’re dealing with children who throw tantrums because you want attention.
The gubernatorial appointments was a breaking point. Not because any particular appointment was critical, but because they’re preventing the basic functioning of the body. Stop whatever bill your conscience (or your campaign) implores you to, but you gotta let the floor leader do her job with the Freedom Bros saying they’re so much smarter and know better.
Second, yesterday may cause some reflection among the Freedom Caucus members. Did they sign up for the drama? Or do they want to help good bills pass, while stopping bad bills? If they want the drama to draw a contrast for 2024 (see below) then yesterday was a good day. If they want to pursue their agenda this session, then yesterday was not a good day.
Some observers pointed out that not all the Freedom Caucus members took to the floor yesterday. Maybe not everyone is on board with the script.
Third, this raises the stakes in the 2024 Senate Republican primaries. It’s possible that this session is cooked. Accordingly, folks are doing the math on next session. They’re looking at the primaries and trying to imagining what the Senate Republican Caucus could look like next year. If the Freedom Caucus runs the table or goes down in flames in the primaries, you’ll have tewo very different dynamics.
Meanwhile
One observer sees yesterday going perfectly for Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe… “Jay Ashcroft defending himself from a Republican audit, Bill Eigel defending himself from Republicans senators, and Kehoe at the Trump victory party in New Hampshire. Who won the day with primary voters?”
And
Dems fundraise off the Republican Senate chaos…
In truth, if Dems want to keep Republicans from passing legislation, they should probably send those checks to the Freedom Caucus.
Sports Betting Committee Gets $$$
The two sport betting operators, FanDuel and Draft King, sent big checks to the committee that’s working to put the proposal on the ballot. Yesterday’s $2 million should kick-start signature collection. Now it’s a race until the May deadline.
Quote of the Day
Sen. Rusty Black explaining his strategy for dealing with Senate drama: “One good benefit an old man like me has to this place, I don't have a Twitter account. So, when people, did you see that? Well, the answer is, hell no, I didn't see it. I don't have that. I don't know what it is.”
$5K+ Contributions
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $5,650 from James B Boswell.
Winning for Missouri Education (sports betting IP) - $1,500,000 from FanDuel, Inc. (New York, NY).
Winning for Missouri Education - $500,000 from DraftKings, Inc (Boston, MA).
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom (reproductive rights IP) - $25,000 from Mary Anne Sedey.
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom - $10,000 from Mary Neal.
Missouri Stands With Women, Inc. (pro-life PAC) - $5,001 from John Kelly.
Missouri Stands With Women, Inc. - $5,001 from Mary Kelly.
A Better Missouri Political Action Committee - $13,200 from Anheuser-Busch Cos.
Brice Sechrest for Judge - $30,000 from Brice Sechrest.
Lobbyist Registrations
Catalyst added Plasma Games, and ZeroEyes; and deleted Missouri Coroners & Medical Examiners Association.
David Klarich added Stockdale Ranch, LLC.
Lisa Oxenhandler added Lisa Oxenhandler.
Casey Pick added The Trevor Project.
Lindsay Vierheilig added Animal Legal Defense Legislative Fund.
Mark Coulter deleted Port KC (Port Authority of Kansas City, Missouri).
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Jim Hansen, Crystal Williams, and Travis Brown.