MOScout Daily Update: O’Laughlin Floats Kicking Eigel Out - Time to Change Senate Rules? - Dems Fundraise off ‘Chaos Caucus’ and more…

Quick Friday update….

No End in Sight to Senate War

Senate Floor Leader Cindy O’Laughlin created a new firestorm yesterday floating the idea of kicking Sen. Bill Eigel out of the Senate.

Post-Dispatch reports: “Two years ago I said, ‘You know, with 23 votes you can throw somebody out of here,’” O’Laughlin said in a question-and-answer session Thursday with reporters, editors and newspaper owners. “I would do it today. I absolutely would.”

·       For what it’s worth, I think this was a moment of frustration by O’Laughlin, not a serious threat.  While Eigel might get voted off the island in a secret ballot by Republicans, he’s Democrats #1 senator this session.  The superminority’s gameplan is always the same: slow things down, run time off the clock.  Eigel has burned weeks for them.  He is their MVP.

A Rule Change

The Senate this year has gone from dysfunctional to non-functioning. 

Perhaps normalcy could return next year.  But it could also be that the only way back to normalcy is a change in the rules.

One possible change would be to only allow floor discussion on motions and bills, and require debate and speeches to be germane to those motions or bills or amendments.

It would preserve the foundation of the filibuster, but make the abusive behavior of just gumming things up more difficult.  Yes, you could still filibuster the Journal, but you’d have to talk about the Journal the whole time.  You could filibuster appointments, but you’d have to talk about the appointments. You couldn’t read a book.

And you could just randomly filibuster before there’s even a motion on the floor.

Folks could still inquire of each other in a friendly manner as they do now.  But if they abuse it, someone could call a point of order.

eMailbag on Freedom Caucus

I always get a crack out of the FC stuff from your updates. The Center Left leadership team they hate has cut taxes more time than I can remember and they outlawed abortion. They would have passed school choice too if the loudest proponents of that policy weren't the same psychos shutting down debate on every issue with their grandstanding.

Dem Senate Candidates Fundraise Off “Chaos Caucus”

More on Riley and Clubb

One observer notes that Rep. Alex Riley “agreed to headline [Vinnie] Clubb before [Jamie] Burger bowed out.  Part of Riley's strategy was winning over incoming freshmen and so he was visiting with and offering to help most new candidates (particularly those pro-ed reform as Burger was not). I expect he will make due on those commitments, but they shouldn’t be interpreted as endorsements. Without having a race he will likely take a "help them all" approach or slow down on the travel aspect…”

$5K+ Contributions

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $25,000 from Robert Blitz.

American Dream PAC - $20,000 from Apollo Land Enterprises.

Liberty and Justice PAC (pro-Bailey) - $10,000 from XCaliber International (Pryor, OK).

JB PAC (Pro-Justin Brown) - $10,000 from RIGHTPATH PAC.

Lobbyist Registrations

Amy Blunt added Aegion Corporation, and Promontory 150 LLC.

Cathy Enz added Missouri Society of Naturopathic Physicians.

Matt Jessee and Merit Iles added Veterans Guardian - VA Claim Consulting.     

Marcos Geovanni Zelada-Rodas added Associated Builders and Contractors.

Ryan DeBoef deleted The Doula Foundation.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Ken Franklin.