MOScout Daily Update: Beers Sutton Takes HRCC Reins - Sander Growls at Caucus - Wagner Exits AG's Office - Dec $$$ Flat and much more...
Beers Sutton Take HRCC Reins
Hannah Beers Sutton was named the House Republican Campaign Committee’s new executive director. She fills the void left by Jonathan Ratliff’s departure last month.
Beers Sutton will leave her position at Jeff Roe’s Axiom Strategies and work for HRCC full-time. She deregistered for all her clients yesterday.
She’s well known to the Republican caucus as Axiom has worked with over 70 current members.
Beers Sutton addressed the House Republican Caucus yesterday and reportedly received a standing ovation at the end of her introductory speech.
· MOScouter: The House map seems slightly tilted toward the Democrats this year, but Hannah will put them in an ideal position to keep them as close to a supermajority as possible.
Sander Shakes Fist
Rep. Chris Sander growled at his House Caucus members for being left out of the loop…
Sanders has been a bit of a troublemaker for the some House Republicans blasting them for backward views on same sex relationships, and he’s rumored (no confirmation that I can make) to be the person who filed the ethics complaint against Speaker Dean Plocher.
Malek Adds Another $500K
State Treasurer Vivek Malek added another $500,000 to his campaign account on December 31. It’s the latest self-funding check from Malek, and it guarantees that he’ll maintain the money lead in this primary.
So far, the established pols – Sen. Andrew Koenig and Rep. Cody Smith – haven’t shown a great deal of fundraising. With this infusion, Malek’s cash on-hand for his candidate committee could exceed theirs by $1M when we see the January filings. That may force folks to reassess the race in Malek’s favor.
· Attorney Lori Rook, who entered the race in October, also put $500,000 of her money into the race.
Hegeman, Slay Join Highway Commission
Governor Mike Parson announced the appointments of former Sen. Dan Hegeman and former St. Louis City Mayor Francis Slay to the State Highways and Transportation Commission.
In some respects, the two could not be more different: Republican, Democrat; rural northwest Missouri; urban east Missouri. And yet they are both extraordinary politicians who know how to work a problem and rarely engage in the pettiness that politics sometimes brings out.
What It Means
Folks often think about the geographic constituencies that Highway Commission appointments will benefit. While there’s some truth to that, these are both serious folks with political acumen that will benefit everyone across the state.
Wagner Exits AG’s Office
Ray Wagner has left the Attorney General’s office. He started there at the beginning of 2023 as First Assistant and Chief Counselor.
· Previously Wagner, husband to Congresswoman Ann Wagner, was the top government relations executive with Enterprise for decades.
December Revenues Flat
December tax receipts came within a whisker of the same total from one year ago, up .61%. That puts the fiscal year-to-date number for general revenue collections still negative, -1.68%. While it’s not the robust growth we’ve seen in recent years, it’s not a terrible showing. And with the state’s large cash reserve, it’s very manageable.
But… Budget watcher Jim Moody is sounding alarm bells. He thinks that the consensus revenue estimate (slightly negative this year, flattish next year) is too optimistic, and January will show serious deterioration.
So: we’ll see.
Why It Matters
A big drop in general revenue could put a damper on tax cut talk in the legislature, or any new spending plans unveiled in Governor Mike Parson’s January 24 State of the State address.
Bangert Eyes STL County Council Bid
Post-Dispatch reports that “St. Louis County Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway is not running for reelection this year.”
· Dunaway represents District 2, which includes Bridgeton, Maryland Heights, Hazelwood, St. Ann, Woodson Terrace, Breckenridge Hills, as well as parts of Overland, Florissant, Olivette, Creve Coeur and Chesterfield. Dunaway, who has held the seat since 2019, said "politics is not my jam."
· Nicole Greer, a city councilwoman in Creve Coeur, announced in December she is running for Dunaway's council district in the Aug. 6 Democratic primary.
· Missouri state Rep. Gretchen Bangert, a Democrat from Florissant whose term ends this year, said she is also exploring running for District 2. "I've received a lot of positive feedback from folks," said Bangert, 57.
Bigger Picture
We could see more legislators looking to return to local politics. The conveyor belt of term limits forces pols who want to stay in public service to keep moving.
After this year’s election cycle, Republicans won’t have many opportunities beyond state senate for a while. The statewides likely will be held by incumbents, and there are no obvious retirements coming from the federal delegation.
Democrats, meanwhile, haven’t been competitive statewide recently. So for them, too, state senate is the top of the food chain right now.
Hobbs Promoted
Press release: “Governor Mike Parson announced that Tyler Hobbs will assume the role of Legislative Director for the Office of the Governor, effective immediately. Hobbs fills the role that was vacated by Legislative Budget Director Alex Tuttle on December 22… Hobbs has served as Deputy Policy and Legislative Director as well as Senior Policy Analyst since joining the Office of the Governor in August 2022. Prior to joining the team, he served as the Legislative Director for the Missouri Department of Public Safety after working as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Missouri Republican Party during the 2020 election cycle…”
Help Wanted
Missouri Chamber of Commerce seeks Vice President of Revenue Production. “The Missouri Chamber of Commerce is seeking a highly qualified and dynamic professional to fill the position of Vice President of Revenue Production and Retention. This leadership role is integral to our organization's success, focusing on revenue generation for membership sales, member retention, foundation fundraising, strategic plan sponsorships and all other related revenue production. The ideal candidate will be a results-driven individual with a proven history in sales, fundraising, and team leadership.”
Lobbyist Registrations
Andy Arnold added Vimo Inc.
Eric Escobar and Nicole Jones added Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
Jonathan Dalton, Shanon Hawk, and Cassandra Allana Henderson added Mizzou Greek Alliance Inc, and St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.
Shanon Hawk and Cassandra Allana Henderson added Missourians For Local Asset Governance.
Scott Swain added Law Enforcement Legislative Coalition.
Heath Clarkston and Doug Nelson added Child Care Aware of Missouri, and Smith Paper & Janitor Supply Company; and deleted DailyPay Inc, Paris Brothers, and Garcia Laboratory.
Jay Hahn deleted Standard Wellness Company LLC.
Brian Hajicek added Van Matre Law Firm P.C.
Sage Coram added American Civil Liberties Union – Missouri.
Brent Hemphill and Meagan Howerton added US Term Limits.
Samantha Hayes added Phil Murray, Otto Fajen, Elizabeth Zerr, and Samantha Hayes.
Kurt Schaefer added Schaefer Law & Policy LLC; and deleted Lathrop GPM Consulting LLC, Locust Street Property 1 STL LLC, and DirecTV LLC.
Kim Gaines added Missouri Council of School Administrators, and Missouri Association of School Administrators.
Natalie Higgins added Deere & Company.
Ben Jones added Lives in the Balance.
Alison Shih added Everytown For Gun Safety Action Fund.
Hannah Beers Sutton deleted all her clients.
Irl Scissors deleted Powerhouse Community Development Corporation.
Randy Scherr deleted Enel Green Power North America, Inc.
Casey Wasser deleted Americans for Fair Energy Prices
Rich AuBuchon and Jeffrey Michael Kipping deleted TIAA.
Shannon Cooper and Nancy Giddens deleted Kansas City Pet Project, and Hallmark Cards.
Shannon Cooper deleted The Britton Group LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Malek for Missouri - $500,000 from Vivek Malek.
Southern Drawl PAC (pro-Rehder) - $25,000 from Jennifer Monheiser.
JB PAC (pro-Justin Brown) - $20,000 from RIGHTPATH PAC.
DougPac (pro-Beck) - $10,000 from Simmons Hanly Conroy.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to DaRon McGee, and Luke Collins.
Condolences
To First Lady Teresa Parson on the passing of her mother, Helen “Darlene” Seiner.