MOScout Daily Update: No FRA Until Sept? - Schroer Eyes LG? - Return of Greitens? - Bush Investigation Boost for Bell? and more…

Senate Respite

After Monday’s filibuster stretched through the night and into the morning, the Senate Republican found a brief oasis of agreement.  The Freedom Caucus ended their filibuster of the gubernatorial appointments in exchange for an initiative petition being voted out of committee and placed on the Senate calendar for floor debate.

·       Some folks weren’t sure why the deal took so long.  “They wasted two weeks of floor time – lost their chairmanships and parking spots and a ton of good will with members – and then accepted [Caleb] Rowden’s deal from two weeks ago.”

·       Or that it signaled a lasting peace between the two camps.  There are any number of fronts where conflict will quickly erupt again.  For example, the critical FRA tax.  It’s a priority for Republican leadership of both chambers yet one Freedomer hints it will be stalled until after the primary: “FRA doesn’t need to be renewed until September.”

Meanwhile Kurt Erickson captures the vibe in today’s (front page, below fold) Post-Dispatch. “As observers see it, it’s merely part of a strategic plan: State Sen. Bill Eigel wants to be governor.”

The initiative petition reform vehicle is SJR74.  A few things to note…

·       It’s a concurrent majority of state House districts rather than Congressional districts which most proposals had used. 

·       One of the Freedom Caucus’ demands was that Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman would not be the handler.  That demand was dropped during the negotiations.  This will be a nice carry for Coleman as she runs for congress.

·       The House is expected to take whatever the Senate gives them.

Here’s the ballot language for SJR74.  I’m sure Dems will do their darnest to change this, wanting to remove the “ballot candy,” when it comes to the Senate floor for debate.

"Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

● Allow only U.S. citizens to vote on constitutional amendments;

● Forbid foreign countries from funding constitutional amendments;

● Ban constitutional amendments allowing lobbyists' gifts to lawmakers; and

● Pass constitutional amendments by a majority vote in a majority of state house districts?".

Amendment 3 by House Districts

Courtesy of the Missouri Mapper, here’s the map of 2022’s IP to legalized marijuana by House district.  It would have passed under the concurrent house majority standard.

2024 Talk: Schroer for LG? Greitens for CD3? Unsicker the Indy?

·       Folks still expect that former Sen. Bob Onder will be announcing for 3-CD.  But one new rumor is that his departure from the LG’s race has Sen. Nick Schroer considering hopping into that scrum.  “Freedom Caucus needs a candidate there.”

·       On Twitter, there’s rumors that former governor Eric Greitens is taking indications for interest among donors for a 3-CD run.

·       And over in the gubernatorial race, Sarah Unsicker – who was booted from the Dem caucus – don’t have a party affiliation on her website.  I’m told that if she files as a Democrat next month, there’ll be a move to prevent her from putting a “D” next to her name.

Bush Under Investigation

Yesterday Congresswoman Cori Bush confirmed what folks had suspected: that she was the focus of the Justice Department subpoena regarding payment for security.

Axios reports: Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) said Tuesday she is facing investigations by the Justice Department, Federal Election Commission and House Ethics Committee into the alleged misuse of campaign funds for personal security… In addition to the potential legal ramifications, Bush could face political fallout as moderates try to knock off left-wing lawmakers in Democratic primaries.

Why It Matters: This is the continuation of a theme that Wesley Bell can exploit.  He doesn’t have to run as a moderate to distinguish himself from the incumbent.  He can run as a progressive, but not her.  Not anti-Israel, and not under investigation.

Hawley Does Rounds

I’m told U.S. Senator Josh Hawley was in Jefferson City Monday.  He met with the Republican candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.  But not Sen. Bill Eigel, who was stuck in the Senate filibuster.

Hawley also met with legislative leaders, Senate Pro Tem Caleb Rowen and Speaker-elect Jon Patterson. Speaker Dean Plocher was conspicuously not on the private meeting list.

Hawley also held a reception from legislators. There was huge attendance. The crowd seemed especially happy about Hawley’s fight in Congress to get compensation for victims who were exposed to atomic radiation in the St. Louis area.

Open Enrollment Vote

The House approved legislation which cracked the door open for students to attend public schools outside their home district.  The 83 votes in favor were all Republican; the 69 votes against were mostly Democrats fortified with a little over a dozen Republicans.  10 reps didn’t vote.  There’s probably another one or two Aye votes waiting in wings there if needed for final passage.

·       Reps. Chris Dinkins (in favor) and Jamie Burger (against) split on this vote.  They’re facing each other in the Senate 27 Republican primary.

Sports Betting Bill Inches Forward

Amid dwindling hope that the legislature can overcome is barriers to passage, Rep. Dan Houx’s bill allowing sports betting in Missouri is scheduled to be voted out of committee today.

·       Special Committee on Public Policy (1:30PM, HR6)

RIP Carnahan

Obituary: Jean Carnahan, former U.S. Senator, Missouri First Lady, and matriarch of a family of public servants, died on Tuesday evening, January 30, 2024, at age 90 after a brief illness. The widow of Governor Mel Carnahan, Jean was appointed to the U.S. Senate seat Mel won posthumously in 2000, becoming the first woman to represent Missouri in the Senate…

As only the fifth woman to ever serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee, she pushed to strengthen national security and improve conditions for service men and women.  She secured an extension of health care benefits for returning reservists and National Guard personnel.  And she was part of the first Congressional delegation to Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attack…

As First Lady, Carnahan promoted on-site day care centers for working families, supported shelters for victims of domestic abuse, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and encouraged arts education. She also raised funds for critically needed repairs for Missouri’s historic Governor’s Mansion and frequently opened the mansion doors to the public.  The author of seven books, she published two about the mansion: “If Walls Could Talk: The Story of Missouri’s First Families,” an encyclopedic work researched over five years, and “Christmas at the Mansion.”

Note on $5K+ Checks

You may have noticed that there aren’t any $5,000 contributions listed recently on the $5,000+ contribution list.  I’m told that the Missouri Ethics Commission changed its 48-hour reporting system. In the past, a PAC treasurer could voluntarily report a $5,000 donation. Now it has to be $5,001 in order to generate a report. So, $5,000 donations won’t be seen until the next quarterly report.

Capitol Circus

Amid yesterday’s crowded capitol building there were apparently supporters of Julian Assange hoping the Missouri legislature would take up his cause??

$5K+ Contributions

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $50,000 from HTH Companies Inc.

American Dream PAC - $10,000 from Hoffman Brothers Heating & Cooling.

Lobbyist Registrations

Tom Dempsey and Dave Berry added Compass Health Network.

Ward Cook added Central Cass Fire District.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Robin Wright-Jones, and Zach Dunn.