MOScout Daily Update: House Dem's New Goal - Steelman Rumor - Hamra's $250K - Opening Speeches and more...
1 Big Thing: House Dems’ New Goal
At the House Democrats’ opening day press conference, Minority Leader Crystal Quade said that her caucus would be opportunistic in pursing its agenda, suggesting that there might be times when they allied with the new Freedom Caucus on specific issues.
In fact, the Freedom Caucus presents Dems with a clear intermediate political goal: reduce the mainstream Republicans in the House to below 82 members.
82 is the number of votes required for passage.
Right now, there’s 111 Republicans. The Freedom Caucus starts with 5 Republican House members. But I’m told that will grow tomorrow at their kick-off with the inclusion of 6 more House members.
Dems’ goal, then, is to cut 19 more members from the mainline Republicans. It can happen through any combination of winning seats and the Freedom Caucus growing.
Hitting that target would force a future Republican speaker to negotiate between far-right Republicans and the Dems to come up with votes for passage. Such a scenario would greatly increase Dems’ power in the chamber.
Rumorville: Steelman to House Staff?
One rumor running hot yesterday was that politico David Steelman would be joining the House staff. One possible place to place Steelman: the Legislative Counsel opening.
· Steelman was a state representative decades ago, and then led the Missouri Republican Party. He’s the husband of Sarah Steelman, former state senator, former state treasurer, and former commissioner of the Office of Administration.
· David Steelman’s most recent foray into politics was as a member of the Board of Curators of Mizzou where he served until a split with Steven Tilley lead to his departure.
Speaker Priorities
Speaker Dean Plocher’s opening speech outlined the following priorities for session.
· Improve public safety, recruit and retain more police officers.
· Fight the scourge fentanyl trade.
· Provide parents’ choices in their child’s education.
· Protect homeowners, particularly our seniors, from property tax increases.
· Pass the Federal Reimbursement Allowance (FRA).
Additionally, he included in a laundry list: IP Reform, Protecting our energy production, Helping small businesses, Unlawful immigration, Reducing healthcare cost, Protect the property rights, Supporting Israel, and Ensuring the survival and success of Missouri farmers.
Rowden Speech
Most of Senate Pro Tem Caleb Rowden’s brief opening address…
For about one-third of this chamber, me included, this is our last first day of session. The last chance for some of us to make a difference for our communities and our state via the mechanism of the Missouri Senate. And my question for us is simple: Will we seize the moment? Will we focus on principled progress or political pandemonium? Will we care more about Missouri's future or our own futures?.. Political experts and onlookers don't think this session is going to amount to much.
The simple message is let's prove them wrong.
Children stuck in failing schools and their parents need for us to prove the experts wrong. Those struggling to make ends meet because of rising inflation need for us to prove the experts wrong. Our constituents who sent us here to secure their liberties and their economic opportunities need us to prove the experts wrong. I have faith in each and every one of you to rise to this occasion to put the needs of our constituents before our own, and to prove that we can indeed govern well.
Cotrone for LG
Philip Cotrone formed a candidate committee to run for lieutenant governor as a Republican. It appears, from his twitter feed and filing, that Cotrone is a Haitian-American doctor from Mansfield Missouri.
Cotrone is the sixth Republican to enter the race, joining Speaker Dean Plocher, Sen. Holly Rehder, former Sen. Bob Onder, Tim Baker and Paul Berry.
Hamra Plunks Down $250K
Springfield businessman Mike Hamra, running for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination against Minority Leader Crystal Quade, gave his campaign $250,000 at the end of last year.
· The amount of money it takes to buy statewide name ID is in the millions. I’ll be interested to see a baseline statewide poll. While most people don’t know the House Minority Leader either, I’d guess Quade starts with a 15-ish point lead.
HDCC Raises $50K
Word is that the House Democratic Campaign Committee raised $50,000 at their fundraiser last night. It was pretty good showing from lobbyists at the event considering that they’re in the superminority with limited ability to influence legislation.
MOBUCK$
State Treasurer Vivek Malek is cheering the high demand for the MOBUCK$ program. The low-interest loan program’s capacity was used up on the first day business this year.
· Malek is promoting legislation to expand MOBUCK$’ current statewide cap. Bills to accomplish that have been by Sen. Sandy Crawford, and Rep. Terry Thompson.
Lobbyist Registrations
Nikki Strong added all of the clients of Gamble & Schlemeier.
Andrew Arnold added Vimo Inc.
Amy Blunt added Article IV Foundation, and deleted Arnold Ventures.
Trey Davis added Davis Consulting, LLC.
Dan Engemann added Missouri Farm Bureau.
Aaron Griesheimer added SITE Improvement Association.
Matt Prokop added The ALS Association.
Jay Reichard and Gunnar See added Build America Mutual.
Kelvin Simmons added Essential Families Midwest, Inc.
Mike Winter deleted Missouri Self Insurers Association.
James Harris deleted Missouri Alliance of Professional Bail Bond Agents.
Sarah Wood Martin deleted Powerhouse Community Development Corporation.
$5K+ Contributions
Hamra for Missouri - $250,000 from Michael Hamra.
Missouri Alliance PAC - $10,000 from Caesar’s Enterprise Services LLC (Las Vegas, NV).
Columbia Cares PAC - $10,000 from Missouri and Kansas Laborers' PAC.
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $15,000 from Dealers Interested in Government.
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $10,000 from Breakthru Beverage Missouri, LLC PAC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rob Schaaf, Dottie Bailey, and Adam McBride.