MOScout Daily Update: Wagner IN for Re-election - Burger Readies Senate Bid - MEC Raises $100K - MRL for Hoskins - Sports Betting Committee Formed and more...

Jan 9

Wagner Stays The Course

Squelching any misinformed speculation that she might retire, Congresswoman Ann Wagner formally announced her plans to seek re-election.

“The world is on fire, our nation's economy is unaffordable for American families, and the liberal assault on our freedoms and liberties is running nonstop… There is too much work left to do to give up the fight for our fundamental freedoms and liberties, which is why I am running for re-election.”

What It Means

This should help hasten the decision-making process for some prospective 3-CD candidates. A few folks have told me that former Sen. Bob Onder might have delayed his pivot to see what happened with Wagner. And former Sen. Dave Schatz, also thought to be considering 3-CD, would have been a potential 2-CD candidate as well.

Meanwhile

The one declared candidate Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman got a positive blurb in Politico’s Inside Congress newsletter. “GOP state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman raised $100,000 in two days since entering the race… Coleman, who is known as a prominent anti-abortion rights lawmaker in the state, was the first candidate to launch a campaign for the deep-red district. Some national Republicans were happy to see her jump in, both because she would increase the number of women in the conference and she’s an alternative to scandal-ridden former Gov. Eric Greitens, who has been floated as a potential candidate.”

Rumorville: Burger to Announce for Senate

Word is that Rep. Jamie Burger is prepping his Senate 27 launch. (Sen. Holly Rehder is running for LG). An announcement could come as early as this week.

If true, this has some big implications…

· It practically guarantees that Rep. Alex Riley will be the next floor leader – and then very likely the next speaker following Rep. Jon Patterson in January 2027 (Don’t laugh, it’ll be here before you know it).

· It’d be the next step in the Senate 27 race becoming a free-for-all. Burger would be joining Rep. Chris Dinkins, and Jacob Turner. And there’s an assumption that a candidate will emerge from Cape Girardeau as well.

More on Policy Development Caucus

Yesterday I wrote about a new structure in place to vet bills for the House Republican Majority. I called it the Policy Development Committee. It’s actually the Policy Development Caucus.

That helps avoid the confusion that it would act like a committee with public hearings. Rather it’s a sub-caucus within the Republican Caucus. It will deliberate and vote in private.

Why It Matters

This new structure is expected to see some high-profile bills this session (IP Reform, school choice, and public safety could be among the topics) and decide a Republican Caucus position – before hearing input from the public on the proposals.

Ashcroft Tussles With CNN

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, like Sen. Bill Eigel, has taken up the notion that Missouri should kick President Joe Biden off the ballot in retaliation for Colorado attempting to remove Donald Trump from their ballot.

Yesterday he went on CNN to make his case – which has something to do with the lieutenant governor of Texas as it turns out. It didn’t go well.

· Former McCaskill press aide Caitlin Legacki offered “thoughts and prayers” to Ashcroft’s communication team after viewing the exchange.

Scharf Adds Fuel to FRA Fire

Attorney General candidate Will Scharf expounded on the Federal Reimbursement Allowance tax, fueling concerns that renewal of the tax will become a cause celebre in Republican primaries, and a big problem this session.

The tax generates billions of dollars. Without it the state’s Medicaid program would face a catastrophic shortfall.

Scharf on Twitter: In the summer of 2021, turncoat Republicans, backed by Governor Parson, sided with Democrats to pass an FRA tax without ensuring that taxpayer dollars would not flow to Planned Parenthood. This was egregiously wrong. From what I have been told, Andrew Bailey, then Governor Parson’s general counsel, actively lobbied senators and representatives against defunding Planned Parenthood.

Meanwhile

Speaker Dean Plocher: “I don’t think we can’t afford to not pass it.” (He’s in favor of passage.)

MRL for Hoskins

Sen. Denny Hoskins landed the influential Missouri Right to Life endorsement in his quest to be the next secretary of state.

· This the third MRL endorsement. They’ve also backed Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for governor, and former Sen. Bob Onder for lieutenant governor.

Sports Betting Campaign Committee

Winning for Missouri Education was formed. It’s a campaign committee to support a ballot measure to “legalize sports betting and dedicate the revenue to education.” See the paperwork here. Its treasurer is Mike Pridmore, a veteran Democratic fundraiser.

What It Means

In theory, the formation of a campaign committee to bypass the legislature should offer some incentive for legislators to find a compromise.

However, the building is so cynical about these things that folks will want to see some big checks coming into the committee and that money being spent on signature gatherers before they believe it’s for real.

Unsicker Declares for Governor

Rep. Sarah Unsicker, exiled from the House Democratic Caucus, announced that she will run for governor. See the announcement here.

It’s the latest twist in a political career which has recently been marked by the bewildering moves.

· In theory this hurts Minority Leader Crystal Quade as Unsicker becomes the second woman in the race with Springfield businessman Mike Hamra. But I’m not sure there’s any practical impact here.

SBOE Meeting

The State Board of Education meets today at 9AM. They axed several items on their agenda “due to the forecasted hazardous weather.” They include…

· Study of the Impact of the Four-Day School Week on Academic Achievement and Building Growth

· Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) 6 Annual Performance Report (APR) Update

Jones Registers

Former Speaker Tim Jones registered as a lobbyist to represent the State Freedom Caucus Network. That’s the national group with which the new Freedom Caucus is affiliated.

Blunt Named CEO HBS

Press release: Husch Blackwell Strategies announced today that Andy Blunt has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and will drive the firm’s mission and vision while strengthening its position as a leading national lobbying firm. As a founding partner and formerly COO of HBS, Andy established one of the largest networks of state lobbyists in the country from the ground up, effectively opening new strategic fronts and opportunities for clients and their interests across the nation. Andy and Gregg Hartley, who today assumes the position of COO, launched HBS in 2018…

Andy announced today that the firm is also establishing new leadership positions to oversee its state and federal lobbying practices, naming Rochelle Mallett as Executive Vice President, State Government Affairs and Stacy McBride as Executive Vice President, Federal Government Affairs.

MO Dems Hire Rodriguez

Press release: The Missouri Democratic Party is excited to announce we have hired seasoned campaign operative Chelsea Rodriguez to lead our communications team as we gear up for the 2024 election cycle.

Raised in Jefferson County, Missouri, Rodriguez got her political start in 2015 working for Jason Kander’s US Senate race as a research assistant assigned to tail former Senator Roy Blunt to every Missouri county. Rodriguez went to work for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for the 2018 election cycle as a political researcher assigned to battleground US Senate races across the country.

· One Dem sighed… “MDP hiring a local staffer with no comms experience as communications director means the DGA and DSCC have punted on Missouri. Normally that’s the first investment they make in a state.”

Lobbyist Registrations

Nexus Group added McDaniel Hazley Group.

Nicholas Buggia added National Rifle Association of America.

Deanna Hemphill added Missouri State Medical Association.

Tim Jones added State Freedom Caucus Network.

Jean Evans added Stowers Institute For Medical Research.

Richard McIntosh and John Gaskin added Stages St. Louis.

Fred Pratt added Southwest Airlines Co.

Jim Foley added Special Learning Center.

Keeley Briscoe added PLUS Communications, LLC.

Lisa Pannett added Gail Griswold.

Gail Griswold added ARMORVINE LLC.