MOScout Weekender: Sparks Mindmeld - Hallway on First Filibuster - Who Won the Week and more…
Sparks Mindmeld
Trying to make sense of Rep. Justin Spark’s improbable challenge Speaker-designate Jon Patterson…
· Sparks was acting on his own; this wasn’t a Freedom Caucus-designed power move. That’s not to say there aren’t Freedomers cheering him on. Just that it’s not part of some big plan.
· Team Sparks feels like they’ve already won to some extent in that the House GOP Caucus backed pursuing some anti-A3 effort this session.
· Sparks would be open to a sit-down/summit with JP to bury the hatchet. However, he’d want some assurances before dropping his formal challenge. That would be anti-A3 or IP reform moving out of the House before Spring Break, for example.
Remington/MOScout Poll
The MOScout poll will return next month.
MOScout’s Hallway Index: First Filibuster Pool
I asked lobbyists, “Who will start the first filibuster of the legislative session?” 23 replies…
RESULTS
1. Freedom Caucus… 30.4%
2. Democrats… 30.4%
3. Mike Moon… 34.8%
4. Someone else… 4.3%
Sample of Comments
· It’s time for some old-fashioned party-line fights.
· Webber.
· [Moon] He has shown no stability to date. Too many non consequential issues “set him off” - I hope I am wrong.
· FC's and Senate R's play nice to start off. Moon is an unknown because of the randomness of what he chooses to engage on. MEC is an unknown on the abortion issue and could try to regain her standing on the issue and what happened last year with IP.
· If I was planning ahead I would make sure that the first fight of the year is against the Dems and not each other but we all know how well plans work in the Senate.
· The potential for expectations to fall short on abortion looms. Whether it is timelines or the nuance of the actual policy, it will be hard for leadership to finesse with cooperation let alone with Senators with their own set of expectations.
· Freedom Caucus- somebody will have their feelings hurt long before they get to a policy issue.
· [Moon] He will set the tone early.
· [Moon] He will find something wrong with a committee assignment and go out and read a book.
Who Won the Week?
Will Scharf and John Sauer – Repping Trump’s criminal cases lands them big-time presidential appointments.
Caleb Rowden – Finds there’s life (and a job) after the Senate landing at Steven Tilley’s Strategic Capitol Consulting.
Pat Thomas – Moves over to the Pro Tem’s office for the new legislative session.
Heidi Geisbuhler Sutherland – Gets promoted to serve as the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s first Director of Policy Development and Strategy.
Andy Blunt – Tapped by the Governor-elect to lead the inaugural committee, leaves no doubt he’s the second floor go-to guy for the next four (eight) years.
Find a downloadable version here.
Gubby Appts
Press release: Governor Mike Parson announced judicial appointments to the 14th, 16th, and the 21st Judicial Circuits…
· Garreth Cooksey, of Hannibal, will be appointed as Associate Circuit Judge for Randolph County in the 14th Judicial Circuit.
· Patrick C. Edwards, of Kansas City, was appointed as Circuit Judge for the 16th Judicial Circuit.
· Jason K. Lewis, of Wildwood, was appointed as Associate Circuit Judge for the 21st Judicial Circuit.
$5K+ Contributions
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom - $58,098 from American Civil Liberties Union, Inc. (New York, NY).
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom - $27,297 from American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Inc. (New York, NY).
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Brian Bunten, and Sam Wiles.
Sunday: Bill Eigel, Ryan Nonnemaker, and Dennis Wood.