MOScout Daily Update: Leadership Elections - Schroer to Take Judiciary? - Seitz Vows Pro-Life Bill and more…

Quick Friday update…

Senate Leadership

Senate Republicans elected their leaders yesterday in caucus. 

Senate Pro Tem: Cindy O’Laughlin.  This is barrier breaking. She’ll be the first woman to lead the Senate.

Floor Leader: Tony Luetkemeyer.  One source saying that Sen. Jason Bean withdrew from the race on counsel from Mike Kehoe… but look for Bean to run for pro tem in two years,

Assistant Floor Leader: Curtis Trent. This sets Trent up to be in the mix for the floor leader race in two years.

Majority Caucus Chair: Ben Brown.

Majority Caucus Whip: Jill Carter.

Majority Caucus Secretary: Sandy Crawford.

What It Means

·       The Freedom Caucus is happy with Luetkemeyer playing traffic cop.  There’s generally good vibes that with the departure of Bill Eigel and Denny Hoskins (and no elections in the near term) there will be a less confrontational orientation from the Freedom Caucus.

·       Luetkemeyer’s ascension to the Floor Leader spot opens up the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee.  The gavel likely passes to Sen. Nick Schroer, an attorney and the current vice-chair of the committee.

Senate Dem Leadership

Senate Dems elected their leadership as well at caucus.  As expected, Sen. Doug Beck was elected Minority Leader.  He’ll have four years at this position.

Assistant Floor Leader: Steven Roberts.

Caucus Chair: Angela Mosley.

Caucus Whip: Brian Williams.

·       With a ten-person caucus, 40% of their caucus is in leadership…

The order is tall for Senate Dems.  With Republican supermajorities in both chambers and the governor’s mansion inhabited by a Republican as well, they are one of the few places with resistance to a conservative agenda can be significant.  The most effectively strategy in the past has been to foster dissension within the Republican majority.  But as mentioned (above) that may be more difficult in the coming session,  We’ll see.

House Dem Leadership

Press release: The House Minority Caucus elected its leadership team for the 2025 session on Thursday. Rep. Ashley Aune, D-Kansas City, was elected House minority leader…

“As Democratic floor leader, I will build upon the foundation my predecessor has established,” Aune said. “I’m deeply committed to making the Missouri Democratic Party stronger and more unified, and I believe this new leadership team possesses the vision and experience to lead us into a brighter future. I didn’t run as a Democrat in a deep red state because I thought it would be a cakewalk. I ran because I want to help make our party stronger and build a Democratic movement that truly reflects the values of Missourians. The challenges are real, but so is our resolve.”

Rep. Marlon Anderson, D-St. Louis, was elected assistant minority leader… Rep. Aaron Crossley, D-Independence, was elected Minority Caucus Whip. Rep. Emily Weber, D-Kansas City, was elected Minority Caucus Chair. Kimberly-Ann Collins, D-St. Louis, was elected Minority Caucus Vice-Chair. Rep. Eric Woods, D-Kansas City, was elected Minority Caucus Secretary. Rep. Bridget Walsh Moore, D-St. Louis, was elected Minority Caucus Policy Chair.

·       Aune seems to understand that Dems need a new vision.  The inability to pick up any seats, even with the more accommodating map, creates a crisis in the Missouri Dem psyche.  The previous narrative of “it’s a long road back to relevance,” is feeling more like “are we heading in the right direction?”

1 Big Thing: Pro-Life Tensions Front and Center

Press release: Rep. Brian Seitz, R-Branson, today announced his intention to file two pieces of pro-life legislation for the upcoming session.  The first bill, is a refile of his Missouri Personhood Bill from last session. The legislation stated, in part, that, "The life of each human being begins at conception. Unborn children have protectable interests in life, health, and well-being and are entitled to the same rights, powers, privileges, justice, and protections as are secured or granted by the laws of this state to any other human person.”

What It Means

Just last month, Speaker-elect Jon Patterson publicly said that he thought the legislature should respect the will of the voters with regard to Amendment 3.  But this is an early indication that he’ll face tensions within his own party on the matter.  

Rowden Tragedy

Sen. Caleb Rowden posted on social media that his brother-in-law, Evan Dunn, a police officer in Colorado, was killed in the line of duty.

See the Go Fund Me here.

Lobbyist Registrations

Courtney Curtis added DBAKE Foundation.

Rich AuBuchon and Trent Watson deleted Missouri Retailers For Fair Competition Inc., and Missouri Coalition of Recovery Support Providers (MCRSP).

Adam Kazda deleted Greater St. Louis, Inc.           

$5K+ Contributions

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $20,000 from Friends of Lane Roberts.

Tony PAC (Pro-Luetkemeyer) - $15,000 from Conservative Justice PAC.

Tony PAC -$12,500 from SNK Real Property Holdings LLC.

Tony PAC - $10,000 from Another Viceroy PAC.

Childress for Judge - $10,000 from Denise Childress.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Sen. Angela Mosley, Ellie and Eric Harmon, Catherine Hanaway, Steven Webb, Tony George, and Ed Bushmeyer.