MOScout Daily Update: Gallick Proposes Sick Leave Delay - Kehoe Endorses Kinder as Party Chair - More on Kehoe Cabinet - Stinnett for Senate 30 - Knodell to Poplar Bluff and more…

Gallick Proposes Sick Leave Delay

It’s not just Amendment 3 that Republican lawmakers would like to make changes to. Rep. Sherri Gallick’s recently pre-filed HB 567 would push off the implementation of the paid sick leave mandate that voters just approved. Proposition A passed with 57%. 

The statutory change specified that “earned paid sick time as provided in this section shall begin to accrue at the commencement of employment or May 1, 2025 whichever is later.”  Gallick’s bill would push that date back to January 1, 2026.

Why It Matters

·       Speaker-designate Jon Patterson articulated the need for Republicans to “respect the will of the voters” with respect to Amendment 3.  The same principle applies here.

·       The legislature messing with voter-approved initiative petitions is one of the main reasons that campaigns opt to amend the constitution, rather than adopt statutory changes.  It’s how our state constitution became so bloated.

Kehoe Taps Kinder to Lead MRP

Last night Governor-elect Mike Kehoe told those assembled at the Missouri Republican Party Christmas party that he was supporting former Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder to be the next State Party Chair.

The current Republican Party Chair, Nick Myers, isn’t running for re-election, and traditionally the Party defers to the new governor.  However, sources say that Bill Eigel has been making calls, setting up a potential showdown at the meeting early next year. Still, one would think that Kinder, as an elder statesman of MOGOP, would be a consensus candidates.  We’ll see…

·       Jennifer Bukowsky, who supported Jay Ashcroft in the primary, is running with Kinder as Party Vice-Chair.

More on Kehoe Cabinet

Yesterday I did a rundown of where we are on the Kehoe cabinet.  I made some corrections throughout the day yesterday.  For example, Missouri Department of Conservation’s Jason Sumners is appointed by the Conservation Commission; and Missouri Department of Mental Health’s Valerie Huhn is hired by Mental Health Commission.

Check out that updated post here.

One MOSouter adds a few interesting nuggets…

·       There is also the MO National Guard – General Cumpton is leaving in February for a post overseas.  So Kehoe will have that pick as well.

·       There is also a little discussion about Senate confirmation. When Mike Parson kept the Eric Greitens cabinet, those directors did NOT have to be confirmed again. That same precedent should apply here, and will lighten the load for a new administration.

·       And there are some high-profile division directors that are Governor appointed and Senate confirmed, such as Professional Registration (Sheila Solon), Employment Security (Allen Andrews), State Fire Marshal (J. Tim Bean), and State Supervisor for the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (internal acting supervisor).

Stinnett Amends Committee

Rep. Melanie Stinnett amended her campaign committee to formally acknowledge that she’ll be running for state senate in 2026.  Stinnett was re-election to House last month and is considered Republicans’ best chance to hold Senate 30 where Sen. Lincoln Hough is term limited.

Hough has been mentioned as someone who could potentially join the Kehoe Administration.  An early resignation by Hough would trigger a special election in that district.  But it’s probably a toss-up district at this point so it’s unclear if that would be helpful for Republicans or not. 

·       Out-going Minority Leader Crystal Quade is expected to be the Democratic nominee.

Patterson Promises COGE

Press release: Missouri House Speaker Designee Jon Patterson today announced his intent to form the new Standing Committee on Government Efficiency dedicated to rooting out waste and fiscal excess in the new legislative session. “President-Elect Donald Trump is doing something often talked about, but rarely acted on: creating a federal entity dedicated to reducing federal spending and slashing regulations,” said Patterson, referencing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)…

COGE will evaluate state agencies and departments to address inefficiencies, improve regulatory practices, and promote responsive governance. By conducting a thorough review of operations and policies, the committee aims to modernize procedures and enhance trust between the government and the people it serves.

What It Means

This sounds a lot like the House Government Efficiency and Downsizing Committee of which Rep. Jim Murphy was chair last year. 

The problem with “downsizing” efforts is that they lack an organizing principle. Instead it attracts everyone with a grievance about a specific government program that they want to eliminate.  For example, Murphy’s committee passed out a hodge-podge of bills, ending Day Light Savings, exempting state parks logs from the Sunshine law, or making sure libraries don’t go rogue.

·       Likewise, DOGE is promising to cut funding to Planned Parenthood even though that would increase government costs.

Knodell to Poplar Bluff

KWOC reports that Robert Knodell was appointed Poplar Bluff City Manager “by a unanimous vote of the Poplar Bluff City Council… Knodell will officially start as Poplar Bluff City Manager on January 27th.”

·       Knodell has held various positions within the Parson Administration, most recently as Director of Missouri Department of Social Services.

Choinka for JCity Council

Erica Choinka announced that she’s running for Jefferson City Council. “Since first moving to Jefferson City, this community has become the place my family and I proudly call home. Serving on the Parks and Recreation Commission has deepened my love for this community, and I’m excited to take this next step to give back. I’m looking forward to connecting with friends and neighbors in Ward 3 and working together to make our city even better.”

·       Choinka works for the Senate Majority Caucus. Before that she was in the speaker’s office.

Hawley Propose Big Child Tax Credit Increase

Axios reports that Senator Josh Hawley is “calling for the child tax credit to increase from a maximum of $2,000 to $5,000 per kid… Hawley's proposal speaks to the GOP's desire to adopt pro-family policies and outflank Democrats on anti-poverty programs.”

·       Such a plan could cost $2 trillion to $3 trillion over 10 years.

$5K+ Contributions

MoCannTrade PAC - $6,000 from True Level Investments.

Lobbyist Registrations

Susan Henderson Moore and Cara Alexander added Addus HealthCare Inc, and Team Select Home Care.

Nancy Giddens and Shannon Cooper added URAC, JAG-Missouri, and Starlight Theatre; and deleted Missouri Credit Union Association.

Rebecca Elizabeth Eichelberger added Missouri Association of Municipal Utilities; and deleted Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.

Gunnar See added Missouri Trucking Association.

Susan Henderson Moore deleted The Missouri Society of Pathologists.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Kristian Starner, Talibdin El-Amin, and Sam Komo.