MOScout Daily Update: Wasinger Hires Jung - Hawley Hardballs Tyson - Waiting on Final Kehoe Picks and more…
MOScout schedule: Quick updates today and tomorrow, then I’m off for the rest of the week and will be back in your in-box on Monday Dec 30.
First in MOScout: Wasinger Announces LG Staff
Lt. Governor-elect David Wasinger will be announcing his staff…
· Frank Jung will serve as General Counsel to the Lt. Governor. Frank has extensive legal experience, having served as General Counsel to the Secretary of State, the State Auditor and the Missouri Gaming Commission. He has worked as an attorney at the Office of Administration and the Attorney General's office. Frank is also a veteran and holds a JD from Michigan State University.
· Chris Walker, a Southeast Missouri native and current aide to U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt, has been named Director of Policy and Communications. In his new position, Chris will oversee policy initiatives and communications strategy for the Lt. Governor. Chris earned a bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University.
· Anna Littrell will serve as Director of Buy Missouri. Anna has worked as a constituent liaison for Congressman Luetkemeyer, helping Missourians address questions and matters related to the federal government. She also served as a legislative assistant in the Missouri House of Representatives and holds a BA from Westminister College.
· Kiana Schrandt will be serving as Administrative Assistant to the Lt. Governor. Kiana comes from the Department of Social Services Children's Division, where she helps meet the needs of Missouri children in the Division's care. Prior to her work at DSS, Kiana provided administrative support services at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Lt. Governor-elect Wasinger previously announced Katie Ashcroft will serve the Office of Lt.
Governor as Chief of Staff.
Kehoe Cabinet Status
We’re down to just three cabinet positions left for Governor-elect Mike Kehoe to announce: DHSS, Insurance, and Revenue.
The current roster…
Missouri Office of Administration – Kenneth J. Zellers – staying on.
Missouri Department of Agriculture – Chris Chinn – staying on.
Missouri Department of Conservation – Jason Sumner – appointed by Conservation Commission.
Missouri Department of Corrections – Trevor Foley – staying on.
Missouri Department of Economic Development – Michelle Hataway – staying on.
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education – Karla Eslinger – appointed by State Board of Education.
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services - ?? – currently Paula Nickelson.
Missouri Department of Higher Education - Bennett Boggs – appointed by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education.
Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - ?? – Chlora Lindley-Myers retiring.
Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations - Anna Hui – staying on.
Missouri Department of Mental Health – Valerie Huhn appointed by Mental Health Commission.
Missouri Department of Natural Resources – Kurt Schaefer – new Kehoe appointment.
Missouri Department of Public Safety – Mark James – new Kehoe appointment.
Missouri Department of Revenue - ?? – currently Wayne Wallingford.
Missouri Department of Social Services – Jess Bax – new Kehoe appointment.
Missouri Department of Transportation – Ed Hassinger – appointed by Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.
Hawley Plays Hardball With Tyson
Missouri Independent has written about poultry farmers in Dexter Missouri suing Tyson Foods for shutting down their operations and then disposing of the plant in a manner to prevent another chicken operator from buying it. Read their latest article here.
Senator Josh Hawley has been all over this issue, and sent a letter last week to the Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King accusing him of “stonewalling my efforts to learn the truth about your shutdown of poultry plants in Noel and Dexter, Missouri.”
Importantly, the lawsuit alleged that you were always planning to sell the plant to a non-competitor, in defiance of commitments you made to me and Congressman Jason Smith…
[P]lease provide answers to the following questions:
1. Did you personally greenlight the decision to seek disclosure of farmers’ contacts with the press and federal regulators? If not, who did?
2. Will you produce the documentation I requested from you on July 9, 2024 regarding your company’s sale of the Dexter plant to Cal-Maine Foods, or will you continue to withhold this information from the public?
I await your response.
Sincerely,
Josh Hawley
United States Senator
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Parson announced judicial appointments to the 10th, 13th, and 22nd Judicial Circuits…
· Jennifer A. Richardson, of Monroe City, will be appointed as Associate Circuit Judge for Marion County in the 10th Judicial Circuit.
· Jayne A. Pearman, of Centralia, will be appointed as Associate Circuit Judge for Boone County in the 13th Judicial Circuit.
· Michael R. Dauphin, of St. Louis, was appointed as Associate Circuit Judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit.
$5K+ Contributions
NextGen North PAC - $7,500 from Mainline Services LLC.
NextGen North PAC - $7,500 from Kelly Clark.
MoCannTrade PAC - $6,000 from Timothy Schlesinger.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $60,000 from NEMO Leadership PAC.
314 Forward - $10,000 from Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 Political Education Fund.
Lobbyist Registrations
Ryan Rowden added Churchill Downs Incorporated; and Elevance Health and Its Affiliates dba Anthem Inc; and deleted Symmetry Energy Solutions LLC, and Americans for Fair Energy Prices.
Eapen Thampy added Missouri Vacation Home Alliance.
Matthew Amick added Matt Amick.
Hesston Klenk added AES Clean Energy.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Mike Revis.