MOScout Daily Update: Engler for Clerk - O’Laughlin Targets MODoT and Nonpartisan Plan - Henderson to Clarkston Nelson - GSL Needs GOPers? and more…
JP Taps Engler To Be House Clerk
Speaker-designate Jon Patterson emailed Republicans yesterday…
I’m excited to announce Joe Engler as the Chief Clerk-Designee for the 103rd General Assembly of the Missouri House of Representatives. I think we can all agree that Joe is a knowledgeable resource who is well-liked, fair, and capable. From his time running a successful floor as the Majority Floor Leader’s Chief of Staff, to serving members in the speaker’s office and our budget office, Joe has embodied the same values we ask of ourselves daily. The position of Chief Clerk demands integrity, respect, and competency, which are among the traits Joe demonstrates… I am confident in Joe’s ability as a servant leader for our chamber…
Why It Matters
After last session’s dust-up between Speaker Dean Plocher and Chief Clerk Dana Rademan Miller, there were calls (mostly among Plocher allies) to make the position more partisan. With this pick JP is rejecting those urgings. Engler is obviously a Republican, but he’s viewed as someone who is fair and won’t be a political instrument.
· One capitol denizen: “Clerk isn’t just about logistics but also being approachable to all the members and staff. Joe will pick up the technical part of the job quick but he already has the personality. Good for JP.”
And
The next question on people’s mind: who will take Engler’s spot as chief of staff to the House Budget Chair Dirk Deaton? It’s another position which requires a sharp mind, but also the right personality to deal with a thousand different taps and tugs.
O’Laughlin Announces Agenda
Senate Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin posted on Facebook the issues she plans to focus on…
· Putting MODoT under legislative and executive control.
· Jettisoning Missouri’s Nonpartisan Court Plan and electing judges.
Here is her post (I’ve added the links to her proposals): “In my final two years as a state senator, I intend to personally focus on making transformational changes to state government in ways that put Missourians and taxpayers first…
The first, SJR 2, will elevate the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Director and Chief Engineer to cabinet-level positions, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. For far too long, the Department has operated in isolation, shielded from public accountability by unelected commissioners and guaranteed revenue streams. Missourians deserve a Department of Transportation that prioritizes the needs of the state’s driving public, its small businesses, and the safety and prosperity of the people and businesses it serves—not its own bureaucratic interests. This reform will ensure the Department is more responsive to the concerns of the people it serves.
The second, SJR 3, will overhaul Missouri's court system by replacing the current model, which prioritizes the interests of powerful lawyers over those of everyday citizens. Missourians deserve judges who protect their liberties and conservative values—not ones selected through an insider-driven process. This bill empowers Missouri voters by giving them a direct say in electing judges, ensuring our judiciary serves the people, not the political or legal elite…”
What It Means
· For those keeping a list of issues which could lead to full-on filibusters in the Senate (pro-life amendment, IP reform, stadium funding…), add dismantling the Nonpartisan Court Plan to that tally. The Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, who have a bipartisan clutch of sympathetic senators, would go to mattresses on this one.
· Also, I’m pretty sure not a single legislator campaigned on either of these issues this year.
Kehoe Agenda
Campaign promises made by Governor-elect Mike Kehoe are among the legislation pre-filed by Republicans.
· St. Louis City Police Takeover – Sen. Travis Fitzwater pre-filed SB 44 which has pretty much the same language in it that was used last year on this topic. Fitzwater will likely continue his role as Chair of the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee. That means this bill could move with some speed.
· Eliminating the State Income Tax – Rep. Bishop Davidson pre-filed a bill, and a companion constitutional amendment, to phase-out the income tax. It would move to a flat tax of 4% and then decline, with revenue triggers, by .1% thereafter. According to a press release, this approach seems to have the support of several senators (Ben Brown, Jill Carter, Brad Hudson, Nick Schroer, and Curtis Trent).
ROMO (Reminder of the Obvious): Pre-filing is the easy part…
Henderson Joins Clarkston Nelson
Press release: Clarkston Nelson is pleased to announce the addition of Michael Henderson to the firm in a senior leadership role. Henderson brings extensive experience in government relations and legal practice, including civil litigation and government practice, to one of the most established and respected government consulting firms in the state of Missouri… Henderson has spent the last five years serving as General Counsel and Government Affairs Director of the Missouri Insurance Coalition. He was previously legal counsel at the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation…
Ban the Box 2.0
Without looking, can you tell if a Republican or Democrat filed this bill? Is it a Democrat poking fun at the incoming felonious president? Or a Republican paying tribute?
This subsection shall be known as the "Donald J. Trump Election Qualification Act".
A person who has been found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony under the federal laws of the United States of America or to a felony under the laws of this state or an offense committed in another state that would be considered a felony in this state shall not be disqualified as a candidate for elective public office in the state of Missouri if otherwise qualified.
Hiu To Stay At DOLIR
Governor Mike Kehoe announced another holdover… Press release: Governor-Elect Mike Kehoe announced today the appointment of Anna Hui as Director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR). Hui will continue to lead DOLIR after being appointed to the position in March 2017.
Gregory Castle Drama
News Tribune reports that “a Jefferson City councilman accused others on the City Council of ‘political nonsense’ for opposing suspending the rules and expediting approval of an East Capitol Avenue contract… PG & Co. is owned by St. Louis politician David Gregory and his wife, Paige…
· Ward 5 Councilman Mark Schwartz suggested suspending the rules and voting on the PG & Co. contract after one reading, but two council members opposed the idea…
· Ward 3 Councilman Scott Spencer said approving the contract as quickly as possible would show residents and developers the City Council supports new development in Jefferson City… "Politics are kind of cratered in here," Spencer said. "Frankly ... there's colleagues that I don't trust. Their word doesn't mean much to me…”
· Ward 5 Councilwoman Mackenzie Job said she'd prefer the council follow due process… While some council members accused her and [Mike] Lester of slowing the process down, she pointed out giving a bill two reads is not slowing the process but instead what is supposed to happen with every bill.
Graves Gets Extension
Axios reports that Congressman Sam Graves received his waiver to remain Chair of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Multiple sources said they did not expect waivers to be granted for the next Congress… Graves — who was previously floated as a potential contender to serve as secretary of Transportation — made the case that he is prepared to swiftly move on President-elect Trump's agenda next year.
· One MOScouter: Great news for Missouri!
Cannon on DOGE
Missourian Joelle Cannon gets quoted by the Washington Times as it reports on the potential for Elon Musk to drive federal budget cuts. Read it here.
“It’s definitely the moment,” said Joelle Cannon, a former staffer for Sen. Tom Coburn and the Bowles-Simpson deficit commission. She compared the push for budget cuts over the past decades to a “John the Baptist feel” of being a voice in the wilderness... Ms. Cannon said the key to fiscal sanity is merely willpower and action. “We’ve had the lists of reforms for 30 years,” she said. “No one’s ever done anything with any of them. The hope is that this now it is, ‘Oh, the playbook has been written already. Let’s update the numbers and fix the actual problem.’”
eMailbag on GSL
Is [Greater St. Louis] basically all old Jay Nixon team members? [Jason]Hall, [Dustin] Allison, [Sam] Murphey, [Margaret] Onken. I mean, maybe it would help the St. Louis business community to hire someone who can talk to the Republican Governor and Republican super majorities in addition to city hall.
$5K+ Contributions
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom - $30,373 from American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, Inc.
Lobbyist Registrations
Nexus Group added Varsity Tutors for Schools LLC.
Eric Syverson added Aligned.
Matthew Thompson added the clients of the Winton Policy Group.
Trent Watson added Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Mike Henderson deleted Missouri Insurance Coalition.
Chris Moody deleted James R Moody & Associates.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Rep. Jerome Barnes, Rudi Keller, Sean Gagen, and Jennifer Florida.