MOScout Daily Update: MEC’s Abortion Compromise - Franklin County GOP Backs Sparks - Long Tapped for IRS - Karsten to Retire and more…

MEC Offers Compromise

Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman filed SJR 25 which would put the issue of abortions back before Missouri voters. 

Coleman, the staunchiest of the staunch pro-life legislators, though is offering a compromise with the resolution: there would be exceptions for rape and medical emergencies.

It’s a sign that many in the pro-life camp believe Missourians, while generally pro-life, found the previous total abortion too restrictive and thus approved Amendment 3. 

·       A ban with those exceptions would eliminate the vast majority (95%?-99%?) of abortions.

Franklin County GOP Backs Sparks

The Franklin County Republican Central Committee adopted a resolution supporting Rep. Justin Sparks for Speaker of the House.  Among his promises: elimination the Rules Committee, and a special committee with subpoena power to go after the “deep state.”

What It Means

·       Franklin County has been one of the “tip-of-the-spear”, hard-charging conservative organizations in Missouri.  So, this isn’t a big surprise. 

·       But it’s an important reminder of the bigger picture: dividing Republicans into “true conservatives” and “RINOS.”  

·       “Patterson is a RINO” will be a refrain for the next two years from the Freedomers.  Votes will be recorded to create a scorecard as they position themselves for the 2026 state senate primaries.

Long Gets IRS

Trump press release: I am pleased to announce that former Congressman Billy Long, of the Great State of Missouri, will be appointed to serve as the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Billy brings 32 years of experience running his own businesses in Real Estate and, as one of the premier Auctioneers in the Country…

·       Politico: As a young boy, Long taught his dog to roll over and play dead upon being asked: “Would you rather be a Democrat or a dead dog?”

Karsten to Exit

Press release: Governor Mike Parson announced that Sandra (Sandy) Karsten will retire as Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director at the conclusion of Governor Parson’s term in office on January 13, 2025.

·       Governor Parson appointed Karsten to serve as DPS’s 15th director on August 27, 2018, following her retirement as Missouri State Highway Patrol superintendent. Karsten had served with the Highway Patrol for 33 years and was the first woman in Patrol history to attain the ranks of lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel; she was also the first woman to lead the Department of Public Safety.

New Sheriff Cleaning House

Post-Dispatch’s Katie Kull reports on St. Louis City’s Sheriff-elect Alfred Montgomery telling the current sheriff’s “top brass on Wednesday that they’ll be out of a job when he takes over next month.”

Out-going Sheriff Vernon Betts said the “preemptive notices were making an understaffing problem even worse. Six deputies had recently resigned from the department, Betts said, putting him down to 155 people out of the 170 for which his office is budgeted.”

$5K+ Contributions

Show Me Values PAC (pro-Carter) - $10,000 from Paladin PAC.

Lobbyist Registrations

Randy Scherr added Entertainment Software Association.

Jay Reichard and Olivia Wilson added St. Luke's Hospital.

Mike Henderson added the clients of Clarkston Nelson.

Jay Reichard deleted Article IV, and Promontory 150 LLC c/o Platform Ventures, LLC.

Olivia Wilson deleted Paypool.

Michael Winter deleted Missouri Private Sector Individual Self-Insurers Guaranty Corporation.

Andrea Leigh Clark deleted Andrea Clark.

Leroy Grant deleted Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, LLC. DBA AT&T Missouri, LLC. and its Affiliates.

Tim Green deleted Lake Regional Health System.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays Rep. Gary Bonacker, and Chris Pickel.

Upcoming Fundraisers