MOScout Daily Update: Short Week - How IP Debate Ends? - Gov Poll - Bowlin Trash Backlash? - NYT on Bush-Bell and more…
The legislative week is coming to a truncated end. The House has a few committee hearings scheduled for this morning, with a technical session today, and a few committees scheduled for Thursday morning.
The Senate, meanwhile, spent all of yesterday debating Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman’s IP reform. Democrats filibustered for about five hours before calling it a day. With many folks headed west for today’s Kansas City Chiefs Superbowl victory parade, the Senate is off for the week and will reconvene on Monday.
The Freedom Caucus growled that IP reform is more important than a damn parade, though probably most Missourians think otherwise…
It feels like the Senate is going to stick with IP reform for the foreseeable future. Dems clearly have plenty of legs to filibuster for an extended period of time.
My guess is that the Senate comes to a compromise. I would expect that Dems stop their filibuster if there’s some change in ballot language, perhaps moving concurrent majorities to the top of the summary, as well as a promise to take some other Republican priority off the table. (In theory, it’d be some Freedom Caucus priority to aggravate that split).
· We now have four weeks left until Spring Break, the traditional halfway mark of the legislative session.
Poll Sees Kehoe and Eigel Tied
Like every other poll, Jay Ashcroft has a nice lead in this poll from ARW Strategies. But it also shows Sen. Bill Eigel and Mike Kehoe tied.
12. If the Republican primary election for Governor was held today, and the candidates were Jay Ashcroft, Bill Eigel, and Mike Kehoe, who would you vote for?
Jay Ashcroft: 35.9%
Mike Kehoe: 13.2%
Bill Eigel: 13.1%
Undecided: 37.9%
Candidate net fav/unfav…
· Ashcroft: 36.7 Net Favorable.
· Eigel: 14.4 Net Favorable.
Kehoe: 21.9 Net Favorable.
Bowlin Trash Backlash?
In the Senate 15 Republican primary, the assumption has been that Mayor Jim Bowlin’s name ID from his service as mayor of Wildwood will be a positive. But there can also be a downside to local politics. Passions tend to run high on local matters.
An example of this is the Concerned Citizens of Wildwood website. It seems to be mainly concerned with contracts for trash collection. “Wildwood Mayor James Bowlin, Mayor ProTem Joe Garritano and City Council want you to believe the Trash and Recycling contracts were the best they could do. We think otherwise…”
· See Concerned Citizens for Wildwood’s latest MEC filing here.
Reservists to Texas
Press release: On Thursday, February 15 at 3:30 p.m., Governor Mike Parson will hold a press conference outside his office in the State Capitol to announce resources and personnel that the State of Missouri will be deploying to the Southern Border to support Texas Governor Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star mission.
NYTimes on 1-CD Race
The New York Times delves into the First Congressional primary race of Congresswoman Cori Bush and Wesley Bell. Headline: A Left-vs.-Left House Battle, Funded by a Split Over Israel. Read it here.
· Driven by the passions surrounding the massacre of Israelis on Oct. 7 and the ensuing war in Gaza, pro-Israel groups are financing a slew of primary challenges in heavily Democratic districts, aimed at unseating outspoken critics of Israel on the political left.
· The deadly war has divided centrist Democrats from progressives like Ms. Bush, who has condemned Israel for its response, seeking to hold up aid while pressing for a cease-fire as the death toll in Gaza has mounted…
· But unlike many of the primary contests fueled by various groups — like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee; its political affiliate, the United Democracy Project; and the independent Democratic Majority for Israel — the Bush vs. Bell battle in Missouri’s First District pits progressive against progressive…
MO Gaming Assn on Springfield Ordinance
Press release from MO Gaming Association: We complement the Springfield mayor and city council for protecting their citizens by taking action on this important issue. This unanimous vote sends a strong message. We ask other city councils and county commissions to take similar action to shut down illegal machines and penalize those who continue to violate the law.
· MO Gaming Association is the trade organization of Missouri casinos. They support reining in “gray machines” which they see as unfair competition.
Pray for Trump, Give to Me?
We will look back on the Trump Era someday and marvel at the insanity…
Lobbyist Registrations
David Klarich and Joshua Klarich added Plumbing Industry Council.
David Willis added DJI Technology, Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Back on Track America PAC - $10,000 from Dianne Ely.
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom - $13,229 from American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, Inc.
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom - $10,000 from Brendan Donelon.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Jeff Altmann, and Michael Moorefield.