MOScout Daily Update: Senate Dems Filibuster Through The Night - Burger Lands Checks - Gun Reform - Veit Bill Sinks and more…

“It's almost 5 AM, which is the time that I feel like things get easier. The 3-5AM is kind of a tricky time.” – Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman.

Senate Continues IP Debate

The Senate once again spent all night with the Democrats filibustering the Republican plan to change the initiative petition reform. 

A little after 5AM, Sen. Coleman introduced a third substitute.  There was no indication it was the result of compromise or foreshadowed an end to the stalemate.

The Freedom Caucus issued a press release yesterday, insistent that this issue stay on the floor ahead of other issues.  But with ten senators in their caucus, Dems have sufficient legs to maintain a filibuster as long as they want to.  Five 2-hour shifts get everyone 8 hours of sleep. And if they weaponize the quorum calls, which they haven’t yet, they could wear down the Republican supermajority. Dems, by the way, have every incentive to burn another week of session on this resolution rather than move on to other issues.

If Dems, hold their position, there are two ways out: compromise, or PQ.  Sen. Bill Eigel publicly floated the use of the PQ (previous question) motion to end debate. A PQ would decimate the remainder of the session.  That’s why it’s usually reserved until the end of a legislative session.

Arthur: Send Us Adults

Sen. Lauren Arthur talking to Sen. Greg Razer on the floor yesterday, sounded like someone who’s nearing term limits… “So you said something along the lines of, I don't care if you vote for Democrats, I don't care if you vote for Republicans, obviously I'd prefer that you vote for Democrats, I just care that you vote for adults. Send us adults. And I think that has really summed up my, you perfectly articulated my feelings about serving in this body right now.”

Veit’s Bill Sinks

It’s unusual to see a bill from the House Republican supermajority go down in flames, but that’s what happened yesterday.

Rep. Rudy Veit’s judicial proceedings bill (HB 1886), which didn’t seem particularly controversial on its face, garnered only 58 Yes votes on Third Reading.  There were voiced concerns about the bill preventing background checks for grandparents seeking guardianship of minors. 

·       One zinger in the building: I guess the Speaker getting rid of everyone who can count votes wasn’t the best idea in the world…

Guns Reform

House Dems held a press conference yesterday to announce that they’d be filing a resolution to allow local municipalities to adopt some firearm regulation. The move comes after the shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs parade.   Watch Minority Leader Crystal Quade here.

·       Rudi Keller reports that House Floor Leader Jon Patterson doesn’t dismiss a gun debate out of hand, a prudent stance amid the public outcry.

And

As a reminder, for all the talk about “hardening” schools and the deterrent of heat-packing citizens, the other part about the gun debate which gets less airtime: the person most likely to be killed by a gun is its owner.  That’s because guns are so often used in suicide. Most gun killings are suicides.

And then, the other terrible truth: domestic violence.  The second most likely people to be killed by a gun are the owner’s family.

Burger Raises $$$

Rep. Jamie Burger continues to record large contributions into his Senate 27 bid.  Two more $5K+ checks showed up (below), that makes a total of five big donations since his pivot into the state senate race.

Dems Ding FC on Sticker Typo

As someone who’s typo-ed my way through life, I feel for the poor folks at the Freedom Caucus who printed up stickers supporting SRJ 74….

Source: MO Sen Dems.

Help Wanted

The Office of Congresswoman Cori Bush seeks Outreach Representative.  “The Office of Congresswoman Cori Bush seeks a dedicated, outgoing, and compassionate individual to join our outreach team as an Outreach Representative in our St. Louis office.  The ideal applicant should be ready to work collaboratively in a fast paced environment, possess excellent communication skills and a desire to deliver for the people of Missouri’s First Congressional District. This is an entry level position… The salary range for this position is $55,000-58,000.”

See the posting here.

$5K+ Contributions

Bootheel Values PAC (pro-Burger) - $5,100 from Bi-State Oil Co.

Bootheel Values PAC - $5,001 from Cynthia Cole.

Lobbyist Registrations

Mike Gibbons and Tricia Workman added TikTok Inc. US, and Agudath Israel of America.

Ashley Lawson added Hahn DeBoef LLC, The Doula Foundation, Onyx Aesthetics, Flawless Permanent Costmetics, The Vault PMU & Training Company, and Ink'd Classi/Purgatory Tattoo.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Ben Baker, Doug Galloway, Matt Bartle, and Kenny Biermann.