MOScout Daily Update: Dinkins Decides - Hicks in 3-CD - Senate Approves IP Reform - Hamra PAC - Greitens Watch and more…
BREAKING… Dinkins Decides
Rep. Chris Dinkins will be changing her committee designation today from “exploratory” to one running for state senate, making it official that she’ll be filing for Senate 27 next week.
I’d reported earlier this month that Dinkins planned “a comprehensive poll to test her strengths and weaknesses as well as those of her opponents.” And that the poll would factor heavily as she weighed her future.
It appears she’s pleased with the results, and is confident that there’s a path to victory.
Right now, Senate 27 is set to be a 3-way Republican primary with Dinkins running against Rep. Jamie Burger, and Jacob Turner.
· Burger’s Bootheel Values PAC, meanwhile, says they’ve raised a total of $40,851 so far in the first quarter, “including recent donations: $5000 from Xcaliber International Ltd LLC; $2500 from Wanda Drury; $2500 from Fair Play Missouri PAC; and $2500 from Alliant Services LLC.”
First in MOScout: Hicks Jumps Into 3-CD
Rep. Justin Hicks has formed a campaign committee to run for Congress. See the filing here.
I’d reported earlier this month that Hicks was looking at the race. But now, the week before filing opens, he appears to be pulling the trigger.
· Hicks is a first-term legislator who wad seen as a future leaders in the House. He’ll be jettisoning that potential for a long-shot Congressional race.
· The biggest question mark for Hicks is whether he’ll be able to compete on the fundraising front.
· But… if you know you want to go to DC, this is clearly the opportune moment: an open seat and a crowded field.
Hicks joins Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, former Sen. Bob Onder, and Taylor Burks – with rumors still that former Sen. Kurt Schaefer will also enter. I’ve updated my 2024 Watch spreadsheet.
· It appears Hicks also formed a SuperPAC, Americans First. That’s the same name as Hicks’ Missouri PAC, and it has the same treasurer, Linda Ragsdale. See the filing here.
What It Means
I wrote yesterday how Republican women in Missouri seem to be doing well in the polling, helped perhaps by being the lone female in crowded races. So far, that scenario is sshaping up for MEC as well. She’s the only woman with four men vying for CD-3.
IP Reform Moves Forward
The Senate filibuster ended as a compromise was reached in which sponsor Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman ditched the extraneous “ballot candy” provisions. Though she told MOIndy that she hoped the House would add back in some of the dropped language.
What’s Next
The House faces a tough decision. Without the ballot candy, the chances of concurrent majorities passing in a statewide vote is greatly diminished. And yet, if they return the resolution to the Senate with additional provisions, it will enflame another floor fight, endangering other legislations’ chances for passage.
Not that the Senate won’t be a mess anyway. Word is that they’re prepping to take up the FRA tax renewal which promises some long, drawn-out debates. And the Freedom Caucus took to social media yesterday saying that those voting to advance initiative petition reform were voting to “allow illegals to vote and China/Russia influence U.S. elections.” It’s the sort of quarter-truth spin that has poisoned Republican relations the chamber in the past.
Guns Reform Watch
Rather than file one resolution, House Democrats separately filed the same Joint Resolution aimed at giving local municipalities some leeway in regulating firearms. Minority Leader Crystal Quade filed HJR 135. See it here. Forty other Dems filed identical legislation.
In compliance with the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and limited by decisions of the United States Supreme Court and federal law, any county, the city of St. Louis, and the city of Kansas City may, by ordinance duly enacted, regulate the possession, carrying, or transfer of firearms within the limits of the city or county…
STL Snubbed?
Missouri Independent reports on a round of infrastructure grants from the Biden Administration…
· In Missouri, Kirksville Regional Airport will receive a little over $3 million to replace current terminal that has reached the end of it useful life. Springfield-Branson National Airport will receive $5.3 million to improve passenger terminal building by replacing up to five passenger boarding bridges.
· The funding is authorized by the infrastructure law enacted in 2021. The grant selections this week represent the third round of roughly $1 billion of annual grant funding under the program.
On STL politico wonders if St. Louis missing from the list of awardees is attributable to Congresswoman Cori Bush’s no vote on infrastructure bill…
Greitens Watch
Source: Instagram.
Pro-Hamra PAC Formed
Together Missouri PAC was formed to support the candidacy of Michael Hamra, running for the Democratic nomination for governor. Its treasurer is Catherine Jones. See the filing here.
· Because political action committees don’t have to abide by the same contribution caps as candidate committees, this move could presage some large checks coming Hamra’s way. We’ll see…
$5K+ Contributions
The Committee to Keep the Chiefs and Royals in Jackson County - $500,000 from Kansas City Chiefs Football Club.
Uniting Missouri PAC (pro-Parson) - $25,000 from SUN SOLAR, LLC.
Lobbyist Registrations
Claudia Alley and Olivia Wilson added Sheriff's Retirement System.
Olivia Wilson added Paypool.
Claudia Alley added Husch Blackwell Strategies.
Tony Dugger added TikTok Inc. US.
Scott Dieckhaus added HTH Companies.
Steven Tilly, Thomas Robbins, Brittany Hyatt Robbins, Chris Schoeman, and Alec Rosenblum added Seashore Rhythm LCC.
Thomas Robbins, Brittany Hyatt Robbins, Chris Schoeman, Alec Rosenblum, and Garrett Webb added Central States Water.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Donna Baringer, Craig Unruh, Jo Mannies, Steve Stenger, and Harry Kennedy.