MOScout Daily Update: Ashcroft Promises to Eliminate State Income Tax, Freeze Spending - Henderson Kick-off - Hartmann for Congress and more…
Welcome to Spring Break
Spring Break is the traditional half-way point in the legislative session. But a lobbyist pointed out to me that this year it’s more than half. We’ve had ten (or eleven if you count that first half-week) weeks, and when the legislature returns, there will only be eight more weeks.
· So far, zero bills have been sent to the governor.
House Budget
House Budget Chair Cody Smith unveiled his version of the House budget at a hearing yesterday. Missouri Independent reports on the big picture here…
· A state spending plan for fiscal 2025 delivered Thursday in the Missouri House cuts $2 billion from the proposal Gov. Mike Parson made in January…
· The proposal from House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith achieves those cuts despite several additions, including $727.5 million for major reconstruction projects along Interstate 44 in southwest Missouri.
· Some of the biggest reductions proposed by Smith are in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, where federal fund spending is $594 million below the $3.05 billion in Parson’s plan, and in the Department of Social Services, where Medicaid eligibility reviews have cut rolls by 159,000 from the May peak of 1.5 million people.
You can get into the weeds by looking at the tracking document here. The House Budget Committee will debate the budget when they return March 25.
And
Fiscal hawks who complain about Missouri’s out-of-control government spending will have to ignore the state’s AAA credit rating and the fact that there is no House Bill 2001 this year….
Senate Passes Big Ed Bill
Sen. Andrew Koenig’s huge education bill, SB 727, was passed by the Senate yesterday. Sen. Mike Moon joined the Democratic senators in opposition. There were several absences as the bill passed 19-10.
Hartmann for Congress
Press release: Local journalist and Riverfront Times founder Ray Hartmann announced today he is running as a Democrat for the 2nd Congressional District in the 2024 election. He would oppose 6-term Republican Congresswoman Ann Wagner.
Hartmann, who has served as a panelist on the popular Nine PBS show Donnybrook for an
astonishing 37 years, had this to say about why he was leaving journalism after a career spanning more than half a century: “Our nation is at a crossroads like none other. The future of women’s health and reproductive freedom is on the ballot. Democracy itself is on the ballot. A substantial majority of us in the 2nd District want to protect women and all Americans from the danger posed by the candidacy of Donald Trump who, to borrow Ann Wagner’s previous description of him, is ‘reprehensible.’”
· Trump carried 2-CD by 7.8% in 2020.
Ashcroft Unveils “Red-print” on Taxes
Using a play on words and keeping with the “engineering” theme of his campaign, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft unveil the first of a series of policy “Red-prints.” This one deals with taxes. See it here. The bulletpoints…
· Eliminate the State Income Tax. Ashcroft would “appoint a task force of experts to make recommendations on the best pro-growth strategies to replace revenue from the income tax.” His taskforce would include: Tom Feeney, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives; Aaron Hedlund, Show Me Institute; Art Laffer, Laffer Center; Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform; Stephen Moore, Heritage Foundation; and Jonathan Williams, ALEC.
· Repeal the Gas Tax Increase. This is a direct contrast with LG Mike Kehoe who championed the tax.
· Reduce Government Spending. Ashcroft promises a freeze on spending, as in “no net increase in spending on my watch… by implementing Zero-Based Budgeting…”
Team Kehoes snarks: While Jay Ashcroft is putting out plans to convene task forces and experts AFTER the election, Mike Kehoe has already met with Art Laffer to discuss tax reform policies and is ready to hit the ground running on day one.
Fundy Watch: Smith, Henderson, Webber
Team Cody Smith crows that they held a big fundraiser in Treasurer Vivek Malek’s southeast stronghold…
Rep. Mike Henderson kicks off his Senate 3 campaign on Tuesday with an impressive list of big names in the district…
And also next week, Stephen Webber will collect ever more checks at the home of Brian Treece and Mary Phillips. Note former Republican Rep. Caleb Jones on the host list…
New Candidate Filings
· Claudia S Toomim (Republican) filed in House 24. She’ll take on Democrat Rep. Emily Weber.
· Jennifer Cassidy (Democrat) filed in House 32. She’ll face Republican Rep. Jeff Coleman.
· Lisa Durnell (Republican) filed in House 154. This is where incumbent Republican Rep. David Evans is expected to withdraw.
$5K+ Contributions
Together Missouri PAC (pro-Hamra) - $25,000 from Tony Chinino (Hinsdale, IL).
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $10,000 from Central Bank.
Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages (higher minimum wage IP) - $49,345 from Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action.
Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages - $10,944 from Missouri Jobs with Justice.
Committee to Elect Danielle Kincaid - $20,000 from United Springfield.
UAW Region 4 Midwest States PAC (MO) - $6,000 from Midwest State Cap Exchange (Ottawa, IL).
Lobbyist Registrations
Ralph Bellar added Oldham Investors LLC, Streets of West Pryor CID, Streets of West Pryor TDD, Summit Fair CID, Adams Dairy Landing CID, Liberty Corners CID, Antioch Center CID, and Metro North Crossing CID.
Mack Miner added DCM Land LLC.
Bradley Pryor added Rolwes Construction Inc.
Alex Tuttle added Missouri Eastern Railroad, and Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services, Inc. Andrew “Drew” Weber added Imperial Catering Company Inc, Lombardo Homes of St Louis, LLC, DCM Land LLC; and deleted Steepleview Farm LLC.
John Arthur Young added QuikTrip Corporation, and InTown Suites Management, Inc.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sen. Jason Bean, Reps. Bennie Cook and Dave Hinman, Adam Gresham, and Gary McElyea.
Saturday: Rep. Bill Owen, Melissa Randol, Jon Dolan, and Michelle Sherod.
Sunday: Joe Maxwell, Pat Rowe Kerr, Earl Simms, Tom Self, Todd Smith, and Patrick Lynn.
MOScout Schedule
I’m taking the weekend off. I’ll be back in your in-box on Monday. Next week will be a short Spring Break week for MOScout.