MOScout Daily Update: Pro-Police Takeover Gets $1M - Trial Attys for Eigel - Hough Hits $600K - Schroer to Avery - Gore Unopposed and more…
1 Big Thing: $1M for Pro-STL Police Takeover PAC
Missouri Law Enforcement For Good Government received a $1 million contribution from Mike Rayner.
Rayner is part of the Cargill family. He’s supporting AG Andrew Bailey, and previously made a $500,000 contribution into Bailey’s PAC.
But the PAC is not just a pass-through entity for Bailey’s campaign. It’s focused on supporting candidates who can advance their agenda of a state takeover of the St. Louis police force. They’ve given to a number of PACs in the past year (Senate Floor Leader Cindy O’Laughlin, Speaker Dean Plocher), and I expect this money will be spread around strategically as they push their issue.
· Rep. Brad Christ’s HB 1481 was perfected this week in the House.
Hough Hits $600K Raised Since March 1
Sen. Lincoln Hough is one of the first beneficiaries of the Law Enforcement for Good Government PAC. His PAC, Lincoln PAC, landed $150,000 from them.
That brings his total raised, in just this month, to $600,000!
· Hough will have the resources to get his message out in the LG’s race, no doubt.
Eigel Nets $200K from Trial Attorneys
In the large contribution listings today (below), you’ll find a list of checks from trial attorney firms into the pro-Eigel BILL PAC. All together they total nearly $200,000. That’s a nice bump for Sen. Bill Eigel’s gubernatorial fundraising.
It’s the latest in what’s become ongoing support from trial attorneys to Conservative Caucus/Freedom Caucus politicians.
· The upside for the personal injury firms: we didn’t see any tort reform bills last year. And there’s nothing with any momentum this year either.
Schroer Joins Avery Injury Law Team
Sen. Nick Schroer has joined the law firm of former Rep. Jim Avery. “Nick is an experienced lawyer and has been a lawmaker both in the Missouri House and now the Senate. It’s great to have another fighter joining our team. Nick will also be able to advocate for our injured clients to make sure the 7th Amendment to the Constitution is protected (right to a jury trial) just like other 26 Amendments.”
Gore Unopposed
Another stunning development in yesterday’s filings comes from St. Louis City, where St. Louis City Prosecutor Gabe Gore did not draw an opponent. That’s almost unheard-of in city politics where there’s always a faction to throw up at least nominal opposition.
· It’s an achievement that Governor Mike Parson can be proud of, clearing picking the right person for the job.
What It Means
One observer: “Four more years by acclamation for a professional prosecutor is a big deal considering how bad things were one year ago. It also demonstrates that there are limits to how much chaos in the streets City voters will tolerate before turning away from progressive public safety policies.”
The Osmack Option
On final day filing I didn’t write about yesterday was the entry of Mark Osmack into the Treasurer’s race.
Osmack is a Democrat, a two-time combat veteran and Bronze Star recipient. Osmack ran for Congress (2-CD) back in 2018, placing second in the Democratic (to nominee Cort VanOstran) in the 5-way primary. He then flirted with a Senate 15 run the following year before ceding that race to Rep. Deb Lavender.
In recruiting Osmack, the thinking here among some Dems is that they needed a credible candidate as part of the ongoing treasurer’s race name game. That is, if Treasurer Vivek Malek survives the splintered primary field, could his unusual name provide an opening for a Dem to pick up some rural votes and steal an upset win.
It’s a long shot for sure, but not totally crazy.
Page Leaves Lobbying
Christine Page, Director of Government and External Affairs at Missouri American Water, is leaving the company after nearly a decade to focus on her family.
Before American Water, Page handled government relations for the St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce.
New PACs
Missourians for a Fair Economy was formed. It’s a PAC. Its treasurer is former Rep. Vicki Englund. See the filing here.
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Law Enforcement for Good Government - $1,000,000 from Mike Rayner.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC (pro-Eigel) - $40,000 from DM Law.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $25,000 from Langdon & Emison LLC.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $25,000 from Dollar Burns Becker & Hershewe LLC.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $25,000 from Brown & Crouppen PC.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $20,000 from The Simon Law Firm.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $10,000 from Strong Law.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $10,000 from Gorny Dandurand.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $10,000 from Shamberg Johnson & Bergman.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $10,000 from Goldblatt & Singer.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $7,750 from M Blake Heath.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC - $7,500 from Michael Campbell.
Lincoln PAC (pro-Hough) - $150,000 from Missouri Law Enforcement for Good Government PAC.
Lincoln PAC - $15,000 from IAFF FIREPAC VIC Missouri (Washington, DC).
Committee for Liberty (pro-Ashcroft) - $50,000 from August Busch III.
Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages (pro-minimum wage IP) - $75,000 from UFCW International Union Active Ballot Club General Fund Missouri Federal Committee (Washington, DC).
Missourians for Truth in Petitioning (anti-Ozark casino) - $39,915 from Strategic Capital Consultants, LLC.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $15,000 from Dealers Interested In Government.
Sander for Missouri - $23,999 from Christopher Sander.
Lobbyist Registrations
Dustin Backes added Association of Missouri Nurse Practitioners, and Poplar Bluff Municipal Library District.
Tom Dempsey and Dave Berry added Missouri Future LLC.
Jay Hahn and Ryan DeBoef added Azimuth Renewables LLC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Scott Lipke, Joe Fallert, and Marty Oetting.