MOScout Daily Update: Eigel Returns - Missing Candidates - Kelly Lectures Team Plocher - Big $$$ for Hough - SOTU Guests and more…

Eigel Returns to Senate

Sen. Bill Eigel returned to the Senate yesterday after his choking scare.  He attacked Sen. Lincoln Hough’s SB 847 as creating a new government database.  It was humorous to hear the senator from St. Charles fashion himself as a defender of rural farmers, as he tried vainly to imagine a farm vehicle that wasn’t a tractor.

·       But it was clear from the exchange that the near-death experience did not mellow the feisty Sen. Eigel. 

More on Attorney $$$

I wrote yesterday about trial attorneys making significant contributions in Republican primaries.  There is a strand in conservative thought that a robust court system is preferable to regulations as a mechanism to hold bad actors accountable in a free market economy.  But that’s a minority opinion in the Republican Party today, as trial attorneys are often vilified by business interests.

·       One Republican consultant says that candidates who take support from attorneys could pay a price at the ballot box.  “In a recent GOP Senate primary poll, the question was asked about a candidate accepting these funds and 81.7% of GOP primary voters surveyed were less likely to vote for the candidate knowing they had taken thousands from "liberal trial attorneys" (64% MUCH less likely).”

Driving the Evening: SOTU

President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address tonight.

·       Senator Josh Hawley will bring Dawn Chapman as his guest to event to draw attention to an issue he’s been pounding on.  Chapman is the “co-founder of the grassroots advocacy group Just Moms in St. Louis and longtime advocate for victims of nuclear contamination in the region.”

·       And Washington Post reports that Virginia Senator Tim Kaine will bring Elizabeth Carr, “America’s first IVF baby” has his guest, as Dems continue to highlight that issue.

Money Watch

·       Sen. Lincoln Hough landed a $125K check from SNK Real Property Holdings LLC. SNK Real Property Holdings is an entity of the Schell and Kampeter families which own Diamond Pet Food.  They’re located in Meta Missouri, a small town about a half hour south of Jeff City.  They’ve sent a six-figure check to LG Mike Kehoe this cycle as well.

·       There were two checks yesterday which should concern Republicans hoping to change the IP process. $100,000 from the Realtors into Missourians for Fair Governance, and a $30,000 from a national organization into Protect Majority Rule.  Both committees appear to be vehicles to fight IP reform.

No Dems for LG or Treas

We’re still missing some expected candidates from the filing list.  There’s still plenty of time for these folks to walk into the SOS office, but the longer they wait to file the more folks begin to wonder if they’re actually going to be running…

3-CD: Rep. Justin Hicks.

Governor: Democrat Mike Hamra.

Secretary of State: Sen. Caleb Rowden.

Treasurer: incumbent Vivek Malek.

And…

·       So far, there’s no Democratic candidate filed for either lieutenant governor or treasurer.

Kelly Reiterates Ethics Process to Team Plocher

Missouri Independent reports on the latest from the House Ethics Committee.  Read it here.

·       Speaker Dean Plocher’s attorney sought to attend a closed-door hearing of the Missouri House Ethics Committee on Wednesday night… Lowell Pearson, a veteran Republican attorney, was informed by the committee’s chair — Republican Rep. Hannah Kelly of Mountain Grove — that House rules require proceedings of the ethics committee to be confidential, with none of the discussions, testimony or evidence gathered made public until a final report is issued…

·       After the hearing adjourned following roughly two hours of discussion, Kelly told reporters that the bipartisan committee “stands firm in its commitment to upholding ethical standards and maintaining the integrity of its proceedings.” The committee also, “unequivocally denounces any efforts by any other parties to engage in political theatrics or disclose confidential information deemed pertinent to our investigations.”

Rock Island Park

In the House Journal, Rep. Willard Haley noted “a possible personal interest in legislation on which the Missouri House of Representatives may vote during the legislative session. I own land adjacent to the railroad right of way where the Rock Island Trail State Park is being developed.”

·       Rep. Bruce Sassman’s HB 1554 would send 10% of DNR money “appropriated for the development of the Rock Island Trail State Park to address adjacent landowner concerns such as agricultural fencing, agricultural crossings, drainage, signage, safety, and security.”

eMailbag on Senate 17

·       Jerry [Nolte] is a formidable candidate, but I don’t see a pro-life man winning against a pro-choice woman in a suburban swing district this cycle.

·       Nolte has double the name ID and just a 3-point lead with basically a wash at this point at the top of the ticket.  Not exactly a great springboard especially with [Maggie] Nurrenbern's strong fundraising and aggressive grass roots strategy. 

$5K+ Contributions

Missourians for Fair Governance (anti-IP change) - $100,000 from Missouri Association of REALTORS.

Protect Majority Rule (anti-IP change) - $30,000 from Hopewell Fund (Washington, DC).

Lincoln PAC (pro-Hough) - $125,000 from SNK Real Property Holdings LLC.

Lincoln PAC - $25,000 from Missouri Soybean Association.

Lincoln PAC - $6,250 from Wetzel Investments LP.

Lincoln PAC - $6,250 from Gus Wetzel.

Lincoln PAC - $6,250 from Matthew Lowe.

Lincoln PAC - $6,250 from Angela Lowe.

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $25,000 from Snowhill Associates LLC.

Liberty and Justice PAC (pro-Bailey) - $10,000 from Elster Law Office, LLC.

Lobbyist Registrations

James Harris added Bayer U.S. LLC.

Sarah Felts added Advocates of Planned Parenthood of The St Louis Region & Southwest Missouri.

Laura League Holloway added Missouri Municipal League.

Burton & Liese added Current Power.

Gamble & Schlemeier deleted NRDC Action Fund Inc, and Cope24.

Randy Scherr deleted Multistate Associates Inc.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rich AuBuchon, Benjamin Peters, Jeff Layman, Frank Barnitz, Rory Rowland, and Shawn Rigger.