MOScout Daily Update: $250K Into Parson PAC - Updated PowerRankings - GOP and Abortion - Christofanelli's Appeal and more..

Quick update.  Legislature off for Easter.  Careful out there today: it’s April Fool’s Day.

No Joke: Parson PAC Gets Big Money

The political action committee aligned with lame duck Governor Mike Parson received a $250,000 check from the Holland Law Firm.

It’s quite surprising considering there’s only nine months left in his term.    Perhaps the governor’s allies will use the funds to support his appointees (AG Andrew Bailey and Treasurer Malek Vivek) in their campaign this year?

We’ll see….

Christofanelli’s Appeal

Rep. Phil Christofanelli had a fundraiser last week.  One MOScouter says it had a strong turnout with “about 100 business leaders from St. Charles County.”  Most notable though was that both County Executive Steve Ehlmann and Sen. Bill Eigel addressed the crowd and spoke highly of Phil’s ability to advance conservative principles while promoting the county’s interests.

Eigel hasn’t endorsed yet in the race and I’m told he likes both candidates.  But Christofanelli’s ability to bridge the gap between traditional republicans like Ehlmann and movement conservatives like Eigel bodes well for his senate bid.

MOScout PowerRankings

I’ve updated the PowerRankings, now that filing is (mostly) closed. 

·       I’m starting Speaker Dean Plocher at the #1 position for SOS, though I’d note he has vulnerabilities and if Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman starts putting the money together, she’s dangerous in the #2 slot.

·       And I’m bumping Sen. Lincoln Hough up to the #1 slot on LG based on the steady stream of checks into his PAC.

Find them here.

Abortion Issue Within GOP

From last weekend’s MOScout poll of Missouri primary voters, we see that the Republicans aren’t monolithic on the issue of abortion.

·       Republicans are split on abortion. 44% support the Missouri Right to Life position of a total ban on abortion.  But 45% prefer an alternative regulatory framwork (27% ban after 1st trimester, 4% after 2nd trimester, and 14% against any ban), with 10% not sure.

·       Similarly, MRL’s endorsement is positive for candidates with 55% of Republican voters saying it increases the likelihood of their support a candidate (41% much more likely, and 14% somewhat more likely), while 46% say it would make no difference or make them less likely to support the candidate.  In other words, MRL’s endorsement isn’t the silver bullet some imagine it is.  It’s not like the 80-20 issues of foreign ownership of farm land for example.

Post on Malek Rentals

Post-Dispatch ran a front-page story yesterday on Treasurer Vivek Malek’s previously ownership of rundown housing units in the City of St. Louis.  Read it here.

·       V&V Properties, a company Malek and his wife incorporated, owned at least 10 properties, where city building inspection records cited dozens of violations over the years.

·       Beyond his own holdings, business and real estate records show that Malek worked with south city landlord [former Rep.] Nathan Cooper, who attracted scrutiny from city officials several years ago for poor conditions at many of the estimated 200 properties owned by companies connected to him. Malek was listed as the registered agent for many of Cooper’s companies until shortly before his appointment.

Dems Power HB 1483’s Advance to Senate

Last week, Rep. Brad Christ’s HB 1483 passed the House by a vote of 94-50.  The bill increased the tax credit for the amateur sporting events.  One observer noted that it was unanimous with Democrats (with one present and some absences), and split evenly (48-49) by Republicans.  The Senate companion bill is sponsored by Sen. Greg. Razer. 

·       “So, the Republican supermajority House just unwittingly passed a Democrat bill?”

Schwadron Tweets

One MOScouter flagged these old tweets from Rep. Adam Schwadron.  “Can't imagine tweets like these will help Schwadron in the newly crowded SOS race…”

But it probably doesn’t matter much.  Because in an 8-way primary no one is going to spend money attacking someone who’s not perceived as the front runner.

Kraus 2028?

Former Sen. Will Kraus amended his campaign committee to show its purpose now is for a 2028 statewide race. 

I get it, folks work hard to raise their money and they wonder if they might run again so they park the money.  But Kraus’ committee has been filing “limited activity” for the past 18 months.  Before that it showed $3,951.70 cash on-hand. 

For that paltry amount, wouldn’t it just be easier to give the money away and terminate the committee than continuing to file reports?

Smith Imagines Gubby Primary As Texas Hold’em

Lobbyist Jeff Smith writes about the Republican gubernatorial primary, imaging it as a Texas Hold’em hand.  Read it here.

MOScout’s Jeff City Hunger Games Brackets: Final 4

And we’re down to the final four in the Missouri Scout Jeff City Hunger Games March Madness bracket…

Rep. Keri Ingle vs Sen. John Rizzo.

Sam Licklider vs Pat Thomas.

Vote here.

$5K+ Contributions

Committee for Liberty (Ashcroft) - $5,205 from Henry Elster.

Uniting Missouri PAC (pro-Parson) - $250,000 from Holland Law Firm LLC.

Committee to Elect Roorda - $5,001 from Jeff Roorda Rev Trust.

Committee to Elect Roorda - $5,255 from JEFF PAC.

Missouri Stands With Women, Inc. (anti-prochoice IP) - $20,000 from John Sauer.

Back on Track America PAC - $12,000 from Rick Britton.

Together Missouri PAC (pro-Hamra) - $25,000 from Kris Cook.

Together Missouri PAC - $6,180 from Robert Krischon (Big Rock, IL).

Together Missouri PAC - $15,000 from Chance Carlisle (Memphis, TN).

Together Missouri PAC - $10,000 from Abbott Properties (Leawood, KS).

Citizens 4 Dr. Lisa Thomas - $20,000 from Lisa Thomas.

Lobbyist Registrations

Catalyst added Missouri Coroners & Medical Examiners Association.

Strategic Capitol Consulting added Scientific Games, LLC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Mike Wolff, and Joelle Cannon.