MOScout Daily Update: Heavy Constructors $$$ to Kehoe, Hough - Webber Decries Basye Crudeness - March Revenues Fall - Koenig Bill Hearing and more...

Heavy Constructors Gives Big to Kehoe, Hough

The Heavy Constructors Association sent to end-of-the-quarter checks to their favor candidates in statewide contests.

·       Mike Kehoe’s PAC received $250,000.

·       Lincoln Hough’s PAC received $150,000.

Kehoe and Hough both supported the gas tax, and have been big believers in infrastructure investments.

Hamra Adds $250K to Campaign

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Hamra added $250,000 more to his campaign committee.  This is the second infusion of cash he’s delivered, bringing his total investment to $500,000.

Hamra had more than $600,000 on-hand at the end of last quarter, more than double Minority Leader Crystal Quade’s war-chest.  In this battle, Hamra will have enough to do some TV in specific markets – probably focused on stronghold Dem areas, while Quade will have the backing of the usual Democratic constituencies.

·       At this point I don’t think Hamra has put in enough to wrest the nomination from Quade, but of course, we’ll see.

Driving the Day: Municipal Elections

It’s Election Day across Missouri as municipalities and school districts have elections and put various bond issues, and levies before voters.  Some of the high-profile contests…

·       In Kansas City, the sales tax for the Royals new stadium.

·       In Springfield, the school board election has money flowing to different PACs supporting different slates of candidate.

·       And in Jeff City, the City Council races seems to be a hot one.

March State Revenues Dipped

March tax revenues were down 6.3%.  They were about $601 million shy of March 2023’s intake.  That brings the fiscal year-to-date number to basically flat (up just a whisker at .5%).

April, is of course, the biggest month for state taxes.  So, while revenues are currently on track for the consensus revenue figure, that trajectory will hold or be broken.

My two optimistic notes for what April holds…

·       First, the stock market rebounded nicely and we should a little extra kick from capital gains. 

·       Second, in my sample size of one, I’m paying more to the state this year than I did last year.

House to Hit Budget

I’m told the House plans to take up the budget bills today for perfection when they return from their break at 1PM.  They’ll run through all of them today, and be ready to third-read and send them over to the Senate by week’s end.

·       Crunch time: there will be five weeks left to pass the budget when the Senate takes possession of it next week.

Schmitt in Building Today

Senator Eric Schmitt will be in Jefferson City today, meeting with the governor and with the Republican caucuses of both chambers.

·       Schmitt’s not on cycle, but has maintained a regular presence in Missouri.  For example, he was at the GOP’s annual Lincoln Days in February with a crowded hospitality suite.

Koenig Bill Set to Be Teed Up In House

This morning the Senate’s jumbo education bill (Sen. Andrew Koenig’s SB 727) will have a public hearing in the House Special Committee on Education Reform.  The bill should be a hospitable environment for Koenig, as it was constituted to pass reform bills.

·       I can’t imagine that the sprawling bill will breeze through the House unchanged, so we’re still third inning or so in this process.  With seven weeks left, the clock is ticking to pass something this far-reaching.

Webber Wonders If GOP Will Rein In Basye

Democratic Senate candidate Stephen Webber on Twitter references the crude behavior of his Republican opponent Chuck Basye in disbelief.  “I can’t believe @MoSenateGOP decided to subject my community to a year of Chuck Basye’s grotesque posts, vulgar comments and vile sexual harassment. Unacceptable bigotry. Absolute insanity.”

·       I do wonder if there could be some contagion issues with Basye’s behavior, making House races in the Columbia area harder for Republicans by association.

$5K+ Contributions

Hamra for Missouri - $250,000 from Michael Hamra.

Together Missouri PAC (pro-Hamra) - $25,000 from Hamra Management Comppany LLC.

American Dream PAC (pro- Kehoe) - $250,000 from Heavy Constructors Association.

American Dream PAC - $150,000 from Rex Sinquefield.

American Dream PAC - $25,000 from August Busch III.

Lincoln PAC (pro-Hough) - $150,000 from Heavy Constructors Association.

Committee for Liberty (pro-Ashcroft) - $20,000 from American Trust Insurance Company.

Committee for Liberty - $5,205 from David Lenihan.

Liberty and Justice PAC (pro-Bailey) - $15,000 from Doug Albrecht.

Liberty and Justice PAC - $10,000 from Robert Cutler.

Liberty and Justice PAC - $10,000 from Robert Low.

Missourians for Truth in Petitioning (anti-Ozark casino IP) - $50,446 from Strategic Capital Consultants, LLC.

Majority Forward (Sen Dems’ campaign committee) - $5,001 from Voices of the People PAC (pro-May).

Missouri American Water Company Employees Political Action Committee - $15,000 from Plattin Creek Excavating, LLC DBA PCX Construction.

Lobbyist Registrations

Lynne Schlosser deleted Midwest Natural Fiber.

Christine Page and Tim Meadows terminated their lobbyist registrations.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Wes Sutton, Winston Calvert, and Tony Monetti.