MOScout Weekender: Poll on IP Topics - Hallway on Legislature Fixes - WWTW and more…
Remington/MOScout Poll: General IP Topics
Survey conducted May 8 through May 9, 2024. 684 likely 2024 November Election voters participated in the survey. Survey weighted to match expected turnout demographics for the 2024 November Election. Margin of Error is +/-4.2% with a 95% level of confidence. Totals do not always equal 100% due to rounding. Survey conducted by Remington Research Group on behalf of Missouri Scout. See full report here.
Q1: There is a proposal to legalize sports betting in the state. If the election were held today, would you vote FOR or would you vote AGAINST this proposal?
Vote For: 36%
Vote Against: 60%
Undecided: 4%
Q2: There is a proposal to legalize abortion in the state. Based on what you know; If the election were held today, would you vote FOR or would you vote AGAINST this proposal?
Vote For: 43%
Vote Against: 52%
Undecided: 5%
Q3: There is a proposal that would make it more difficult to amend the state constitution. Based on what you know; If the election were held today, would you vote FOR or would you vote AGAINST this proposal?
Vote For: 40%
Vote Against: 43%
Undecided: 17%
Q4: There is a proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15 an Hour and to require employers to provide paid leave for employees to care for family members. Based on what you know; If the election were held today, would you vote FOR or would you vote AGAINST this proposal?
Vote For: 51%
Vote Against: 43%
Undecided: 6%
MOScout’s Hallway Index: Making the Process Work
I asked lobbyists, “What would help the legislature function more effectively?” 22 replies…
RESULTS
1. Change Senate rules… 4.5%
2. Draw more competitive districts… 18.2%
3. Repeal term limits…45.5%
4. Something else… 22.7%
5. No need for big changes. Things aren’t that bad… 9.1%
Sample of Comments
· [Something else] Repealing term limits will never happen but the 16 year allowance in either chamber would help create more orderly movement to impact policy development in multiple different ways. And it will allow for relationship development that can’t be replicated at the moment.
· [Something else] A new senator from the 23rd.
· [No need for big changes. Things aren’t that bad.] Would be tough to draw more competitive districts because of the rural/urban split. Term limits have their drawbacks, but they also help solve problems. Some of the current problems are about to leave due to term limits.
· [Repeal term limits] Legislators barely learn the process and then they’re termed.
· [Repeal term limits] Forcing people to look beyond 2 years would be helpful.
· [Draw more competitive districts] When the whole battle is the primary for 90% of the people here, this is what you get.
· [No need for big changes. Things aren’t that bad.] Collectively, lobbyists are great at catastrophizing. Are good things better off being really hard to get done, or are bad things better off being really easy to get done. There’s no Goldilocks zone…we will never be happy. Let the culture move slowly but surely back and forth and let’s just keep dealing with the cards we have. Any change to the game will backfire.
· [Something else] Change general elections to be between the highest vote getters in the primaries so people play to the middle rather than the most wackadoo positioning of the two bases. These people don't represent the broad swath of voters out there.
· More gummies.
Who Won the Week?
Will Scharf – The Club for Growth’s first television ad is up and running in the state. Its focus on Scharf’s role as Donald Trump’s lawyer is a de facto Trump endorsement.
Scott Fitzpatrick – HB 2111, which explains his powers as auditor, was Truly Agreed and Finally Passed. The unanimous Senate vote (32-0) echoed the previous House vote (145-0).
Denton Loudermill – Gets a powerful ally in Governor Mike Parson. “This gentleman did nothing wrong whatsoever other than he went to a parade and he drank beer and he was Hispanic. That’s all that guy done.”
Tracy McCreery – The freshman senator showed she understand the “final weeks of session” senatorial prerogative to stand up when you hear something fishy and shoot down an unvetted amendment.
Find a downloadable version here.
$5K+ Contributions
International Brotherhood of Teamsters Missouri PAC - Federal Committee - $41,084 from IBT DRIVE (Washington, DC).
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $10,000 from Citizens for Donnie Brown.
Gromowsky for Prosecutor - $10,000 from Stephen Bowen.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Greg Razer, Leslie Korte, and Jerryl Christmas.
Sunday: Leann Chilton, and Peter Kinder (the big 7-0).