MOScout Daily Update: Filibuster Continues - The Conference-less Session? - Schroer Filing - Scharf on CNN - Riley’s Support and more…
The Conference-less Session
Depending on how things shake-out, this may be the first legislative session in Missouri history without any conference committees.
Scoopette: Riley Unveiling Support
Today, Rep. Alex Riley plans to circulate the signatures of 74 House Republican caucus members who are pledging to support him for House Majority Floor Leader. With 84 members returning, this all but ensures his ascent to the Leader's office.
What it Means
· Riley has worked closely with current Floor Leader Jon Patterson, demonstrating the potential for a kind of hand-in-glove Speaker/Floor Leader relationship.
· Riley is expected to bring a brainy, policy-driven, and pro-business approach to governance. While strongly conservative, he is no flamethrower, and doesn't revel in political gamesmanship.
· His rise seems to bode well for policy advancement the next two years, but as always, we'll see...
Million-Dollar Malek
The pro-Vivek Malek PAC American Promise recorded a $1,000,000 check from Pacifica Consulting Services, which appears to be a family business. This brings the total contribution of Pacifica to $2.3 million for this campaign. Malek has contributed $800,000 to his campaign committee as well.
American Promise PAC had $1.2 million on-hand as of its April filing. This additional infusion will make it the third largest PAC in Missouri, behind Mike Kehoe’s American Dream PAC, and the pro-Will Scharf Club for Growth.
· As of last quarter American Promise hasn’t yet started spending money on voter contact, but presumably will begin shortly as the primary is now 12 weeks away.
IP Filibuster Continues in Senate
As expected, the Democrats started their filibuster of SJR 74 immediately yesterday afternoon. It is still going on now with no indication of any resolution. Here are a few of the funnies from the start of the filibuster…
Sen. Lauren Arthur on being disciplined as a child: “And the only way that my parents could actually discipline me was by sitting me on the couch and making me watch Fox News for some reason like a few hours in and that would break me. I would apologize, I would never do the thing. If you could stop watching it, is that right? Yeah. I was like, let me up. I will never do that again. I'm so sorry. And that kept me on the straight and narrow, just never, you know, that fear of having to watch a few hours of Fox News…”
Sen. John Rizzo on his dad getting elected to office: “I was told that with my dad won the election, he was going to go to Jeff City for work. But I was not told at five years old that he was ever coming back. So that when he won that election, I thought my dad was leaving forever. So while they're in this jubilant photo, and I should find it at some point, and my mom has it for sure. She's got it clipped from the actual 1985. So there's this jubilant photo of him and everybody being excited about it. There's a little boy in the corner, which is me, crying his eyes out because he thinks he's lost his dad forever to Jefferson City.”
If You Need a Break from the Filibuster
· The Supreme Court of Missouri hears oral arguments today starting at 9AM. Of particular interest may be Benjamin Ramirez, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Missouri Prosecuting Attorneys’ & Circuit Attorneys’ Retirement System, et al. It’s a case concerning the constitutionality of court fees. Listen here.
· St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones gives her State of the City address at 6:30PM. Watch here.
· Tonight, Democrat Elad Gross, Republican Will Scharf and incumbent Attorney General Andrew Bailey will all be participating in a candidate forum at Calvary Chapel Springfield. The 7PM event will be livestreamed here.
Schroer Filing
Deputy Attorney General Jeremiah Morgan, in a filing on behalf of Sen. Nick Schroer in the defamation lawsuit, says that Schroer’s defense will be slightly different than Brattin’s.
There is an important difference between the Complaint filed in Brattin and the Complaint filed in the present case, however. Plaintiff’s Complaint against Defendant contains certain factual errors regarding the tweet in question by Defendant that are independently fatal to this Court’s subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s Complaint. These significant factual errors will be demonstrated in Defendant’s motion to dismiss.
Scharf as “Trump’s Attorney”
Republican AG candidate Will Scharf continues his press circuit in his role as Donald Trump’s attorney. That looks like it will be the brand and center of his campaign, so these press appearances amount to mini-ads. Here he’s on CNN talking about the current Trump trial.
Senate 15: Bowlin on Immigration
Press release: Wildwood Mayor and Missouri State Senate candidate Jim Bowlin announced a multi-point plan today to stop the effects of illegal immigration on Missourians. His plan also makes leadership of municipalities, political subdivisions, educational institutions and any other taxpayer-funded entity civilly liable for aiding and abetting illegal immigrants’ entry to and settlement in the state of Missouri.
What It Means
According to a recent MOScout poll in Senate 15, fighting illegal immigration was the top priority among Republican primary voters. 46% cited it, far more than the next two highest responses: reducing crime (15%) and cutting taxes (12%).
Dogan to PBS
On LinkedIn, former Rep. Shamed Dogan writes that he’s “starting a new position as Senior Director of Campaign Operations at Nine PBS.”
$5K+ Contributions
American Promise PAC (pro-Malek) - $1,000,000 from Pacifica Consulting Services, LLC.
Lincoln PAC (pro-Hough) - $100,000 from Log Hill Properties.
Lincoln PAC - $10,000 from SRC Holdings Corporation.
Committee for Liberty (pro-Ashcroft) - $5,205 from Henry Elster.
Missouri Health Plan Association PAC - $85,000 from RightCHOICE Managed Care, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH).
AGC of MO PAC - $5,255 from Tramar Contracting Inc.