MOScout Daily Update: Finally Budget Day in Senate? - Anti-IP Committee - Harder Fundy - Fitz Magic - Alford Backs Rehder and more…

Senate To Debate Budget Finally?

This morning, the moment may finally arrive…  33 hours before the constitutional deadline to pass a budget, the Senate is expected to convene (9AM) and start debating the budget bills.

According to hallway chatter yesterday the supposed plan is to do the budget bills first, then tackle the FRA renewal, and then hit IP reform.  There’s been a Prufrockian fluidity to the process so far (“In a minute there is time for decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse”), so it’s best to stick with the stoic “We’ll see…” and buckle up for a long day.

·       Yesterday Sen. Denny Hoskins warned on the Senate floor, “Our duty as fiscal hawks, as Missouri Senators, is to make sure we know what we are passing in bills. And if we think that we’re just going to fly through 20 Senate substitute for a House Bill 2001 through 2020 tomorrow, this is not going to be a very easy or quick process.”

·       One building veteran: This is the most bastardized budget process I have seen in my 40+ years in this building… It's the Republicans Pelosi moment.

Where We Are

Assuming the budget does get done this week and nothing else, we’ll be entering the final week with eleven (non-appropriation) bills on the governor’s desk.

·       SB 727 – Andrew Koenig – education omnibus.

·       SB 912 – Ben Brown – veterans omnibus.

·       SB 1359 – Curtis Trent – financials omnibus.

·       HB 1495 – Dave Griffith – veteran suicide prevention.

·       HB 1751 – Mike Haffner – “Kill the Fill” bill.  

·       HB 1803 – Terry Thompson – Increases cap for MOBucks.

·       HB 1909 – Tim Taylor – meeting requirements for county political party committees.

·       HB 2057 – Ben Keathley – no tax on streamers.      

·       HB 2111 – Phil Christofanelli – expand auditor’s powers.

·       HB 2287 – Phil Christofanelli – education omnibus companion bill.  

·       HB 2634 – Cody Smith – defund Planned Parenthood.

Realtors Add $100K to Anti-IP Reform Committee

In the large contributions (below), the Realtors added $100,000 more to Missourians for Fair Governance.  The purpose of the committee is to oppose the legislature making constitutional changes to the initiative petition process.

·       This is the third $100K installment from the Realtors into this committee which has some serious consultant firepower in its arsenal… David Barklage, Scott Charton, and Stinson (aka SuperAttorney Chuck Hatfield).

Why It Matters

A potentially well-funded opposition campaign will exponentially increase the likelihood that the IP proposal loses at the ballot box.

Harder Fundy

In Senate 15, yesterday I wrote about a big David Gregory fundraising coming up.  St. Louis County Councilman Mark Harder also has a big fundraiser coming up.

·       On Harder supporter says the difference in host committee is telling.  “Gregory is the Jefferson City favorite and will enjoy the support of most of the lobbyists. Harder has a good group of local leaders solidly behind him including former Chesterfield Mayor John Nations, former St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch, St. Louis County Councilmember Dennis Hancock, and Eureka Mayor Sean Flower who will be co-sponsors of his upcoming event with Bob Brinkmann.”

GOP Desperately Seeking Senate 19 Candidate

Columbia Missourians reports that “the Republican 19th Senatorial District Committee met Sunday evening in Columbia to decide on a replacement candidate for the Boone County Senate seat. The only problem is that they don't have one at this point.”

·       The Republican Party nominating committee must have a candidate nominated and have the certificate of nomination filed to the Office of the Secretary of State by May 23. Anybody who seeks to run as a Republican must be nominated by the committee…

Why It Matters

The committee says the lack of an opponent for Stephen Webber, the Democratic nominee, is also a concern in other elections. A Webber campaign official told the Missourian on Sunday that they've raised nearly $1 million so far.  If unopposed, his PAC could provide money to help other Democratic candidates' campaigns….

Fitz Magic

Lobbyist Jeff Smith on Twitter marvels that HB 2111, giving the auditor additional powers, glided through the bicameral gauntlet without opposition.

“Fewer than 10 bills have made it to the Gov’s desk. That this one - which empowers a statewide official to proactively investigate local allies of any legislator - could pass unanimously, in this climate, is a testament to the reputation Scott [Fitzpatrick]'s built as an independent watchdog… He is a person of integrity who will do the right thing even when it's not politically convenient (as he did this past year in tangling with [Andrew] Bailey on the repro IP's fiscal note & with [Jay] Ashcroft on several issues).”

The thing about Fitz is… He may be auditor for a long time.  He’s 36.  The auditor isn’t term limited in Missouri.  And assuming there isn’t a Democratic upset in the gubernatorial race this year, he’s landlocked for a while.  Both Missouri’s Senators (Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt) are young.  There’s no obvious next step up for Fitzpatrick in the foreseeable future. 

·       Also, like the retail shop at the corner of two busy streets, this might be the highest and best use of Fitz.

Alford Backs Rehder

On an op/ed (read it here) Congressman Mark Alford backs Sen. Holly Rehder for LG…

As the dust settles and Missouri gears up for the Lieutenant Governor primary, it's time to give credit where credit is due. Enter State Senator Holly Rehder, a genuine conservative champion in a sea of political noise.  Her early and unwavering support for President Trump's 2024 reelection bid isn't just about playing politics; it's about standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the grassroots movement that's reshaping our nation, because Holly is actually a part of that movement...

To Keep or Not Keep the Bullet?

Kieser Foundation Health News reports that “nearly three months after the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade shooting left at least 24 people injured, recovery from those wounds is intensely personal and includes a surprising gray area in medicine: whether the bullets should be removed.

Medical protocol offers no clear answer… Doctors in the U.S. often leave bullets buried deep in a person’s body, at least at first, so as not to cause further trauma. But as gun violence has emerged as a public health epidemic, some researchers wonder if that practice is best…”

·       If you have time to read the whole article, it’s a hell of a read.

$5K+ Contributions

Committee for Liberty - $10,330 from Das Nobel (Frisco, TX).

Families for a Strong St. Joseph - $56,500 from American Advancement, Inc. (Hyattsville, MD).

Missourians for Fair Governance - $100,000 from Missouri Association of REALTORS.

The Committee to Keep the Chiefs and Royals in Jackson County - $8,800 from Kansas City Royals Baseball Club.

The Committee to Keep the Chiefs and Royals in Jackson County - $8,800 from Kansas City Chiefs Football Club.

Lobbyists Registrations

Guy Black, Matt Jessee, and Merit Iles added Action Now Initiative, LLC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Scott Penman, John Ashcroft, Gregg Keller, and Brett Dinkins.