MOScout Weekender: Mitten Sues Parson - Hallway on Next Senate Floor Leader - Who Won the Week and more…

Mitten Sues Parson

Missouri Independent reports that former Rep. Gina Mitten has sued Governor Mike Parson for wrongful terminations as an Administrative Law Judge.  Another former judge, Ryan Asbridge, is also a plaintiff.  Read MOIndy’s article here. 

From the lawsuit:  Notwithstanding the express language of § 287.610 RSMo and the General Assembly’s refusal to amend it, Defendants recently adopted the position that workers’ comp ALJs are at-will employees who can be fired without going through the ALJ Review Committee process.

On May 9, 2024, Dir. Lewis purported to remove ALJ Mitten from office by issuing her an “official letter of dismissal effective today, May 9, 2024, at the close of business.”  The letter of dismissal asserts that ALJ Mitten is “an at-will employee under Sect. 36.025 RSMo and [is] being dismissed as such….”

Remington/MOScout Poll

MOScout poll will return after Labor Day.

MOScout’s Hallway Index: Next Senate Floor Leader

I asked lobbyists, “Who is most likely to be the Senate Floor Leader in January?” 24 replies…

RESULTS

1. Jason Bean… 41.7%

2. Travis Fitzwater… 12.5%

3. Tony Luetkemeyer… 37.5%

4. Someone else… 8.3%

Sample of Comments

·       Bean seems to be doing the deal across the state.

·       Look for a 4th candidate with the 3 most likely to run. Curtis Trent (or someone similarly situated) has no strong personal agenda and good crossover appeal to work within factions of the Senate Caucus.

·       It won't be Bean, and it could be someone not listed.

·       Putting Bean in the lead for now, but so much of this depends on how the general elections go. A note for those running: despite public and private statements made by colleagues, don't underestimate a Senator’s penchant to privately vote for the candidate that best serves their long term goals within the chamber.

·       [Bean] Picked an awful lot of the right horses...

·       Luetkemeyer is too close to OLaughlin and at odds with the freedom caucus after the last two years. Same for Bean. Fitz isn’t strong enough to deal with both factions. Look for Trent or Coleman to emerge.

·       Seems like all three are struggling to put a block of votes together. Next year will have high expectation of functionality in the Senate and that will take leadership, a word used to describe too many people in the Capitol.

·       [Luetkemeyer] He’s the best fundraiser and has the relationships.

·       It is Travis or Tony, whoever cuts the deal with the freedom caucus first wins.

·       This is a tough one because the strength of Jason's investments in the primary and his reputation amongst his colleagues would seem to best position him to win the loyalty and votes of his fellow Senators but really all it means is there is a target on his back at this point in the process.

·       The winner in floor leader race is always going to be determined by who gets lied to the least and some of those lies haven't even been told yet.

·       Luetkemeyer only candidate who can bridge divide between regular Rs and Freedom Caucus.

Who Won the Week?

Marc Ellinger and Chuck Hatfield – Can these two get any busier? It seems like every day there’s a new lawsuit or appeal on an initiative petition.  This week interests in favor or opposed to Osage gaming, sports betting, and the abortion rights all filed suits.

Hannah Beers, Casey Burns, Jon Patterson – House Republican Campaign Committee touts a record amount of pledges.

Brad Christ and Jeff Myers – Among the top givers to HRCC, these two are mentioned as possible leadership material in 2026.

Brandon Phelps, Jim Robinette, and Cathy Jo Loy – Generating buzz as the early odds-on Republican “rockstars” in the incoming freshman class.

Find a downloadable version here.

Gubby Appts

Today, Governor Mike Parson announced judicial appointments to the 21st and 22nd Judicial Circuits….

·       The Honorable Lorne J. Baker, of University City, was appointed as Circuit Judge for the 21st Judicial Circuit.

·       The Honorable Heather J. Hays, of St. Louis, was appointed as Circuit Judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit.

$5K+ Contributions

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom (pro-choice IP) - $500,000 from American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Inc. (New York, NY).

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom - $10,000 from Linda Ritholz (Short Hills, NJ).

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $10,000 from Missouri Walnut, LLC.

Conservative Leadership for Southeast Missouri (pro-Bean) - $25,000 from Robertson Contractors Inc.

United Union of Roofers Waterproofers & Allied Workers Political Education & Legislative Fund of MO - $10,000 from United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers PELF (Washington, DC)

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Bob Holden, and Mary Cottom.

Sunday: Rep. Dan Stacy, Josh Peters, Candice Doenges–Lozano, and Anna Crosslin.