MOScout Weekender: Jessee to American Water - More on Stadium Sticker Shock - Poll Senate 17 - Hallway on Next Session and more…

First in MOScout: Jessee to American Water

Matt Jessee, founding member of Bryan Cave Strategies, is headed to Missouri American Water.  He’ll be their new Director of Government Affairs. 

More on Stadium

Amid the talk of “sticker shock” from a huge appropriation for new and upgraded sports facilities, the North Kansas City/Clay County site for the Royals has one HUGE advantage that MOLeg and the second floor likes: NO general revenue ask.   It would use existing state programs and a local tax to fund the project.  No relying on new legislation to pass the general assembly or a massive appropriation at the foot of all MO taxpayers.

Remington/MOScout Poll: Senate 17

Survey conducted September 24 through September 26, 2024. 356 likely 2024 General Election voters participated in the survey. Survey weighted to match expected turnout demographics for the 2024 General Election. Margin of Error is +/-5.1% 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 the full report here.

Q1: Candidates in the November General Election for Missouri State Senate District 17 are Republican Jerry Nolte and Republican Maggie Nurrenbern. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?

Jerry Nolte: 44%

Maggie Nurrenbern: 45%

Undecided: 11%

Q2: Generally speaking, which party do you think does a better job handling the issue of education?

Republicans: 46%

Democrats: 44%

Not sure: 10%

Q3: Generally speaking, which party do you think does a better job handling the issue of crime?

Republicans: 52%

Democrats: 39%

Not sure: 9%

Q4: Generally speaking, are you pro-life or pro-choice?

Pro-life: 39%

Pro-choice: 53%

Not sure: 8%

MOScout’s Hallway Index: Big Issues Ahead

I asked lobbyists, “What issue is most likely to dominate the next session?” 23 replies…

RESULTS

1. Abortion… 26.1%

2. The budget… 17.4%

3. Keeping the Chiefs… 39.1%

4. Illegal immigration… 0%

5. Something else… 17.4%

Sample of Comments

·       If amendment 3 passes then yes abortion dominates. Will be interesting to see how much MRL even does to defeat it at the ballot because if it passes then they can try be relevant again. Where is the massive fundraising effort and media campaign to defeat it? Seems like less than an all hands on deck effort at this point. There is still time I suppose.   If it fails at the ballot then several issues compete: tort reform and budget among them.

·       The Chiefs, Mizzou, and the Cardinals, in that order.

·       I’ll say the budget, but it’s always education. Why would next year be any different? American federation for children/Rex/opportunity trust provide campaign funding that is almost unequaled by any other interest group or business.

·       Keeping the Chiefs and the budget are inherently linked. The state could very well be out of money and staring down a gigantic price tag for their education bill last year which will only grow going forward. How do you hand out a bunch of tax credits and increase spending?

·       Crime is Kehoe's number one priority and will be the first and largest item that the legislature is asked to tackle.

·       Depending on election results the focus could be IP reform. School choice is also an issue that is gaining broader support.

·       I’m not sure even the pro-life folks know how they will react to the November vote but there will be plenty of abortion issues to flex at next session assuming it passes. The pro-life movement had become like a knight without a dragon to slay but this will change all that.

·       Will be a mixture of a few. But Kehoe will need to run to the right in the beginning to ensure he doesn’t deal with rumblings of a primary as the midterms near. Because it’s never too early to worry about 2028…

·       The sports teams will be the biggest fight especially now with everyone wanting a piece of the pie.

Who Won the Week?

Who Won the Week will return next week.

$5K+ Contributions

Leadership for America PAC             - $300,000 from Unity Hunt (Dallas, TX).

MO Drive Fund - $125,000 from International Brotherhood of Teamsters Missouri PAC Federal Committee.

Missouri Alliance PAC (pro-JP) - $75,000 from Rex Sinquefield.

Missouri Alliance PAC - $7,500 from Charter Communications.

Missouri Alliance PAC - $10,000 from Invenergy Transmission (Chicago, IL).

Missouri Alliance PAC - $10,000 from Burns McDonnell.

Missouri Alliance PAC - $10,000 from Oracle America (Redwood Shores, CA).

Missouri Alliance PAC - $15,000 from MOCANNTRADE.

Missouri Alliance PAC - $30,000 from Conservative Justice PAC.

Missouri Alliance PAC - $6,000 from MO Realtors PAC.

Protect our Kids PAC (Pro-Schnelting) - $15,000 from MO Republican Attorneys for Civil Justice PAC.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $16,000 from Haden for State Representative.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $10,000 from Friends of John Voss.

Missouri Democratic State Committee - $27,400 from Missourians for a Fair Economy.

A Brighter Future for St Louis PAC - $10,000 from 900 N Tucker Building LLC.

BNSF Railway Company RAILPAC Missouri - Federal Committee - $45,000 from BNSF Railway Company RAILPAC (Fort Worth, TX).

CWA-COPE Political Contributions Federal Committee - $15,800 from Communications Workers of America- COPE PCC (Washington, DC).

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, Rep. Betsy Fogle, Alix Cossette, Phil Arnzen, Tommie Pierson Jr., Michael Brown, Nathan Cooper, and Dana Loesch.

Sunday: Erin Brower, Brad Jones, Benjamin Terrell, Sam Gladney, and Rich Magee.