MOScout Daily Update: Steelman in Senate 16 - Freedom Caucus Numbers - Rust Passes - O’Laughlin Shakes Fist at MODoT (Again) and more…
Situational awareness: The aftermath of the winter storm still grips much of Missouri. Missouri Highway Patrol’s latest count of stranded motorists…
Scoop: Steelman in Senate 16
Joe Steelman formed a committee to run for Senate 16 in 2026. The current incumbent, Sen. Justin Brown, is term-limited. See the filing here. Steelman is the son of power couple David and Sarah Steelman.
· Sarah Steelman was a state senator, State Treasurer, and most recently Commissioner of OA under Governors Eric Greitens and Mike Parson.
· David Steelman was a state representative, ran unsuccessfully for attorney general (losing to Jay Nixon), and later served on the Mizzou Board of Curators.
What It Means
The Steelman last name provides a powerful starting point for his campaign. It’s known both in Rolla (where the votes are) and Jefferson City (where the money is).
· Others folks running in Senate 16 are Reps. Bill Hardwick, and Hannah Kelly. Also mentioned as possible candidates are Reps. Don Mayhew and Jeff Knight.
Freedom Caucus Numbers
The Freedom Caucus in the Senate this year will start as a smaller force, having lost Bill Eigel, Denny Hoskins, and Andrew Koenig to term limits.
They will be only four-strong: Rick Brattin, Brad Hudson, Adam Schnelting, and Nick Schroer.
But…
They will have some allies.
· Sen. Ben Brown, who was seen as an honest broker and a bridge to the more establishment Republicans during times of conflict.
· Sen. Mike Moon, known for happily starting one-man filibusters and consistently voting NO on any legislation he interprets to be unconstitutional.
· Sen. Joe Nicola, never held elective office before, but his campaign rhetoric leads most to believe he’ll be right in line with the FC ethos.
What It Means
While smaller in numbers, the Freedom Caucus will still have enough legs to stand and stall legislation that they find noxious.
And
In the House, there will be ten Freedom Caucus members. Because of the rules and traditions of the House, and the fact it’s five times larger than the Senate, the House Freedom Caucus will have fewer points of leverage than their Senate colleagues.
O’Laughlin on MODoT
On Facebook, Senate Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, ahead of the winter storm, again expressed her displeasure again with the Missouri Department of Transportation…
Modot needs new leadership and they had a chance to get it but instead chose to continue with more of the same. How many people have to run off the road or have accidents because of this? They focus on such things as “checking your backseat so you don’t leave a child in a hot car” but at the same time leave everyone driving on sheets of ice and ignore calls for change.
Major thoroughfares such as Highways 36, 63 and 61 have tons of traffic especially with the I-70 expansion ramping up. Look for more deaths due to slick roads this winter. This is why I have filed a bill to take some measure of control over this department. If it passes you voters will have an opportunity to vote on whether the legislature should have to approve the leadership of Modot. I believe it will pass if the citizens get the opportunity.
What It Means
· O’Laughlin isn’t alone in her desire to exert more control over MODoT. The critical department, which oversees the expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars each year, reports to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.
· But, Governor-elect Mike Kehoe, who once served on the Commission, has publicly been cool on the idea of injecting more political influence into the department.
· But rather than pick a fight, the second floor probably sits out the debate and stays focused on the Kehoe agenda (public safety, educational choice, and the economy). O’Laughlin’s proposal – if it passed both chambers – would go straight to the voters as a constitutional amendment.
McLean to House Dems
Joe McLean, formerly Gray Media's Jeff City reporter, announced that he’d “been appointed Director of Communications for the Democratic Caucus in the Missouri House.”
Rust Passes
Gary Rust, a titan of Missouri journalism and civics, passed away yesterday. From the Southeast Missourian:
· Rust cut his entrepreneurial teeth with the company he founded in 1967, Rust Communications. Beginning with one weekly newspaper in Cape Girardeau County, he steered the company for decades, growing it to include several dozen newspaper properties across eight states and interests in nearly 20 radio stations. Its flagship is the Southeast Missourian, and Rust served as chairman until nearly the end of his life… Newspaper associations across the country honored him for his pioneering work in the industry…
· His service with civic and business organizations — locally, regionally and statewide — spanned decades… If the Rust name sounds familiar, one reason is that the name adorns a number of buildings in the area, earned through service and commitment (financial and otherwise) to various organizations. The president’s house on the Southeast Missouri State University campus is the Rust House, and an off-campus facility for communications students is the Rust Media Center. A performance hall on the university’s River Campus is the Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre. Teen Challenge named a gym for the family. Dempster Business Hall includes a Rust presentation room…
· In 1962, Cape Girardeau County Republicans elected him chairman. He would serve as a delegate to Republican national conventions in 1964 and 1968. He ran for Congress in 1970, and from 1972 to 1978, he was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives…
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Parson, with about a week left in his term, made two appointments…
· Charles T. Argana, of Festus, was appointed as Associate Circuit Judge for the 23rd Judicial Circuit.
· Kimberly Gibbs, of Steelville, was appointed as the Crawford County Clerk.
Lobbyist Registrations
Amy Blunt added Practical POCUS; and deleted Article IV, and Promontory 150 LLC.
Brent Hemphill added Missouri Soybean Association.
Aaron Baker added AxAdvocacy, and Parents for School Options; and deleted American Federation For Children, Clout Public Affairs LLC,Continental Cement, Quality Schools Coalition, Missouri Soybean Association, National Coalition for Public School Options, and Balchem.
Freddy Barnes added AxAdvocacy, Parents for School Options, Johnson Controls Inc., Community Health Systems, Delta Dental of Missouri, Motion Picture Association of America, School Choice Missouri, Axiom Strategies, PENN Entertainment Inc, Mallinckrodt LLC, and Republic Services, Inc.
Jeremy LaFaver added KC Scholars / Great Jobs KC, and Missouri Health Plan Association; and deleted KC Recycle & Waste Solutions.
Luke Reed added Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Meredith Shevitz added Everytown For Gun Safety Action Fund.
Blake Murray added Missouri Association of Landscape Architects.
Jeffrey Perry added General Motors.
Angie Schulte deleted Holistic Industries, and Missouri Alliance For Home Care.
Gunnar See deleted County Commissioners Association of Missouri, and Build America Mutual c/o MultiState Associates LLC/
Rodney Hubbard deleted Cresco Labs.
Lilly Melander deleted Biotechnology Innovation Organization.
David Overfelt deleted Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Congressman Bob Onder, Rob Vescovo, Mike Daus, Stacy Morse, and Geoff Gerling.