MOScout Daily Update: Referendum $$$ - Gray Machine $$$ - Mosley for Mayor - Bus Test Too Hard? and more…

PNP Keeps Piling in $$$$

Over the weekend, People Not Politicians pulled in another $500,000 check.  This is the committee organizing the referendum for the recently passed redistricting map.

They’ve raised at least $1.9 million in less than a month.  Most, but not all, coming from dark money 501 (c)4 organizations that don’t have to disclose their donors.

This one is from American Opportunity Action which appears to be a Michael Bloomberg backed group.

What It Means

The referendum has a tight timeline, but it appears they’ll have ample financial resources to make a run at it.

Peeking Behind the Grey Curtain

Over the weekend, the Post-Dispatch reported on how trial testimony has provided a peek behind the “gray machines” curtain.  Read it here.

·       In a 2024 deposition, Steven Miltenberger said Torch “doesn’t keep track” of what its machines “pay to the players.”

·       In testimony in court Wednesday, however, he said Torch would take about 8% or 9% of the money fed into the devices, putting it on par with regulated slot machines in the state’s casinos, whose payout rates are published by the Missouri Gaming Commission. By law, regulated casino slot machines must pay out at least 80% of the money bet by players. Most months the average is around 90%, according to MGC reports.

·       Evidence presented by TNT cast doubt on the payout figure cited by Miltenberger. According to internal Torch financial records obtained by the plaintiff through discovery, players inserted more than $32 million into the company’s machines at 20 locations from 2017 to 2023. The 20 locations coincide with those where TNT also had games and arcades. Torch’s take during that period was more than $5.5 million, with another $5.5 million shared with the operators of those stores.  The $11 million collected by the machine operators and store owners at those locations means players were winning only 65% of the time, well below what regulated slots pay.

What It Means

The lower than expected payout will add another argument to legislators seeking to rein in and regulate the gray machines.

School Bus Driver Test Too Hard?

Missourinet reports that “rural school districts across Missouri are facing a growing challenge: a shortage of bus drivers.  In central Missouri’s Audrain County, Mexico School District Superintendent Troy Lentz told Missourinet that the lack of drivers is forcing them to cut back on the number of routes they can run.”

Meanwhile Rich Hill R-IV Superintendent Kevin Goddard, whose district is in western Missouri’s Bates County, told Missourinet that the CDL test is no walk in the park, and that could be one reason fewer people are signing up to drive.

“Nobody wants to say, oh, we’re going to lighten requirements on bus drivers that are going to be hauling our kids around,” said Goddard. “I mean, that just doesn’t look good politically, but reality is if we’re going to provide transportation, we’re going to have to figure out a way to get people that are willing to work part time for not much money to be able to pass the exam…”

Health Care Powers MO Job Growth

Jeff Pinkerton, Director of Economic Research for the Department of Economic Development, notes the national trend of a softening labor market is being played out in Missouri as well.

Looking at the employment details, we see that the employment growth we have had has been concentrated. Nationally, over 800,000 of the 1.46 million new jobs created over the past 12 months were in health care. An additional 232,000 were in leisure and hospitality. Other key industries have seen employment declines (manufacturing -78,000, professional and business services -55,000). The pattern holds in Missouri as well. Health care, leisure and hospitality, and government (primarily local government) account for most of the state’s new jobs while we saw declines in professional and business services, information, wholesale trade, and manufacturing.

This divergence in industry job growth may reflect uncertainty in the broader economy. Job growth in manufacturing, transportation, and business services often requires significant investment in new facilities or equipment. With ongoing uncertainty in areas such as trade, businesses may be choosing to delay major investments.

Hawley Questions FDA Approval

Senator Josh Hawley wrote a letter to Dr. Marty Makary, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, questioning that agency’s recent approval of a generic version of mifepristone.  See it here.

I write with grave concern regarding your agency’s surprise approval of a new generic abortion drug. This decision appears to ignore the science while advancing a highly questionable ideological agenda. And I fear this decision may render moot your promise to conduct a safety review of mifepristone. I request your immediate assistance in explaining your agency’s decision...

Help Wanted

Emmaus Homes seeks Advocacy Director. The Advocacy Director will serve as the primary representative on behalf of Emmaus and its employees and clients with the goal of generating awareness and the support of the state legislature and relevant state agencies. In addition, the Advocacy Director will work with Emmaus clients, family members, employees, board members, donors, volunteers, coalitions, and partner organizations to build understanding and support advocacy work aimed at strengthening legislation and improving funding for those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).  See the posting here.

New Committees

·       Twainland PAC was formed.  It’s in support of Rose Ghattas.  She’s running as a Republican in House 5, where Rp. Louis Riggs is term-limited.  See Ghattas’ website here.

·       Rep. Jay Mosley formed a candidate committee to run for mayor of Florissant.  See the filing here.  The election is in April.  His wife, Sen. Angela Mosley, is the treasurer of the committee.

Lobbyist Registrations

David Barklage, Tom Dempsey, and Dave Berry added Missouri Charter Public School Commission.

Robert Reed deleted Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Olivia Wilson added Natera.

Mark Birk terminated his registration.

$5K+ Contributions

People Not Politicians - $500,000 from American Opportunity Action (Washington, DC).

Respect MO Voters Campaign - $9,913 from David Brain.

Project 50 PAC MO - $10,000 from Project (Chicago, IL).

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. John Simmons, and Yancy Williams.