MOScout Daily Update: Plocher Seeks Judgeship - SB 4 and Data Center Debate - SCOTUS Puts SAPA To Rest (for now) and more…
Plocher Applies for Judgeship
Former Speaker Dean Plocher is among those applying to become a circuit judge in St. Louis County.
Press release: Applicants for the circuit judge vacancy in St. Louis County created by the appointment of the Honorable Thomas C. Albus as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri… Teresa Bomkamp, Jason Denney, Chastidy Dillon-Amelung, Mondonna Ghasedi, William Halaz, Bridget Halquist, Susan Joste, Daniel Kertz, Nicolette Klapp, Julia Lasater, Curtis Niewald, Susan Petersen, Krista Peyton, Dean Plocher, Thomas Smith, Stephen Strum, and Ryan Turnage.
SB4 Safeguards Against Data Center Price Spike
Last year’s SB 4 put safeguards into place to prevent existing utility customers from subsidizing large new customers.
From the bill text: Each electrical corporation providing electric service to more than two hundred fifty thousand customers shall develop and submit to the commission schedules to include in the electrical corporation's service tariff applicable to customers who are reasonably projected to have above an annual peak demand of one hundred megawatts or more. The schedules should reasonably ensure such customers' rates will reflect the customers' representative share of the costs incurred to serve the customers and prevent other customer classes' rates from reflecting any unjust or unreasonable costs arising from service to such customers.
What It Means
Last Sunday I shared this chart.
It shows the enormous amount projected to be spent on AI infrastructure. These are not futuristic estimates. This is in the next 5 years. The forecast is for between $1 trillion and $2.6 trillion on data centers. It makes sense that communities want some portion of this economic development. But there are concerns about the centers’ need for electricity and water.
SB 4 should allay concerns that have been voiced about the impact of data centers on electrical bills.
SCOTUS Lets SAPA Die
Spectrum News reports that the “Supreme Court refused Monday to revive a controversial Missouri gun law that bans police from enforcing some federal firearm laws. The high court rejected a push to hear arguments over whether the state can block police from enforcing federal gun laws that don’t have an equivalent state law… Lower courts found the 2019 law violated the Supremacy Clause, a section of the U.S. Constitution that says federal law takes precedence over state laws.”
What It Means
While this certifies the death of SAPA, the issue may become an evergreen around Jefferson City. Last session, a second version (“son of SAPA”) passed the House and got derailed in the Senate. I’d be surprised if there wasn’t a new version next session – to dovetail with Republican election year campaigning.
New Charter School in Boone?
Post-Dispatch reports that “leaders of a job training nonprofit in Columbia want to open the first charter school outside of Kansas City or the St. Louis area, drawing early opposition from local school districts. The Missouri Charter Public School Commission will consider a request Thursday from Job Point, a career training and job placement organization based in Columbia, to apply for sponsorship of YouthBuild-Workforce Charter School.”
· This is a legacy of former Sen. Caleb Rowden, who pushed to allow charter school expansion in his home county of Boone – and it’s a sore spot for Sen. Stephen Webber, the current Boone County senator who opposed the expansion.
eMailbag on Bus Test
The comments that Kevin Goddard made re the CDL bus test is soft. The test isn’t that difficult and districts/bus vendors train potential drivers, to assist them in test prep. What’s included in the exam is what’s required for a driver to have a basic understanding of bus operation and state regulations. No one enjoys being tested, but to suggest that it’s too hard is laughable.
Hunting Permit Prices Rise
Missourinet reports on the Missouri Conservation Commission raising hunting permit prices. “The biggest hikes affect non-residents.” See the new prices here.
Help Wanted
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education seeks Senior Communications Specialist. The Senior Communications Specialist supports the Chief Communications Officer in managing and executing the department’s communication strategy. This role provides critical leadership in media relations, content development, and project coordination to ensure clear, consistent, and effective messaging across multiple platforms. See the posting here.
American Cancer Society seeks Executive Director. Responsible for multi-million-dollar revenue goals and community leadership for a priority major market area. Manages a large team of development staff in the execution of a comprehensive revenue strategy which includes corporate engagement, major gifts, network fundraising and premiere events. Responsible for robust volunteer engagement to meet talent and capacity needed for success, including a volunteer board accountable for providing leadership for market priorities and goals.
Lobbyist Registrations
Jasmine Wells added HB Strategies, Republic Services LLC, Scientific Games LLC, and Altria Client Services LLC and its Affiliates-Philip Morris USA Inc., John Middleton Co., U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co., Helix Innovations LLC, and NJOY LLC.
Gunnar See added Vehicle Management Solutions.
Steven Tilley, Thomas Robbins, and Caleb Rowden added Discovery Development, and Intrinsic Development.
Scott Swain deleted PayIt, LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Centene Corporation Political Action Committee d/b/a Centene Missouri Federal PAC - $31,000 from Centene Corporation Political Action Committee.
Missouri House Democrats Action Fund - $10,000 from Ameren Missouri Company.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Kenny Ross, Jeff Harris, and Zach Wyatt.