MOScout Daily Update: Fitzwater’s Future - House Dems Hit $500K - Relators Prep for IP War - Ranking Govs and more…

Fitzwater’s Future

Yesterday, Jake Kroesen wrote that Sen. Travis Fitzwater was considering not running for re-election.

I did some sniffing around…

·       One source: “It is a real possibility” that Fitzwater won’t file for re-election. 

·       But, others say it’s because an opportunity has come up he’s interested in.  He’s not trying to leave the Senate or disenchanted with public service.

I can’t confirm this, but the dots seem to point to Fitzwater being interested in the Missouri Technology Corporation executive director position.

Its current ED announced he was stepping down in the wake of MTC losing their state funding last year. 

·       Fitzwater had been on the MTC board, but resigned that spot – which would make sense if he was interested in the position. 

·       And Fitzwater would be a good fit.  He gets the technology entrepreneur side of things, but also would give MTC someone who understands the building and can make amends.

·       The governor just made new MTC appointments, which could be a precursor to the new ED search.

Folks who might have an interest in the seat…

·       Rep. Chad Perkins.

·       Rep. Doyle Justus.

·       Wentzville Mayor Nick Guccione.

·       Former Rep. Randy Pietzman.

But everyone will wait on Fitzwater. 

House Dems Working the $$$

House Democrats (House Dems Action Fund/HDAF) have raised over $500,000 since April 1.  Dems, cheering the milestone, point to previous off-cycle fundraising for the minority party to show it’s a meaningful number…

·       2023 - $272,354

·       2021 - $235,472

·       2019 - $217,807

·       2017 - $200,656

What It Means

Of course, House Dems will be out-gunned by the House Republican Campaign Committee, but their fundraising success shouldn’t be discounted.  It shows they’re working it, and they’re finding receptive audiences. 

·       If they can keep the difference in funding between themselves and the GOP to the size of a canyon and not an ocean, it will potentially translate into a few pick-ups in the right environment.

Realtors Prep for IP War

In the large contributions (below) the Missouri Association of REALTORS plops down $200,000 into Missourians for Fair Governance.  I believe this is their vehicle to oppose initiative petition changes.

What It Means

Realtors are clearly planning to exert their muscle to stop the initiative petition changes.  Together with the new campaign committee formed (below), it looks like deep-pocketed opposition will sink the legislature’s latest attempt to plug the IP process.

Data Center Rate

Post-Dispatch reports that “Regional electric utility Ameren has agreed to new rates and rules for future data centers, designed to ensure extra-large customers pay their fair share and spare residents from undue costs.”

·       The new rules for ultra-large energy users, like data centers, include multi-year contracts and exit fees, should the companies go out of business or try to leave after agreeing to use the energy.

·       The agreement, reached by Ameren, Google, Amazon, the Sierra Club and others, was approved 4-0 Monday by the Missouri Public Service Commission, which oversees the state’s monopoly utilities, like St. Louis-based Ameren.

What It Means

This should give some clarity to those communities that have been nervous about embracing data center developments.

New Columbia Charter

Missouri Charter Schools Association says that a second charter school is applying to open in Columbia.

Frontier currently educates 1,595 students in Kansas City and proposes a PK–5 school for Columbia. Its inaugural year would serve approximately 200 students in grades PK–2.

LOZ Casino IP

Efforts are heating up for a new casino in Lake of the Ozarks.  Three initiative petitions were filed to amend the constitution to allow for it.  They were filed by Lake of Ozarks Community Gaming.  See one here.

Food for Thought Over Thanksgiving – Ranking Govs

From a Capitol veteran…

Thought I might help you stir up some controversy. It recently was 25 years since Gov. Mel Carnahan perished in a plane crash and 35 years since I entered the political arena. During that 35 years I traveled with and/or dined at the Mansion with all of them but one governor. (You can make your guess who that was) And before I rank them let me say Gov. Mike Kehoe is an incomplete as he’s just headed into year two.  Here goes…

1) Mel Carnahan;

2) Jay Nixon;

3) John Ashcroft;

4) Mike Parson;

5) Roger Wilson;

6) Matt Blunt;

7) Bob Holden

and bringing up the rear, Eric Greitens.

And let me caution that it’s much easier to govern when the state is flush with cash than not.

Gubby Appts

Governor Mike Kehoe announced nine appointments.

·       Flint Fowler was appointed to the Harris-Stowe University Board of Regents.

·       Brett Calhoun, Allen Kunkel and Kara Lowe were appointed, and Allen Dillingham was reappointed, to the Missouri Technology Corporation.

·       Robert Alpers was appointed to the Clean Water Commission.

·       Andrea Fischer was appointed to the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board.

·       Dr. Virginia Mennemeyer was reappointed to the Missouri Dental Board.

·       Dorian Stuber was appointed to the Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission.

·       Melissa Berger was appointed as the Butler County Public Administrator.

·       Michael Brown was appointed as the Lafayette County Southern Associate Commissioner.

New Committees

Protect Majority Rule Missouri was formed.  It’s a campaign committee to oppose Amendment 4, the IP changes.  See the filing here.

Committee for Protecting Jobs was formed.  It’s a campaign committee to oppose a paid sick leave and minimum wage constitutional amendment.  See the filing here.

$5K+ Contributions

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $30,000 from KBS PAC.

Missourians for Fair Governance - $200,000 from Missouri Association of REALTORS.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Xcaliber International LTD LLC (Pryor, OK).

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $5,001 from Associated Industries of Missouri PAC.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from HCA Missouri Good Government Fund.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $5,500 from Pike Lincoln Values Fund.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $5,400 from Hruza for Missouri.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $5,800 from Hruza for Missouri.

SEIU HCII MISSOURI PAC - $50,000 from SEIU healthcare IL (Chicago, IL).

Lobbyist Registrations

Gamble & Schlemeier deleted American Traffic Solutions, Inc.

Mike Gibbons and Tricia Workman deleted SAFE (Safety and Advocacy for Empowerment).

Happy Birthday

Happy birthdays to Joe Lakin, Willis Jones, and Bill Deeken.

MOScout Schedule

Quick update tomorrow morning, then I’m off for a long Thanksgiving weekend.