MOScout Daily Update: $100K Into Put MO 1st PAC - We Are Missouri Returns - APIIC’s Moment - Rural Health Plan Submitted and more…

1 Big Thing: Redistricting War Heats Up

I reported last week about the formation of Put Missouri First.  It’s the new committee to beat back opponents of the redistricting map.  Yesterday two large checks came into that PAC…

·       $50,000 from National Republican Congressional Committee.

·       $50,000 from Republican National Committee.

Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO continues to spend money on “member education” around the issue.  And yesterday, We Are Missouri was formed.  If that name sounds familiar, it’s because that’s the name of the campaign committee the last time there was a referendum to overturn action by the legislature.  We Are Missouri was the campaign vehicle that reversed Right to Work. It’s back.  See the filing here. 

API Innovation Center’s Moment

An article in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal highlighted Chinese dominance in specific industries.

China has demonstrated it can weaponize its control over global supply chains by constricting the flow of critical rare-earth minerals… But Beijing’s tools go beyond these critical minerals. Three other industries where China has a chokehold—lithium-ion batteries, mature chips and pharmaceutical ingredients—give an idea of what the U.S. would need to do to free itself fully from vulnerability.

The API Innovation Center in St. Louis has been a leader on reshoring generic pharmaceuticals.  That’s where Aaron Willard went to after his time in the governor’s office.  Willard is the Chief Partnership Officer.

From the APIIC website: APIIC’s research found that 95% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used in the top ten medicines prescribed to these populations are manufactured overseas… APIIC’s novel public–private partnership model leverages advanced manufacturing technologies and existing FDA-approved U.S. facilities to onshore pharmaceutical production… a resilient pharmaceutical supply chain is possible.

Missouri Submits RHT Plan

Press release: Today, Governor Mike Kehoe and the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) announced the State of Missouri has submitted its Rural Health Transformation (RHT) plan to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Key elements of Missouri's RHT plan include:

·       Improving healthcare access for rural Missourians by connecting providers, pharmacies, public health agencies, at-home resources, and digital health tools through a unified, regional network.

·       Expanding access to primary care, behavioral health, and maternity services in rural communities while strengthening specialty and complex care through telehealth and patient-focused technology.

·       Enhancing rural provider sustainability by increasing collaboration among local partners to advance technology, operations, and care delivery, and incentivizing better health outcomes through shared savings of avoidable healthcare costs.

It’s interesting to see in Kehoe’s cover letter, he commits to “working with the Missouri General Assembly to file legislation during the 2026 state legislative session to solidify the process by which out-of-state physicians can practice telehealth medicine in Missouri.”

STL Airport Head To Step Down

Press release: Mayor Cara Spencer announced today that Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Director of St. Louis Lambert International Airport, will retire in the fall of 2026. Hamm-Niebruegge has served as Airport Director since January 2010, during which time she has led the airport through natural disaster, helped secure new international flight service, and has put in motion a plan to transform the airport in the coming years.

Why It Matters

·       This is a critical time for St. Louis’ airport.  There’s a major renovation ahead that everyone agrees is necessary (see the chart below from J.D. Power on customer satisfaction).

·       And there are calls for greater regional involvement and support for the airport which is under the domain of the City.  St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann recently said his county should have “more input” into the management of the asset.

$5K+ Contributions

Put Missouri First - $50,000 from National Republican Congressional Committee (Washington, DC).

Put Missouri First - $50,000 from Republican National Committee (Washington, DC).

Conservative Leadership for Southeast Missouri (pro-Bean) - $10,000 from Sports Betting Alliance (Lubbock, TX).

Conservative Leadership for Southeast Missouri - $7,500 from Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (Henderson, NV).

Lincoln PAC (pro-Hough) - $25,000 from Penn Entertainment Inc (Wyomissing, PA).

LOZ Missouri PAC (pro-Vernetti) - $10,000 from Reese Development.

Lobbyist Registrations

Claudia Alley added MCTA – The Missouri Internet & Television Association, and Missouri Asphalt Pavement Association.

Sara ‘Suri’ Notowich Botuck added Agudath Israel of America.

Jay Reichard and Olivia Wilson added Missouri Credit Union Association.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Jason Law, David Humphreys, Amy Berendzen, Joe Runions, Mark Maxwell, and Keith Frederick.