MOScout Daily Update: Watching Sen Dem Caucus - Trump Shakes Fist at Hawley - Feds Bigfooting State AI Regs? and more…
Dems Meet Amid Tension
Democratic senators are scheduled to meet today – amid an apparent leadership challenge from Sen. Stephen Webber. But one insider cautions against assuming any outcome: I expect there to be robust conversations on plans and strategies for the future, as happens every time caucuses meet. I don’t think there is any certainty of an immediate change of leadership…
We’ll see…
AI Fed and States
Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to ensure “a national policy framework for artificial intelligence.”
From the EO…
· We remain in the earliest days of this technological revolution and are in a race with adversaries for supremacy within it. To win, United States AI companies must be free to innovate without cumbersome regulation. But excessive State regulation thwarts this imperative.
· It is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance the United States’ global AI dominance through a minimally burdensome national policy framework for AI… Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General shall establish an AI Litigation Task Force (Task Force) whose sole responsibility shall be to challenge State AI laws inconsistent with the policy…
· States with onerous AI laws [may lose their] Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program [funding]
Why It Matters
Legislators – mostly Republicans – have filed bills to create a framework for regulating AI in Missouri…
Roberts Files STL Special Ed Funding Bills
Once again, Sen. Steven Roberts has filed a pair of bills aimed at giving the St. Louis Public Schools a funding mechanism to expand its special education offerings.
SB 1040 and SB 1041 would enable a metropolitan school district to put a sales tax and property tax respectively before the voters “for the purpose of funding special educational services in the district.”
There’s been discontent over the SLPS’ special education program for some time.
Most recently former Rep. Peter Merideth, on Sarah Fenske’s 314 podcast, explained that special ed was the reason that his family moved out of the city. He called the city schools’ special education offerings “under-resourced,” while raving about St. Louis County’s program.
Aligned on Open Enrollment
Aligned’s latest newsletter outlines their 2026 legislative priorities. See it here. Among them is support for open enrollment. But they’re emphatic that it must be accompanied by “transportation support.”
· Families want more flexibility, and districts want clarity. Open enrollment — with transportation supports — creates more equitable access, encourages innovation, and gives parents meaningful options without destabilizing local systems when designed well.
Axios: Trump Shakes Fist at Hawley
Axios reports that “President [Donald] Trump's advisers are furious with Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) for starting an anti-abortion group to spur new action on the issue, which the White House views as a loser for Republicans in next year's midterms.”
· "Clearly, Senator Hawley and his political team learned nothing from the 2022 elections, when the SCOTUS abortion ruling [overturning Roe v. Wade] resuscitated the Democrats in the midterms," a close Trump adviser told Axios.
· Last week, Hawley revealed to Axios' Stef Kight that he and his wife, Erin Hawley, a fellow constitutional lawyer, are launching a dark-money group called the Love Life Initiative.
See the Love Life Initiative website here.
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Kehoe made two appointments…
· G. David Briggs, of Kirksville, was appointed as the Schuyler County Prosecuting Attorney.
· Tonya Hillhouse, of Pemiscot, was appointed as the Pemiscot County Circuit Clerk.
$5K+ Contributions
STL Democratic Coalition (pro-Steven Roberts) - $8,000 from Missouri Law Enforcement for Good Government PAC.
Old McDonald PAC (pro-Deaton) - $10,000 from J&J Ventures Gaming of Missouri, LLC (Effingham, IL).
Old McDonald PAC - $10,000 from Sports Betting Alliance (Lubbock, TX).
The Rowdy PAC - $7,000 from J&J Ventures Gaming of Missouri LLC (Effingham, IL).
Another Viceroy PAC - $7,000 from J&J Ventures Gaming of Missouri (Effingham, IL).
Protect Majority Rule Missouri - $10,000 from Mary Lamar Reilly.
St. Charles Realtors PAC - $10,000 from National Association of Realtors (Washington, DC).
Francis Howell Families - $10,000 from Ron Puszkar.
Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri 2665 PAC Fund - $5,700 from Creve Coeur Firefighters Outreach Fund.
Lobbyist Registrations
Max Alvarez, Wyatt Guenther Davidson, JP DeLassus, Lexy Leara, Micah Joseph Roach, Meanie Valencia added Associated Students of the University of Missouri.
Jessica Emmerich added Missouri Coalition For Oral Health Inc.
Rowland Frederick Howard deleted Future Leaders Outreach Network, and Cole Kids Community Child Development Center.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays to Brandon Boulware, and Ric Telhorst.