MOScout Daily Update: MRP Backs Income Tax Phaseout - Kehoe Backs Shields’ Childcare Bill - Lake Casino Strategy - Keller Engaged and more…

Breaking… MRP Backs Income Tax Phaseout

Last night, the Executive Committee of the Missouri Republican State Committee endorsed Governor Mike Kehoe’s “intent to eliminate Missouri’s State Income Tax.”

·       “This has been a long time coming,” said Chairman Peter Kinder. “We have seen many legislative leaders discuss it and now it is being proposed by the Governor. We are excited to work with Governor Kehoe to deliver another conservative victory for Missourians.”

·       The motion was offered by Vice-Chair Jennifer Bukowsky and Seconded by Jim Berberich, and the motion received unanimous support from the Executive Committee.

And

Former Sen. Will Kraus in an op-ed in the Kansas City Star adds his endorsement… “[As] the sponsor of Missouri’s landmark income tax cut, I’ve heard every prediction about what would happen if we lowered the tax burden on hardworking Missourians. A decade later, one thing is clear: The doomsday stories never came true. What did happen was straightforward. Missouri’s economy grew... We phased reforms in, paired reductions with safeguards and avoided the rushed, last-minute changes that caused instability elsewhere. When tax policy is done thoughtfully, it strengthens the state’s economy… I served with Gov. Mike Kehoe in the Missouri Senate. He is methodical, data-driven and inclusive…”

What It Means

Even without the details of Kehoe’s plan public yet, we’re watching the rollout happen.  Team Kehoe will be hitting the ground running in January to try to push this through the legislature.

Kehoe Touts Shields Childcare Bill

Missourinet reports that other Kehoe priorities include expanding childcare.  In particular, Governor Mike Kehoe gives Rep. Brenda Shields a shout-out…

The governor also wants to see a proposal pass this year to expand childcare statewide. It is sponsored by Rep. Brenda Shields, R-St. Joseph.  “Well, Representative Shields has been a rock star in childcare. And we’ve gotten a few pieces through last session, but there’s some more work to do. We’ll continue to push that very hard because it’s a big piece of our workforce issue. We have a lot of parents staying at home that are qualified and want to work, but they can’t because of lack of childcare,” said Kehoe.

·       Shields’ bill is HB 2409.

What It Means

Having the governor behind the issue should give it some oomph in the building.  But with the state’s dwindling reserves, anything with a big fiscal note will face extra scrutiny.

Lake Casino?

LakeExpo reports on the latest effort to bring a casino to Lake of the Ozarks.  They’re hopeful that they won’t face opposition from incumbent casinos…

·       In 2024, Bally’s was a 50% partner in the investment group, [Andy] Prewitt revealed. That alienated other Missouri gaming companies (Caesars and Penn National, among others) and — Prewitt believes — actually incentivized them to fund a Vote No campaign…

·       As a result, this time around, the investor group has not chosen a gaming company to partner with. “We want all of the gaming companies in the state to be in favor of our ballot measure and more importantly not spend money against our campaign. We have had initial conversations with Bally’s and Caesars and both are interested in partnering with us and both have committed not to spend money against our campaign,” he ended.

eMailbag on Senate Dem Caucus

One Dem politico weighs in… We have a diverse caucus of ideas. We always have and always will. What I find ironic is we have 5 members of color and 6 women. Yet we have two white guys running the caucus. It is always the people who don’t want it that should have it. *cough* TRACY *cough* ... Tracy is the most effective communicator and legislator in the Senate Dem Caucus. She keeps her head down, passes bills, has good relationships across the aisle - and is focused on serving her constituents. I expect Tracy to work behind the scenes and will keep the caucus on track and mend relationships. That is what she does.

New Committees

Matt Vitale formed a candidate committee to run in House 96 as a Democrat.  The current incumbent is Republican Rep. Brad Christ.

$5K+ Contributions

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $6,500 from Hruza for Missouri.

A Better Missouri Political Action Committee - $10,673 from Anheuser-Busch Cos.

Ready to Lead (pro-Patty Lewis) - $7,600 from Missouri Gaming PAC.

Show Me Values PAC (pro-Jill Carter) - $7,500 from MOCANNTRADE PAC.

Show Me Values PAC - $7,500 from Missouri C PAC.

Another Viceroy PAC - $40,000 from J&J Ventures Gaming of Missouri.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $12,500 from GOPAC Election Fund – Federal.

Committee To Elect Steve Ehlmann - $50,000 from Robert Brinkmann.

Tony PAC - $22,175 from Mo Gaming PAC.

Lobbyist Registrations

Mike Gibbons and Tricia Workman added SAFE (Safety & Advocacy for Empowerment), and Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.

Jeff Rainford added Specklebelly, LLC.

Gunnar See added OnMed.

Ginger Steinmetz added FileVine.

Gamble & Schlemeier deleted LKQ Corporation.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthdays to Kristian Starner, Talibdin El-Amin, and Sam Komo.

Congratulations

To Rudi Keller on his engagement to Anna Duff.