MOScout Daily Update: Coming Signature Showdown - More on New House Rule, November Revenues, Rural Hospital Woes - 250K MO Sports Bettors and more…
Signature Showdown Coming
People Not Politicians Missouri alerted the press that they will hold an in-person press event next week when they formally submit signatures “to halt HB1, the legislature’s newly passed and widely criticized gerrymandered congressional map.”
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is expected to scrutinize the signatures to protect the pro-Donald Trump map the legislature passed.
And on Twitter, Donald Trump Jr. weighed in…
Some Lobbyists Shrug At New Rules
I wrote yesterday about the House’s new procedure to pull a member off the floor, by submitting a form. I quoted lobbyists who thought the idea was inane. But then I heard from others who said it added to their natural advantage over “regular people.”
· This impacts regular people and further gives access to insiders who have cell phone numbers. Another way to cut off access from the public. For lobbyists who have relationships, this won’t be that much of an issue. I can’t imagine I’ll ever fill out that form.
· The only people screwed are the public who come up on lobby days/grassroots events. They are gonna be even more frustrated about accessibility to their legislators. Which lobbyist doesn’t text members requesting a minute in the rotunda? I will say it’s good to see our Legislature dealing with the really important things….
Bayer Gets Trump Aid
The Trump Administration is helping Bayer as they seek relief from Roundup lawsuits. Read the Reuters’ report here.
President Donald Trump's administration urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to take up Bayer’s bid to curtail thousands of lawsuits claiming its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer, pushing the group's shares to their highest in almost two years. In a brief filed at the court, U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer bolstered Bayer’s effort to limit the lawsuits and potentially avert billions of dollars in damages, saying the company was correct that the federal law governing pesticides preempts lawsuits that make claims over the products under state law.
· In past sessions, the legislature has debated the extent to which the EPA labeling should shield Bayer from liabilities. Sen. Kurtis Gregory has refiled that bill for the upcoming session.
November Revenues Follow Up
One budget watcher, while pleasantly surprised with the November number, isn’t at ease yet. That’s because with the capital gains cut, April’s returns could be softer than previous years.
The people who benefit from the cap gains elimination are the people who typically file in mid-April, near the deadline. So a high GR number today might easily be wiped out in the spring.
More on Rural Hospital Struggles
Yesterday I wrote about the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program application, and how it noted over half the rural hospitals were losing money.
Someone sent me this latest missive from the frontlines… KMMO reports: The Fitzgibbon Hospital Board of Trustees, in collaboration with management, has approved cost-cutting measures expected to save more than $2 million dollars annually. Fitzgibbon President and CEO Angy Littrell says Fitzgibbon approved these measures to combat unprecedented economic headwinds that many rural hospitals in Missouri are facing.
The measures include the closure of two outlying primary care clinics, closure of the inpatient behavioral health unit and ceasing operations of Fitzgibbon Home Health and Hospice services. All closures for services operated by the not-for-profit hospital will be effective December 31, 2025.
And… I’m told that closing the behavioral health unit has implications for juveniles who would often go there instead of county jail. With this closing, there’ll be no option but to send them to the county jail.
Meanwhile
One MOScouter snarks… How can rural hospitals be losing money with that 340B bill that passed a few years ago? Was supposed to save them. That bill has only helped PBMs and Big Hospitals….
250,000 MO Bettors
BetMissouri reports that “according to GeoComply, Missourians created roughly 188,000 new accounts in the two-week lead-up to Monday’s launch… In addition, GeoComply found that more than 250,000 sports betting accounts, from operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel, were active in the Show-Me State on Monday. The difference in numbers is because many Missouri sports bettors already had set up accounts in nearby states, such as Illinois and Kansas.”
MSBA Warns on Vendor Pitch
The Missouri School Boards’ Association is warning members not to fall for an “urgency” pitch from vendors of school safety services saying they have a deadline to comply with SB 68.
In those communications, districts were told there was an urgent end-of-year deadline and that they would be “out of compliance” with Senate Bill 68 if they did not act quickly. This statement is inaccurate and made without the knowledge or approval of MSBA or CES… DESE is working on guidance and hopes to have that guidance published by January 1, 2026… Missouri school districts can meet Senate Bill 68 school safety expectations in a variety of ways. Purchasing a particular service or platform from any specific company is not required for compliance… High-pressure or fear-based sales tactics are not endorsed by CES…
KC AirbNbs Price In World Cup Fever
Airbnb prices are up 20% for the World Cup window in Kansas City….
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Kehoe announced two judicial appointments to the 16th and 21st Judicial Circuits.
· John Gromowsky, of Kansas City, was appointed as Circuit Judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit.
· Bridget Halquist, of St. Louis, was appointed as Circuit Judge in the 21st Judicial Circuit.
$5K+ Contributions
NEMO Leadership PAC (pro-O’Laughlin) - $25,000 from Evergy Metro Inc.
STLCO PAC (pro-Brian Williams) - $10,000 from McBride & Son Properties LLC.
Stop the Ban - $40,000 from PROMO.
PG PAC - $12,000 from Penman Group.
Lobbyist Registrations
Tom Dempsey and Dave Berry added American Kratom Association
Shanon Hawk added National Waste & Recycling Association; and deleted Missouri Bankers Association.
Mark Rhoads added A-Cities - City of Richmond Heights, City of Clayton, City of Olivette, City of Maplewood.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthday to Rudi Keller, Jerome Barnes, Sean Gagen, and Jennifer Florida.