MOScout Daily Update: PubDefs Get Roughed Up in House Budget - Lone Wolfin - Palm in Senate 14 - State of Stadium Funding and more…

Quick Friday update…

Pub Defs on Hot Seat

In yesterday’s Budget hearing, Mary Fox, Director of Missouri State Public Defender, was the recipient of very harsh questioning from committee members of both sides of the aisle.

At issue is the Public Defenders hiring of a felon, David Spears, who was involved in a heinous crime.

·       Budget Chair Dirk Deaton: This is just the worst one of the worst lapses in judgment I have ever seen.

·       Rep. Lane Roberts: The rationale by which the Public Defender's Office determined that hiring David Spears is a good idea absolutely defies reason. It is unconscionable…I just want you to know I am angry enough that I am going to ask the chair to consider an amendment during markup. I know you have an NDI for some additional people. If this is going to be your hiring practices, then I would suggest that we deny that…

·       Rep. Raychel Proudie: I’m a no on this whole (budget) book… It’s a no for me. I’m not even going to sit and listen to the presentation. I’ve heard enough from the department.

The session ended with Fox, who is set to retire at the end of the fiscal year, not even getting to the first budget item.  She’ll return in a few weeks, but Deaton warned her without action from her or Missouri State Public Defender Commission on Spears, they’d “be right back where we are.”

Lone Wolfin

The House nearly passed Rep. Melissa Schmidt’s bill HB 737 unanimously.   Nearly. But not quite.  The bill was one of Speaker Jon Patterson’s top priorities.  And it earned one No vote.  

·       That lone NO was Freshman Rep. Bryant Wolfin.

Possible Budget Chairs

Yesterday I wrote that despite being named vice-chair of House Budget, it’s not a given that Rep. Bishop Davidson will get the gavel in two years.  He might, but it’s not a gimme. 

Who are some of the alternative possibilities? Reps. Darin Chappell, Scott Cupps, and Wendy Hausman seem to be most likely.

Income tax cut AND Stadium funding!?

Missouri is currently in a bidding war with Kansas for the Chiefs and Royals. Governor Mike Kehoe prioritized an income tax cut and mentioned keeping sports teams in his state of the state address, but with significantly underfunded education, it’s hard to see the General Assembly making both of those happen this session. 

Most believe the popular Chiefs will work a deal out with state to remain at Arrowhead.  Given their recent success and playing host to the World Cup, there’s an ROI that helps make the case. 

But the Royals are in a different situation altogether.  Mayor Quinton Lucas continues to ask the state for hundreds of millions of dollars to fund a downtown site.    However, the Clay County site in North Kansas City remains the only Missouri option that doesn’t require the General Assembly to appropriate general revenue, by way of a new local tax. 

We’ll see…

Palm Joins Race for Senate 14

Joe Palm formed a committee to run for Senate in 2026.  See the filing here.  The current incumbent Sen. Brian Williams is termed.  Palm joins Rep. Raychel Proudie and Shante Duncan.

·       Palm is the former Regional Director Former Regional Director U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

KDHX Going Under

Front page article of this morning’s Post-Dispatch is about the impending doom for a cherished community radio station…

The station, beloved by the independent musicians in St. Louis, has been run into the ground as its board has warred with its volunteers DJs over the past two years.

·       On that eight-person board, two former state senators: Joan Bray and Franc Flotron.

Gubby Appts

Governor Mike Kehoe appointed Louise Secker to the Missouri Community Service Commission.

$5K+ Contributions

Friends of SJSD - $10,000 from Mosaic Health System.

Lobbyist Registrations

Jeffrey Aboussie added TSI Global, and Osage River Gaming.

Nicole Jones added Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.           

Kevin Josephe McMullin added SITE Improvement Association.

Rob Vescovo added Lee Mechanical Contractors Inc, and Aptitude Internet, LLC.

Steven Tilley, Thomas Robbins, Christopher Schoeman, and Alec Rosenblum added US Capital Development.

Jorgen Schlemeier, Sarah Schlemeier, David Jackson, Nikki Strong, and Elizabeth Grace Riley deleted Petland, Inc.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Jeff Altmann, Michael Moorefield, and Katie Jamboretz.

MOScout Schedule

I’m off for the weekend.  See you Monday!