MOScout Daily Update: VLT’s Dueling Ads and Poll - Senate Approves Sunset Omnibus - Budget Pitfalls Proliferate - Winter Storm and more…
First in MOScout: VLT Poll
With bills on video lottery terminals making their way through both chambers, both sides are ramping up their messaging. You see it in the dueling social media ads…
And – out today – a poll indicating that Missourians don’t favor a broad legalization of video lottery machines. Mike Winter, Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Association cheers: “Put simply, voters overall, especially key Republican and Democratic voting groups, have no appetite for VLTs.”
A statewide phone survey conducted last month by Public Opinion Strategies… found that an overwhelming majority of Missourians oppose allowing video lottery terminal slot machines (VTLs) in the state’s gas stations, convenience stores, bars or taverns. In total, 57% of the 600 respondents oppose legalizing VLTs while only 36% are in favor.
The Long Winter
Springfield is expecting “near blizzard” conditions today with 10+ inches of snow (Springfield News Leader).
Meanwhile St. Louis only netted a couple of inches last night, but they might be meaningful inches. It could be a critical “make-up test” for Mayor Tishaura Jones. Residents’ ire smoldered during January as snow and ice remained on city streets for weeks. With the mayoral primary now is just two weeks from today, the latest weather system offers Jones a chance to re-set with voters.
· I wrote in the St. Louis Business Journal about the possibility Jones could get “Bilandiced.” There is, in political lore, a precedent for a mayor’s re-election bid getting waylaid by a snowstorm. Nearly a half-century ago, in January of 1979, Chicago was submerged by a blizzard. 21-inches in two days. Then-mayor Michael Bilandic was blamed for his slow response. And six weeks later, he was upset in a high-turnout primary where Chicagoans expressed their frustration.
Amendment 3 Gets Greater Urgency
Governor Mike Kehoe reacted to the court decision: This ruling provides no facility licensing requirements, putting the health and safety of women at risk. I call on @AGAndrewBailey to use all tools at his disposal to protect the safety of Missouri women. I met with legislative leaders and the Attorney General this afternoon to discuss the next steps.
· Missouri Independent’s Anna Spoerre reports: “I’m here to tell you the Missouri supermajority of Republicans will not stand for this,” said state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, an Arnold Republican and one of the architects of the legislation that made Missouri the first state to outlaw abortion in June 2022 after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
What It Means
It means the same as it ever did: get your stuff done early this session before the abortion issue threatens to blow-up the Senate. Easier said than done, but that’s everyone’s plan now.
Senate Approval Sunset Omnibus
The Senate approved Sen. Lincoln Hough’s SB 10 which became something of a sunset omnibus bill, repealing a hodge-podge of provisions across various statutes.
Democrats spent hours early on talking about the sunset on transgender care. But there was also a twig of late drama when Sen. Kurtis Gregory dropped an unexpected amendment at the behest of some “unnamed senators.” That brought an admonishment from Hough, but the Senate quickly dispensed with the amendment and moved the bill forward.
Budget Pitfalls
The Kehoe Administration is probably going to have to get more aggressive on articulating budget priorities to the legislature. If not, they’ll find themselves vetoing popular items because they add up to a major fiscal mess.
· The recent tax cut on capital gains is only the first of several tax cut proposals.
· Over the weekend, I wrote about the possibility of stadium financing while an income tax cut is contemplated, and the education formula isn’t fully funded.
· And one MOScouter mentions the cost of truth-in-sentencing legislation… Someone should ask how the state plans to pay for a new prison if they pass truth in sentencing legislation. Rep. Barry Hovis’ HB 862 has a fiscal note of $279M over a decade. The fiscal note does not account for a new prison, which is $800m to north of $1B. Missouri should focus on solving crimes (62% of violent crimes in 2023 went unsolved. Joplin was at 97%) versus keeping people in jail for an average of 7 more months… The math does not work.
Cupps’ Rules UnUnThaws?
Rep. Scott Cupps’ Rules Committee has yet to act. 18 bills are sitting there awaiting approval. With tomorrow’s hearing cancelled, how much longer before the speaker’s office loses their patience and removes him as chair?
Arnold for Kirkwood
Justin Arnold, lobbyist for Johnson & Johnson, is running for his local city council.
From Facebook: Kirkwood is special. Having chosen to settle and grow here, we see that the community we envisioned for our family aligns with the hopes of many others.
But as our city evolves, developments crowd in, and public safety is increasingly a concern, Kirkwood has to articulate a clear vision for its future and have leadership in place willing to make tough decisions to address it. We need to prioritize those qualities and characteristics that attracted our families to this area and that will inspire our kids to return, build their lives, and raise their families here just like we did.
As the Kirkwood City Council election approaches in April of 2026, we have a chance to choose leadership with that same vision for Kirkwood’s future… Justin Arnold for Kirkwood
Lobbyist Registrations
Henrio Thelemaque added Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro St. Louis.
Mark Dalton and Rob Vescovo added Michael G Winter Consultants.
Sharon Geuea Jones deleted Saint Luke’s Health System.
$5K+ Contributions
UAW Region 4 Midwest States PAC (MO) - $16,432 from Midwest State Cap Exchange (Ottawa, IL).
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Jeffery Justus and Frank Catanzaro.