MOScout Daily Update: 9 Sens Pan Pesticide Bill - Luetky for WDUSA? - Hoskins Steps Out - Stopping Teenage “Riots” and more…
First in MOScout: Pesticide Bill DOA in Senate?
In a press release on Freedom Caucus letterhead, nine senators go on the record against the Rep. Dane Diehl’s pesticide bill which narrowly passed out the House last week – and its companion senate bill sponsored by Sen. Justin Brown.
These Senators—champions of limited government, individual rights, and national security— have refused to bow to this foreign corporation’s pressure tactics and have declared these outlandish requests for blanket immunity as dead on arrival in the Missouri Senate. This position aligns completely with President Donald J. Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s national movements to Make America Great & Healthy Again, movements which have questioned the safety of glyphosate, especially when utilized in the production of our food supply...
· The senators: Rick Brattin, Ben Brown, Jill Carter, David Gregory, Brad Hudson, Mike Moon, Joe Nicola, Adam Schnelting, and Nick Schroer.
Why It Matters
· Nine senators is plenty to filibuster a bill.
· More importantly, it shows the Freedom Caucus working beyond their six members to build broader their coalition on a specific issue.
Rumorville: Luetkemeyer for Western District US Attorney
One rumor circulating is that Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer has a shot at being the next US Attorney from the Western District.
Luetkemeyer is term-limited, and his name seems to get mentioned routinely for various spots.
But if this has legs, it would give the Senate a swift shake-up – with Assistant Floor Leader Curtis Trent taking over floor duties.
We’ll see…
1 Big Thing: Hoskins Steps Out
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, having quickly settled into his office, is starting to show an interest engaging in politics.
· Over the weekend, he posted on Twitter that his concern that a flyer in a library helping immigrant know their constitutional rights was “helping illegal immigrants hide from ICE,” and his office would “investigate & hold those responsible accountable.”
· Additionally, Hoskins signed on with 19 other secretaries of state “urging President Donald J. Trump to support the repeal of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), a federal law that places costly and confusing reporting requirements on small businesses.”
What It Means
Both Republican US Senators are relatively young, and Governor Mike Kehoe is presumed unassailable in his 2028 re-election. That makes the 2032 gubernatorial primary a likely scrum between the other five statewide Republicans statewides looking to move up.
History shows that any statewide office can be used as a stepping stone to the governor’s mansion. But the offices of attorney general and state auditor naturally earn free media in the course of performing their duties. The others are considered “boring” offices. And those office-holders must work harder to raise their profile.
· We’re seeing LG David Wasinger do it, and now Hoskins too.
Why Change The Formula
As we start to see appointments to the governor’s task force to work on an education foundation formula rewrite, Aligned, in their latest capitol report, explains why it’s time…
The current formula relies on 2005 property values, which do not reflect changes in demographics, inflation, or shifts in the tax base. It also uses simplistic single-weight calculations to allocate resources for special education, English language learners, students from low-income backgrounds, and others. Updating it would ensure funding follows real-time needs rather than a 20-year-old state snapshot.
An outdated formula can exacerbate funding gaps between wealthy and lower-income communities and lead to situations where some students are severely underserved.
Stop Teenage Riots in Fields and Basements!
Sen. Karla May, in her latest capitol report, draws attention to the controversial provision in the crime bill which gives “rioting” such an expansive definition that is would now include six “teenagers gathered in a field to drink beer.” This was an unanswered critique of the bill when it was debated on the House floor.
A person commits the offense of rioting if he or she knowingly assembles with six or more other
persons, and thereafter, while still so assembled, violates any of the criminal laws of this state or of the United States…
eMailbag: Hodge Podge of Feedback…
Over 40% of the foreign unauthorized are not illegal entries but visa overstays.
I think Kehoe is looking at the wrong issue in St. Louis. If SLPS doesn’t get back on track ASAP, he will face a crime wave in his second term that will more than test state ownership of the SLMPD. The governor, the AG, the auditor and the St. Louis business community need to get SLPS back on the momentum Kelvin Adams created. That will require reinstating a Special Administrative Board… The board needs two seasoned CPAs, two respected lawyers and two people with operations experience. They need to install serious financial controls that emulate successful companies. They need to set high expectations of performance at the district and school levels. If this doesn’t happen, think about the youth in St. Louis who have not had structured educational opportunities for the next 4-5 years. No jobs, no money, no hope. Not a good outlook.
The Senate is headed for trouble. Plenty of Senators prefiled bills that have only been first read… Killing bills this way is not going to work once the many Freshman Senators catch on that nice guys finish last. Literally.
[Barbara] Buffaloe won the office in 2022 by beating a similarly over-funded conservative candid ate who also had a great personal story, with big checks from a few folks, and he used the same team as Murphy… Plus, Columbia's well funded council candidates have routinely lost in recent years. Not to mention the negative press and social media commentary that comes with those big checks is free advertising for Buffaloe.
Lobbyist Registrations
Sammy Panettiere and Erin Schrimpf added The Forest Kansas City, LLC.
Mike Grote added Arrow Senior Living.
$5K+ Contributions
A Brighter Future for St Louis PAC (pro-Spencer) - $12,500 from Rodney H Thomas.
A Brighter Future for St Louis PAC - $12,500 from Lawrence R Chapman Jr.
A Brighter Future for St Louis PAC - $10,000 from Sara E Weaver.
A Brighter Future for St Louis PAC - $10,000 from Iron Mechanical Contractor, LLC.
A Brighter Future for St Louis PAC - $10,000 from Villa Lighting Supply.
A Brighter Future for St Louis PAC - $9,000 from Cheryl Allen.
Page PAC - $25,000 from American Society of Anesthesiologists PAC (Schaumburg, IL).
Page PAC - $10,000 from Seneca CRE, LLC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Tracy King, Rich Chrismer, Peter Merideth, Jolie Justus, and Sonya Anderson.