MOScout Daily Update: House Dem Schism - Crime Bill to Gov - “Screw the Lou” Bills - Morse to MCoA - Baringer Gets Endorsement and more…
House Dems Schism
Yesterday 17 House Dems signed a letter to their Caucus Chair, Rep. Emily Weber, calling a “special meeting” of the House Democratic Caucus. See the letter here.
The purpose of the meeting – which will be held after Spring Break – is to vote out Rep. Ashley Aune from her position as Minority Leader. Two reps signing are members of leadership: Kimberly-Ann Collins (Minority Caucus Vice-Chair) and Aaron Crossley (Minority Whip).
Other Dems who signed the petition: Doug Clemens, Jeremy Dean, Anthony Ealy, Elizabeth Fuchs, Jeff Hale, Yolanda Fountain Henderson, Chanel Mosely, Marty Joe Murray, Raychel Proudie, Ray Reed, Tonya Rush, Kem Smith, Marla Smith, Marlene Terry, and Wick Thomas.
But… three of these representatives yesterday rescinded their signatures saying that they didn’t know the purpose behind call the special meeting. It’s not mentioned in the letter. Those reps…
· Anthony Ealy.
With these defections, there are still enough signatures to force the meeting. But it’s unclear if the bloc has enough votes to oust Aune. Aune supporters seemed confident.
There’s been no clear articulation of the grievances held against Aune. It was befuddling to some lobbyists who question whether the drama is constructive for Dems.
I asked around for specific criticisms driving the move, here was some feedback.
· She doesn’t have the temperament needed to corral a caucus that can only offer small carrots and ran out of sticks
· The straw that broke the camel’s back is that she wants to merge the house and senate operations, likely to take it off her plate.
State Takeover Sent to Governor
The House passed the Senate’s revision of their crime bill with a 113-39 vote. The centerpiece of the bill is the state takeover of the St. Louis police force.
· It’s a major win for Governor Mike Kehoe who placed this item at the top of this agenda.
· It’s also a victory for Republican leadership of both chambers who have shown they can employ their majorities with greater effectiveness than previous legislative sessions.
· See “Victory Lap Coming” below.
Burton on “Screw the Lou” Bills, Mayoral Prediction
Rep. Michael Burton, speaking against the crime bill on the House floor yesterday, railed against what are known as “Screw the Lou” bills that are often supported by rural legislators. He also seemed to predict that Cara Spencer would win the April mayoral run-off…
I just want to point out that the St. Louis metropolitan area is roughly one-sixth of the state. Right? It’s about 1.3 million people. But in 2023, St. Louis metropolitan area accounted for 53% of the general revenue in the state. 53%. We subsidize your counties.
And so that’s what I was just thinking is, you know, maybe we can just keep all that tax revenue in St. Louis. And could you imagine how great St. Louis would be if we just kept our own tax dollars? Because we hear terms like, “Screw the Lou” bills. It was mentioned on this floor that you vote for “Screw the Lou” bills. I just want to remind you, those are also Missourians.
We are about to have a new mayor. Give her a chance and vote this bill down.
Victory Lap Coming
Media Advisory: Governor Mike Kehoe will hold a press conference with Missouri House and Senate Republicans ahead of legislative spring break.
Thursday, March 13, 2025
When: 12:30 p.m.
Where: Missouri State Capitol - North Lawn (River Side)
Governor Kehoe, House Speaker Patterson, Senate President Pro Tem Senator O'Laughlin, and Majority Floor Leader Senator Luetkemeyer will give remarks and be available for media questions.
Baringer Nabs Endorsement
Post-Dispatch reports that former Rep. Donna Baringer, now running for St. Louis City Comptroller, received the endorsement of the third-place candidate, giving her a boost as she heads into the run-off with incumbent Comptroller Darlene Green. Read it here.
Celeste Metcalf, who finished third in the March 4 primary behind Baringer and Comptroller Darlene Green, said she is backing Baringer in the general election on April 8.
· The endorsement is another boost for Baringer, who is giving Green, in office since 1995, her first competitive election in decades. Baringer took first place in the primary, with support from 48% of voters to Green’s 46% and Metcalf’s 24%.
Morse to MCoA
Press release: We are delighted to announce Stacy Morse as the new Executive Director of the Missouri Council on Aging (MCoA)!
· Stacy's career highlights include experience a decade of experience in the Missouri Senate, where she served as Chief of Staff to the Senate Minority Floor Leader, as well as the Administrator of Virtual Education for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and most recently as a Project Manager at the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council.
Anderson to White House Press Corp
On Twitter, Collin Anderson posts a selfie in front of the White House… “Sunny morning at the White House, where the Free Beacon is in the new media slot for today’s pool”
· Anderson is a 2018 MOGOP alum who worked to elect Josh Hawley to the US Senate.
$5K+ Contributions
Together KC - $25,000 from Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Missouri-Kansas Area PAC.
Lobbyist Registrations
Jeff Smith added City Greens Market.
Drew Weber added Donna Hafer Inc.
Andy Foley and Craig Redmon added Sullivan County Memorial Hospital.
Scott Penman added Missouri Society of Eye Physicians & Surgeons.
John Arthur Young deleted Medwise LLC, and Brandon and Leslie Westfall.
Noel Torpey deleted Promontory 150 LLC c/o Platform Ventures LLC, and Expedia Group.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Sen. Brad Hudson.