MOScout Daily Update: Kehoe Replaces Shields - Big #s Coming from Wagner, Bell - Calzone Contra SAPA - Mehan Registers and more…

Rumorville: Kehoe Hearts Clay Co Site?

One tipster says that Governor Mike Kehoe met with Clay County business leaders last week and told them that he preferred their county to be the site of the Royals new stadium.  One important factor: it’s less burdensome (in terms of spending state resources).

·       “Axiom is now in the field polling Clay County residents about a half-cent sales tax.”

Meanwhile

KC leaders issued a call to action. Read it here.  “State and local leaders must act decisively, bringing forth their best tools and putting forth their strongest proposals with the urgency required to keep these teams here… time remains our collective enemy in this process.”

Bell Taking No Chances

One MOScouter says that Congressman Wesley Bell isn’t waiting to build his war-chest, giving us an advance on Bell’s finance report.  “Big numbers coming out of Team Bell… $420,000 raised, almost $600,000 cash on-hand.”

·       What It Means: Bell will be prepared if he faces a tough competitor in 2026.

And Wagner Wows

The same is true of Congresswoman Ann Wagner.  She’s always been a prolific fundraiser.  But with talk of a tough Trump mid-term coming in 2026, she’s looks to have a bazooka in her back pocket if a knife-fight breaks out.

·       The Wagner whisper number: $800,000 raised “between her campaign account and her leadership PAC in the first quarter… $3.6 million COH in her campaign account. This is her largest COH amount in Q1 of an election cycle.”

Kehoe Puts Stamp on SBOE

Press release: Governor Mike Kehoe announced four appointments to the State Board of Education. As his first appointments to the Board, these individuals reflect Governor Kehoe's vision and commitment to supporting education.

·       Michael Matousek, of Kansas City, was appointed to the State Board of Education.

·       Kenneth "Brooks" Miller Jr., of Sunrise Beach, was appointed to the State Board of Education.

·       Jon Otto, of Kansas City, was appointed to the State Board of Education.

·       Dr. Thomas Prater, of Springfield, was appointed to the State Board of Education.

The State Board of Education is comprised of one member from each congressional district.  Brooks is filling the vacant 3-CD slot; Prater is filling the vacant 7-CD slot; Otto is filling the CD-5 slot where SBOE member Carol Hallquist is serving on an expired term; and Matousek is filling the CD-6 slot where SBOE president Charlie Shields is also on an expired term.

·       SBOE member Ms. Mary Schrag (CD-8) is also on an expired term.

Making Omnibus Bills

It’s that time of year.  Each chamber will load up bills from the other chamber. Yesterday in the Senate Transportation Committee hearing, Chair Travis Fitzwater added a bunch of Senate bills to Rep. Jeff Myers’ HB 225. “I will say, as we get House bills, we're going to have a couple opportunities at omnibus bills, and this is going to be an omnibus public safety bill. So just have that in the back of your mind while we’re adding some of these provisions to have a discussion on a broad amount of public safety stuff. And the next one we’ll do is an omnibus transportation bill…”

Calzone Contra SAPA

Rep. Bill Hardwick’s Son of SAPA legislation had an “unlikely” witness in opposition in its Senate hearing yesterday: non-lobbyist Ron Calzone.

I am an unlikely witness in opposition... My name is Ron Calzone. I’m one of the directors of Missouri First, and I’ve been working hard since at least 2013, really 2012, when we first started drafting the original SAPA, to get it passed and to protect it. Unfortunately, I have to testify against this bill for at least three reasons…

·       The first reason is House Bill 1175 actually expands the scope of SAPA. It expands the scope of SAPA beyond that which it was originally designed to do. It goes beyond just federal infringements on the right to bear arms. It’ll forbid state involvement in federal activities that are perfectly legitimate.

·       It changes SAPA enough to result in what I think might be a reset of the ongoing litigation. So right now, we have an opportunity to get this before the Supreme Court of the United States, and I think this may push the reset button, and so we lost we lose all of that litigation that we’ve done so far.

·       The third thing is, is the title of the bill was left wide open. The title of the bill is left open enough to result in what I think might be harm to the original SAPA.

Senate Announcements

Rep. Keri Ingle announces for Senate 8 (Cierpiot termed): As I am about to enter my final session as State Representative, you have been there with me every step of the way… I am running for Missouri State Senate District 8 to continue to fight for our families.  I hope you will join me in flipping the 8th district blue next November, just like we did the 35th district almost 8 years ago. Let’s go.

Former Rep. Hannah Kelly announced for Senate 16: I’m ready to fight for you… I fight because I believe in our future… This is why I am asking for your vote and the chance to fight for you as your next State Senator. I’m not a lawyer or a doctor. I’m not rich. I’m just a country girl that believes our way of life needs a fighter. If elected you’ll always know Jefferson City isn’t my home, but that’s where I go to fight for us and our values.

What It Means

Both of these pols already had Senate campaign committee established so there’s no much news in their announcements.  But it does show that, with the August primary now, 16 months away, folks are starting to get serious.

And

Kelly put together an OK first quarter raising $37,000.  She now has $50,000 COH.

Meanwhile

Former Rep. Dan Shaul teases on social media, but I don’t think he’ll be jumping into Senate 22 (I could be wrong, I usually am about half the time).

St. Chuck County Exec Race

Jason Law starts the St. Charles County Executive campaign with a money lead thanks to a $400,000 contribution from Mike Rayner earlier this year.  Although, Law hasn’t filed his April quarter yet, that contribution alone puts him in the lead. 

Bill Eigel’s campaign committee raised $124,600 for the quarter, powered by a $100,000 loan, and has $158,244 on hand.  Councilman, Mike Elam, raised $5,650 for the quarter and has $22,175 cash on hand.

And

Elam officially launches his campaign this Thursday, 5:30 PM, Public School House in Cottleville.

WashU Pauses Projects

Post-Dispatch reports that “Washington University is pausing capital projects on its Danforth campus as it braces for federal funding cuts.  University officials said Monday they’re delaying construction of a new 110,000-square-foot Arts and Sciences building announced last fall. Improvements to Mudd Field located in the western side of WashU’s Danforth campus are also on hold.”

What It Means

The incredible policy uncertainty that has been injected across many industries (not to mention constricting the labor supply and raising taxes) will result in a slowing economy.  No way around it. Budget-makers beware!

1 Big Thing: Be Afraid

Wall Street Journal looks at the chances that the Trump Administration will target the “provider tax” that Missouri and other states use to pull down matching federal funds.  Read it here.

“It’s not a tax, it’s a kickback,” said Brian Blase, a healthcare adviser to Trump during his first term who advised the transition team on health policy prior to Trump’s second term. Blase now helms the Paragon Health Institute, a conservative think tank.  A recent Paragon policy paper derided provider taxes as “money laundering” schemes that essentially borrow money from healthcare providers before funneling it back to them through higher payment rates.

What It Means

·       Without the state’s FRA tax, Missouri’s Medicaid program will have trouble staying solvent. 

More Pot Recalls

The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation added an additional 6,000 products to its already massive recall of marijuana products related to Delta Extraction, LLC.  See the St. Louis Business Journal article here.

·       One Capitol observer / conspiracy theorist: “I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that this news was  announced *after* the cannabis industry had their shot to pass their bill in the Senate last week.”

STL Sues To Stop Police Takover

St. Louis City sued to stop the implementation of the state takeover of its police force.  Read the news here.  Among their arguments: the legislation is a Hancock violation.  “The State Takeover Law imposes an unfunded mandate on the City creating new minimum funding requirements that the City must appropriate for the Police Force.”

·       SuperLawyer Chuck Hatfield filed the suit for the City.

eMailbag on HJR 73

I bet the HJR 73 ballot summary polls above 60%. Kehoe can call a special election this summer. Pro-choice folks won’t have time to set up a campaign. Unless the pro-life side messes up the messaging and alienates voters themselves—very possible—this will pass.

$5K+ Contributions

PULSE PAC - $7,500 from Rex Sinquefield.

Missouri First - $7,500 from Republic Services.

Lobbyist Registrations

David Jackson added Chaves Global.

Steven Tilley, Thomas Robbins, Christopher Schoeman, Alec Rosenblum, and Garrett Webb added Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation.

Garrett Webb added Woodhaven.

Dan Mehan added Blackstone Administrative Services Partnership LP.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to David Wood and Scott Muschany.