MOScout Daily Update: Williams Delays Senate - Senate Passes Budget - MGC Denounces VLT Ad - Cookson Passes - Branson to DC Firm and more…
Williams Delays Senate Start
The Senate began yesterday with a filibuster from Sen. Brian Williams, delaying the approval of the Journal. Williams said his reason was to show his displeasure that the Prop A negotiations had broken down, and to draw attention to the need for senators to keep working on the issue.
We spent several hours over the past week just to come back and be at the same place that we started… This is a body that’s built on relationships. The importance of being able to focus on not only giving your word, but keeping that word. It is also a body that is focused on treating people the way that you want to be treated as most people may recognize as the golden rule…
· Williams spoke for several hours. And I’m told that he believes Republican leadership is returning to the Prop A talks.
And
The Missouri Supreme Court upheld Proposition A (see the ruling here). That development, together with the fact that the Senate disposed of the budget (see below) last night, opens up time on the Senate floor if they’re ready to return to the Prop A. The measure is set to go into effect tomorrow…
Senate Passes Budget
The Senate zipped through the budget yesterday. There were a couple snags along the way – Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, upset with the response to an incident at a YMCA, offered an amendment to defund YMCA; Sens. Ben Brown and Rick Brattin pushed back on the cuts to the Secretary of State’s office. But it was a pretty steady process, finishing up around midnight.
· Freshman Sen. Joe Nicola was aghast at the process: I’m the newest member of the Senate, never been elected to office before. And I’ve sat here, tried to read some of these budget bills all evening. I think this is one of the worst processes I've ever seen and been a part of. I think it’s broken. We can’t really do anything but talk and vote. I don’t even understand why we're here tonight. Why don't they just pass it all in committee? Just pass it. If we can’t put an amendment, very little debate. like we're wasting our time.
HJR 73 Hearing Today
HJR 73, the Republican vehicle to repeal Amendment 3, will get a hearing in the Senate Families
Seniors and Health Committee this morning (10AM).
· The resolution is on track for a final week showdown (PQ?) in the Senate.
MGC Responds to VLT Ad
Yesterday I published a screenshot of this ad by J & J Ventures supporting the VLT legislation.
I was forwarded a statement from Missouri Gaming Commission Jan Zimmerman pushing back on the “misrepresentation” that she’s somehow endorsed the legislation.
In a recent interview with a national gaming publication, I discussed House Bill 970, which at the time was pending before the Missouri House of Representatives. Unfortunately, a comment I made during that interview is now being misrepresented by some supporters of the bill, suggesting that, as Chairman of the Missouri Gaming Commission, I endorse House Bill 970. This is both inaccurate and misleading. To be clear, neither I nor the Missouri Gaming Commission take any position on legislation pending before the Missouri General Assembly. It is the job of the Missouri Gaming Commission to provide oversight and regulation for laws that are passed, not be involved in the legislative process.
We respectfully call on supporters of House Bill 970 to cease making these misleading claims.
Cookson Passes
The Daily American Republic reports that former Rep. Steve Cookson has died.
· Mentor, teacher, administrator, state representative, and friend. All of these words seem to encapsulate the life of Steve Cookson who lost his long time battle with cancer on Tuesday morning. Cookson, who was 66 years old proudly served Missouri residents from 2011-2019 in District 153.
· Prior to being elected to the Missouri House of Representatives, he was a principal and superintendent of schools, a Three Rivers College board member, and he served six years as an education advocate in the Missouri House of Representatives. He served as a coach, teacher, principal and superintendent before his retirement in 2010.
· Poplar Bluff City Manager Robert Knodell also had much to say about Cookson. “Steve really was a lifelong friend for me,” Knodell said. “He was a very close family friend; and one thing that defined his life was his commitment to education.
AIM Asks DC To Protect Credits
Associated Industries of Missouri sent a letter to the Missouri Congressional Delegation asking them to help preserve federal energy credits. See the letter here.
· Federal energy credits help keep energy costs low, and the benefits flow directly to businesses through their energy bills. These credits will save Missourians more than $3 billion over the next ten years.
· We urge Congress to preserve these energy credits, along with provisions that allow for more timely customer savings (direct pay and transferability). Stable and predictable energy policy is vital to our economic development goals.
Branson Joins New DC Lobbying Firm
Missouri native Ross Branson has joined a new lobbying firm, NexusOne Consulting. From Politico Influence: Another one of President Donald Trump’s personal attorneys is jumping into lobbying. Jim Trusty and veteran gaming attorney Jeff Ifrah, who founded Ifrah Law — where Trusty has worked for the past eight years — are launching NexusOne Consulting, which will advise clients in the emerging technology space on changing tides for crypto, artificial intelligence and social media regulation. Trusty helped steer Trump’s D.C.-based legal team between presidencies, including representing Trump during special counsel Jack Smith’s classified documents probe and the investigation into Trump’s alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 election…
Consumer Confidence Drops – Again
Axios reports… The Conference Board's long-running consumer confidence survey fell for the fifth straight month, and consumers' expectations for the future fell to a 13-year low — worse even than in the depths of the pandemic.
Chenet Posted Bond
The latest on the case of Christian Chenet, the legislative assistant whose kerfuffle at Yanis Coffee Zone landed him in trouble with the law…
· His $5,000 bond was posted by John Johnson Bail Bonds.
· His preliminary hearing is set for Thursday, 1PM.
Gubby Appt
Governor Mike Kehoe announced that Kelly Snyder, of St. Louis, was appointed as Associate Circuit Judge for Saint Louis County in the 21st Judicial Circuit.
Help Wanted
Enterprise seeks Government and Public Affairs Policy Manager. This position is responsible for developing policy position papers, other messaging deliverables, and communication of policy issues between the Corporate Government Affairs team and the operating groups. Additionally, the Manager acts as a project manager in the coordination of complex policy development and advocacy campaigns, coordinating internal and external communications, interfacing with participating thought leaders, and ensuring timely coordination of outcomes. This position works with state teams to assist with their advocacy efforts.
$5K+ Contributions
HCA Missouri Good Government Fund - $50,000 from HCA MidAmerica Division Office (Nashville, TN).
Lobbyist Registrations
Lonna Trammell added Union Electric Co. DBA Amerenue, Ameren Services, Ameren Corp.
Gamble & Schlemeier added Centegix; and deleted Care Management Technologies
Jorgen Schlemeier, David Jackson, and Sarah Schlemeier added Quapaw Nation; and deleted Downstream Casino Resort.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Andy Blunt, Julie Murphy, and Dave Evans.