MOScout Daily Update: Will of the People - JCED Agenda - Cap Projects for Stadium Votes? - Long Questions - Readers on Grades and more…
Will of the People Forms PAC
Will of the People was formed. It’s a political action committee. See the filing here.
According to its website, the group’s aim is to keep the initiative petition process as it is. “Ballot initiatives are a Missouri tradition and a sacred Constitutional right. It is the only recourse we have when politicians fail to address the issues that matter to us. It’s up to us to defend the will of the people against the sore losers and bullies who want to change the rules to get their way.”
· The address on the PAC is the same as SEIU1.
Byrne Presents
Mary Byrne, the new Executive Director of the Joint Committee for Education, gave a wide-ranging presentation to the committee last week about the foundation formula. The vibe from this committee is that Byrne will be taking a much more active role than the previous ED.
The summary of the meeting noted the JCED’s statutory responsibilities. These include…
· Conducting a study and analysis of the public school system;
· Making recommendations to the general assembly for legislative action;
· Conducting an in-depth study concerning all issues relating to the equity and adequacy of the distribution of state school aid, teachers' salaries, funding for school buildings, and overall funding levels for schools and any other education funding-related issues the committee deems relevant.
According to the summary, JCED members “are focused” on that last point. See the summary here.
· One scenario I could imagine unfolding… An alternative foundation formula rewrite emerging from the Joint Committee, in parallel to the Kehoe Task Force on the issue. We’ll see…
Cap Projects for Stadium Votes?
Missouri Independence reports that House Bill 19 capital projects could be used as an enticement for legislators to vote for the stadium subsidies. Read it here.
For those with projects in the construction funding bill, Kehoe held out the prospect of a lifeline that could get them the money this year. “I’ve heard and listened to quite a few senators and representatives from both sides of the aisle on that very same issue, and I understand what their concerns are,” Kehoe said. “And I think it’s fair to say everything is on the table of what that special session might look like.” The path for a stadium plan could be greased by the appropriations.
· One of the biggest boosters of the Chiefs and Royals, Democratic state Sen. Barbara Washington of Kansas City, said when the session ended that she could not support a stadium funding bill if the capital improvements bill is not part of a special session.
· State Sen. Lincoln Hough, a Springfield Republican who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he’s not inclined to revisit the stadium proposal in a special session without a construction budget bill.
eMailbag Stadium Site
There is a compelling reason to support redevelopment at the current stadium location. Conditions in the area surrounding the stadiums could easily tip into actual blight. Those in ownership may not share that concern. Use of innovative economic development tools - such as STAR BONDS could ultimately save the stadium, and its attending revenue, but more importantly they would save taxpayers the cost of dealing with a potential decline of the neighborhood and all of the ills that go with it.
Long Questions Continue
Former Congressman Billy Long’s confirmation to become the next head of the IRS keeps kicking up questions, mostly related to his stint as a consultant helping folks get sketchy tax credits.
The latest from The Hill… Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said Tuesday he has recordings of business associates of President Trump’s pick to lead the IRS, former Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.), saying they expect to get favors from him once he is in office…
· Long, who received $65,000 from White River, according to the Senate Finance Committee, said he “never talked to anybody” at the company but instead worked “through” a company called Capitol Edge Strategies. Long couldn’t name the Native American tribe on behalf of which he facilitated the sale of the disputed tribe tax credit…
DIAKC Spends $150K on White Recall
According to a recent non-committee expenditures by Democracy In Action, they’ve spent $150,000 on canvassers as they collect signatures for the recall of Jackson County Executive Frank White.
· According to the Democracy In Action website, the skyrocketing Jackson County assessments is their primary motivation.
GSL Writes Smith About Credits
As St. Louis looks for continued economic growth, Greater STL shared letters with the region’s delegation on the importance of preserving energy tax credits in the Republican Reconciliation package. In short, the current suite of energy tax credits exceeds $1B of savings to St. Louis region residents, over ten years. There are a couple of studies that show the cost of repealing these credits: 10%+ energy cost increase to customers. House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith’s district is part of the St. Louis region, as his district contains parts of Jefferson County.
Columbia Eyes Limits
CoMoBUZ reports that the Columbia City Council “voted 4-2 on Monday to request city staff prepare a report on alternatives for regulating municipal campaign contributions.”
· [Blair] Murphy raised almost $265,000 during his campaign to unseat Mayor Barbara Buffaloe in the April 8 municipal election. That’s more than twice as much as ever raised before in a Columbia election. Former Mayor Brian Treece raised $129,872 in his 2019 re-election campaign against Chris Kelley.
eMailbag on Grades
· Senate leaders had stated numerous times to colleagues that a session ending in a PQ is a failure. By their own standard, then, they are fortunate not to receive Fs.
· Doug Beck with a B?! He managed to get his caucus PQd TWICE while allowing voice votes to happen. This session was nothing short of an abject failure for the minority leader.
· You can’t analyze Steve Roberts session without noting that he was key to HB 495’s smooth passage in the senate He got a ton of bad stuff out in negotiations, and got a ton of stuff in.
Help Wanted
Missouri Department of Transportation seeks Communications Director. Provides planning, budgeting, supervision and leadership to the division, customer service centers, and to community relations and outreach efforts; Develops and delivers comprehensive public affairs and public relations programs, including media and customer relations, marketing, and publications in close cooperation with the department's leadership team; Acts as the public information officer for the department and maintains communications with the community; acts as public relations counsel to the department's leadership team… Salary: $130,969.
Lobbyists Registrations
Gamble & Schlemeier added Zschool, LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Health Plan Association PAC - $50,000 from Elevance Health, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH).
CN-MO PAC - $25,000 from Missouri Broadcasters Association.
UFCW Active Ballot Club-Missouri Federal Committee - $15,000 from United Food and Commercial Workers Active Ballot Club (Washington, DC).
Senate Democratic Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Sheet Metal Workers Local 36.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Mo McCullough.