MOScout Daily Update: O’Laughlin Wades into Anthem-MU Spat - Kehoe Signs Special Session Bills - Billington’s Trump Train and Costlow PAC and more…

O’Laughlin Wades into Anthem-MU Spat

Senate Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, writing on Facebook, says she’s asking Sen. Sandy Crawford to hold a hearing on the contract dispute between Anthem and University of Missouri.

As many of you know Anthem and MU Health have not reached an agreement on their contract. This has left many with no access to their doctors. I have met with both Anthem and MU Health and while I understand the complexity involved in health care I am encouraging both to find an agreement. Patients need their doctors and literally thousands of people are affected by this. I have asked Senator Crawford to convene a hearing to help get to the facts and this hearing will be held June 30. I am strongly encouraging both MU and Anthem to get this figured out prior to that hearing.

·       Anthem’s lobbyists in Jefferson City: James Harris, Josh Haynes, Shawn Rhoads, and Scott Swain.

Kehoe Signs Special Session Bills

Press release: “We are proud of how the General Assembly came together during this special session to deliver real results for Missourians,” said Governor Kehoe. “We called legislators back to Jefferson City because the stakes were too high to wait—families and communities needed disaster relief, taxpayers deserved certainty, and critical job-saving investments were on the line. Without action, thousands of Missourians would have been left without much-needed support, and the state would risk losing jobs and economic development opportunities that are key drivers for growth—not just for Kansas City, but for our entire state. These investments demonstrate that Missouri is committed to taking care of our own, staying competitive, and backing initiatives that secure long-term economic stability for our communities.”

And

Governor Mike Kehoe leaves today for his trade mission to France.  He’ll be back on Friday.

Governor Kehoe will meet with leaders of companies that already have locations in Missouri, including Boeing, Leonardo DRS, and Schneider Electric, among others. A meeting will also be held with the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF), France’s largest employer federation. Governor Kehoe will also attend the Paris Air Show, the largest trade event in the aerospace industry, and visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial to honor Missouri’s fallen World War II veterans.

Poplar Bluff Trump Train

One MOScouter reports that “Rep. Hardy Billington had a Trump Ttrain birthday celebration in Poplar Bluff.  There were 325+ vehicles that took part and the “train” stretched out for more than a mile. 8 counties were represented by delegations…”

Sander on PD Front Page

Former Rep. Chris Sander is on the front page of this morning’s Post-Dispatch.  It’s an article about the Trump tariffs.  Sander is in the fireworks business.  America imports almost all of its fireworks from China.

eMailbag: PBM Problem

Missouri had better address the PBM problem are they will see many rural Pharmacy’s go out of business. WE are already seeing that going on in the Bootheel… CVS has closed all their retail stores in Arkansas just to keep their PBM status in Arkansas. 

New Committees

Missouri Strong was formed.  It’s a political action committee to support Rep. Mike Costlow. See the paperwork here.    

Lobbyist Registrations

Liz Henderson deleted Missouri Soybean Association.

Irl Scissors added Marathon Health LLC, and HealthTech Solutions; and deleted Clarkston Nelson LLC.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Congressman Jason Smith, August Busch III, and Bill White.