MOScout Daily Update: Cards Eye Stadium Subsidy - Parole Board Reform Working Group Kicks Off - DEI Wars - Still No MEC Quorum and more..
FYI
Politico: As we know, any U.S. intervention would likely involve USAF B-2 bombers flying stealth missions to destroy Iran’s largest nuclear sites, including the sprawling underground network at Fordo. AP reports each B-2 bomber “would have to make the 30-hour round trip from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, refueling multiple times” — which might explain why we’ve seen no direct U.S. action just yet.
Cards on Stadium Subsidies
St. Louis Business Journal interviews Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III about the special session stadium subsidies package. Read it here.
· “It was something we did not much work on, to be honest, for a long period of time and then right at the end of the session when we finally saw the bill, we started getting active and trying to figure out whether we might qualify or whether we could be helpful in the process in the legislature,” said DeWitt.
· The Cardinals didn’t help shape the final language of the bill, but did express support for it to lawmakers, said DeWitt. The Cardinals are represented in Jefferson City by lobbying firms John Bardgett & Associates and Centrex Strategies.
· Regarding local government support, DeWitt said he believes the Cardinals “would definitely need the city to be on board,” to advance the project. The city for the initial development of Busch Stadium provided a 30-year abatement on the city’s 5% admissions tax and a 25-year property tax abatement. DeWitt said Monday he believed support from St. Louis County would also be needed, citing its support for the stadium’s construction through a $45 million loan.
What It Means
It sounds like the Cards will likely be using the stadium subsidies to upgrade Busch down the road. That means the stadium subsidies package hit to the state budget will likely be greater – and longer – than estimated during special session.
Parole Board Reform
One of Governor Mike Kehoe’s first executive orders was the creation of a “working group” to propose reforms the Parole Board. EO 25-07: The Working Group shall be charged with developing recommendations for amendments to the existing rules and any proposed new rulemakings with the goal of providing clarity, transparency, and accountability for the parole process. Any changes to the rules shall only be applied prospectively… The draft proposed rules shall be submitted to the Office of the Governor no later than October 1, 2025.
The Working Group met last week to hear from members of the public. It was a relatively quick meeting, only four or five folks came to speak. But one witness, Amy Malinowski (see her bio here), was full of ideas…
· Clarity: Parole eligibility calculations should be simpler and more straightforward.
· Compassionate release: Medical paroles should not be contingent upon eligibility for parole more broadly.
· Decision notices: Boards should be required to explain the basis for their decision, cite the evidence they relied upon, and explain what that person can do to better prepare themselves for release.
· Transparency: Hearings should not be closed to the public, legal representatives should be permitted to be present, and the incarcerated person should have access to their own parole file. And the Board should publish data of parole hearing outcomings.
Appeals: Decisions should be reviewable by a court.
Latest Culture War: Fight Over Words and Pronouns
Is Columbia City Hall itching for a showdown with AG Andrew Bailey?
From Columbia Missourian: Columbia City Council voted 5-1, with Fifth Ward councilperson Donald Waterman dissenting, to keep the city's original definition of "equity" in its strategic plan instead of omitting diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, language. The omissions would have meant adhering to a January executive order by President Donald Trump that requires removal of DEI language from government documents and programs. The change to the city’s definition was proposed at the May 5 council meeting in the hope that adhering to the executive order would help retain federal funding grants.
Meanwhile
Post-Dispatch reports that “Tony Hilkin, chief executive of Places for People, a local nonprofit mental health provider, sent an email to staff this spring saying the organization would no longer participate in Pride celebrations, use pronouns in email signatures, or place ‘DEI flags, signs and decorations’ in public-facing parts of the workplace. He said the changes were in response to Trump’s executive orders and ‘to reduce risks to our funding.’”
· But… “A petition signed by 70 workers asks managers to commit to DEI practices and reinstate participation in Pride Fest…”
No Action on Vernetti Complaint
Once more with feeling… The continuing lack of a quorum on the Missouri Ethics Commission means folks can’t get a resolution on ethics complaints.
The latest: The Missouri Ethics Commission received a complaint filed against State Representative Jeff Vernetti and Committee to Elect Jeff Vernetti… Missouri statute, Section 105.955.6, RSMo., requires at least four commission members are necessary for a quorum, and at least four affirmative votes shall be required for any action or recommendation of the Commission. Because there were not four Commissioners able to consider the investigation within the statutory timeframe, the Commission could take no action on this complaint.
Lobbyist Registrations
Heath Clarkston, Michael Henderson, and Doug Nelson added AC Disaster Consulting.
Richard McIntosh added TerraCore Mining Inc, and EnterpriseDB.
Aaron Baker deleted Johnson Controls Inc, and Townes Telecommunications Inc.
Freddy Barnes deleted Johnson Controls, Inc.
Gamble & Schlemeier deleted American Prison Data Systems.
$5K+ Contributions
Teamsters Local Union No 688 Political Action Committee - $18,829 from International Brotherhood of Teamters Missouri PAC- Federal Committee.
General Motors Company PAC Missouri - Federal Committee - $20,000 from General Motors Company Political Action Committee 25 Massachusetts Avenue, NW (Washington, DC).
Missouri Leadership PAC - $10,000 from Another Viceroy PAC.
Missouri Leadership PAC - $10,000 from Ozark Anesthesia Associates Inc.
Missouri Leadership PAC - $10,000 from Missouri Optometric Association PAC.
Missouri American Water Company Employees Political Action Committee - $15,000 from Flynn Drilling Company.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Jay Mosley, and Tim Garrison.
Thursday: Mark Dalton, Brian Nieves, Angela Bingaman, and Jason Cohen.
MOScout Schdule
No MOScout tomorrow (Juneteen). Back on Friday.