MOScout Daily Update: Schroer Takes Reins of Freedom Caucus - Carpenters Back Fogel - Trump Blasts FRA-like Taxes - Screwworm Presser Investigation and more…

Schroer To Lead Freedom Caucus

Sen. Nick Schroer is taking the reins of the Freedom Caucus in a leadership shake-up following the Senate’s passage of the stadium subsidies.

 

First in MOScout… Schroer’s statement: It is an honor to be chosen as Chairman of the Missouri Freedom Caucus. At a time when too many politicians are comfortable managing the decline of our nation and states, the Missouri Freedom Caucus is committed to something else: the restoration of liberty, prosperity, and the unapologetic American spirit here in The Heartland.

Missourians are tired of lip service from elected officials. They do not want empty promises, they want results. In our State, we continue to see bloated budgets, out-of-control spending, a tax system that punishes hard-working families and small businesses, and an unchecked initiative petition racket that gives free rein to foreign billionaires to hijack our Constitution and override the will of representative democracy.

All of this must change! The Freedom Caucus will fight to protect our State’s Constitution, rein in wasteful spending, and return taxpayer dollars to where they belong: the pockets of the people.

Parents are demanding a change from our failed education system; they want real, true, meaningful educational choice. That means empowering parents, not bureaucrats, to make the best decisions for their children’s future. The days of a one-size-fits-all education are over!

We must also rip out the outdated and unnecessary regulations that continue to choke innovation in both business, healthcare, and many other industries. We must get government out of the way and let our job creators do what they do best: build, hire, and grow.

As Chairman, I will lead this caucus with one mission: to unapologetically advance the principles of limited government, free markets, fiscal responsibility, and personal liberty. We will always strive to protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all Missourians, born and unborn. We will not bend. We will not back down. The Missouri Freedom Caucus is here to fight — and we are just getting started.

 

Sen. Rick Brattin announced he was stepping down as chair of the caucus on Friday following a backlash against his vote in favor of the stadium package.  Brattin has defended his vote by pointing to the property tax relief deal.  Brattin will remain a member of the caucus.

 

What It Means

It’s hard to know what this means for the future of the Freedom Caucus. 

On the one hand, Schroer has been a productive member of the Senate, and there’s no reason to think that his leadership would return the caucus to its former trouble-maker status.

On the other hand, the ousting of Brattin after criticism from former Freedom Caucus leaders Bill Eigel and Jim Lembke seems to indicate that there’s a political price to paid if the group strays from its brand of uncompromising purism.

We’ll see….

 

House Begins Its Special Session

The House will convene this week to take up the bills the Senate passed last week.

Here is their tentative schedule…

Monday – 2PM technical session

Tuesday – 10AM technical session

Wednesday – 10AM regular session

·       Although there will be no real business today, House members who make the trek to the capitol will be paid their per diem: $142.40 + $0.655/mile in reimbursement.


Senate 30: Carpenters Back Fogel

In the large contributions, the Carpenters Union sent a big check of $50,000 to Rep. Betsy Fogle’s PAC.

Fogle kicked off her Senate campaign last week.  She’s the Democrat seeking to flip Senate 30 where Sen. Lincoln Hough is termed.  The district is considered purple. 

·       Republicans are backing Rep. Melanie Stinnett in what will likely be one of the most hotly contested races this cycle.

 

Trump and the FRA Tax

In a Friday White House press release about “Eliminating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Medicaid,” President Donald Trump mentions the state provider taxes like Missouri’s FRA tax.  While he doesn’t call for any cessation of them, they are clearly on his radar.

Under the Biden Administration, States and healthcare providers were permitted to game the system.  For example, States “taxed” healthcare providers, but sent the same money back to them in the form of a “Medicaid payment,” which automatically unlocked for healthcare providers an additional “burden-sharing” payment from the Federal Government.  Through this gimmick, the State could avoid contributing money toward Medicaid services, meaning the State no longer had a reason to be prudent in the amount of reimbursement provided.

·       The FRA tax underpins Missouri’s Medicaid system.  Its removal would result in annual billion dollar infusions of general revenue to sustain our healthcare system.

 

Someone Screwing with MO Cattle Market?

Press release: The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Rural Crimes Investigative Unit (RCIU) and the Livestock and Farm Protection Task Force are aware of the false statement made last week regarding New World Screwworm in Missouri. The two groups, along with Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, are currently investigating this matter, and the case is considered an open and active investigation.

The investigation is the result of a May 28th request from Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn to discover the culprit and determine if this was an act with malicious intent to cause panic in agricultural markets.

·       On May 27, 2025 a false press release was sent to a northwest Missouri radio station. The information was quickly discovered to be false, however not before setting off a frenzy of animal health concerns, market scare and detriment to consumer trust.

 

Safekeeping the Law

Maryville Forum reports on the Hopkins Board of Alderman meeting… “A dispute about truck parking in Hopkins is on hold until city staff can crack open the safe where the only known copy of the related ordinance is believed to be kept.”

·       Hopkins, population 447, is in Nodaway County.  It’s represented by Sen. Rusty Black and Rep. Jeff Farnan.

 

Help Wanted

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner’s Office seeks Chief Communications Officer.  “Administers a comprehensive external and internal communications program which supports the mission and goals of the department; Develops and enforces communication policies and procedures as appropriate in conjunction with the Commissioner’s Office; Advises the Commissioner, State Board of Education, and management staff on matters pertaining to strategic communication and public information; Serves as the primary spokesperson for the department… $107,064 Per year…”

See the posting here.

 

$5K+ Contributions

Forward PAC (pro-Fogel) - $50,000 from Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Missouri-Kansas Area PA.                        

Clay County Democratic Central Committee - $25,000 from Clay Dems Political Action Committee.

 

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Matthew Michelson, and Karen Englert.

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MOScout Daily Update: State GOP Rejects Patterson “Condemnation” - JCAR Looks at Sports Betting Rules - Gelner in Senate 30? - Suntrup Leaves Jeff City and more…

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MOScout Daily Update: Lembke Shakes Fist - Fogle Kicks Off - Police Takeover Suit - Weiss Honored and more…