MOScout Weekender: Latest Gray VLT Lawsuit - O’Laughlin’s Facebook Strategy - Hallway on FC Future - WWTW and more…

Torch Wars Continue

Yesterday, Rapid Roberts filed suit against the City of Springfield which denied its business license because of Torch “gray” machines in its store.  See the lawsuit here.  Stinson’s Alixandra Cossette is their attorney.

·       Rapid Roberts has been in the convenience store business for over 40 years. It owns and operates thirteen convenience stores in Springfield… Rapid Roberts has leased space to Torch Electronics, LLC to place Torch devices in Rapid Robert’s stores…

·       On or about February 12, 2024, Springfield enacted Council Bill 2024-019 amending Chapter 78, Article I of the Springfield City Code by adding Section 78-10 [which] purports to prohibit the maintenance and operation of entertainment devices that offer a monetary prize.

·       On June 11, 2024, Mr. David Holtmann, the Director of Finance, wrote to Rapid Roberts stating that its business licenses were “not eligible for renewal” because… the operation of Rapid Roberts stores “would violate City Code Section 78-10, Monetary Prizes.”

O’Laughlin, Social Media Strategist

After she’s term-limited, will Senate Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin hang out a shingle as a social media strategist?

In discussing her efforts to broker the MU-Anthem deal she admits she uses her Facebook posts sometimes to provoke action…

From Missourinet: “Sometimes I put things on social media that are kind of an eye opener for anyone reading it. But truthfully, I do that on purpose at times because I want to, if nothing else, shock people into movement,” said O’Laughlin. “Because if you try to talk to people and you can’t get people to move, you are kind of left with, ‘Okay what now?’ And I thought that’s where we were.”

Remington/MOScout Poll

No poll this week

MOScout’s Hallway Index: Lobbyists See Growing FC

I asked lobbyists, “Looking ahead to the 2027 session, what will be the state of the Senate Freedom Caucus?”   20 replies…

RESULTS

1. It will be larger… 50%

2. It will be about the same size… 35%

3. It will be smaller… 15%

4. It won’t exist… 0%

Sample of Comments

·       [Larger] At least by 2.

·       They may add a few but they are fracturing, so it won't really matter. They lose at least one member every year.

·       Every year the state moves further to the right but that should not be seen as synonymous with disruptive.

·       Possibly one/two pickups in some contested primaries. They're starting from such a low number that them picking up a few seats isn't far fetched.

·       I guess the question is what is the exact purpose of the FC? Missouri Senators are powerful and smart enough they don’t need some organization (of any kind) to tell them how to vote. A caucus like that forces you to adopt concepts and allows for zero flexibility to mold impactful policy out of complex issues.

·       [Smaller] They keep kicking people out it's hard to grow that way.

Who Won the Week?

Betsy Fogle – Put up a great fundraising quarter, outraising her Republican colleague and cheering Dems that Senate 30 could flip their way.

Cindy O’Laughlin – Pushed, nudged, cajoled, pestered, and muscled out a compromise between Anthem and Mizzou Health to restore healthcare access for ten of thousands of Missourians.

Tracy McCreery – Solid fundraising with near-zero burn rate, McCreery is likely going to take Senate 24 off the table for November.

Hannah Beers – The guardian angel to incumbent Republican reps all across Missouri, Beers’ House Republican Campaign Committee reportedly raised a whopping $1.6 million.

Find a downloadable version here.

Gubby Appts

Governor Mike Kehoe made several new appointments…

·       Jeff Davis and Sarah Chapman were appointed to the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Governors.

·       Monica Lyle was appointed, and Beth Banker and Matthew Kliethermes were reappointed, to the Child Abuse and Neglect Board.

·       Cary Corley and Lee Harris were appointed to the Committee of Professional Counselors.

·       Jared Hill was appointed, and Todd Hays was reappointed, to the Missouri State Fair Commission.

·       Megan Hill was appointed as the Bollinger County Clerk.

·       Lesia Shelton was reappointed to the Governor’s Council on Disability.

·       Jonathan Truesdale was appointed to the Lincoln University Board of Curators.

$5K+ Contributions

Respect Missouri Voters PAC - $10,027 from John Danforth.

St Louis Association of Realtors-PAC - $16,879 from Missouri REALTORS PAC, Inc.

Electrical Workers Voluntary Political Education & Legislative Funds - Missouri - $22,212 from IBEW Local One.

MPS PAC - $25,000 from Robert Blitz.

Local 41 Political Action Fund - $15,301 from Missouri PAC Federal Committee.

Missouri Health Plan Association PAC - $10,000 from United HealthCare Svs Inc (Minneapolis, MN).

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Sen. Rusty Black, Rep. Chris Brown, John Griesheimer, Tami Holliday, and Ashley Varner.

Sunday: Brad Lager (the big 5-0), and Dick Fleming.