MOScout Daily Update: State Revenues Flat - FRA Tax Cap Would Blast Budget - Spicer Kicks Off - Meet MO Right to Education and more…

State Tax Revenue Flat

We’ll get the official numbers in the next day or two, but it appears, as we close the books on the fiscal year, that state tax revenue was almost exactly flat.

FY24: $13,429,144,000.39

FY25: $13,430,978,644.96

That’s a 0.01%.

What It Means

Not to harp on this, but it’s important: this is shrinkage in real dollars.  Trailing 12-month inflation rate is 2.4%

And

The Trump bill should be scaring the bejesus out of Governor Mike Kehoe, every Missouri legislator – and hospitals!    The FRA tax which is critical to the funding of the state’s Medicaid program would be capped below its current rate.

Missouri Budget Project’s estimates, “the provision reducing allowable state provider taxes would cost an estimated $675 million per year when fully in effect. When combined with federal funds, it would reduce funding available for Medicaid by $1.9 billion per year.”

 

Spicer Kicks Off

A tipster gives color from Derrick Spicer’s kick-off last night.  Spicer is running in Senate 6 to replace termed Sen. Mike Bernskoetter.  The field already includes Rep. Rudy Veit and Jake Vogel with rumors that Katie Ashcroft and former Rep. Lisa Thomas are also eyeing entry.

The room was filled with grassroots energy — a crowd made up largely of non-establishment supporters, far from the typical "Country Club" set. With a background in hotel development and promoting combat sports like UFC, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, and MMA, Derrick made it clear: he’s ready to rumble. He took the stage to the sound of “Eye of the Tiger,” setting the tone for what promises to be a hard-fought campaign.

·       Throughout his speech, Derrick proudly and repeatedly invoked President Donald Trump’s name, leaving no doubt where he stands — he’s staking his claim as the true Trump conservative in this race.

And

Spicer added $100,000 to his campaign committee – apparently this is now the typical ante for state senate races.  One MOScouter is telling me he’ll be adding more money as the campaign progresses.

 

Ashcroft Starts At DOLIR

Former Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft officially started at the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations as an Administrative Law Judge.

·       Lucas Boling as also appointed as an ALJ yesterday.  See the list of judges here.

 

Meet Missouri Right to Education

A few weeks ago, Missouri Right to Education was formed as a campaign committee to support the passage of an unnamed statewide ballot initiative.

This week we got a glimpse of their proposal when they filed an initiative petition with the secretary of state’s office. 

Their aim appears to be to tweak Article IX Section 1 of the constitution which currently reads: A general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence being essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people, the general assembly shall establish and maintain free public schools for the gratuitous instruction of all persons in this state within ages not in excess of twenty-one years as prescribed by law.

Missouri Right to Education would insert the statement “Education shall be a fundamental right.” And it would add qualifiers to the education, saying that they must be “adequate, thorough and uniform high quality free public schools.”

The IP was rejected by the SOS due to format errors, but will presumably be resubmitted.

·       Missouri Right to Education’s website isn’t up and running yet.

·       Its treasurer, Spencer Toder, ran for US Senate as a Democrat in 2022, placing third (behind Trudy Busch Valentine and Lucas Kunce) with 4.7%.

 

Crumbliss to Great Rivers Council

Former House Clerk Adam Crumbliss writes on social media he’ll be the new director of development for Great Rivers Council, Scouting America.

 

New SEMO Topper

Southeast Missouri State University welcomed their new President yesterday.  Dr. Brad Hodson was appointed back in February.

 

Help Wanted

Department of Labor and Industrial Relations seeks Chief Legal Counsel. The Missouri Labor and Industrial Relations Commission is a higher authority that reviews workers’ compensation and unemployment compensation cases, as well as tort victims’ compensation fund appeals, prevailing wage objections, and postsecondary degree hiring appeals. The Commission provides a team environment and small office atmosphere. Annual Salary Range: $110,000 - $115,000…

See the posting here.

 

New Committees

Stacy Lake for Jackson County was formed.  Lake is running again for Jackson County Executive where Frank White is under threat of recall.  Lake lost to White in 2022 53% to 47%.

See the filing here.

 

$5K+ Contributions

Spicer for Missouri - $100,000 from Derrick Spicer.

BNSF Railway Company RAILPAC Missouri - Federal Committee - $45,000 from BNSF Railway Company RAILPAC.

Missouri AG PAC - $25,000 from Protection Plus LLC.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $11,500 from MOCS Action.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $30,000 from AGC of MO PAC.

Missouri American Water Company Employees Political Action Committee - $15,000 from Above and Below Contracting, LLC.

Living Well PAC - $45,000 from MoANA.

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $25,000 from Xcaliber International Ltd LLC (Pryor, OK).

 

Lobbyist Registrations

Chris Liese, Jim Foley, Joe Bruns, Andy Foley, Tony Dugger, and Craig Redmon added Affton Fire Protection District,

Joe Bruns and Tony Dugger added Sporting Dog Association of Missouri.

Paul Lagemann added Heritage Action for America.

Mark Penny added Missouri Council of School Administrators, and Missouri Association of School Administrators.

Tyler Travers deleted Thank You Walt Disney, Inc.

Paul Mouton deleted MO Hemp Trade Association.

Nancy Giddens and Shannon Cooper deleted United WE.

 

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Chanel Mosley, Derek Coats, Seth Bundy, Cliff Davis, Jake Buxton, and TJ McKenna.

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