MOScout Daily Update: O’Laughlin Floats Solar Ban - Midterm Map To Target Cleaver? - Kirk Passes - Pot Tax Stack Ruling and more…
O’Laughlin Floats Solar Moratorium
On Facebook, Senate Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin says she favors a moratorium on large-scale solar installations in Missouri.
Industrial solar is destroying farm land and rural lifestyles. This is not a false statement. I understand people’s desire to make money and when a developer comes to you and offers to lease your land for far more than you can make farming it is hard to turn it down. And many have gone for the money.
This big lease payment is dependent on federal backing. Which is disappearing. Almost without exception these developers are registered as L.L.C’s . Limited Liability. They can walk away without looking back if things go bad and the future for these projects isn’t very promising. `
You can be a supporter of solar energy and still understand what I’m saying here is true…
This is my next project and I believe there will be support for the idea of a moratorium on these projects. If you wish to comment you can email me at cindy.olaughlin@senate.mo.gov. If you disagree with me I’m fine with that and am open to hearing your thoughts…
A Quick Flip in MO?
There’s a move afoot among national Republicans to redraw congressional lines ahead of the 2026 midterms to squeeze out some extra red seats. This is happening in Texas. You can read a bit more about it here.
Yesterday, Punchbowl News suggested Missouri would be ripe for a similar maneuver. See it here. Missouri. This is perhaps the easiest place for the GOP to gain a seat. Republicans in Jefferson City are already discussing a new map that would give them seven of the state’s eight districts — and the White House is on board, according to sources familiar with the process. In 2022, Missouri lawmakers drew a map that elected six Republicans and two Democrats over the vehement objections of some in the GOP. The Kansas City-based seat of Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver isn’t protected by the Voting Rights Act. Republicans could end Cleaver’s congressional tenure by cracking Kansas City.
Why It Matters
I haven’t heard any talk inside Missouri of actually pursuing this. But if President Donald Trump tells starts making demands, MO GOP might quickly jump to it.
· Any such action would obliterate chances of a productive next session.
SCOMO Rejects Pot Tax Stacking
The Missouri Supreme Court yesterday rejected Counties layering an additional marijuana tax on top of taxes levied by cities, towns or villages. Read the ruling here. The argument hinged on determining the definition of “local government.”
· MoCann, the cannabis trade association, cheered the ruling: “Today’s Missouri Supreme Court ruling will directly save Missouri cannabis customers an estimated $3 million every single month.”
· St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann lamented the IP process’ rigidity: “Had this been just a regular law passed by voters, then the legislature could have come back and fixed the question of who can do the tax. But instead, we find ourselves bound by a final decision from the Missouri Supreme Court.”
Montgomery Slams Bailey
In a court filing yesterday, St. Louis City Sheriff Alfred Montgomery’s attorneys say that Attorney General Andrew Bailey violated the rules of professional conduct by leveling a false charge of nepotism at the sheriff. See the filing here.
Respondent has not violated the Constitution of the State of Missouri and denies this allegation. Respondent further states that attached hereto are the birth certificates of Malik Taylor and Respondent Alfred Montgomery. See Exhibit A (birth certificate of Alfred Montgomery); Exhibit B (birth certificate of Malik Taylor). These documents prove the allegation of nepotism is not only false but made in violation of a Rule of Civil Procedure and the Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct. See Rule 55.03(b)(3) (The allegations and other factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, are likely to have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery); See Rule 4-3.1 (A lawyer shall not bring or defend a proceeding, or assert or controvert an issue therein, unless there is a basis in law and fact for doing so that is not frivolous, which includes a good faith argument for an extension, modification, or reversal of existing law); See Rule 8.15 Oath of Admission “That I will never seek to mislead the judge or jury by any artifice or false statement of fact or law.”
Chiefs “Not Sure Which Way It Will Go”
AP reports on the current state of negotiations with the Chiefs. “We’ve had more meetings, more discussions,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan said Tuesday. “At this point it’s literally — you’re taking an agreement this long and whittling it down to this paragraph and this line, and we need an agreement on this, and we’re doing this on both sides. You’re in that process where you're not sure which way it will go.”
Kirk Passes
Keith Kirk passed away yesterday. From his obituary: In junior high school, Keith found his life passion in politics. He was very involved with the Scott County Teenage Republicans throughout high school. He was proud of his service to the Republican party in school and through his adult life. Keith was employed by the Late Congressman Bill Emerson as an intern in his Cape Girardeau office and he continued his service with the Congressman as Campaign manager in 1988 and 1989. In 1990, Keith moved to Washington, D.C. to work on the Congressman's staff. He also served on state and national campaigns for the former Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, U. S. Senator Jim Talent and former President George W. Bush.
Keith continued his career in politics in Washington by working for several lobby firms until he formed his own company in 2000. After the 9/11 event, Keith decided to move back to Missouri where he worked at Montgomery Bank in Sikeston. However, politics called again when Keith went to work in Jefferson City for former Speaker of the House Rod Jetton and the Missouri Republican Party. After his stint in Jefferson City, he moved to Kansas City and worked on issue campaigns throughout the states of Missouri and Kansas.
In 2020, Keith moved back to Sikeston where he became the Director of the Community Sheltered Workshop and served in that capacity until his health diagnosis of a degenerate brain disease required him to resign in April of 2024.
· Visitation will be held at Ponder Funeral home in Sikeston from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 25, 2025. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 26 at 10:00 a.m. at Ponder Funeral home. Rev. Jennifer Moxley will officiate with a Eulogy being given by Lloyd Smith.
Help Wanted
Abortion Action MO seeks Operations Associate. The Operations Associate will support a range of behind-the-scenes work that ensures Abortion Action’s success and will work closely with each department on logistics and planning for meetings and events. The Operations Associate will occasionally interact with supporters, donors, and elected officials and will represent AAM to the public as the organization’s office manager and a key support staffer… Salary: Starting $50,000 - $58,000, commensurate with experience.
$5K+ Contributions
MO Republican Party - $25,000 from Growth and Opportunity PAC.
Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri 2665 PAC Fund - $6,492 from Professional Firefighters of Eastern Missouri.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Tom Krewson, Darrell Pollock, and Bob Quinn.