MOScout Daily Update: Spark’s Security Firm Focuses on Active Shooters - Few More CD-5 Names - HOA v JP? - Rare Earth Rocks in MO? and more…
Sparks’ Security Firm Focuses on Active Shooters
Rep. Justin Sparks announced that he’s started “a new security training company focused on options-based active shooter response and Post-certified law enforcement continuing education courses.” See Rampart Strategic’s website here.
See the Facebook video here. We just finished completing Advanced Active Shooter Response, a course that teaches you what to do, not if, but when violence comes to your place of business, to your house of worship or to your place of education. Unfortunately, it seems like every morning we wake up there’s another headline of an active shooter, and you have to ask yourself, what can you do about it?...
· The optics of Sparks, a 100% pro-gun legislator, making money off fears of active shooter will drive Dems bonkers. Will voters care?
CD-5 Jockeying
The word that’s been circulating is that there’s a redistricting map which has been signed up by the Republican congressional delegate. Its aim, of course, is to make CD-5 a Republican seat. As far as I can tell, though, there’s no effort to anoint a new congressman. I have written that many folks see Sen. Kurtis Gregory as a natural front-runner – assuming the district looks like the rumors.
But… open congressional seats are a rare commodity. There’s always a scrum, no one glides into a congressional seat.
Other names being mentioned…
· Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer – he almost certainly doesn’t live in the new CD-5, but in the words of one lobbyist, “residency never stops a motivated person and Tony is a fundraising machine.”
· Jason Van Eaton – the former state director for Kit Bond.
The talk will heat up once we see the actual map.
More on MOSERS
One MOScouter sent in this educated take… Pension plan funded ratios are not a great way to compare the health of various plans unless they are using identical assumptions. There are a lot of factors that go into the math problem that determines the funded ratio…
In the last 8 years or so, MOSERS has moved aggressively to more conservative rate-of-return assumptions. The result of those changes is a lower funded ratio (on paper) and an increased employer contribution rate. So, while the funded ratio looks worse than it did several years ago, it’s because the board has taken steps to increase the funded level.
Seitz on Branson Brouhaha
From Rep. Brian Seitz regarding Branson post: It disappoints me to see Rep. [Marty Joe] Murray’s question presented in a manner that seems to imply a negative about the Branson community. Our community welcomes millions of visitors a year, from every race, religion and political party…
Are there individuals here who do not accept people for who they are? That sadly exists everywhere. However, it is not close to the norm in Branson, and we are very proud to accept and welcome everyone who wants to make Branson their vacation home away from home.
As House Tourism Committee Chair, and as a member of the Missouri Tourism Commission, I’m proud to promote tourist offerings across our state, including in Rep. Murray’s district…
I felt compelled to provide commentary on the post, especially since Reps. [Scott] Cupps and [Darin] Chappell seem to need a weekend away in Branson as well. They, and Rep. Murray, can make the trip down together. We will eat at the Farmhouse Restaurant, go fishing for trout near the dam and enjoy Clay Cooper’s show in the evening.
HOA v JP
The Speaker of the House seems to have gotten crossways with his Home Owners Association.
Cattle Market Still Hopping
The cattle market remains extremely good for farmers right now. From MO Department of Agriculture’s Weekly Market Summary…
Critical Minerals in MO
If you’ve been following President Donald Trump’s trade war, you’re aware that one of China’s advantages is their control of “rare earth minerals.” Yesterday, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources put out a press release about Missouri as a potential source for some of these minerals…
The U.S. Geological Survey released a list of 50 mineral commodities critical to the economy and national security after an extensive multi-agency assessment; 30 were found in Missouri in appreciable quantities. USGS used current scientific methods to evaluate mineral criticality for the list of critical minerals. Beyond critical defense and economic uses, the elements are used every day in cell phones, computers, cars, lighting, medical applications, electronics, and green energy, among numerous others.
Appeal Court Applicants
The Appellate Judicial Commission announced the applicants for the vacancy on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, created by the July 2025 retirement of Judge Mary W. Sheffield: Joshua Christensen, Raymond Gross, Jerry Harmison Jr., Joseph Hensley, Heather Miller, Bryan Nickell, Megan Seay, Josephine Stockard, David Tunnell, and Amy Westermann.
Lobbyist Registrations
Amanda Lynn Nemeth added Sam Licklider.
Amy Blunt deleted Safer St. Louis, LLC.
Health Clarkston, Doug Nelson, and Michael Henderson deleted Association of Health Information Outsourcing Systems (AHIOS) c/o MultiState Associates LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Supporters of Roger Johnson - $20,000 from Roger Johnson.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sen. Barbara Washington, Sharon Geuea Jones, Mike Haffner, and Vicki Schneider.