MOScout Daily Update: Senate Behavior - Diehl Guilty of Fraud - Soybean Blues - Phelps Eyes Congress? - Rex for Stinnett and more…
Senate Veers Toward “Fake Legislature” Status
I won’t name names, but one former state senator who now occupies a higher office used to mockingly refer to the House as the “fake legislature.” That’s because its rules seem to bend according to whoever was holding the gavel. A Democrat can be jumping up and down waving their arms in the air trying to get recognized and the speaker will look right at them and declare, “seeing no others, the gentleman is recognized to close.”
The Senate, on the other hand, has been a chamber that takes its rules seriously. The majority rules the Senate, but it doesn’t break the rules because it can get away with it.
From time to time there’ve been lapses, but those occurrences are very rare and almost always followed by sincere regret or apologies.
This special session, the drive to get items done quickly and without changes, has created an insidious temptation for the Senate to skirt its rules.
Yesterday, the latest transgressions – a point of order that a point of personal privilege was “being used as a soapbox.” Huh? And then the willful ignoring of Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern as she asked to be recognized.
The Senate is bigger than any timeline, or any amendment or any piece of legislation. It’s a treasure to this state. It should be honored. Even when it’s tedious. Even when it’s not expedient.
· The Senate is expected to approve both House bills today. How they do it will matter more to the future of Missouri than if they do it.
Diehl Pleads Guilty to Fraud
Former Speaker John Diehl pled guilty to fraud related to an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).
According to the Department of Justice press release, Diehl “impermissibly used the EIDL loan proceeds for unauthorized personal use and purposes. Those included payments on personal Tesla, Audi and Jeep automobiles, personal credit cards, a personal home mortgage, a family member’s college tuition, pool maintenance, country club dues and fees and cash withdrawals for personal use and expenses.”
· Diehl is scheduled to be sentenced on December 19. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine.
Phelps Eyes CD-5?
One more name to keep an eye on as folks start positioning for the new CD-5… Rep. Brandon Phelps. His House 54 is right smack in the new congressional district, and Phelps has strong connections to the Johnson County Republican Party. Whether that’s a big enough base to build from would depend on how many candidates end up in the race.
· Phelps and Sen. Kurtis Gregory are close; they’re Jeff City roommates. Gregory is said to be considering the race too. They won’t both run.
Missouri Politics = Rural Vs Urban
In the discussion about initiative petition reform yesterday, there was this interesting exchange…
Sen. Mike Henderson: A lot of our fights up here are actually not Democrat and Republican. Many of our fights I’ve seen are rural versus urban way of life. A lot of times the rural people think one way on a subject and the urban areas have a different view on some of these subjects. I think that transpires up here quite a bit. Have you seen some of that?
Rep. Ed Lewis: I think that's true in a lot of things. A lot of times it is urban-rural as compared to, you know, Republican-Democrat, conservative-liberal…
Soybean Blues
Wall Street Journal reports on the Soybean blues. Read it here. In just a few weeks, U.S. farmers will begin harvesting tens of millions of tons of soybeans. But they have a big problem on their hands: The world’s biggest buyer doesn’t want any.
· Over the years, China had become one of the biggest buyers of American agricultural products, as the country’s growing middle class developed a taste for pork and poultry that are fattened, in part, on soybean meal. U.S. farmers in turn rushed to cash in on China’s ravenous demand.
· But now, soy has emerged as a potent weapon that Beijing is wielding in its trade fight with Washington. Chinese buyers haven’t booked any U.S. soybean purchases, turning instead to Brazilian suppliers.
Why It Matters
Rex Hearts Stinnett
The pro-Melanie Stinnett PAC will report a $15,000 contribution from Rex Sinquefield in the coming days as well as a check for her candidate committee.
· Tipster: “Team Rex has indicated they are ‘all in’ for Stinnett for Senate in the primary and general election.”
This will be the most competitive senate race in the state next November. Rep. Betsy Fogle is running for Dems.
Plank Loses Coop Bid
MOScouter: Two-term Democratic Rep. Adrian Plank lost his bid for the Boone Electric Cooperative Board of Directors. In Thursday's voting, incumbent Director Kim Ponder outpolled Plank among the Mid-Missouri electric co-op's members, 1,348 to 556. [Matthew Morasch placed third with 394 votes].
Brattin: Dems Were “Happy” to Cut Carnahan
In the Senate Elections Committee yesterday, Sen. Rick Brattin talked about the 2010 redistricting process, offering this account… “I’m the only one that sits on this that has the institutional knowledge where we had to remove a congressional seat. We went from nine to eight representatives because of the shrinkage. We got rid of Russ Carnahan. The Democrats were happy to get rid of Russ Carnahan in all those negotiations. So I mean, to say that this isn't an inherent political process is erroneous, because that's exactly what this is.”
New Committees
Catherine Hanaway formed a candidate committee to run for AG in 2028. See the filing here.
Lobbyist Registrations
Derek Coats added Missouri Primary Care Association.
Brett Cavender added Missouri Hospital Association.
$5K+ Contributions
Brad PAC (pro-Hudson) - $10,000 from Rex Sinquefield.
B PAC (pro-Brian Williams) - $10,000 from Paladin PAC.
Butz STL PAC - $10,000 from Missouri Law Enforcement For Good Government PAC.
Living Well PAC - $15,000 from Walgreens (Deerfield, IL).
Evergy Employee PowerPAC - Missouri - $25,000 from Evergy Employee PowerPAC – Missouri.
MoCannTrade PAC - $10,000 from Nico Pento.
Missouri House Democrats Action Fund - $15,000 from Anheuser Busch.
Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri 2665 PAC Fund - $8,656 from Professional Firefighters of Eastern Missouri.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Drew Dampf, Sam Brownback, and Steve Helms.