MOScout Daily Update: Tennessee Talk - Baily’s Mistake? - Deering in Senate 10? - Butz Quarters and more…
Hearings in the new legislative session start today. The most interesting will be the House Emerging Issues Committee (4:30PM) which will hear two bills creating a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles.
But the week’s main event is tomorrow’s State of the State speech from Governor Mike Kehoe.
Tennessee Talk
Prediction: We’re going to be hearing a lot about Tennessee and Kansas over the next couple of months.
In Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer’s Capitol report podcast (see it here), he mentioned the desire to eliminate the income tax and referenced Tennessee’s experience. In talking with folks who support Governor Mike Kehoe’s push, Tennessee comes up a lot. They say cutting the income tax will supercharge Missouri growth and will point to our neighbor state as proof.
· The other neighboring state we’ll be hearing about will be Kansas which famously flamed out (despite being praised by Republicans at the time). The Kehoe plan will be framed as prudent compared to Kansas’ rash and reckless experience.
Deering Eyeing Senate 10?
Last week, I wrote about the subtle jockeying happening in Senate 10 where capitol insiders expect Sen. Travis Fitzwater to be appointed to the Missouri Technology Corporation job. If that occurs, it’ll be an open Senate seat this year.
Filing opens the last week of February.
One reader tips that Mike Deering, topper for the Missouri Cattlemen Association, is a potential candidate.
Bailey Not Flashy Enough for Trump?
News broke Friday that Christopher Raia was joining the FBI as deputy director. That had some Missouri pols wondering whether Andrew Bailey made a mistake giving up the attorney general position to be subject to the whims of President Donald Trump’s personal favoritism.
New York Times reports that it’s “unclear what Mr. Raia’s arrival means for Mr. Bailey’s future at the bureau.”
· Mr. Trump once briefly considered nominating Mr. Bailey to be the attorney general, and during the transition discussed selecting him to be the F.B.I. director. But the president, who likes aggressive personalities, found him too laid back and somewhat lackluster, according to people briefed on the meetings at the time.
Senate 4: Butz January Quarters
The latest quarterly reports are due this Thursday. But Rep. Steve Butz has filed his early. He’s running in Senate 4 to replace termed Sen. Karla May.
His candidate committee raised $57,420 and now has $202,599 cash on-hand.
His PAC, Butz STL PAC, raised $59,300 and now has $129,340 cash on-hand.
· Among the boldfaced donors: Gregg FX Daly, Tim Fitch, Mark Gaertner, Patrick Lynn, Andrew O’Brien, Tom Oldenburg, Jeff Rainford, Tommy Schwartz, Rex Sinquefield, and Dave Sweeney.
House 83: Reed Rallies Jewish Support
Fallout from the Missouri Alliance Network naming Rep. Ray Reed as their number one “anti-Jew” legislator continues.
A letter signed by Jewish leaders in St. Louis (including former Sen. Jill Schupp) comes to Reed’s defense. Read it here.
The Missouri Alliance Network presents itself as the voice of St. Louis Jewry. It is not. It is one organization with one perspective, and its tactics concern us deeply. Our community includes a wide range of views on Israel, on politics, and on how best to fight antisemitism. That diversity is a strength. But the Missouri Alliance Network has increasingly sought to narrow the boundaries of acceptable opinion, targeting those who disagree with them—including fellow Jews—and questioning their loyalty and their motives. Many in our community have felt intimidated into silence.
Collins-Muhammad Registers
John Collins-Muhammad registered to lobby. He’s the brother of Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins. Collins-Muhammad is a former St. Louis City alderman who pled guilty to bribery charges in 2022.
eMailbag on St. Charles County Executive Race
It is a mistake to leave out AC Arnie Dienoff who runs every August primary cycle and polls from 7-12% right now in County Executive race by virtue of the fact he is a familiar name now after 20 years. He will be a real factor — perhaps for the first time ever.
Help Wanted
Gateway to Hope seeks Director, Statewide Grassroots Engagement – Missouri. This enthusiastic and skilled individual will be responsible for creating and implementing strategies to build and mobilize local support to advance Gateway to Hope’s mission at the community level. This person’s work will bridge community engagement, fundraising, and volunteer coordination… This position can be based anywhere in Missouri, with preference for Kansas City area or Columbia/Jefferson City area. See the posting here.
$5K+ Contributions
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $50,000 from Jared Hille.
Paladin PAC - $29,400 from J&J Ventures Missouri LLC.
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $5,100 from Committee to Elect Phelps.
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $15,540 from Citizens for Jeff Myers.
Energy Freedom PAC - $10,000 from CleanChoice Energy (Washington DC).
Energy Freedom PAC - $10,000 from CleanChoice Energy (Washington DC).
Lobbyist Registrations
Jennifer McGuire added Certified Alternative Medicine Providers, LLC.
Heath Clarkston, Doug Nelson, and Michael Henderson added CoinFlip.
David Sweeney added St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission.
John Collins-Muhammad added Black Men Read.
Scott Woodruff added Home School Legal Defense Association.
Jay Reichard and Noel Torpey deleted DraftKings, Inc.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays to Scott Largent, Nate Tate, and Jim Ross.