MOScout Daily Update: Plocher Registers - House Candidate on Missouri ‘Demographics’ - Map Debate and more…

Starting the day… This morning’s 8AM House Commerce Committee will offer the initial public hearing for Governor Mike Kehoe’s plan to eliminate the state income tax.

Plocher Registers

Former Speaker Dean Plocher registered to lobby yesterday.  His first client is J&J Ventures Gaming LLC, which is trying to legalize video lottery terminals (VLTs).

·       Plocher also registered for Plocher Strategies LLC.  According to its Secretary of State filing, Plocher Strategies will “provide government relations, lobbying, and strategic consulting services to clients, including policy analysis, advocacy, and related business consulting activities.”

What It Means

Plocher is now the fifth former speaker lobbying the Missouri legislature.  It’s safe to say that the knowledge and relationships that a speaker acquires do have some value in the marketplace.

·       Of the last seven speakers, only two aren’t lobbyists: John Diehl (awaiting sentencing for COVID fraud), and Elijah Haahr.

Preserve Missouri’s Demographics?

Ryan Hagedorn, running in House 127, has language on his website that’s often associated with white nationalism.  His pledge to “preserve Missouri demographics” moves beyond the usual conservative emphasis on values, and directs attention to the makeup of Missouri’s population itself.

The idea of Christian nationalism has seeped into conservative circles, despite a long history of religious pluralism in America.  For example, Senator Josh Hawley declared himself a Christian Nationalist: “And some will say now that I am calling America a Christian nation. And so I am. And some will say I am advocating Christian nationalism. And so I do. Is there any other kind worth having?”

Still, the demographics pledge feels different. It’s hard for me to see Hagedorn’s “preserve Missouri demographics” in any way other than some sort of racial appeal. 

·       House 127 is where Rep. Ann Kelley is term-limited, and her son, Brenden Kelley, is running to replace her.   

Map Confusion

Senate Dems questioned whether Missouri Ethics Commission appointments were legal given the attorney general’s statement about the new congressional maps being in effect.  It was part of the Dems’ continued stalling of Senate business in retaliation for last session’s PQ and the special session rules changes.

Jason Hancock has the story here.  Gov. Mike Kehoe withdrew two nominees to the Missouri Ethics Commission Tuesday after Democrats pointed out the appointments were based on a congressional map that Republicans contend is no longer valid.

·       The clock is ticking for the court to act and give some clarity on the issue of maps.  Filing opens in less than a month. Plaintiffs are seeking a hearing for a preliminary injunction.

Money and Power

Veteran lobbyist Steven Carroll last night testifying before the House Emerging Issues Committee: “This is my forty-second legislative session. I've seen a lot of legislation in that time. And a couple of years ago, I kinda just thought about it for a while. You know, probably 75% of the bills that get introduced down here are about one or two things. One, money. Somebody wants somebody's money. Somebody wants more money. Somebody wants to spend less money.

Or two, it's about power. Somebody wants to tell somebody what to do.”

Vogel Gets Firefighters

The Jefferson City Firefighters IAFF Local 671 announced its endorsement of Jake Vogel in Senate 6. “IAFF Local 671 has long considered Jake a trusted partner and advocate for firefighters and first responders.”

What It Means

The Senate 6 race (Bernskoetter termed) won’t be decided by any one endorsement, but firefighters are always popular with voters.

eMailbag on KC Vote Proposal

The state already decided it was appropriate to commit public dollars to professional sports facilities without a vote of the people. Once that happened, the argument that Kansas City must wait for a referendum stopped being persuasive. This isn’t a theoretical debate anymore — it’s a real-world negotiation with real consequences. At some point, you either act to protect your city’s interests or you find out what happens when you don’t. F*ck around and find out!

$5K+ Contributions

Kevin King for Mayor - $6,818 from Missouri and Kansas Laborers PAC.

KC Forward Progress - $15,000 from McCown Gordon.

MO Republican Party - $25,000 from Growth and Opportunity PAC.

Association of MO Electric Cooperatives (AMEC PAC) - $5,500 from Ozark Electric Cooperative.

MFR PAC - $15,000 from KCMO Management Group LLC.

Lobbyist Registrations

David Barklage added Special School District of St. Louis County.

Kathryn Harness added TSG Downtown Chesterfield Redevelopment L.L.C., TSG Chesterfield Lifestyle, L.L.C.

Jim Gwinner added Doral Renewables LLC.

Kyle McDermott added Committee to Protect Missouri Families.

Richard McIntosh and John CE Gaskin added 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis.                                                        

Dean Plocher added Plocher Strategies LLC, and J&J Ventures Gaming LLC.

Kim Spies added Rouse Frets White Goss Gentile Rhodes, P.C.

Rowland Federick Howard deleted Towering Oaks Preeminent Capitol Consulting LLC, and Strategic Engagement Consulting.

Caleb Rowden deleted Missouri Insurance Coalition.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to Van Kelly.