Saturation Point
We’re reaching peak saturation for political ads. Examples…
· It looks like a new $275,600 gross Citizens for Better Government St. Louis broadcast wave is coming. Ten October 28 orders from HRCC-funded Citizens for a Better Government book 419 thirty-second spots on KTVI and KMOV for October 29–November 3.
· Meanwhile, over on Facebook, CBG’s anti-Cat Clayton six-second ad is scheduled for 250,000–300,000 impressions, while Will of the People’s anti-Travis Wilson ad is scheduled for 175,000–200,000 impressions.
HRCC Unloads Final Wave
In new 24-hour expenditure reports from the last two days (CBG Oct 28, CBG Oct 29, HRCC Oct 28, HRCC Oct 29), the House Republican Campaign Committee has unloaded about $1.1 million in independent expenditures in House races. It shows massive late spending in St. Louis County (Brad Christ’s House 96 and Maryellen Murphy’s House 960 and St. Charles (Travis Wilson, Terri Violet, and Colin Wellenkamp). Here’s the spending list…
House 96 - $268,553
House 106 - $144,896
House 104 - $141,324
House 105 - $138,425
House 94 - $126,819
House 17 - $99,021
House 16 - $52,716
House 133 - $49,117
House 30 - $45,073
House 101 - $22,660
House 31 - $17,478
House 135 - $10,759
House 10 - $7,703
House 20 - $7,398
House 100 - $4,578
House 38 - $4,429
House 21 - $3,390
House 132 - $3,390
House 12 - $1,845
House 89 - $945
House 136 - $904
House 110 - $639
House 33 - $622
House 35 - $536
House 95 - $531
House 98 - $513
House 107 - $472
House 69 - $465
House 92 - $460
House 65 - $315
House 14 - $288
House 56 - $238
House 88 - $218
House 34 - $213
House 60 - $138
Coordinating Board for Higher Ed $$$ Plan
Documents from the Coordinating Board for Higher Education’s meeting yesterday show the latest draft of its proposed funding revamp. The biggest loser would be Truman State.
The Coming Rural Have and Have-Nots?
At the recent MO Power Summit hosted by the Public Service Commission, there was a lot of talk about how the data center buildout is changing the economic landscape.
St. Louis Public Radio quotes Greater St. Louis Inc’s Ron Kitchens, “This is the railroad coming and deciding to come through some communities, and other communities that they don't go through cease to exist… This is Route 66 when the interstates came in and those communities and those businesses died because they weren't on the trade routes. Hyperscale data centers are the same exact opportunity for communities.”
Some stunning stats were displayed about the impact of new data centers from Amazon and Google on tax revenues from Montgomery County, Missouri. Use tax collection have spiked. A 20-year projection is that the local school district will benefit to the tune of $2 billion – at the low end!
What It Means
Kitchens envisioned a situation where the rural school districts with data center tax revenue are so dramatically improved that they become magnets. Families relocate from surrounding rural areas so their kids can attend those schools, creating a new round of winning and losing districts around the state.
Charter School Case Decision
The Missouri Independent reports on the Boone County charter school case decision being cheered by school-choice advocates. Read it here.
A 2024 law that allowed charter schools to open in Boone County is not an unconstitutional “special law,” a Cole County judge ruled Thursday. Columbia Public Schools challenged the statute, arguing that it violated the Missouri Constitution’s prohibition on special laws, which single out localities or people when a general law could apply.
· But even though the law singled out Boone County, lawmakers had reasonable grounds for limiting charter school expansion to the county, Circuit Court Judge Emily Fretwell wrote in an 11-page ruling.
· Columbia Public Schools has already stated that it plans to appeal the decision.
Other 24-Hour Expenditure Reports
PACs must file a disclosure report within 24 hours each time they spend more than $250 during the final 11 days of an election.
Heart of SGF PAC (pro-Stinnett)
· Senate 30 - $560,949.28
AshPAC (pro-Aune)
· House 20 - $2,500
· House 31 - $2,500
· House 89 - $2,500
· House 94 - $2,500
· House 101 - $2,500
· House 104 - $2,500
· House 106 - $2,500
· House 132 - $2,500
· House 29 - $1,000
· House 35 - $1,000
· House 135 - $1,000
964 PAC (pro-Jeff Myers)
· House 94 - $2,500
· House 104 – $2,500
Protect Saint Louis Freedom (pro-Dems)
· House 100 - $2,000
Missouri Leadership PAC (pro-Riley)
· House 134 - $13,615.96
American Front-Page Endorsement
The St. Louis American, St. Louis’s Black weekly paper, gave a front-page endorsement to No on Amendment 3.
And
The American left its downtown office and has moved into the Urban League’s building. It’s presumably a cost-saving move for the paper, and gives Urban League president Mike McMillan a prominent tenant.
About the PAC for America’s Future $$$
In the large contributions (below), there are big checks from The PAC for America's Future. This isn’t new money coming in. The reports were filed late. The actual contributions were made weeks ago and have since been funneled through PACs to Will of the People PAC.
Help Wanted
Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) is seeking Director of Administration. Oversee human resources, budget and fiscal services, facilities, information technology, consumer services, legislation, and public outreach and information; Consult with the Commissioners in the overall administration and management of the Commission; Communicate outside the Commission on matters affecting the agency’s budget and operations; Provide leadership in designing and implementing long- and short-term strategies, policies, and programs; As a member of the senior management team, the Director of Administration is expected to maintain a broad knowledge of the agency’s operations and adhere to strict confidentiality standards.
Lobbyist Registrations
Rhonda Taylor added Giant Rocket's Foundation.
$5K+ Contributions
Vote Yes on Amendment 6 - $250,000 from United Association Political Education Missouri Committee - Federal Committee (Annapolis, MD).
Vote Yes on Amendment 6 - $100,000 from Preserve Middle Class America, Inc.
Her Health, Her Future PAC - $300,000 from Her Health Her Future Missouri.
Missouri Right to Life PAC - $25,000 from Stephen Goedeker.
Stop the Ban - $25,000 from Alison Ferring.
People Not Politicians - $150,000 from Service Employees International Union (Washington, DC)
Citizens for a Better Government - $750,000 from House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc.
1776 PAC (pro-Schroer) – $25,000 from Conservative Justice PAC.
1776 PAC – $10,000 from Missouri Prospers PAC.
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from National Shooting Sports Foundation Inc. (Shelton, CT).
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from SNK Real Property Holdings LLC.
MGA-PAC - $20,000 from Schnucks Markets, Inc.
Best Start for Kids STL - $25,000 from Children's Funding Accelerator (Washington, DC).
The PAC for America's Future - $400,000 from The PAC for America's Future (Washington, DC).
The PAC for America's Future - $230,000 from The PAC for America's Future (Washington, DC).
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Kyna Iman, Bruce DeGroot, Vince Schoemehl, and Mark Parkinson.