MOScout Daily Update: Bailey Sounds Like a Candidate for Something - DHEWD’s Inflation Request - Carpenter Keep Giving and more…

Bailey Sounds Open to Future Run

In an interview with the mighty Jason Rosenbaum, Andrew Bailey sure sounds open to another statewide run.

·       “I want to hear from the people too,” Bailey said. “It seems to me like there's a disconnect between the people of this state and the establishment in Jefferson City. And I think it's incumbent upon leaders in Jefferson City to listen to the people and understand where that disconnect occurs and find ways to bridge that gap.”

·       “I think that it's important that we have competent people who are able to make real change for the better, and I think that I've done that throughout my career,” Bailey said. “I hope to be able to do that in the future in any capacity.”

And

One politico, who thinks he’ll run in 2028, points to his speech last night at the Boone County Chili Supper “which went more than 20 minutes [and] sounded like Eric Greitens. He railed against lobbyists and consultants. He opposes all data centers.”

Carpenters Bolster Campaign Accounts

The Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council MO-KS PAC has been giving heavily in the past two weeks…

·       09/30 and 10/5 - $100,000 to pro-Jim Avery Make Jefferson County Great Again PAC.

·       10/2 - $75,000 to pro-Brad Hudson Brad PAC.

·       10/2 - $75,000 to pro-Alex Riley Missouri Leadership PAC.

·       9/23 - $50,000 to pro-Mike Jones Beverly PAC.

·       10/6 - $50,000 to pro-Lori Rook Firebrand PAC.

·       10/6 - $50,000 to pro-Sam Alexander MO Maverick PAC.

DHEWD Inflation Request

In the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development’s budget request, it asks for a CPI increase for its Division of Four-Year Colleges and Universities.  Interestingly, the “inflation” request has substantial winners and smaller raises that differ from the previous two budget requests. Credit hours determine how the proposed inflation increase is divided among universities, rather than the inflation rate itself.

In previous budgets the inflation increase was distributed uniformly to each university’s existing base (3% in FY26, 4% in FY27).  This request for 3.6% (about $39 million) is divvied according to credit hours earned, resulting in widely varying increases.

·       Northwest Missouri State - 6.14%

·       Central Missouri - 5.34%

·       Missouri State - 4.65%

·       Southeast Missouri State - 3.97%

·       University of Missouri System - 3.36%

·       Missouri Southern - 2.45%

·       Missouri Western - 2.41%

·       Harris-Stowe - 1.83%

·       Truman State - 1.66%

·       Lincoln - 1.50%

Why It Matters

This looks like a preview of a broader formula funding fight expected to unfold this year.

AI Initiative Needs More Than Money

Also in DHEWD’s request is a new decision item seeking $2.3 million for AI Capacity Development.

From the budget document: Per Executive Order 26-02, MDHEWD is charged with developing "proactive strategy to equip Missouri’s current and future workforce with the necessary technological skills to

remain competitive and ensure that Missourians are positioned to fill the high-growth, high-wage jobs created by the AI economy." A survey of public higher education institutions

revealed Missouri’s institutions are in an early but active expansion phase… Missouri

institutions are aligned in what’s holding them back — primarily people, time, and money. Software licensing costs and AI ready infrastructure are also important also emerging pain

points. Both two- and four- year institutions indicated the largest constraints are developing faculty skill sets and experience, enabling faculty capacity to overhaul curriculum.

House Race Updates

·       In House 12, Democrat Tracey Steele responds to an attack piece: I’m Tracey Steele. You might know me for running to represent you in the Missouri House of Representatives, or maybe because you got some nasty card in the mail attacking me that was sent by a St. Louis group that’s desperate to try to stop what we’re trying to do here in the 12th District…

·       In House 110, Democrat Claire Heinrich’s campaign posted what it describes as a transcript of a June 17, 2019 email from Republican Niles Stephens. In the campaign’s version, Stephens acknowledged that the Wildwood council had voted to stop his use of a city-obtained resident email list but said he considered his use lawful and could obtain emails from public-comment forms. Heinrich characterized the conduct as unethical.

·       In House 136, a SGF Citizen profile quotes Republican Jacey Buckles (running against Rep. Stephanie Hein) as saying he voted against Amendment 5 but would favor revisiting the issue with a different framework. “I am, in principle, in favor of lowering the income tax,” he said. “I do think that it has to be balanced against funding needs. What I would prefer to see is something more along the lines of where, if you make $50,000 a year, then after the $50,000 is where you start paying income tax. It’s like a standard deduction is how they would frame that at a federal level. Let’s see if we can make that work, because that would really help the people that live here more, I think.”

MALO PAC Gets $$$

MALO PAC received its first contributions, confirming that it’s a political action committee for the Missouri Association of License Offices.  Its first three large contributions appear to be coming from license office operators.

·       $30,000 from York Management Group LLC.

·       $25,000 from Schotthill Woods.

·       $25,000 from Koester & Koester.

My guess is that their agenda will include making sure as DOR expands end-to-end online services that their members are not cut out of the action.

Lobbyist Registrations

Candice Brown and Todd Rumbo added Missouri-American Water Company.

Chris Liese, Jim Foley, Andy Foley, Joe Bruns, Tony Dugger, and Craig Redmon added Advanced Energy Institute, Inc.  

Steven Tilley and Caleb Rowden added Missouri Association of Christian Child Care Agencies.

$5K+ Contributions

MO Maverick PAC (pro-Alexander) - $50,000 from Mid America Carpenters Regional Council MO-KS PAC.

Firebrand PAC (pro-Rook) - $50,000 from Mid America Carpenters Regional Council MO-KS PAC.

Firebrand PAC - $10,000 from PENN Entertainment Inc (Wyomissing, PA).

Serve Missouri PAC (pro-McCreery) - $9,000 from DM Law Kansas City LLC.

Legio XIII PAC - $25,000 from J&J Ventures Gaming of Missouri LLC (Effingham, IL).

MALO PAC - $30,000 from York Management Group LLC.

MALO PAC - $25,000 from Schotthill Woods.

MALO PAC - $25,000 from Koester & Koester.

Respect MO Voters Campaign - $100,000 from Colorado Civic Action (Denver, CO).

Patients First PAC - $6,500 from Ideal Eye Surgery LLC.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $25,000 from Friends of Rusty Black.

Missouri First - $35,000 from Unite America, Inc. (Denver, CO).

Missouri Right to Life PAC - $20,000 from Dixon Smith Jr.

Access MO - $10,000 from Diane Levine.

Progress Kansas City PAC - $10,000 from W Terrence Kilroy.

Political Action Committee for Health – HEALTHPAC - $6,000 from Safety Net PAC.

International Union of Painters & Allied Trades PAT Federal PAC - $15,000 from IUPAT Political Action Together Political Committee.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Jeff Harris, Kenny Ross, Elizabeth Hoffman, and Zach Wyatt.