MOScout Daily Update: Pro-Lifers Target Court’s Budget - Carter Challenger Adds $250K - Bean Decries Lobbyists’ Tactics and much more…
Governor Mike Kehoe will then travel to Washington, D.C. later today to attend the National Governors Association and Republican Governors Association meetings.
Pro-Lifers Target Court Budget
About a month ago, I wrote about pro-life advocates supporting a bill, SB 856, that would move the circuit court of Cole County from the Western District of the Missouri Court of Appeals to the Eastern District. They’re motivated by the belief that the Western District has been hostile to conservatives.
Now, they’re aiming to use the budget to exact some retribution.
Sam Lee’s testimony yesterday: We ask the House Budget Committee to closely scrutinize the judiciary’s budget request – especially considering the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District and Supreme Court’s complicity with Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry in the deaths of unborn children and harm to their mothers…
· The Missouri General Assembly and the governor can fulfill their constitutionalobligation by paying judges’ salaries – without also paying for their travel, office supplies, computer equipment, clerks, judicial executive assistants, etc…
Nichols Tosses in $250K
Dr. Ellen Nichols deposited $250,000 into her campaign committee, signaling her determination to go into the Senate campaign with plenty of resources.
Nichols, running against Sen. Jill Carter in the Senate 32 Republican primary, is the wife of Bill White whom Carter defeated in 2022.
What It Means
As we enter the filing season, Nichols will come to the starting line with twice the war chest of incumbent Carter.
· Carter’s candidate committee: $52,918 COH.
· Carter’s Show Me Values PAC: $73,905 COH.
Bean Decries Lobbyist ‘Scare Tactics’
Yesterday Sen. Jason Bean sent a letter to legislators decrying scare tactics he’s seeing employed by lobbyists fighting the VLT legislation.
The halls are being filled with rumors of ongoing federal and state investigations. I have personally seen texts from lobbyists indicating members---particularly members who might vote for pro Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) legislation being targeted. For example, one legislator received this text: “After AG Hanaway announced the federal and state investigations, now no one can claim they don’t know this is illegal and anyone voting for this bill is likely to be swept up in their investigation.”
After sending me multiple texts about investigations, I received a call from a lobbyist reiterating,
“You better be careful with your legislation because there are a lot of federal investigations and…”
Meanwhile…
On Facebook, Senate Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin sounded decidedly negative on the proposed legislation…
· How do we weaken the state? By enabling things that first and foremost weaken the family structure. Gambling is one of those things…
· One of the things I learned long ago was something wrong cannot be turned into something right. Something which negatively affects society will become like a cancer that slowly eats away at the health of our citizens. This is one of those things and I don’t care how much tax money is gathered. The federal courts have issued a decision that the machines are illegal. Why are we not just clearing them out?
And Over in STL…
The Post-Dispatch reports that County Executive Sam Page“signed an executive order directing the county Department of Revenue to inform all liquor license holders that they must stop allowing customers to gamble with the machines.”
· Page took the action following a ruling released Friday by U.S. District Judge John Ross that said the unregulated and untaxed machines operated by Torch Electronics are illegal.
What It All Means
This has been a battle royale with breaking news stories every day, countless lobbyists working the issues, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions sloshing around. I think the mood was summed up very well by one lobbyist who told me yesterday that most legislators are “just ready to be done with this issue.”
· Reality check: it’s February, folks.
Another CD-5 Candidate
I wrote about this rumor a few weeks ago, but it looks like Sean Smith will be hopping into the CD-5 race as well…
Universities Have $2B in Deferred Maintenance
In yesterday’s House Budget Committee, Leroy Wade, the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, said that “we know that there’s a substantial problem in terms of deferred maintenance on college and university campuses — to the tune of about $2 billion.”
Why It Matters
As the state enters a tough budget time the immediate focus of the next couple years will be balancing revenues and expenditures. Long-term needs, however significant, are not even going to be considered in the near term.
Urban Police Program Axed
Despite Governor Mike Kehoe’s prioritization of crime fighting, the Urban Police Program at the University of Missouri–St. Louis was zeroed out in is budget.
When Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins asked: “Do you have a speculation of what might be the reason to the cut for the urban planning police program?”
The short answer was, “no.”
Wade: “I don't know. Again, we recommend the continued fund the core amount. The governor recommended zero. So I’d… I mean, we're not privy to their justification or thinking about that.”
Knives Out 2026
Byron Keelin, President of Freedom Principle MO, sent a letter to Secretary of State Denny Hoskins alleging that Louise Secker, a potential House candidate in District 161, is ineligible due to residency requirement. See the letter here.
That’s where Rep. Lane Roberts is termed. Secker, and Thomas Ross are the two Republicans with committees formed.
· Small world alert… Secker is the sister of lobbyist Alex Curchin.
Titus Opposition Forms PAC
Fight for Missouri PAC was formed. It’s in support of Sandy Karnes, chairwoman of the 7th Congressional District Republican Party, who is challenging Rep. Bob Titus in House 139.
Hicks Describes Ibogaine Intervention
At Tuesday evening’s House Emerging Issues Committee, former Rep. Ron Hicks recounted a time of his life when he contemplated suicide before getting treatment with Ibogaine. See the emotional testimony here.
Speaking about Ibogaine: I know for a fact it can save lives. It saved mine. April 13, I was putting that rope around my neck and on May 18, the following month, I was lying in a bed in a clinic…
Overworked PubDefs
Questioning Matthew Crowell, Director, Missouri State Public Defender, in the House Budget Committee yesterday Rep. Mike Steinmeyer asked, “In terms of caseload standards, do we have what is the average attorney carrying in terms of caseloads right now?”
The shocking answer: “somewhere around 100 cases.”
And then…
Steinmeyer: “Do you have any with 200 plus cases?”
Crowell: “Yes.”
Also
Crowell testified that “Death penalty cases are extremely expensive. Most of them cost around a million dollars to represent from beginning to end.”
Why It Matters: In recent years some criminal justice-minded Republicans have been joining Democrats to get the state out of the death penalty business. Its exorbitant legal cost may give yet one more reason to get on board.
More SLPS Drama
Ben Conover, who resigned from the St. Louis Public School Board last fall, is suing to have the latest Board appointee tossed – due to failing to meet the residency requirement.
See the suit here.
Respondent has not been a resident of the City of St. Louis for three years prior to his appointment to the Board of Education on January 26, 2026… Petitioners pray for a judgment and order removing Robert S. Harvey from the Board of Education of the City of St. Louis…
· The attorney on the filing… former School Board President Matthew Davis.
Why It Matters
With the district’s recent downgrade to provisionally accreditation, this is exactly the kind of distraction the board doesn’t need.
Are We There Yet? The Long Road To Car Seat Safety
HB 2170 had its hearing in the House Children and Families Committee. The bill would update Missouri child restraint law to require rear-facing car seats.
· Garrett Webb, representing the Missouri Chapter of The American Academy of Pediatrics, said, “We started working in Missouri on this bill in 2017 and I would really, really love if we could get it done so we don't have to keep talking about it.”
$5K+ Contributions
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $25,000 from Continental Investments LLC.
Friends of Dr Ellen Nichols - $250,000 from Margaret Nichols.
Missourians Against Unfair Taxes - $5,500 from Missourians for a Responsible Budget PAC.
Bald Eagle PAC - $5,001 from Powder Monkey Fireworks Inc.
Lobbyist Registrations
Mike Gibbons and Tricia Workman added Norfolk Southern Corporation.
Jay Reichard added Arevon Energy.
Reyahd Kazmi added Sazerac Company, Inc.
Jeremy Kudon added bet365 and its Affiliates.
Timothy Faber added Issachar LLC.
Nexus Group deleted Laredo Hospitality.
Sarah Wood Martin deleted National Strategies, LLC OBO COMPASS Pathways.
Ginger Steinmetz deleted eBay, Inc.
Gamble & Schlemeier deleted Vision for Hope, and deleted City of Brentwood.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays to Frank Catanzaro and Jeffery Justus.