MOScout Weekender: Hawley’s Dem Dance Partners - Hallway on Senate Map - Who Won the Week and more…
Hawley Finds Dem Dance Partners
As Senator Josh Hawley continues to pursue a populist agenda, he’s finding willing partners in Democrats. It’s an interesting development for the conservative politician.
Recently…
· Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced the Break Up Big Medicine Act to address rampant consolidation in the healthcare industry that drives up prices, squashes competition, and hurts working people.
· U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Homes for American Families Act and an update of the HOPE for Homeownership Act, a comprehensive package to prohibit large institutional investors from buying up single-family homes.
What It Means
This is the Trump effect – a move away from free-market economics to government intervention for populist appeal.
· Interestingly, we’ve seen very little similar movements in Missouri…
COVID-Era Fraud Comes to Light
From former Speaker John Diehl’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan fraud, to the City of Leadwood’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds bonuses, we’re seeing how the big programs designed to keep the economy chugging through COVID were misused.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Business Journal yesterday teased an article with “Another day, another PPP fraud.”
· The capitol game: who’s next?..
Remington/MOScout Poll
No poll this week
MOScout’s Hallway Index:
I asked lobbyists, “What are the chances of a "Dem wave" in the 2026 midterms?” 20 replies…
RESULTS
1. GOP +1… 5%
2. Even… 35%
3. Dems +1… 50%
4. Dems +2… 10%
Sample of Comments
· Fogle wins. Patterson wins.
· [Dems +2] Probably falling for this again…
· I just don’t see a lot of competitive seats. Maybe Springfield seat?
· [Dems +2] Things are changing.
· Dems pick up [Senate] 8. Patterson will not excite the base. Keri will absolutely turn out her base in this race.
· Fogle loses a tight race.
Who Won the Week?
Jim Avery – Things can change in the next four weeks, but I’m still astounded that he cleared the field and was the only candidate to file for Senate 22.
Travis Fitzwater – Named the new executive director of the Missouri Technology Corporation.
Mizzou’s Civic Leaders Internship Program – Rolls out its largest cohort of students learning the ins and outs of the legislative process.
Lane Koch – Lands at Students for Life Action as their new Vice President.
Find a downloadable version here.
eMailbag
The Green brothers may think they are the first siblings to serve together in the House, but there have actually been three sets of brothers who have done so: Richard (former Speaker) and Peter Rabbitt from St. Louis in the 1960s, Tim (Nodaway) and Pat Kelley (Jackson) in the 1980s, and Tim (St. Louis County) and Tom Green (St. Charles County) in 2000. There was also a mother-and-son pair who served together in the Senate: Pat Danner (Northwest MO) and Steve Danner (Northeast MO).
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Kehoe announced seven appointments…
· Kevin Cantwell and Sam Gladney were appointed to the Missouri Gaming Commission.
· Robert Gattermeir was reappointed to the State Lottery Commission.
· Holly Lawson was appointed as the Butler County Circuit Clerk.
· Kathryn "Elise" Bartley was appointed to the Missouri State Board of Accountancy.
· Doug Villhard, of Glen Carbon, Illinois, was appointed to be the out of state member of the Truman State University Board of Governors.
· Adli Jacobs was reappointed as a student member to the Truman State University Board of Governors.
$5K+ Contributions
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $5,650 from John and Janell Brunner Family Trust.
SCOPE PAC - $15,000 from Missouri Medical Political Action Committee.
People Not Politicians - $10,000 from Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action.
Heartland Action PAC - $7,400 from Thompson Coburn LLP.
Heartland Action PAC - $10,000 from MHS Trust.
Heartland Action PAC - $10,000 from Patricia Wolkowitz.
Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri 2665 PAC Fund - $8,656 from Professional Firefighters of Eastern Missouri.
Friends of Jeff Shawan - $40,000 from Jeffrey Shawan.
Come Back Pac - $25,000 from Alliance for Economic Progress Inc.
Together KC - $10,000 from Visit KC.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Rep. Steve Butz.