MOScout Daily Update: Slow Senate - Meet MFR PAC - Fogle Vents - Hanaway Sues MSHSAA - Naughty Ed and more…
Senate Dems Continue Slowdown
Senate Democrats, while letting gubernatorial appointees pass, are continuing their fine-tooth comb vetting on the floor of every bill. Their consistent message is that this session they’re not going to “rubber stamp” any legislation. Everything will be scrutinized.
As a result, so far there’s only one bill perfected and teed up for passage, Sen. Mike Bernskoetter’s SB 937, a simple conveyance bill which nevertheless received a line-by-line magnifying glass treatment.
What It Means
The Rules change passed this week hasn’t resulted in a sudden thaw in the Senate chamber. It simply removed the gubby appointments logjam.
Meet MFR
Over the past couple of weeks there has been a steady stream of large checks into MFR PAC totaling nearly $200,000…
1/25 - $25,000 from GRC Moberly LLC.
1/26 - $50,000 from Elevate.
1/27 - $15,000 from KCMO Management Group LLC.
2/1 - $15,000 from True Level Investments, Inc.
2/02 - $25,000 from C3 Industries LLC.
2/03 - $50,000 from Flora Farms LLC.
2/04 - $15,000 from Peter Seay.
This comes after a January quarterly report which showed over $300,000 raised. MFR’s donors appear to be mostly cannabis operators.
MFR is an independent expenditure PAC formed in 2024 to support Sen. David Gregory in his future efforts.
My understanding is that while the PAC is still very pro-Gregory, it’s now heavily focused on coalition building with law enforcement and other stakeholders to pass SB 904. This is Gregeory’s “Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Act,” which would bring hemp-derived cannabinoid products under the purview of the Department of Health and Senior Services to be regulated as marijuana products.
What It Means
This is just the latest example of the political clout of the cannabis industry. While many other older professions struggle to organize and mobilize their industry politically, the cannabis industry, initially forged out of a political effort, is robust and active.
Fogle’s Frustration on Child Care
In yesterday’s House Budget hearing Rep. Betsy Fogle and others vented about the slow rollout of child care promised by Governor Mike Kehoe over a year ago.
So as we all remember, last January in Governor Kehoe's inaugural State of the State, he stood on the dais in the House and promised two major changes to our child care subsidy program. One, that we would pay based on enrollment and not attendance, and two, that we'd be paying at the beginning of the month and not the end…
[W]e went out to childcare providers personally and promised them that these changes were happening in DESE and that these changes would roll out in January… [then] communication went out saying that we were pausing those two changes indefinitely and I have not heard any subsequent communication from the administration or from DESE about the implementation of those two things…
[W]hen we can expect those two programs to be fully implemented? Do we anticipate the governor to keep his promise?...
DESE Director Karla Eslinger took the blame in her reply: I just want you to know that we're being really and truly cautious. We do not want a disruption in service or a flow of revenue and support to these child care providers.
So I would say that the delay is because of me. I was not truly convinced that that software piece was gonna be able to actually do what we ask it to do, and I just don't wanna repeat of what we had experienced before.
As far as, the question around whether our governor is still planning on doing these things, I would say yes. I've had no indication whatsoever that he intends not to support the to pay on authorization…
And DESE’s Budget Director, Pam Victor explained there’s been very strong demand: When we did this budget last year, we had 22,000 kids on and we thought we would be at 24,000 kids by the time we sat in front of you today. We're at 27,000 kids and that's why there's concern about having enough money in the budget to pay based on authorization
More St. Charles Judges?
In yesterday’s Senate Judiciary hearing, Sen. Nick Schroer presented SB 1393, to increase the number of circuit judges in the 11th Judicial District, St. Charles County.
This has been a concern. In the latest St. Charles Connection newsletter, 11th Circuit Court Presiding Judge Chris McDonough made the case: “We are the third-largest county in the state, the fastest-growing county in the state, and I think our case numbers reflect that.” In 2025, the circuit saw more than 8,000 new criminal cases filed and more than 7,100 resolved. That includes 13 jury trials. At year’s end, 8,700 cases were still pending.
· McDonough says the constant parade of criminal cases often have one thing in common. “It’s drugs,” McDonough says. “Without question, it’s drugs.” McDonough says drug habits drive many crimes, such as burglary or stealing to pay for the next fix.
eMailbag on Texas Special
I didn't think the Texas State Senate election was that impressive until I learned that there are fewer Senate districts in Texas than Congressional districts. Each State Senate district has almost 1 million people. That is a much bigger sampling.
Hanaway Sues MSHSAA
Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a federal suit against the Missouri State High School Activities Association alleging that they have violated discrimination laws. Read the suit here. And damn if she didn’t do it on their birthday!
What It Means
Hanaway, unlike her immediate predecessors, has been much more visible in going after actual criminals that impact average Missourians’ daily life. But here, and other places, she’s shown she can target a political hot button, elevating a disgruntled volunteer into a cause célèbre.
I think she’ll be very very hard to beat in 2028.
Oh Ed!
CNN reports that “a Justice Department review found that Ed Martin improperly handled grand jury materials that were part of an investigation targeting Donald Trump’s political enemies… It was at least part of the reason Martin was pushed out of DOJ headquarters early this year…”
The department found that Martin had shared the secret grand jury material in the Schiff case, one of the sources said. The person said Martin initially denied sharing the material with unauthorized people when asked by department leaders, but emails soon surfaced showing that Martin had in fact shared the grand jury material.
People on the Move
Anna Aubuchon has joined the staff of Sen. Curtis Trent.
eMailbag
It’s another new day in Jefferson City. The Senate Democratic Caucus fires their General Counsel, then 4 months later, they reward him by approving him for a new job that pays close to $100,000 a year for six years –a job that entails a lot less hours. Great job cutting wasteful spending in the state budget!
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Gaming PAC - $12,000 from Affinity Gaming (Las Vegas, NV).
Association of MO Electric Cooperatives (AMEC PAC) - $12,500 from N.W. Electric Power Cooperative.
MFR PAC - $15,000 from Peter Seay.
Lobbyist Registrations
Heath Clarkston, Doug Nelson, and Michael Henderson added Michael Roberts.
Clark Hansen added The ALS Association.
Dena Ladd added Modern Health Coalition.
Aislinn Rose McCarthy-Sinclair added Strategic Capitol Consulting LLC.
Steven Tilley added Stonebridge Commons, LLC.
David Sweeney deleted Associated General Contractors of Missouri, and Utility Associates, Inc.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays to Steve Hobbs, Allen Andrews, Teresa Hensley, and Tyler Hobbs.