MOScout Daily Update: GOP Opposes Some Kehoe Cuts - Fiscal Note Fudging? - Hepola Joins Chamber - New PACs and more…
Welcome to Week 6…
GOP Legislators Rebel Against Disability Cuts
Several Republican legislators posted on social media expressing opposition to proposed cuts in the Kehoe budget to services for Missourians with disabilities.
· Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins: As many of you may have heard, the State of Missouri may need to tighten its belt this year. Although I fully support the State being fiscally responsible, I cannot support those spending reductions coming from services that benefit and support Missourians with Disabilities…
· Rep. Melanie Stinnett: I have spent my career working alongside families who depend on these services, and I cannot support cuts that reduce services for Missourians with disabilities…
· Rep. Philip Oehlerking: While I fully support fiscal responsibility at the state level, I cannot support budget cuts that reduce services for Missourians with disabilities…
· Rep. Jamie Ray Gragg: I believe in living within our means, and I support responsible budgeting. What I cannot support are cuts to services that directly support Missourians with disabilities. Programs such as in-home care, day programs, job placement, and other essential services are not luxuries — they are lifelines for individuals and families across our state...
· Rep. Brian Seitz: Programs that support children, Missourians with disabilities and the elderly should be the LAST programs looked at as we cut the budget (the current state budget is unsustainable)…
This comes after the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council raised red flags about the budget cuts in an email blast…
Governor Kehoe’s budget also cuts money from some Medicaid programs:
· Self-Directed Supports (SDS) rates for personal assistance and medical personal assistance.
· The Consumer Specialist Program within SDS. This program was zeroed out completely.
· Proposed to zero out the SDS Individual Goods and Services Program.
· Day Program rates for providers to pay those who staff these programs.
What It Means
The speed with which disability advocates rallied opposition is impressive. But these budget skirmishes will be more frequent in the future as the gloomy budget outlook forces tough choices and cuts.
Kanakuk Kamps Abuse
Making the rounds over the weekend was this video from popular podcaster Shawn Ryan. He says he’s been hit with a cease-and-desist letter from Husch Blackwell (AG Catherine Hanaway’s old firm) for speaking about sexual abuse at Kanakuk Kamps.
Why It Matters
Sen. Brad Hudson’s SB 1140 has a hearing this week in the Senate Judiciary Committee. It would remove the statute of limitations on civil action for childhood sexual abuse.
· As the summary note shows, folks have been working on this issue for several years without success… This act is substantially similar to SB 589 (2025), HB 883 (2025), HB 1132 (2025), a provision in SB 1063 (2024), in SB 1092 (2024), SB 416 (2023), and is similar to HB 114 (2025), SB 747 (2025), a provision in HCS/HB 367 (2023), and in HB 1139 (2023).
Deep State Alert
In his most recent Missouri Capitol Report, Rep. Louis Riggs accuses departments of using fiscal notes to thwart legislation…
It is a time-honored tradition in the Missouri House for departments to greatly inflate fiscal note estimates when they do not want to do something. This conduct reminds me of the days when I sold shoes and the 4-year old boys who did not want the shoes Mom had picked out managed to curl their toes far enough back that the shoes looked and felt like they did not fit.
The Cupps Show – Season 7
Kurt Erickson reports that “Rep. Scott Cupps, a Shell Knob Republican who chairs the House Rules–Legislative Committee, signed a referral form for a bill legalizing video slot machines in gas stations and bars with the words ‘Proverbs 15:27,’ a biblical passage that cautions against being greedy.”
The Old Testament scripture states: "Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live."
· See it here.
Hepola Joins Chamber
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry has hired Chance Hepola as director of government affairs.
Press release: Hepola most recently served as the government and community relations manager at CoxHealth in Springfield, where he led legislative advocacy efforts at the local, state and federal levels while also overseeing community engagement initiatives for the health system.
Prior to CoxHealth, Hepola worked in the Missouri State Senate for Sen. Curtis Trent. His background also includes experience working on a congressional campaign, as well as time spent in Washington, D.C., on Capitol Hill and at the Republican National Committee.
New Committees
· Real Conservatives for St. Charles County PAC was formed. It’s in support of St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann.
· Arcadia Leadership PAC was formed. It’s in support of Rep. Tony Harbison.
$5K+ Contributions
Respect MO Voters Campaign - $150,000 from The Fairness Project (Washington, DC).
Clay County Democratic Central Committee - $25,000 from Clay Dems Political Action Committee.
Lobbyist Registrations
Michael Lodewegen added HB Strategies.
Ralph Bellar added East Village Investors, LLC.
Catherine Gunsalus and Harrison Hems added International Legal Finance Association.
Richard Svindland added Missouri American Water.
Tom Dempsey and Dave Berry deleted The Habitat Alliance.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays to Jered Taylor, and Larry Davis.