MOScout Daily Update: How Missouri Prepped Scharf for Ballroom Oversight - Our Service Economy - Robo-Big-Rigs? and more…
Our Service-Based Economy
Wall Street Journal reports“service-based tenants leased just over 50% of total retail square footage in 2025.” That’s the first time it’s ever been a majority of retail leasing. “Fifteen years ago, service tenants accounted for only 40% of total leasing.”
· St. Louis Federal Reserve: “The services sector is, essentially, the bulk of economic activity,” said Ricardo Marto, an economist with the St. Louis Fed. “The bulk of employment and firms are there. Most of the economy nowadays revolves around the services sector.”
What It Means
Governor Mike Kehoe’s tax plan envisions an expanded sales tax eventually substituting for the revenue currently coming from the income tax. Every indication is that this would include taxing most services – which are now exempt from the state sales tax.
· For supporters of the Kehoe plan, it’s a no-brainer that the tax code needs to be “modernized” to include services.
· For opponents, it’s an expansion of our Department of Revenue into regulating a vast array of daily acts of commerce.
Senate Website Facelift
The Senate website has a new look. I’m told that it’s now an ADA-compliant website.
· You may recall that one of the issues moving this session is dealing with “predatory” ADA website lawsuits.
Here Comes the Robo Big Rigs?
New York Times reports on “the first fully autonomous commercial trucking operation” in the United States happening “between Dallas and Houston on the I-45 corridor quickly racked up 1,200 miles on the road for customers including FedEx and Uber Freight…”
· There’s no question that finally putting driverless semi trucks into regular interstate runs will be a turning point for the industry. A driver’s salary is 26 percent of the per-mile cost of operating a truck, Truckers Report says, while other studies have found it to be around 40 percent. Going driverless would result in considerable savings for the U.S. freight-truck business, which generates more than $900 billion in annual revenue.
· A consensus is emerging that fully autonomous Class 8 trucking on major highways will arrive in 2027, with multiple companies prepared to roll out fleets, mostly in Texas, beginning later this year. (Trucks are classified from 1 to 8 and 8 is the biggest.)
Why It Matters
The question of autonomous semis has come up repeatedly in legislative hearings this year concerning autonomous passenger vehicles.
· Sponsors insisted that the current legislation is not about commercial trucks. And yet, the future is coming…
Out of Criminal Court, Into Civil Court
Last summer, U.S. Attorney Tom Albus, in a controversial move, dropped federal charges against St. Louis developer brothers Sid Chakraverty and Vic Alston.
They were sued yesterday. Hannah Hallak says that when she signed her lease, “she reasonably expected to receive a clean, safe and habitable apartment. However, when she arrived for the official move-in on January 8, she found a messy, moldy, pest-infested apartment. The previous tenant’s underwear was still in the washing machine and there was a dead mouse in the kitchen. It was the winter and multiple windows did not close.”
· Agents of Defendants responded by keeping the money Plaintiff had paid and threatening her with accelerated charges and junk fees…
Scharf Cites MO Experience for Ballroom Role
The Washington Post reports on whether Will Scharf is qualified to serve on the National Capital Planning Commission.
· The federal law governing the National Capital Planning Commission requires that commissioners have “experience in city or regional planning.” Appointees have traditionally been professionals in planning, architecture or historic preservation…
· Scharf defended his qualifications in a testy exchange… “To say that I lack the credentials to serve on this commission is, frankly, insulting,” he said. He has touted his 18 months of work as policy director for Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens (R), including with the state’s Housing Development Commission, Department of Economic Development and Development Finance Board.
eMailbag: Graves
I also hear the rumors about Graves every cycle. Last cycle it was he was getting appointed Director of Transportation under Trump. That hasn’t happened... My guess is if Graves does not run, and that is a really big if, you will see several people jump in there…
New Committees
Missouri Bitcoiners PAC was formed. Its treasurer is Jeremy Cady.
$5K+ Contributions
Her Health, Her Future PAC - $50,000 from Drury Development Corporation.
American Promise PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $10,000 from Mighty Missouri PAC.
KC Forward Progress - $25,000 from Kansas City Royals Baseball Club.
KC Forward Progress - $10,000 from Swope Health Services.
Freedom Incorporated - $45,000 from Together KC.
Lobbyist Registrations
John Bardgett, Jacqueline Bardgett, Chris Roepe, and Braydon Pemberton added CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, Centered Partners, and The Waverly Group, Inc.
Jacqueline Bardgett added City of Town and Country, City of Creve Coeur, City of Ladue, and City of Ballwin.
Jacqueline Clark added Cigar Association of America Inc, Amrize North America Inc, and Town & Country Strategies LLC.
Hannah Pawelczyk terminated her registration. She had represented Invenergy LLC.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays to Rep. Tricia Byrnes, Dan Seitz, Francis Slay, and Jim Farrell.