MOScout Daily Update: House Perfects Innovation Zones - Prediction Markets = Gambling? - Is Dem Brand A Barrier to Dem Wave? and more…
Innovation Zones Perfected
The House perfected HB 3231, a big economic development bill. It would create a new statewide program allowing cities to designate “innovation zones” where a package of tax incentives and regulatory changes could be employed to spur economic activity.
· The biggest concern voiced on the House floor related to the fiscal note – up to $75 million.
What It Means
The tight budget this year and the prospect of future cuts coming hasn’t dampened the legislature’s appetite for big transformative initiatives.
HB 3231 is pitched as giving a boost to St. Louis’ downtown, among other places; it’s a bet that reinvigorated growth there would pay for itself.
Patty Website Launch
Brad Patty, one of six Republicans running in CD-4, launched his website. See it here.
What It Means
These Republicans are spending money on spec right now.
There’s still an active court case to determine the boundaries that are in effect for his race. The Missouri Independent reports that Richard von Glahn, director of People Not Politicians, thinks Judge Brian Stumpe’s latest ruling “foreshadows his decision on which map is in effect…
Phrasing that states the map passed last year would replace the current plan with a new one ‘means the boundaries being proposed are not currently in effect,’ [he] said.”
Eyeing the Unregulated Prediction Markets
Arnold Ventures’ press release yesterday commended “Senators John Curtis (R‑UT) and Adam Schiff (D‑CA) for sponsoring the Prediction Markets are Gambling Act, bipartisan legislation that would reaffirm longstanding congressional intent to prohibit gambling through the commodities markets and make clear that event contracts tied to sporting events or casino-style games should be regulated under state gambling frameworks.”
· Recent polling conducted by the American Institute for Boys and Men and Ipsos shows that Americans regard purchasing event contracts on prediction markets as closer to gambling than investing (61% to 8%).
Why It Matters
When Lester Elder, Director of Missouri Lottery, testified before the House Budget Committee earlier this year he mentioned prediction markets as one of the changes in the Lotto’s competitive landscape: You know, back in 1986, we were the only game in town. Around '94, '95 is when the casinos, came around. So that gave us some competition… So now we've got the casinos. We've got sports betting. We've got the gray machines that are out there, and there's a new thing that's taken the whole nation. It's called prediction markets…
· Rep. Jeff Myers mentioned the developing market when discussing his HB 1947 with ABC news last month. "In regards to the prediction markets, it does appear to be taking on a gambling aspect," Myers told ABC 17 in an email. "If it holds true to form in areas like this, (hemp, slot machines in gas stations) it will grow and we, as law makers, will eventually get around to taking up the issue. My personal opinion, I believe the federal government is the appropriate body to regulate that sector. "
Tough Timing for Fertilizer Bump
From the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Weekly Summary: Winds have been very strong which should help to firm up fields as many look to get fertilizer on hay fields and pastures soon. Thus far planting hasn’t begun but no doubt it isn’t far away. Ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to push fuel and fertilizer prices higher at a very inopportune time.
Dem Brand
Politico has a piece asking if the Democratic brand is too damaged in red states to enable a “Dem wave.” Read it here. It’s an issue which could limit Dem gains this year in Missouri as they try to capitalize on what should be a good political environment.
Donald Trump’s job approval ratings are underwater. It’s a recipe for a sweeping defeat for Republicans in November, except for one problem: the Democratic Party itself remains fairly unpopular. More than half of Americans view Democrats unfavorably, according to polling averages…
· While Republicans are defending more seats this year, nearly all of them are in states Trump carried easily last year. And in many of those states, the Democratic Party brand is close to toxic. The party is viewed as too coastal, too elitist and too out of touch with the working-class, focused more on cultural issues than economic concerns.
Bearcats Coach Profiled
For those following March Madness, the Wall Street Journal reports on the coach behind Iowa’s upset of one-seed Florida the other night. Coach Ben McCollum led Northwest Missouri State to four Division II national titles before making his way to Iowa.
Even when Ben McCollum was a Division II coach, at a tiny school in the corner of Missouri, he was obsessed with hunting for the perfect shot. So with his season on the line on Sunday, McCollum drew up a diagonal full-court sprint that befuddled the Gators’ defense and ended with a wide-open 3-pointer for junior Alvaro Folgueiras. The shot swished in, and it was No. 9 seed Iowa—not heavily favored No. 1 Florida—heading into the Sweet 16.
· McCollum took over the head coaching job at his alma mater, Northwest Missouri State, when he was just 27 years old, and within eight years he had built them into the Division II answer to John Wooden’s UCLA dynasty. McCollum’s teams won four national titles in five seasons. The Bearcats broke records for offensive efficiency. And, at one point, they steamrolled through an entire season undefeated.
Help Wanted
Spire seeks Governmental Affairs Manager in the St. Louis, MO region. The Governmental Affairs Manager is responsible for managing Spire Energy’s relationships with local and state officials, business leaders, and community organizations throughout Missouri. This role works independently to influence policy outcomes, support business objectives, and protects the Company’s image and reputation within the communities it serves. The Manager develops and executes strategies related to local government relations, community engagement, legislation, grassroots advocacy, municipal agreements, regulatory affairs, and issue resolution. This position represents the Company in strategic associations and serves as a key liaison between internal business units and external stakeholders.
eMailbag
The list of gray games locations targeted in court by Hanaway is exclusively convenience stores and gas stations and the like. But in many communities the largest clusters of gray gambling machines are at veterans’ and fraternal/charitable halls like American Legion, AmVets, VFW, Elks, Eagles, etc. Why hasn’t Hanaway brought complaints about those illegal games? The prosecution targets look highly selective so far. Of course, Hanaway doesn’t want to look like she’s picking on veterans…
New Candidate Filing
Senate 18 – Nick Miller (D)
House 11 – Luke Rae (D)
House 42 – Amy Pritchard (D)
House 56 – Mitch Mullvain (D)
House 80 – Jennie Drag (R)
$5K+ Contributions
Stand Up to Stigma PAC - $6,000 from Husch Blackwell Strategies.
Put Missouri First - $6,677 from Republican National Committee (Washington, DC).
Lobbyist Registrations
Tom Dempsey added International Legal Finance Association.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays to Rep. Tonya Rush, Mike Gibbons, Chris Liese, Matt Bain, Tony Wyche, and Kelly Schultz.