MOScout Daily Update: Senate Works Through Night - Unions Add $600K to PAC - Barnitz in CD-8 - Lucas Contra Arnie and more…
The Senate put in a long night, ending around 2AM. Check those committees in case they’re postponed or cancelled.
Senate’s Long Night
The focus of the evenin /morning was Sen. Nick Schroer’s SB 888, which changed the way juveniles are treated. See the final substitute that was perfected here.
Sen. Karla May led the opposition, and Sen. Barbara Washington negotiated the compromise with Schroer. It included bumping up the age from 17 to 18, making juvenile records only accessible to law enforcement, and keeping conditional release for some offenders.
· The long nights can be painful, but it’s how the Senate works – compromise and making bills better.
Unions Add $600K to PAC
We Are Missouri was the vehicle that organized labor used to fund the successful referendum campaign in 2018. It looks like they’re re-loading…
The question is where will their fire be concentrated?
· The redistricting referendum?
· The changes to the IP process?
· The incomes tax phase out plan?
Barnitz for Congress
Former Sen. Frank Barnitz filed to run yesterday for CD-8 as a Democrat. He was one of the last Democratic state senators to represent a rural area, losing in 2010 to Dan Brown (Senate 16).
CD-8 is represented by Congressman Jason Smith. It’s overwhelmingly Republican.
Fajen Floats ‘Students Bill of Rights’
Yesterday the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee held a hearing on HB 1767. It would create “Missouri Educators and Parental Empowerment and Rights Act.”
Otto Fagan, lobbyist for Missouri NEA, said that they support the bill. But also offered an idea: A Student’s Bill of Rights.
“Should [students] have more opportunity to read whole books? Should students work with pencils and paper? Should they have a right of privacy in the school setting that students had many years ago? Should they have the right to limit screen exposure? Should they have the right to filter dangerous content? Should they have the right to an environment that fosters focus and deep learning? Should they have the right to experiential and social learning?.. Should they have the right to transparent records? And maybe most importantly, should they have the right to be held to high standards?”
Another $40M Hole to Fill
In Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday, Jessica Bax, Director of the Department of Social Services, warned that the One Big Beautiful Bill would be hitting their budget for roughly $40 million next year.
“Prior to HR1 passing and currently today until October 1, the federal government matches a 50-50 reimbursement for us in our operations of the SNAP program… The legislation changed that match… it will only be a 25% share from the federal government… that has a $31,000,000 impact this year… and then when we get to a full year, it’ll be slightly over $40,000,000 general revenue impact to maintain that program.”
Why It Matters
As the legislature looks to cut $1 billion in its core state budget, every bit counts. This is $40 million more they’ll have to find next year.
Lucas Contra Arnie
Arnie Dienoff is a classic gadfly. He runs for multiple offices each cycle. He testifies on probably hundreds of bills each session. He refers to himself as The Public Advocate. And he gets on some people’s nerves…
Trent Times
Sen. Curtis Trent, facing a well-funded opponent in Lori Rook, is taking nothing for granted…
Price Smith Gives Gasinos June 1 Deadline
The Post-Dispatch reports that the “St. Louis County prosecutor on Wednesday ordered gas stations and bars to remove illegal gambling machines or be prosecuted. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Price Smith said in a news release she was giving them until June 1 to comply.”
And
Price Smith is running for re-election. She has a big fundy tonight….
Selling No Taxes
Gregg Keller, on Twitter, posts a billboard hyping the potential change to Missouri’s income tax…
Gomez Takes 10%
Remember Valentina Gomez, who ran a slash-and-burn campaign for secretary of state in 2024? Maybe not, she placed 6th in that 8-way Republican primary. But maybe you do, because her social media posts were OVER-THE-TOP. Anyway, she moved to Texas to run for Congress and…
New Candidate Filings
· CD-8 – Frank Barnitz (D).
$5K+ Contributions
Citizens for Clayton Schools - $10,000 from BSI Constructors, Inc.
We Are Missouri - $600,000 from Missouri and Kansas Laborers' District Council.
Together KC - $25,000 from Country Club Plaza.
Lake of the Ozarks Community Gaming - $50,000 from Signature GLP LLC.
Lobbyist Registrations
Todd Clodfelter added Tag Team Strategies, LLC.
Drew Weber added Blu Onx STL LLC, and LaRiviere Events, and Defiance Ridge Vineyards LLC; and deleted Donna Hafer Inc.
Bradley Pryor deleted South Fifth Street CID, William Nolte, and Sheri J. Steffens.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays to Paul Fitzwater and Shane Roden.