MOScout Daily Update: Aune ‘Can’t Imagine’ Not Filibustering Tax Plan - Pro-Trent Ads - More April Quarters - MEC Sues Finneran and more…
Quick Friday update…
Aune ‘Can’t Imagine’ Not Filibustering Kehoe Plan
At the House Dems press conference yesterday, Minority Leader Ashley Aune was critical of Senate Dems for not filibustering the Kehoe tax plan. “I’m going to be honest. I was surprised that we didn’t see a more robust opposition or serious filibuster effort from the Senate Democrats. I don’t pretend to know what negotiations behind closed doors look like on that side of the building. But one thing I can say is that I can’t imagine a scenario in which I would sit down on a proposal to raise taxes for Missourians. I mean, I just I can’t imagine a scenario where I would ask my caucus to sit down on that. I would fight to the very end. We have been fighting. We’ve been screaming on the side of the building.”
Tax Plan in Senate Primaries
It appears that some folks are already working to make the Kehoe tax plan a key issue in the upcoming Republican Senate primaries.
I wrote on Wednesday about the mail hitting in Senate 6 and Senate 18. Now a few more examples…
· Senate 20: Missouri Promise has an ad “thanking” Sen. Curtis Trent for working on the Kehoe tax plan. I’m told it’s a six-figure buy. See the ad here. Missouri Promise is being funded by the Republican Accountability Project PAC.
· Senate 32: One consultant texts me that Sen. Jill Carter missing the late-night vote will “make supporters on both sides unhappy… [Americans for Prosperity] will not be happy.”
Weak Sport Betting Revenue Hits WorkKeys
At the House Education Committee on Wednesday, Rep. Josh Hurlbert and Perry Goral, DESE chief of governmental relations, spoke about HB 3489. They both noted that low sports betting revenue was impacting the WorkKeys program.
· Hurlbert said that WorkKeys funding “has been kind of tied up with the sports betting, so how much has actually gone out the door is fairly minimal at this point in time.”
· Goral added, “we had anticipated rolling this out again this year to our school districts, but haven't been able to do that because of the sports wagering fund as its current state.”
Upcoming Budget Votes
I wrote on Monday that in past years the Senate has relied on Democratic votes to pass some budget bills.
Last year eight Republican senators (Rick Brattin, Ben Brown, Jill Carter, Mary Elizabeth Coleman, Mike Moon, Joe Nicola, Adam Schnelting, and Nick Schroer) voted No on six of the budget bills.
Two new developments this week create conditions in which there could be some tight votes on the budget next week.
· The Freedom Caucus announced it wants to see a year-over-year decline in spending. That could fuel these fiscal hawks to vote No again on some bills.
· In the Appropriations Committee, Dems signaled they weren’t supportive of some bills - 2 (Education), 10 (DHSS), and 11 (DSS).
More April Quarters
Caucus Campaign Committees
Missouri Senate Campaign Committee (Republicans) raised $60,000; spent $43,190; and has $674,285 on-hand.
Senate Democratic Campaign Committee raised $40,367; spent $71,582; and has $377,810 on-hand.
House Republican Campaign Committee raised $224,463; spent $130,863; and has $1,561,463 on-hand.
Missouri House Democrats Action Fund raised $91,653; spent $84,503; and has $412,008 on-hand.
What It Means
Republicans, the party in power, continue to outraise their Democratic counterparts. But House Dems appear to be punching above their weight, raising over $90K this quarter. Yet they’re still facing a 3-to-1 cash disadvantage to HRCC.
Dems running for Senate battlegrounds
Senate 8
Rep. Keri Ingle raised $51,076; spent $11,088; and has $240,438 on-hand.
· KERI PAC: $66,062 COH.
Senate 30
Rep. Betsy Fogle raised $63,230; spent $5,070; and has $359,033 on-hand.
· Forward PAC: $117,541 COH.
Melanie Stinnett raised $34,028; spent $17,269; and has $423,948 on-hand.
· Heart of SGF: $169,091 COH
What It Means
Fogle outraised Stinnett this quarter, but they’re still in the same cash on-hand ballpark.
St. Louis County Executive – Dem primary
Sen. Brian Williams raised $31,916; spent $23,190; and has $274,519 on-hand.
· B PAC: $224,612 COH.
· STLCO PAC: $460,413 COH.
Jake Zimmerman raised $565,119; spent $26,865; and has $854,154 on-hand.
Sen. Angela Mosley raised $4,900; spent $0; and has $55,212 on-hand.
What It Means
Zimmerman has largely caught up to Williams’ money lead. It remains to be seen how much Mosley’s entry will impact the race.
St. Charles County Executive – Republican primary
Bill Eigel raised $163,969; spent $23,669; and has $475,413 on-hand.
· BILL PAC: $74,621 COH.
Steve Ehlmann raised $177,077; spent $39,294; and $365,521 has on-hand.
· Real Conservatives for St. Charles County PAC: $82,507 COH.
Jason Law raised $44,949; spent $117,503; and has $248,132 on-hand.
· Law and Order PAC: $6,572 COH.
What It Means
No one is breaking out – moneywise – which probably favors the incumbent.
MEC Sues Finneran
Former Democratic attorney general candidate Rich Finneran was sued by the Missouri Ethics Commission for an unpaid fine. See the suit here.
The Missouri Ethics Commission requests that this Court enter judgment against Defendants Rich Finneran and Finneran for Missouri, ordering Defendants to pay the $9,000.00 in late fees assessed by Plaintiff and all costs and expenses of this litigation, and for any other relief as the Court determines is just and proper.
$5K+ Contributions
Best Start for Kids STL - $75,000 from Children's Funding Accelerator (Washington, DC).
Lobbyist Registrations
Ginger Steinmetz added Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association.
Tyler Travers added RES.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays to Gregg Hartley, Tom Rackers, Joe Pierle, Ryan Silvey, Patrick Shami, and Sarah Fenske.