MOScout Weekender: Stinnett Gets SPOA - Cierpiot Hit With Shingles - Hallway on Trent-Schroer - WWTW and more…
Cierpiot Battles Shingles
On social media, Sen. Mike Cierpiot shares his struggle with shingles.
Around the 1st of April I started noticing slight numbness and tingling in my right arm…When I woke up on Friday the 3rd, Connie saw my right arm had broke out with a rash… Doing a little browsing we soon realized I had a case of shingles…
Being Easter weekend, I didn’t return to Jeff City until Tuesday. Only reason I was going was I had to handle SB 838 on the Senate Floor. I didn’t feel great Tuesday or Wednesday but got the bill perfected. Wednesday afternoon I felt myself worsening. I returned home. I went to bed around 6 and overnight I continued to decline… In the afternoon she noticed my speaking was not making sense. She spoke to my brother and a good friend and they quickly decided I needed to go to the emergency room…
They started IV drips, thinking I had encephalitis… it was verified I indeed was suffering from a viral case of encephalitis. There was also concern that I may have suffered a stroke so an MRI was run. It confirmed NO stroke has occurred.
Admitted, I woke Friday with near constant IVs going. I could answer the year question finally (it amazed me how I was unable to figure what year it was) and knew the IVs were working.
I stayed in St. Luke’s until Monday. On Monday they were releasing me but with a more long lasting IV process, a PICC line… The doctors say everything will be removed by Friday the 24th and I can return to the Senate on the 27th.
Stinnett Gets FOP
The Springfield Police Officers Association announced that they’ve endorsed Rep. Melanie Stinnett in Senate 30. This is the top competitive Senate race this fall as Dems aim to add the district to their column.
Melanie has supported investments in law enforcement training, public safety infrastructure, and community-based safety initiatives. She has consistently opposed efforts to defund police and has stood firmly with officers who put their lives on the line every day.
· One MOScouter: A strong public safety/law-and-order message has always been how the GOP has been successful in the competitive swing seats so this is a big get for Stinnett.
MOScout’s Hallway Index: Next Senate Floor Leader
I asked lobbyists, “Who will be the next Senate Floor Leader?” 17 replies…
RESULTS
1. Nick Schroer… 29.4%
2. Curtis Trent… 52.9%
3. Someone else… 17.6%
Sample of Comments
· Is Trent even going to be re-elected?
· Both candidates have a relatively small core group of obvious votes that would seem to follow them which leaves plenty of room for another candidate
· Trent passed the governor’s income tax elimination plan through the Senate. This was a bill that he sponsored and handled. He led the negotiations all day and into the early morning hours of Thursday. This is the most meaningful piece of tax legislation Republicans have passed, possibly ever, in Missouri. I think the caucus has a clear choice.
· Schroer takes away from Trent’s support, so without them making a deal it will be someone else. Brad Hudson or Kurtis Gregory?
· Primaries will determine a lot.
Who Won the Week?
School choicers – A big week with two ‘wins.’ The first charter school was approved for Boone County and a huge court ruling turning back a challenge to the state voucher program.
The Senate – Negotiators (see below) on the Kehoe tax plan showed that the Senate can work again on big issues. It’s a step away from the disastrous end of last session and a step towards a New Senate that may look more like the Old Senate.
Curtis Trent – Trent was selected to carry the income tax cut because of his unique mix of substance, steadiness, and savvy.
Stephen Webber – The Senate Dems leader-in-waiting shows he can land the plane on a big legislative deal, working out an arrangement to protect blue-area school funding from potential adverse impacts.
Child care advocates – Senate Appropriations Committee restored the proposed $51 million cut to child care funding critical for children in foster care and children with disabilities.
Find a downloadable version here.
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Kehoe announced the appointment of Patricia Marie “Tricia” Scaglia as Associate Circuit Judge for Jackson County in the 16th Judicial Circuit.
$5K+ Contributions
Together KC - $25,000 from Oracle America, Inc. (Redwood Shores, CA).
Stop the Ban - $10,000 from Sue McCollum.
Her Health, Her Future PAC - $15,000 from Daniel Wagner.
Her Health, Her Future PAC - $10,000 from Liz Basler.
Best Start for Kids STL - $28,500 from Children's Funding Accelerator (Washington, DC).
Conservative Justice for Missouri PAC (pro-Hanaway) - $10,000 from Xcaliber International Ltd LLC (Pryor, OK).
We Are Missouri - $16,840 from Missouri AFL-CIO.
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $8,000 from Matthew Mills.
Respect MO Voters Campaign - $20,000 from Cynthia McClain.
Hagedorn for Missouri - $27,000 from Ryan Hagedorn.
Hagedorn for Missouri - $14,000 from Ryan Hagedorn.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Gregg FX Daly, Charlie Hinderliter, Elizabeth Weber, Nate Walker, Amanda Good, Mike Colona, and Aaron Hedlund.
Sunday: Bill Stouffer, Sylvester Taylor, and Jean Peters Baker.