MOScout Daily Update: Revenues Stay Flat - Utility Deregulation - Hough Has Nothing to Lose - Casting Senators and more…
March Revenues Wilt
March general revenues were -1.66% below March 2025. Obviously, that’s not great, but it’s not terrible either. It’s generally in line with expectations.
· This month, with the monster April 15 date, is the big month to watch.
Utility Deregulation Heard
This week the House General Laws Committee and the Senate Commerce heard bills on breaking up the state’s electrical monopolies. I don’t think either has momentum right now. But it would represent a massive policy shift, and it’s interesting that this line of action is even being presented. The bills are sponsored by Sen. Nick Schroer (SB 1411), and Reps. Don Mayhew (HB 2207) and Tricia Byrnes (HB 2233).
Schroer explained the impetus to his proposal: “For too long, Missourians have lived under a system where they only have one option for electricity, one provider, one rate structure, and very little to say in the matter… That model may have made sense decades ago, but in today's economy, the current monopoly model limits innovation, suppresses competition, and ultimately drives up costs…”
In this framework, the utilities would divest their power plants and own only the delivery of electricity. But they’d also give “equal and open access” to competitors to sell power over their lines. And customers would choose their electricity supplier, not unlike the way folks choose their internet service provider now.
The pushback…
· Rep. Mike Costlow: “In most markets, competition is great. It incentivizes decreasing the total cost, increase in quality. However, there is a very narrow area where there are high economies of scale and a high barrier to entry. That is utilities… it actually increases costs... And that's why we're seeing what we are here with increased rates in these deregulated systems and steady rates within these regulated areas.”
· Kevin Gunn, Evergy vice president and former Missouri Public Service Commission chairman: “The promise of deregulation really hasn't shown up… just look at Illinois… Missouri is in the bottom 10 of price increases over the last five years. Illinois pushing upward, to the top 10. Actually, re-regulation is actually beginning to be part of the trend in the country right now.”
Money Watch
Both St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann and his rival, Bill Eigel, stuffed some last-minute checks into campaign accounts before the quarterly deadline…
· Eigel for Missouri - $100,000 from Believe in Life and Liberty PAC (BILL PAC).
· Eigel for Missouri - $30,000 from Patrick Melson.
· Eigel for Missouri - $25,000 from Gary Schneider.
· Real Conservatives for St. Charles County PAC (pro-Ehlmann) - $50,000 from Kolb Grading.
· Real Conservatives for St. Charles County PAC - $10,000 from John O’Connell.
And
In today’s large contributions, Rex Sinquefield dropped $100,000 into the PAC of Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick.
Hough Is Just Another Word for ‘Nothing Left to Lose’
There are some senators that are rarely heard from on the floor. And others, like Sen. Lincoln Hough, who pop up all the time.
Hough was dismissed from his Appropriations Chairmanship, and removed from all but two committees (most senators serve on four or five committees).
Additionally, if you subtract his shadow budget bills, Hough only filed four bills this session (other senators might have 30 or 40 bills).
What It Means
First, he has time to come to the floor and stir things up. But also, he has very little to lose. No chairmanship to be stripped, no real legislation to be held hostage.
· How much mischief will he cause in these final weeks? We’ll see…
The Money Has to Come from Somewhere
Rep. Rodger Reedy’s HB 3035 was heard yesterday in the Senate Select Committee on Property Taxes and the State Tax Commission. It would change motor vehicle assessments from a market value approach to a straight-line depreciation.
Dan Hutton, the State Tax Commission ombudsman, warned of unintended consequences: that local governments will offset lower taxes in one arena with higher ones elsewhere. “I would love to go on record and say this was good for taxpayers, but actually it is a mixed bag… if the fiscal note is accurate, then that will shift to residential or commercial property. So you have a burden shifting effect here if this were to go into effect.”
PAs in Rural MO
I wrote yesterday about MAPA’s concern of vacant prosecuting attorneys in rural Missouri. A few notes on recent filings…
· In Henry County, one reader says that there are two candidates: “Republican Zac Maggi, a perennial Republican and Democratic candidate who has never won an election and recently had a $1,000,000 malpractice judgment entered against him. And, Fred Bunch, a Democrat who ran against Harold Caskey in a spirited race back in the late 80s/early 90s. Can a Democrat win in Henry County? Given the dynamics, it could be interesting!”
· And in Carroll County, former Rep. Joe Don McGaugh stepped up. He writes that it’s “an opportunity I approach with both humility and a deep sense of responsibility. After thoughtful and heartfelt conversations with my family, I have decided not to move forward with a campaign for Associate Circuit Judge. Public service remains deeply important to me, but so is protecting my family from what can often be a demanding and contentious process. They have already been through a great deal. My commitment to the people of Carroll County has not changed...”
Casting Senators
During Sen. Karla May’s filibuster on Tuesday, Sens. Barbara Washington and Nick Schroer imagined who might play them and various senators in a movie.
· Sen. Barbara Washington – Wanda Sykes, Queen Latifah.
· Sen. Nick Schroer – Danny DeVito, Paul Giamatti.
· Sen. Karla May – Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson.
· Sen. Mike Moon – Sam Elliott.
· Sen. Curtis Trent – Bryan Cranston.
· Sen. Stephen Webber – Gary Sinise.
Help Wanted
Department of Health and Senior Services seeks CYSHCN Director.Provide leadership and guidance to MCH program staff and serve as a liaison to partners and stakeholders related to priorities for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN), family engagement, access, capacity, and impact; Serve as lead/point-of-contact for assigned MCH priorities and work closely with the State Director - Maternal, Child and Family Health to accomplish the ongoing MCH needs assessment processes, MCH State Action Plan and MCH initiatives, especially as they relate to CYSHCN.
$5K+ Contributions
Missourians for a Responsible Budget (pro-Fitz) - $100,000 from Rex Sinquefield.
Citizens for Jerry Nolte - $10,000 from Gerald Nolte.
Her Health, Her Future PAC - $5,205 from Daniel Lane.
Lobbyist Registrations
Scott Bell added Alzheimer's Association.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthday to Wes Sutton.
Schedule
No MOScout this weekend, and I’ll be off (and the legislature too) on Monday.