MOScout Daily Update: Eyes on Rex - Exemptions Lobbying Bonanza? - Kehoe for Vogel - Senate Budget Day and more…
Kehoe Tax Plan Heads to Voters
The House passed the Senate version of HJR 173/174, sending the Kehoe tax plan to voters.
Nine Republicans joined Dems in opposition: Mazzie Christensen, Lisa Durnell, Keith Elliott, Willard Haley, Steve Jordan, Greg Sharpe, Rudy Veit, Bryant Wolfin, and Dale Wright.
Next
In the hallways, folks were already guessing how much money Rex Sinquefield will spend to bankroll the campaign for passage. Will it be $10 million? $20 million?
· One supporter of the plan smiled as he speculated: “I would guess whatever it takes.”
And
Americans for Prosperity is hosting a “tele-town hall meeting” with Governor Mike Kehoe to pitch his plan. He’ll be joined by resolution sponsor Bishop Davidson, Senate handler Curtis Trent, economist Aaron Hedlund, and former Speaker Tim Jones.
Updating Medical Equipment Exemption
The Senate Economic Development Committee heard HB 1883, which exempts a sales tax on used goods from another consumer or at an auction. It also updates the durable medical goods exemption.
What It Means
I can’t help but think: if the Kehoe plan passes and the legislature tries to create a big, broad sales tax, there will be an ABSOLUTE LOBBYING FRENZY for carve-outs and exemptions.
Driving the Day: Budget To Senate Floor
Appropriations Chair Rusty Black is in the queue to roll out the Senate version of the budget on the floor today.
· Yesterday former Approps Chair Lincoln Hough, in this floor exchange with Sen. Ben Brown, hinted he might have some things to say: “Senator, we’re gonna have a conversation for the majority of tomorrow about the budget for this state for FY27. And there are 16 bills that I filed that have never had hearing. And if you’re gonna stand out here and tell me right now that I’m not allowed to talk about any of the things that I filed…”
Kehoe for Vogel
Governor Mike Kehoe and First Lady Claudia Kehoe will be special guests at Jake Vogel’s fundraiser next month.
Vogel is running in a 6-way Republican primary to succeed term-limited Sen. Mike Bernskoetter.
Senate Debates Sexual Abuse Legislation
Yesterday the Senate debated HB 1664, which would greatly extend the time for childhood sexual abuse victims to sue. Sen. Brad Hudson, the Senate handler, said that the bill hoped to change Missouri’s status as a “sanctuary state for pedophiles.”
The bill was laid over due to resistance tied to broader tort changes: the bill also cuts the statute of limitations for general personal-injury claims from five years to three. Multiple senators expressed a desire for a simple child-sex-abuse bill.
· And there was this admission from Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman about the toll this issue has taken on some of the senators: “As chair of children and families in the House for two years, and then here in this body… I heard the most horrid examples of times and places where people violated the positions of trust that they were put in and harmed our children. Honestly, it was so heavy that I had to request that I no longer serve as chair of that committee… I was getting nightmares.”
Childcare This Year?
With a little less than four weeks left, it’s funny to see some House committees still hold hearings for House bills. Even House bills in Senate committees seem like a long shot right now.
Yesterday the Senate Emerging Issues Committee heard Rep. Brenda Shields’ HB 2409. It’s been passed by the House and died in the Senate for the past three years.
It creates a three-part childcare tax-credit package aimed at expanding childcare capacity. The case for it…
· Shields: “94 of Missouri’s 115 counties are considered childcare deserts in the state.”
· MO Chambers’ Kara Corches: “We did a study with the U.S. Chamber, and found that our state loses out on over $1,350,000,000 annually because of childcare shortages.”
Stadium $$$
Kansas Business Journal looks at where additional state money for the Royal stadium might come from. Read it here.
· The city's legislation suggests Missouri could fund a Royals project at Washington Square Park from more than just the Show-Me Sports Investment Act. The ordinance also authorizes [City Manager Mario] Vasquez to apply for as much as $50 million in state contribution tax credits through the Missouri Development Finance Board. The credits can be issued up to 50% of certain contributions toward public project infrastructure such as roads, bridges and sewers.
· Rounding out Missouri's support for a Royals project could be infrastructure dollars through the Highway and Transportation Commission. It started reviewing a stadium funding plan as of early April, Chair Warren Erdman said during remarks at a recent Downtown Council of Kansas City event.
Kehoe To Sign Bills
Tomorrow, Governor Mike Kehoe will sign four bills into law…
· HB 2061 (the antisemitism bill).
· HB 2423 (licensing on consumer finance businesses).
· HB 2641 (the hemp bill).
· HB 2934 (St. Louis Regional Convention Center merger).
House Ethics
The House Ethics Committee will be meeting Thursday to “discuss Complaint 26-01.”
Burlison on Government Possessing a UFO
Congressman Eric Burlison has made transparency on UFOs one of his signature policy positions. In this clip, he says “There is a craft at a location in a foreign country that is too big to move… They built a building around it. It’s in a foreign country. And it is a U.S. installation. I can't say anything more than that… it would be quite a trip to get there.”
Appeals Panel
The Appellate Judicial Commission sent Governor Mike Kehoe its panel of nominees to fill the vacancy on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District. The three nominees are: Joshua Christensen, Joseph Hensley, and Amy Westermann.
$5K+ Contributions
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $15,000 from McBride & Son Properties, LLC.
Believe in Life and Liberty - BILL PAC (pro-Eigel) - $50,000 from DCM Land.
Eigel for Missouri - $5,001 from Shield PAC.
Missouri Asphalt Pavement Association PAC - $6,000 from Brandon Finn.
AGC of MO PAC - $24,850 from Delong's, Inc.
Andy Trout for St Joseph Council - $7,287 from Andrew Trout.
Her Health, Her Future PAC - $5,205 from Andy Thome.
Lobbyist Registrations
John Bardgett, Jacqueline Bardgett, Chris Roepe, and Braydon Pemberton added Behavioral Health Holdings, LLC.
Henrio Thelemaque and Maddie L’Ecuyer added Community Partnership of Southeast Missouri.
Monica Maciag added McLane Company, Inc.
Angie Schulte added Keefe Group; and deleted Bloom Medicinals.
Jay Reichard deleted Total Court Services.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays to Gary Romine and Dana Rademan Miller.