MOScout Daily Update: Eslinger To Exit - SCOMO OKs Map - Senate Advances Healthcare Omnibus - Fitz To Audit DOR Customer Response? and more…
Eslinger To Exit
Karla Eslinger announced she would be stepping down as Commissioner of Education, “effective June 1, 2026.”
After several weeks of thoughtful consideration, I have decided to pursue opportunities that will allow me to spend more time with my family while also exploring new professional endeavors.
The announcement surprised, but didn’t surprise, folks in the capitol. While they didn’t see it coming yesterday, they said it made sense as there seemed to be escalating tension between Eslinger and State Board of Education.
· One observer guessed that she “just got tired” of the new board members who they described as “feeling like they have to do something, but not really knowing much yet.”
What It Means
The guess is that the Board looks to an outsider for Eslinger’s successor, and everyone assumes – given Governor Mike Kehoe’s education philosophy – it will be someone staunchly in the school choice camp.
Senate Advances Healthcare Omnibus
Sen. Mike Bernskoetter brought up HB 2372, a healthcare omnibus that left senators scrambling to identify what exactly was in and not in.
· Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman: Most of the provisions of this bill that haven’t seemed to have been vetted on the floor yet look like they were given to your committee and many of them look like they never had a hearing. And that always sends alarm bells to me…
· Senator Jill Carter: Yeah. If you’ve noticed, I’m in a flurry of activity trying to iron out a lot of the provisions of this bill…
Senators approved several amendments, adding and subtracting provisions. The bill was sent to Fiscal Oversight. Two big issues that stood out…
No prescription benefit manager reform. An exasperated Sen. Doug Beck vowed he was done with the issue: I just want to be clear with everybody in this chamber. There was a deal that was made and there was language that was acceptable to everybody, and then that language got pulled. So… for the next two years, there’s going to be no PBM stuff going through this chamber. I’m tired of talking about the subject. We literally had this ready to go, and the other side backed out… I’m just saying that that is off for the next two years.
A start on “Prior Authorization.” The bill requires collection and publication of data around prior authorization. Insurers must post statistics on their websites including approval rates, denial rates, appeal approvals, expedited approvals/denials, and average/median response times.
Other Senate Action
The Senate passed Rep. Jeff Vernetti’s HB 2057, but not before a bit of a tussle. HB 2057 concerned entertainment districts, but its Senate handler, Sen. David Gregory, sought to add a provision preempting local bans on small packaged alcohol bottles, which folks referred to as “airplane bottles.”
Gregory sold his addition as common sense: “[It] doesn’t quite compute for me. Because there is not an invisible fence. If you drive two blocks this way, you get your airplane bottle.”
But Sen. Barbara Washington went hard against it, saying neighborhoods dealt with crime, litter, and nuisance activity due to the airplane bottles.
· As a result, Gregory pulled it back and the bill passed easily.
Rep. Chris Brown’s HB 2508 was nearly derailed due to a provision extending a fee for the Secretary of State’s Office. Sens. Stephen Webber and Barbara Washington insisted since Secretary Denny Hoskins is deliberately slow-walking the certification process for signature (“not doing his job”) they shouldn’t reward him with the extension.
· Senate handler, Sen. Brad Hudson came back with a new substitute stripping out the fee language to find a path forward.
SCOMO OKs Map
The Missouri Supreme Court moved extremely fast approving the redistricting map with three rulings the very afternoon after oral arguments were heard.
As Missouri Independent’s Rudi Keller summed up: As a result of the decisions, Missouri Republicans have won every argument over the legality of the map and the effect of the referendum petitions.
· I’m surprised the prediction markets didn’t move much, and still gives Congressman Emanuel Cleaver a 36% chance to retain his seat.
More on Voting Rights
Rep. Peggy McGaugh’s HB 1871 was TFAP’d in the House. One provision in that bill restores voting rights to most probationers and parolees, excluding those convicted of serious violent offenses and election-related offenses.
One reader says that this effort was helped indirectly by President Donald Trump…
· First, the president’s own brushes with the law have fostered more Republican skepticism of the justice system and sympathy for (certain) defendants
· Second, the Trump-fueled partisan realignment whereby non-college educated voters (more likely to have past convictions) have flocked to the Republican Party.
Stotts City Audit
Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released an audit of Stotts City, giving them a “fair” rating. See the audit here.
One interesting revelation: The City Collector indicated checks, money orders, and cash are kept in a desk drawer in her home office until deposited.
· Stotts City is represented by Sen. Mike Moon, and Rep. Mitch Boggs.
And
According to the State Auditor’s website, a new audit has been initiated: Department of Revenue – Customer Service…
Help Wanted
Missouri Optometric Association seeks Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing all operational, financial, programmatic, and advocacy functions of MOA. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director executes the strategic priorities established by the Board while maintaining day-to-day authority over staff, vendors, programs, and resources. This is a staff-led, board-governed leadership role that requires strong executive judgment, effective delegation, and a visible statewide presence. The Executive Director is expected to bring energy, professionalism, and strategic focus to advance MOA’s mission and organizational impact. See the posting here.
$5k+ Contributions
KBS PAC - $10,000 from DoorDash Inc. (San Francisco, CA).
We Are Missouri - $350,000 from MSCEW PAC Federal Cmte.
UFCW Active Ballot Club-Missouri Federal Committee - $25,000 from United Food and Commercial Workers Active Ballot Club (Washington, DC).
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $5,001 from William Irwin.
Missouri American Water Company Employees PAC - $15,000 from JH Berra Construction Co. Inc.
Missouri American Water Company Employees PAC - $15,000 from Goodwin Brothers.
Friends for Ed Lewis - $50,000 from Ed Lewis.
Missouri Right to Life PAC - $12,000 from Frederic G Sauer.
Happy Birthdays
Happy birthdays Jamie Johnson, Maura Browning, and Beth Low.