MOScout Daily Update: HB 2 Drama! - Lottery Boycott? - Dueling A3 Committees - Senate Perfects Life Bill - House Loads Up Schroer Bill and more…
Dems Fume Over Education Funds
Democrats were feeling snookered yesterday after finding out that the $118 million “backfilled” to shore up the foundation formula relies on funds that may not materialize.
Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern on the Senate floor last night reiterated how important having “real money” for this education line is. And she recounted how it was clear in the conference committee that $118 million was being committed. “That was the assurance from the senator from Livingston, that we were gonna get to that $118 million. And I think it was the understanding of the members of the conference committee.”
However, after the conference committee, it was uncovered that the whole amount wasn’t guaranteed. Part of the fund swaps are dependent on the lottery hitting certain projections.
· One education lobbyist was more direct, texting me: “Dirk [Deaton] pulled a fast one on the Senate and his caucus. They actually left $50M in nonexistent lottery/gaming revenues in the budget and didn’t fill the hole. So rather than $118M that everyone thought they agreed to, in actuality there’s only a little over $60M in real money there.”
Nurrenbern, on the floor, held out hope that the situation would be corrected: “I just hope that people are true to their word and true to their intent… I really applaud [Senate Appropriations Chair Rusty Black and Senate Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin] saying, you know what? This is the Senate position, and this was the intent of the committee. And so I know a lot of those conversations have been had today, and I think we'll probably continue.”
· If not, we could see fireworks on the Senate floor that could endanger HB 2.
Convenience Stores Boycotting Lottery?
A couple folks sent me this website (molottolockout.com) attempting to organize a boycott of the Missouri Lottery by the gas stations and convenience stores that sell the tickets. The move is explained as a protest against the crack-down on grey machines.
It’s unclear how successful the organizing effort is so far.
· From the website: Missouri retailers are walking away from the state lottery in a coordinated, organic protest. The reason is simple math — and a state government working against the small businesses that stock its shelves and sell its tickets. The state wants to shut down No Chance Games (NCG). Retailers are shutting down the state lottery first.
Senate Perfects Pro-Life Bill
The Senate worked through Sen. Brad Hudson’s SB 999, Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
· It highlighted Hudson’s ability to effectively shepherd a divisive issue through the chamber. “Pro-life bill with no PQ. That’s how you do it.”
· But one hallway denizen wondered if perfecting Senate bills is the best use of the Senate’s time with just days left in session: “It’s too late in session to be taking out measures like this when five or six HBs on the third reading calendar could have passed.”
House Creates Public Safety Omnibus
The House spent hours yesterday loading up SB 1421 with 46 amendments, turning Sen. Nick Schroer’s humble bill concerning drones into a public-safety omnibus.
Often these loaded up “Christmas trees” can collapse under their own weight as folks find some provision they detest so much they’d vote against the bill. But this one survived, just mustering the majority necessary for passage with 83 votes.
The House handler was Rep. Mike Jones.
Among the provisions added
· Placing fiscal responsibility for police lawsuits on St. Louis City.
· Mandatory background checks for adults working or volunteering at overnight youth camps.
· Allowing concealed-carry permit holders to carry on public transit.
· Added crimes for which DNA/biological samples can be collected upon arrest.
· An automatic expungement amendment.
· Changes in Missouri death penalty process to move cases faster after sentencing, so executions could happen sooner.
Dueling Life/Choice PACs
Each morning in the large contributions list it feels like there are political donations being made to Stop the Ban, and Her Health, Her Future PAC. These are the two dueling campaign committees for the Amendment 3 ballot question which would allow the legislature to reinstate abortion restrictions.
· Her Health, Her Future is supporting the Amendment. Its treasurer is First Lady Claudia Kehoe. Its April campaign finance filing showed $147,513 cash on-hand. Since then it’s recorded $433,371 more in large contributions.
· Stop the Ban is opposing the amendment. Its treasurer is Mike Pridmore. Its April campaign finance filing showed a substantial lead on Her Health with $1,095,823 cash on-hand. And since then, it’s recorded another $585,000 in large contributions.
And
The general consensus is that it’s easier to persuade voters to vote No on any proposition than it is to get them to a Yes. That rule of thumb, plus the money advantage, put the Stop the Ban folks in a strong position.
Smith to MEC
Governor Mike Kehoe appointed Clem Smith to the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Mr. Smith previously worked as an aircraft assembly mechanic for Boeing before transitioning to the Phillips 66 Company, where he serves as a refinery operator. He has served in several government and civic leadership roles, including as a state representative for Missouri's 85th District. He currently serves as a director of the Hazelwood School District Board of Education…
Why It Matters
This appointment should give the commission a working quorum again.
Leadlove to AG’s Office
Press release: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced the appointment of Mark B. Leadlove as Deputy Attorney General, which will take effect immediately…
· Leadlove, with over 37 years of litigation experience at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), most recently served as a practice group leader responsible for 130 lawyers in 15 offices across the nation. There, Leadlove specialized in mergers and acquisitions disputes, business license tax and property tax cases, non-competition litigation, financial disputes, and other commercial litigation.
Polk Need Another Parson?
Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick’s latest audit dings the sheriff of Polk County for several oversights. See it here. Former governor Mike Parson served as the Polk County Sheriff from 1993 to 2005.
· The County Commission authorized mid-term salary increases to the Sheriff totaling $41,153, from July 1, 2022, through December 31, 2024, in violation of constitutional provisions.
· Sheriff's office personnel do not maintain a complete and accurate seized property list, do not conduct periodic physical inventories of seized property, have not established procedures to dispose of seized property, and did not maintain disposal forms for all disposed items…
· As noted in three prior audit reports, neither the County Commission nor the Sheriff solicited bids for inmate meals and inmate medical services. In addition, the County Commission did not solicit bids for the four county vehicles purchased in 2023, when required.
Polk County is represented by Sen. Sandy Crawford and Rep. Chris Warwick.
Help Wanted
Missouri Commission of Human Rights seeks Executive Director. The Executive Director serves as the chief administrative officer of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR) and is responsible for implementing MCHR's policies and programs to fulfill the purpose of the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA). The Executive Director is appointed by and reports to the MCHR Commission and oversees approximately 25 team members. See the posting here.
Missouri Technology Corporation seeks Chief of Staff. This hybrid role combines the organizational discipline of an operations manager with the strategic agility of a chief of staff, functioning as a force multiplier for MTC’s leadership team. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver who can move seamlessly between high-level strategic thinking and hands-on operational execution… See the posting here.
$5K+ Contributions
AmplifyMO Actions PAC - $11,923 from Jenny Birge.
Her Health, Her Future PAC - $5,500 from Stephen Covington.
Her Health, Her Future PAC - $10,000 from Donald Schlapprizzi.
Her Health, Her Future PAC - $25,000 from LB Eckelkamp Jr.
Her Health, Her Future PAC - $10,000 from Raymond Wagner Jr.
AGC of MO PAC - $9,700 from Millstone Weber.
POL PAC - $17,500 from J.E. Dunn Construction Company.
The 1821 PAC - $50,000 from Ellevance Health, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH).
Ameren Missouri Political Action Committee - $9,283 from Ameren FEDPAC.
Missouri REALTORS PAC - $6,845 from St. Louis REALTORS.
Missouri REALTORS PAC - $5,100 from Caroleen Ferrell.
Missouri REALTORS PAC - $8,165 from Deborah Mundell.
Protect Majority Rule Missouri - $50,500 from Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action.
Lobbyist Registrations
Bill Gamble, Jack Gamble, and Troy Stremming added Redivus Health.
Doug Stone added HASB DEST LLC.
Rockne Miller deleted Osage Beach Marketplace LLC, and Presidio Environmental LLC.
Olivia Wilson deleted Natera.
Happy Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Danny Busick and Spencer Tuma.