MOScout Daily Update: 6 Weeks Out, New Ads - Realtors Anti-A5 - Skelton Oppo Hit - J&J Gives Riley $100K and more…
Exclusive: Anti-A5’s New Commercials
Missourians for Fair Taxation, the campaign committee of the Missouri Association of Realtors, is up statewide this morning with its first NO on Amendment 5 TV and radio ads.
· See the TV ad “Musical Chairs” here. Under Amendment 5, the politicians’ hidden tax shift plan, there will be up to 8 losers for every 2 winners. Amendment 5 opens your family to being hurt by new taxes on certain services – doctor visits, child care, even apartment rent. And higher sales taxes that could rise to over 20%. That’s why their Amendment 5 eliminates your constitutional protections, including your right to vote on new taxes. Your odds in their hidden tax shift game are bad. Vote no on Amendment 5.
· Listen to the radio ad “Fat Hog” here. It’s an imaginary conversation with a politician who explains the plan to raise taxes on a bunch of folks while his “big donors” will get a break.
What It Means
Six weeks from Election Day, the Realtors are making good on their promise to fight the plan that would strike the protections they’d inserted into the constitution years ago.
New Pro-A4 Ad
Protect MO Voters is rolling out a new digital ad today in support of passing Amendment 4, the initiative petition changes. See the ad here. It doesn’t mention the increased thresholds, but instead focuses on other aspects of the amendment.
It's no wonder special interests are trying to make Amendment Four disappear, using activist judges to keep voters in the dark. They don't want you to know that Amendment 4 bans foreign interests from interfering in our electoral process, prosecutes anyone who tries to commit election fraud, and mandates voters see the full ballot language, keeps special interests and foreign governments out of Missouri elections. Vote yes on amendment four.
What It Means
It’s a digital ad and it’s unclear how much firepower will actually be behind the ad. Protect MO Voters had $100,000 deposited in its account last year, but there hasn’t been any fundraising so far this year.
First in MOScout: MPS Intro Ad
MPS PAC released its first ad in support of Melissa Price Smith. See it here.
As the leader of the sexual assault and child abuse team, she took down dangerous criminals and brought them to justice. And in 2025, Melissa became the first woman sworn in as St. Louis County prosecuting attorney. Melissa Price Smith, all prosecutor, no politics.
· Price Smith is running for re-election as St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney. She was appointed to the position by Governor Mike Parson after Wesley Bell won his congressional race and vacated the office.
Anti-Ike Oppo
A webpage has been published previewing opposition research on Senate 6 candidate Ike Skelton. See NeverTrumpSkelton.com here. It’s very similar to a site unveiled last week against Senate 18 candidate Dusty Blue, and it’s paid for by the same committee, Let’s Go Brandon PAC. Chris Vas, who has ties to the Lager-Graves-Roe world, is the treasurer.
“Never Trump Skelton” runs through old social media posts by Skelton, as well as his record on Casenet.
While Skelton fought against tax relief for average people, he did not pay his own taxes. Skelton has had three judgments placed against him for back taxes and even had his county commissioner wages garnished. This is only the beginning of Skelton’s money troubles. Skelton has been sued 9 times and had 12 judgments against him for unpaid obligations—including 8 involving one of his three ex-wives.
Follow-Up on Tuners Bar Suit
Nelson Mitten has withdrawn as attorney in the Tuners Bar lawsuit against Attorney General Catherine Hanaway. See the filing here.
J & J Ventures $$$
In the large contributions, J & J Ventures sent $100,000 to Speaker-elect Alex Riley. J & J is advocating to change Missouri laws to legalize their VLTs to enter the market.
· Since the end of session, they’ve made $630,000 in political contributions.
20-Story Data Center to KC?
Kansas City Business Journal reports that “Revitalization Unlimited last week submitted development plans for a 20-story, 140,880-square-foot data center that would demolish the Western Newspaper Union Building at 304 W. 10th St. in the Library District.”
The data center would peak at 384 feet, with different floors housing generators, fuel cells, IT racks, an electrical substation and a rooftop cooling tower. Plans show 4,140 square feet of ground-floor retail, potentially for a coffee shop.
People On The Move
· Emily Thenhaus, formerly with Mayor Cara Spencer’s office, now is a freelance Strategic Consultant “advising civic-sector organizations on program strategy, implementation, and stakeholder engagement.”
· Sarah Felts has joined the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition as Senior Director of Election Protection. Felts was previously at Planned Parenthood Great Rivers.
· Jason Hall resigned as CEO of The Columbus Partnership and will move back to St. Louis. The Columbus Dispatch reports that “he cultivated a culture of ‘intimidation’ and ‘bullying’ among the staff at the region's most powerful business group.”
Lobbyist Registrations
Ryan Benjamin Benoist added Aspen Alpine Alpha Fund LLC.
Gamble & Schlemeier deleted City of Riverside.
David Barklage deleted Ashbritt, Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Leadership PAC (pro-Riley) - $100,000 from J&J Ventures Gaming of Missouri LLC (Effingham, IL).
Missouri Leadership PAC - $50,000 from Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield.
Missouri Leadership PAC - $20,000 from Missouri Hospital Association.
Missouri Leadership PAC - $20,000 from Missouri Optometric Association PAC.
Show Me Values PAC (pro-Carter) - $10,000 from Conservative Leaders of Missouri.
Show Me Values PAC - $10,000 from Missouri Growth PAC.
Show Me Values PAC - $10,000 from Conservative Leadership for Southeast Missouri.
Show Me Liberty PAC (pro-Davidson) - $50,000 from Rex Sinquefield.
MO Republican Attorneys for Civil Justice PAC - $5,600 from Gary Robb.
Safer Families for Missouri - $10,000 from Gary Robb.
We the People Priorities PAC - $50,000 from MOCS Action.
Independent Physicians PAC of Mid MO - $30,000 from Jefferson City Medical Group, PC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Jeremy Dean, Kevin Engler, Rachel Hassani, and Nick King.