MOScout Daily Update: Revenue Falls Below Projection - Webber Finds Happiness - Chamber Contra Skelton and more…
Fiscal Year Ends Below Target
June state tax revenues fell 9.5% compared with June 2025. See the report here. That was a weak finish to the fiscal year.
In the end, FY 2026 was -2.82% lower than FY 2025, a decline of $379 million.
The final general revenue receipts of $13.05 billion were about $100 million below the FY 2026 consensus revenue estimate.
For FY 2027, the consensus revenue estimate has receipts growing by 3.8%. That’s doable. It’d be basically growing at the rate of inflation. Though, obviously, that didn’t occur during the last twelve months.
Why It Matters
The work of balancing the budget is expected to dominate next legislative session.
Latest A5 Ad Calls Criticism ‘Mule Poop’
The latest Missouri Promise pro-A5 ad is memorable. See it here.
You work hard. As a Missouri mule, I respect that.
But it ain’t fair you pay all those taxes while big corporations pay almost nothing.
They’re lying about Amendment 5, calling it a tax hike. That’s mule poop… Stop working like a mule to give corporations a free ride.
· I’m told that Axiom is handling the pro-A5 ads, with Jeff Roe leading as the campaign’s general consultant.
And Another Argument for A5
Dr. Dennis Ganahl of MO Tax Relief Now says, “Let’s tax the lobbyists. Vote Yes on Amendment 5!’
Webber Finds Happiness
Sen. Stephen Webber and HBS’ Olivia Wilson are engaged!
From Webber’s Facebook: A few years ago, I was standing in line at High Rise Bakery when I saw the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. We looked at each other and she smiled and my heart skipped a beat. As she walked away, I texted a friend that I thought might know her and said "Man, if she's ever single, I have to get a date with this girl."
Miraculously a few months later we were set up on a blind date...
For the last few weeks, we traveled around East Africa together, and on our last day in Tanzania I asked her to be with me forever, and for some reason she said yes…
Senate 6: Chamber Against Skelton
In the non-committee expenditure reports, the Missouri Chamber Political Institute spent $14,759 on direct mail opposing Ike Skelton in Senate 6.
Money Watch
· In Senate 10, PENN Entertainment sent a $10,000 check to Mike Deering. This is on the heels of yesterday’s check to Hannah Kelly (Senate 16), showing the casinos are starting to wade into these primaries.
· In Senate 30, the Carpenters union added $150,000 to Rep. Betsy Fogle’s Forward PAC. That’s considered the most competitive Senate race this November. Fogle faces Rep. Melanie Stinnett.
Anti-A4 Ad
Protect Majority Rule uses paper shredder imagery in its latest arguing that Amendment 4 would “shred” constitutional principles like one person, one vote.
See it here.
These documents ensure Missouri citizens have control. But this August, Amendment 4 would permanently end that.
Letting a single congressional district, just 5% of voters, veto ballot initiatives most Missourians support.
Amendment 4 destroys the majority rule system that's worked for a century.
Shredding one person, one vote, handing over we the people's power to politicians and special interests instead. Protect majority rule.
eMailbag on Hough
Funny Lincoln criticizes VLTs while you list $525k in checks from Rex and $50k from the boats which they keep saying will be the first of many contributions they make.
Gubby Appt
Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced one appointment…
· Blake Sherer, of Parkville, was appointed as Circuit Judge for Platte County in the 6th Judicial Circuit.
Lobbyist Registrations
Michael Sudekum added Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.
Gamble & Schlemeier and Trent Watson deleted Gateway Coalition of Service Providers.
$5K+ Contributions
Forward PAC (pro-Fogle) - $150,000 from Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Missouri-Kansas Area PAC.
Cut the Bull PAC (pro-Deering) - $20,000 from PENN Entertainment Inc (Wyomissing, PA).
Cut the Bull PAC - $7,600 from Missouri Leadership Forum.
Show Me Values PAC (pro-Carter) - $10,000 from MCR PAC.
Rocker P Brand PAC (pro-Pollitt) - $7,500 from SNK Real Property Holdings LLC.
Bootheel Values PAC (pro-Burger) - $10,000 from Rex Sinquefield.
Bootheel Values PAC - $10,000 from Treatment Now PAC.
Another Viceroy PAC - $20,000 from J&J Ventures Gaming of Missouri, LLC (Effingham, IL).
The Rowdy PAC - $20,000 from J & J Ventures Gaming of Missouri LLC (Effingham, IL).
MO Chamber PAC - $25,000 from Jim Walton (Bentonville, AR).
Stop the Ban - $10,000 from Mary Ann Srenco.
Stop the Ban - $25,000 from M Quinn Delane (Oakland, CA).
We Are Missouri - $47,306 from Missouri AFL-CIO.
MBA Ozark Region PAC - $8,180 from Legacy Bank & Trust.
Safer Families for Missouri - $10,000 from Simmons Hanly Conroy (Alton, IL).
MO Republican Attorneys for Civil Justice PAC - $10,000 from Simmons Hanly Conroy (Alton, IL).
Physician Led Anesthesia Care PAC - $10,000 from Ozark Anesthesia Associates Inc.
MO Society of Anesthesiologists PAC - $15,000 from Ozark Anesthesia Associates Inc.
Chris Benjamin for Judge - $10,000 from Chris Benjamin.
Best Start for Kids STL - $19,189 from WEPOWER.
Tarwater for Executive - $10,000 from Twin Lakes Insurance Agency.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Rep. Chanel Mosley, Seth Bundy, Derek Coats, Jake Buxton, Cliff Davis, and TJ McKenna.
Friday: Sara Schuett, Hart Nelson, Doug Mann, and Duane Simpson.
Saturday: Sen. Curtis Trent, Rep. Adrian Plank, Victor Callahan, Brian Millner, and Joe Aull.
Sunday: Jake Zimmerman, Jerry Hunter, and Chris Molendorp.
MOScout Schedule
I’m off for the 4th of July weekend. Back in your inbox on Monday.