MOScout Daily Update: Senate 16 GOPers on A5’s Flaws - Higher Ed as Eco Devo - Show Me Promise Money Trail and more…
Quick Friday update…
Show Me Promise
Forget about dark money. It’s hard to even track the “clean” money…
Show Me Promise recently changed its name from Taxpayers in Support of Public Education. Its July report showed a $395,533 contribution from Unite Inspire Lead, an old NEA PAC which was terminated.
On its 8-Day Report, Missouri Gaming PAC and Madison PAC each contributed $20,000 to Show Me Promise.
Since then, it’s made two 24-hour expenditure filings, reporting another $10,000 from Missouri Gaming PAC and showing expenditures in several Senate primaries…
· Senate 4 - $26,000 supporting Gina Mitten and opposing Steve Butz.
· Senate 6 - $26,574 supporting Rudy Veit.
· Senate 10 - $68,597 supporting Mike Deering and opposing Tricia Byrnes.
· Senate 18 - $50,211 supporting Greg Sharpe.
· Senate 20 - $19,430 opposing Curtis Trent.
Senate 16 Candidates Diagnose A5 Ills
The mighty Jason Rosenbaum interviewed the three Senate 16 Republican candidates. They had similar views on why Amendment 5 is in trouble…
· Hannah Kelly: “Amendment Five does not have a clear plan, and I think that’s why the angst is there. I know that that is why I’m voting no.”
· Don Mayhew: “My issue then is the one that’s been expressed by just about everybody. They don’t trust the legislature, and I think for good reason.”
· Bill Hardwick: “A big problem in the wording of Amendment Five is the open-ended nature of what gets taxed.”
A5 Mailer
It’s surprising to see a pro-A5 mailer encouraging turnout in the City of St. Louis – not exactly a hotbed of Republican voters…
Higher Ed as Economic Development
A new paper, College Education and Inequality Across Space, by Sang Min Lee and Bipul Verma, offers an intriguing alternative to the usual state economic-development playbook.
The researchers find that states generally grow their college-educated workforces by educating their own residents, not by recruiting graduates from elsewhere. Their model estimates that every additional dollar of state higher-education spending produces an average of $3.40 in annual wage gains, with those gains exceeding the tax cost within a decade in 49 of 51 states.
For two decades, Missouri Republicans have focused on cutting taxes as an economic development strategy, with the latest push aimed at eventually eliminating the state income tax. The theory is that making Missouri’s cost of doing business cheaper will attract people and jobs.
An alternative long-term strategy would be to make Missourians more productive. That would mean using state revenue to lower the cost of college, increase attainment and strengthen public universities, and grow a skilled workforce from within rather than hoping lower taxes will attract one from somewhere else.
Gubby Appts to SBOE
Governor Mike Kehoe announced two gubernatorial appointments to the State Board of Education.
· Michael McDonald, of Kansas City, was appointed to the State Board of Education. Mr. McDonald is currently a math teacher for the Park Hill School District and has over 20 years of experience in the classroom.
· Vincent Schoemehl Jr., of St. Louis City, was appointed to the State Board of Education. Mr. Schoemehl previously served as Mayor of St. Louis City.
Schmitt on Whiteman Win
U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) on news that the U.S. Air Force will recapitalize the 442d Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base in Johnson County, Missouri: “Since my first days in the Senate, I’ve been fighting for the future of this mission, and last year, I wrote to Secretary Hegseth urging him to recapitalize the 442d at Whiteman Air Force Base and ensure decades of combat and operational experience stay in Missouri while keeping our homeland safe.”
Chamber Rooftop Coming…
Missouri Chamber’s office redo is breaking ground. “Construction will begin in August and conclude in the summer of 2027.” It will include a rooftop event space…
eMailbag on Late Money
I read the Missouri Promise ad to my wife, then asked "Are you with the socialists?" She replied, "If they are with No on 5 I am." Looks like Missouri Promise is doing a fine job promoting membership in the Socialist Party.
Lobbyist Registrations
Michael Frazier added Barry Goldwater Institute for Public Policy Research.
Jay Hahn and Ryan DeBoef added Kalshi Inc.
Eric Wareham added Associated Equipment Distributors; and deleted North American Equipment Dealers Association.
Gamble & Schlemeier deleted Avalara, Inc. c/o MultiState Associates, LLC.
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri Health Plan Association PAC - $75,000 from Centene Corporation.
Missouri House Democrats Action Fund - $15,000 from Centene Corporation.
Senate Democratic Campaign Committee - $15,000 from Centene Corporation.
Senate Democratic Campaign Committee - $20,000 from True North PAC.
Kansas City Regional Association Of Realtors Missouri RPAC - $20,000 from Kansas City REALTORS PAC (Leawood, KS).
Citizens for Jerry Nolte - $10,000 from Jerry Nolte.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Liz Henderson, Samantha Davis, and Rodney Gray.