MOScout Daily Update: Stinnett Fined - Handicapping A3 - Rural MO Shakes Fist at Trump - Data Center Patchwork and more…
Stinnett Fined
The Missouri Ethics Commission fined Rep. Melanie Stinnett $2,000 for reporting a $200,000 self-funded contribution that was not actually deposited until two months later. Read the consent order here.
What It Means
Depending on how it polls relative to other tested messages, this may show up in TV ads and mailers in the hotly competitive Senate 30 campaign.
Data Center Zoning Bills
· Tonight, the Joplin City Council is scheduled to vote on data center zoning regulations.
· This Friday, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen will vote on BB 49, which creates St. Louis’s first zoning rules specifically for data centers.
· Earlier this year, Kansas City adopted its zoning rules for data centers.
Why It Matters
Missouri regulates how utilities charge large-load customers through SB 4, but in the absence of statewide zoning standards, a patchwork is emerging as cities write their own.
Handicapping A3
Over the weekend, I wrote about the big checks coming into Stop the Ban. That’s the campaign committee working to defeat Amendment 3 which eliminates abortion rights enshrined two years ago.
It’s tempting on the heels of the crushing defeats of Amendment 4 & 5 to see a similar rout happening here. The opposition is outraising the supporters of Amendment 3 by a 4:1 margin so far. And, as noted previously, No campaigns generally need much less to be successful.
But this is a qualitatively different campaign from those.
Amendment 3 has two factors in its favor…
· First, the abortion issue is well understood by the Missouri electorate. Whereas A4 and A5 needed to be explained and were ultimately defined by opponents, a lot of Missourians know where they stand on the issue of reproductive rights.
· Second, A3 has additional ballot candy. Republicans were insistent on adding regulations over healthcare for transgender individuals, a topic which polls much higher than the underlying abortion issue.
School Bus Driver Licensing
KMOV reports that “a Missouri family is suing the state Department of Revenue over school bus driver licensing regulations they say endangered their 6-year-old son before he was hit and killed by his own school bus.”
· Attorney Tyler Thompson, who represents the family, said Damon’s bus driver should never have been licensed to drive a school bus. Thompson said the driver had nine vehicle-related convictions on his record, four of them moving violations.
· Missouri law states officials “shall” not issue a school bus driver’s license to any applicant whose license has been suspended or revoked, or whose driving record shows a history of moving violations.
While Missouri law says the state “shall not,” the Department of Revenue rules put a time limit on how far back those violations matter.
There’s a tension between passing laws and writing regulations. Sometimes conservatives rail against “bureaucrats” becoming lawmakers as they write the regulations that implement statutes. But putting the regulations in statutes is impractical and problematic as well.
Farm Bureau Shakes Fist at Trump
Rural Missouri reacted to President Donald Trump’s announcement that his administration would increase imported beef in an effort to lower grocery prices.
· Missouri Farm Bureau: “[It] unfairly places the blame on American farmers and ranchers. We strongly urge the Administration to reverse this decision and support American cattle producers.”
· Missouri Cattlemens Association: “This decision is absolutely not America First. We demand our members of Congress step up and push back on government intervention in the beef cattle markets.”
· Congressman Mark Alford: “We stand with our Missouri beef producers. Hamburger helper should NOT come from added imports.”
What It Means
I’m not sure there’s any immediate fallout for Missouri politicos over this. It’s unusual to see rural interests breaking with Trump. But without any competitive seats in rural Missouri this cycle, I’m not sure it matters.
HAVA Complaint Process
After losing a federal case over access to Missouri’s election-complaint process, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is expanding that process.
In Kramer v. Hoskins, a federal judge found Missouri’s old 30-day deadline impermissibly obstructed HAVA complaints involving ongoing violations or information discovered later.
The Aug. 17 Missouri Register contains proposed changes to Missouri’s administrative process for complaints alleging violations of Title III of the Help America Vote Act.
These include adding a six-month discovery window for an ongoing violation, and also a provision that would allow the secretary of state to recover costs from complainants whose cases are deemed “frivolous, groundless, or vexatious.”
· One big question: what’s the legal definition of vexatious? I hear folks talk about frivolous filings all the time, but vexatious is a bit different standard to insert.
Help Wanted
Department of Health and Senior Services seeks Deputy Director.The primary responsibility of the Deputy Department Director is to provide support to the Department Director in carrying out the vision, mission, and values of the department by providing strategic leadership and direction for Missouri’s statewide public health programs and initiatives that promote, protect, and improve the health and well-being of all Missourians… Full-Time Salaried: $152,000 - $165,000.
Lobbyist Registrations
Lynne Schlosser deleted Missouri Association of Municipal Utilities.
$5K+ Contributions
Real Action PAC (pro-Christ) - $23,000 from Paul Vogel.
Hancock for St. Louis County - $50,000 from Dennis Hancock.
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $10,000 from John Oconnell.
Access MO - $25,000 from Project 50 PAC MO.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Bob Holden, Dan Stacy, Johnathan Shiflett, and Mary Cottom.