MOScout Daily Update: Dental Turf War - Schmitt’s Gotcha Gone Wrong - MO AFL-CIO Endorsements and more…
Turf War in the Dental Chair
A lawsuit was filed by the Missouri Dental Hygienists’ Association to stop the state Dental Board from allowing dental assistants to perform work now reserved for licensed hygienists.
The Legislature authorized a temporary pilot program in 2022. The Board is now trying to make it permanent through a rule, and hygienists argue only the Legislature can do that. Dentists say it would ease worker shortages; hygienists say assistants lack the necessary training – and are protecting their turf.
FYI
Missouri Dental Hygienists’ Association is represented by John Bardgett and Associates.
Missouri Dental Association is represented by Gamble & Schlemeier.
Citizens for Missouri Courts Adds $$$
Citizens for Missouri Courts has recorded a few large contributions in the past two weeks.
· $100,000 from Dowd Bennett LLP
· $50,000 from Blitz Bargett & Deutch LC
· $50,000 from The Simon Law Firm, P.C.
It looks to me like the legal community is starting to circle the wagons in case there’s another attempt to undo the Missouri Plan for choosing judges.
There’s regular grumbling from the supermajority Republican legislature when its laws are found unconstitutional. The latest redistricting fracas has only heightened the discontent.
· The last skirmish over the Missouri Plan was in 2012 when voters rejected (76%–24%) giving the governor greater control over the commission nominating appellate judges.
CPS Files Second Charter Suit
Columbia Public Schools has filed another lawsuit in its effort to prevent charter schools from opening in the district.
Its first lawsuit challenged the 2024 law allowing charters in Boone County. The new suit challenges the State Board’s approval of Frontier STEM Academy, arguing required notice, review and voting procedures were not followed. Among the allegations: the board recorded the vote as 7–0 even though one member voted no.
CPS wants the approval overturned, which would prevent Frontier from opening in 2027.
What It Means
When students leave for a charter, the funding follows them. Charter advocates call that parental choice, but public districts retain their fixed costs and see it as a state-created drain. This is why districts will almost always resist charter expansion.
Schmitt’s Face Meets Egg
From the New York Times: Senator Eric Schmitt’s accusation that [Jack] Smith attended an N.B.A. game in Atlanta to secretly meet with prosecutors pursuing [Donald] Trump there — which appeared to immediately fall apart — is overshadowing every other exchange at the hearing on social media. It has the potential to undermine Republican efforts to demolish Smith’s credibility by demonstrating a carelessness with basic facts.
For a lot of Missouri politicos, it wasn’t so much that Schmitt’s “gotcha” was bungled; it was more mourning that “the old Eric” was gone. Who convinced this U.S. Senator who used to recite the Prayer of St. Francis (Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is error, truth) to be an attack dog?
· One veteran lobbyist texted me: [This] is what happens when you try to be someone you aren’t. It’s sad honestly.
House Watch
House 21 – Rep. Will Jobe addressed Amendment 3 in a Facebook post. I generally oppose abortion bans. Through our work in the legal field, my wife and I have witnessed firsthand what happens when politicians start to dictate what is or isn't allowed in areas of medicine that require a substantial level of judgment… Politicians, lawyers, and insurance companies should never come between parents and their doctors when making difficult decisions about a pregnancy.
The MO AFL-CIO general election endorsements are out. See them here. On my House watch list, they generally endorsed Democrats in the battleground districts. But they did not make any endorsement in three of the races I’m following…
· HD‑16: Rep. Chris Brown vs. Dan Kinate
· HD‑96: Rep. Brad Christ vs. Matt Vitale
· HD‑101: Rep. Ben Keathley vs. Paul Lentz
Rhodes to AG’s Office
Press release: Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that Harli Rhodes has joined the Attorney General’s Office to serve as Legislative Director. Harli will manage the legislative priorities of the office and work directly with legislators to advocate for policy that supports Missourians, strengthens the rule of law, and works to combat violent crime.
· Rhodes most recently served as chief of staff to the Senate Majority Floor Leader Tony Luetkemeyer…
Lobbyist Registrations
Derek Coats added Heartland Action and ERDEL, OWINGS, TANZEY & NEWTON, P.C.
Mike Gibbons and Tricia Workman deleted CharacterPlus.
Ashley Lawson deleted Onyx Aesthetics, Flawless Permanent Costmetics, The Vault PMU & Training Company, and Miriam School and Learning Center.
$5K+ Contributions
Vote Yes on Amendment 6 - $90,000 from Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562.
Missouri Right to Life PAC - $10,000 from David Drury.
Missouri Democratic State Committee - $20,000 from Missouri Democracy Project PAC.
Missouri Democratic State Committee - $23,400 from Missouri House Democrats Action Fund.
Citizens For Missouri Courts - $50,000 from The Simon Law Firm, P.C.
Safer Families for Missouri - $10,000 from Strong Law.
Safer Families for Missouri - $15,000 from Brown & Crouppen P.C.
MoCannTrade PAC - $10,000 from US Canna Capital & Management LLC.
MoCannTrade PAC - $15,000 from BeLeaf Medical LLC.
UAW Region 4 Midwest States PAC (MO) - $6,373 from UAW Local 249.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Dave Muntzel and Chris Benjamin.