Eigel Files Alternative to Bonding

Sen. Bill Eigel filed SJR 27.  It establishes the "Bridge and Road Authorization Trust Fund."  This apparently is the Conservative Caucus’ alternative to Governor Mike Parson’s bonding proposal to fund bridge repair across the state.

Senate Filibuster

Senate Democrats filibustered all night long as it worked through Sen. Ed Emery’s tort reform bill.

Moments ago they resolved their differences, and the filibuster ended with the bill being perfected.   Sen. Scott Sifton was the lead Democratic negotiator.  He thanked Emery, as well as Sen. Tony Leutkemeyer and Floor Leader Caleb Rowden for their efforts to find resolution.

Jami Hits Reed

In a new TV ad (see it here) Sen. Jamilah Nasheed calls crime her “#1 priority.” The ad features the incumbent, Lewis Reed, saying that crime is not his responsibility, making him look ineffectual on a top issue for city voters. The election is one week from today.

And

8-Day COH numbers…

Reed: not filed yet.

Nasheed: $129,718

Megan Green: $13,114

Missouri Opportunity PAC

Friday Missouri Opportunity PAC reported a $250,000 check from Rex Sinquefield.  This is a pro-Eric Schmitt PAC.  I’ve written before about how most serious state senate and statewide candidates have independent PACs established to raise money in large donation amounts that their candidate committees are unable to accept due to contribution limits.

MO Opportunity had $122,834 on-hand as of their January quarter report.   With Sinquefield’s check, it has reported $290K in large contributions this month.

Meet Show Me Integrity

I wrote this week about the formation of two new non-profits: Show Me Integrity Education Fund, a 501c(3) and Show Me Integrity, a 501c(4).

The name on the paperwork is Robert Schaaf.  He is the son of former Sen. Rob Schaaf.

Show Me Integrity appears to be a successor organization to CLEAN Missouri.  See their website here.  Nimrod Chapel’s welcome video says that the organization will be doing the same type of work as CLEAN.

They are holding an event tomorrow in St. Louis.  See it here.

The End of the Honeymoon?

Governor Mike Parson blasted the legislature in a statement to the Post-Dispatch, defending the embattled Director of the Department of Revenue, and dismissing legislators’ concerns as “political grandstanding.” It was Greitens-esque.And seemed to unify the Republicans and Democrats in the House.

The Senate’s Intra-GOP Split

We’re early into the session, and the Senate’s coalition lines can shift depending on issue, but… right now it looks like one particular rift may shape the landscape of the body over the next couple of months: The Conservative Caucus vs The Rebels.

While this is a GOP-on-GOP rumble, it’s still quite different from previous session which have been defined by a battle between Republican leadership and Republican dissidents.

It’s yet to be seen how leadership will handle this split.

Walsh’s Anti-Merger Resolution

Sen. Gina Walsh’s SCR 1 had its hearing in the Senate Rules Committee yesterday.  This resolution proclaims that the General Assembly opposes “any statewide vote or legislative mandate on governmental reorganization regarding the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County and the municipalities.”  A parade of St. Louis County municipal officials testified in favor of the resolution.  St. Louis Regional Chamber opposed the measure.  Pro Tem Dave Schatz, who represents part of St. Louis County, seemed sympathetic saying he’d heard from constituents there who were concerned about the merger proposal.

Rappelling, Parson Style

The press release: Join us as Governor Mike Parson, Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn, DESE Assistant Commissioner Blaine Henningsen, and Missouri FFA leadership proclaim February 16-23, 2019, as National FFA Week in Missouri… Immediately preceding the proclamation ceremony at 11:30 a.m., Governor Parson will be driving a tractor to work in honor of the FFA tradition where students drive their tractors to school during National FFA Week.

Coming soon are a few topics which will reveal a bit more about the character of this Senate.

Sen. Ed Emery’s tort reform bill and Pro Tem Dave Schatz’ resolution to enable the governor’s bonding plan may see floor time this week.

Both could produce some interesting debating coalitions.  Often Republicans with a legal background balk at tort reform legislation which isn’t nuanced enough.  And Parson’s debt-for-bridge-repair might find some opposition from the Senate’s Conservative Caucus.  We’ll see.

Survey conducted February 13 through February 14, 2019. 876 likely 2020 General Election voters participated in the survey. Margin of Error is +/-3.4%.

There is a proposal for Missouri to issue $351 million in debt to pay for the repair of 250 bridges across the state. Do you approve or disapprove of this proposal?

Approve: 71%

Disapprove: 12%

Not sure: 17%

CLEAN Battle: Watch the Money

Yesterday CLEAN Missouri received a $85K infusion from their big out-of-state donor, Action Now.

We’ll see if this becomes a consistent pattern of funding as CLEAN supporters prepare for the coming anti-CLEAN fight in 2020.

Republicans looking to overturn/modify the ballot question believe that they will have financial support this time from uber-donor David Humphreys.  We’ll see….

DOR: Revenues “Stabilizing”

Department of Revenue director Joel Walters told the House’s Government Oversight Committee that state revenues were “stabilizing.”  Tax returns were coming in later than previous years and refunds were lower.  Both those indicators are consistent with what he expects given the upheaval in the tax code.  Walters still thinks that the state will hit its consensus revenue number.

Internet Taxation Subcommittee Created

Speaker Elijah Haahr created a subcommittee on Internet Taxation.  Rep. J. Eggleston will chair the new committee.  Haahr also appointed Reps. Phil Christofanelli and Jeffery Justus.  Minority Leader Crystal Quade hasn’t made her appointment yet.  It will report to Ways and Means (Rep. Chrissy Sommer, chair). 

Developing…

Elad Gross emails… Last night, the Cole County Circuit Court issued a subpoena at my request to require Senator Josh Hawley to answer questions under oath about his involvement in violating Missouri's public records law during his time as the state's Attorney General. The case is also connected to my investigation into dark money's influence on Missouri. A press release explaining the subpoena and background is attached. I have also attached a redacted copy of the subpoena. I redacted only Senator Hawley's home address to protect his privacy. I intend to have Senator Hawley served with the subpoena shortly….

Senate Sunshine Revision

Finally, we have discovered that the best way to focus the attention of the state legislature on a particular are of law is to make it applicable to the legislators themselves.  They’ve suddenly found some vim to “reform” the state’s Sunshine law. 

On Tuesday, Sen. Ed Emery’s SB 162 will receive a hearing in his committee to add some excepts for legislators (but not for other governmental bodies).

House Ethics’ Temporary Member

Yesterday I wrote that “Minority Leader Crystal Quade appointed Rep. Richard Brown ‘as a temporary member of the Committee on Ethics for the sole purpose of considering Case Number 19-001.’”  It’s an intriguing item that has created questions and speculation.  Here’s some additional information to suss out what’s going on…

·         First, the Ethics Committee is considering a complaint against a member of the House. 

·         Second, one can speculate given the Case Number, “19-001,” that this is the first case they’ve considered this year.

Third, one member of the current Ethics Committee is thought to be unable to be unbiased in considering the complaint.And that committee member is a Democrat.

Dogan’s “CLEANer” Passes House

Rep. Shamed Dogan’s bill to apply the CLEAN Missouri reforms to local governments passed the House 103-47. 

Critics are aghast at the provision added by Rep. Nick Schroer to exempt any documents “received or prepared by or on behalf of a member of a public governmental body consisting of advice, opinions and recommendations in connection with the deliberative decision-making process of said body.” 

A Tale of Two Chambers

The House mimicked the Senate yesterday with a day-long debate about Rep. Holly Rehder’s prescription drug monitoring program bill.

House leadership let the debate go on and on.  One insider says “[Speaker Elijah Haahr and Floor Leader Rob Vescovo] showed some real leadership, no strong arming… [they] let the debate flow and still came out with big vote in favor of it.”

Rehder was never ruffled. Hour after hour, she remained diplomatic, but resolute in turning away amendment after amendment.  The bill was perfected by a 110-43 vote. 

Meanwhile

The PDMP proposal in the Senate, carried by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, stalled in Sen. David Sater’s Seniors, Families and Children Committee.

Evans’ Resignation

Mr. Speaker,

I have accepted the opportunity to serve as the Executive Director with the Missouri Republican Party and therefore, I am submitting my resignation effective February 5th at midnight as State Representative of the 99th District.

It has been an honor to serve my constituents of the 99th District and with my colleagues in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Sincerely,

Jean Evans