Arthur Gets Opponent

Mickey Younghanz filed to run against Sen. Lauren Arthur in Senate 17. He doesn’t appear to be much of a threat.

· A brief internet search shows his twitter account has 13 followers.

· He’s also known as Mickey “Funk” Younghanz.

Rowden for T21

Floor Leader Caleb Rowden filed SB 1085. This is a big consequential public health bill.

From the bill summary…

• This act raises the age under which the sale of certain tobacco, alternative nicotine, or vapor products to a minor shall be prohibited from 18 years to 21 years.

• This act modifies the definition of "vapor product" to include any device classified by the FDA as an electronic nicotine delivery system.

House Dems Target “Claire Districts”

House Democrats are targeting district won by Claire McCaskill in 2018 as they draw up their 2020 battle plans.

· The thinking is that there are places where the Dem brand is so damaged that even if voters agree with them on the issues, they won’t punch a D. But districts that voted for McCaskill two years ago have not gone “culturally Republican,” and can be flipped.

Senate Goes All Night

Democrats filibustered throughout the night – they’re still on the floor right now – to prevent SB 575 from being perfected. This is Sen. Bill Eigel’s bill which would change the procedure for folks harmed by asbestos getting restitution.

Brunnert to CDI

After nearly a decade and a half at Flotron & McIntosh, Zach Brunnert will be relocating to Minneapolis with Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI) to serve as Director of State Legislative Policy. Brunnert will be representing CDI’s interests in state legislatures throughout the country.

Brunnert joins Kit Crancer at CDI as Kit steps into the role of Vice President of Public Policy and Executive Director the CDI Quality Institute.

Rehder’s PDMP Set for Senate Hearing

Rep. Holly Rehder’s PDMP bill (HB 1693) will get a Senate hearing today.  It will be heard in the Judiciary Committee (1:30PM).  Chairman Tony Luetkemeyer filed a Senate version of a PDMP, so this should be a hospitable environment for the bill. 

Axion + Mouton

Axiom Strategies today announced a strategic partnership with longtime political consultant Paul Mouton, with whom Axiom has collaborated for more than two decades. However, this partnership establishes an official alliance, bringing Mouton’s leadership under the umbrella of the Axiom network.

Uniting MO PAC Staffs Up

The pro-Mike Parson PAC, Uniting Missouri, is hiring! They’re advertising to hire a…

• Communications Director

• Finance & Fundraising Administrator

• Grass Roots Coordinator

Razer Unveils Endorsements

Rep. Greg Razer this morning is unveiling some powerful endorsements that indicate he very well might not have a meaningful opponent in his Senate 7 race. 

Schmitt Re-Election Kick-Off

Attorney General Eric Schmitt will announce his campaign for Missouri Attorney General today with a new video.

· If the video is any indication, Schmitt will be running as a “law and order attorney general.”

Show-Me Disputes MedEx Savings

The free market think tank Show Me Institute has a blog post up disputing the analyses of those claiming that Medicaid expansion will result in cost savings. See it here.

Greitens Runs Ad on FB: “Fully Exonerated”

Eric Greitens seems eager as ever to spend money telling folks what a great guy he is.

KCStar’s Jason Hancock noticed that he’s running Facebook ads touting his total exoneration in the $178K fine he received from the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Greitens Fined

The Missouri Ethics Commission fined former governor Eric Greitens a whopping $178,000.

Greitens issued a statement – widely lampooned on social media – in which he declared he was “fully exonerated.”

PDMP Gets Initial Approval in House

Rep. Holly Rehder stood for hours on the House floor yesterday, explaining defending and debating her signature issue – prescription drug monitoring program.

Driving the Day: MMJ Hearing

Today at 1PM, the House’s Special Committee on Government Oversight will begin their hearings on the medical marijuana licensing process. Director Lyndall Fraker will provide testimony.

MEC’s Medicaid Enrollment Solution

Following revelations articulated by Rep. David Wood that thousands of Missouri kids aren’t receiving healthcare they’re entitled to because of cumbersome government paperwork, Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman’s bill (HB 1960) to cut the red tape may get a little momentum. The bill was referred to the General Laws Committee at the end of January.

Kerrigan to Faleti

Press release: On February 10, the Faleti for Missouri Campaign announced they have hired Conner Kerrigan as their Communications and Operations Manager. He most recently served as Communications Director for Empower Missouri, a statewide advocacy non-profit…

Pretty fascinating read in Sports Illustrated about Texas’ feral hog problem.  Missouri makes a cameo. 

• “In 1982 the USDA killed 86 feral hogs” in Texas, says Mike Bodenchuk, a San Antonio–based wildlife biologist. “Thirty years later we’re killing 30,000. We look at other states—Kansas, Missouri—and say, ‘You guys are where we were 30 years ago. You don’t wanna be where we are today.’ ”

CLEAN Itching For a Fight?

And just like… even before it has passed the Senate, CLEAN Missouri has a website up… www.cleanermissouri.com that claims “if you like gerrymandering, you’ll love SJR 38… map-drawing would return to secretive backrooms.”

O’Laughlin Gets Education Chair

Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin was appointed the Chair of the Senate Education Committee.  She replaces Sen. Gary Romine who was appointed to the Tax Commission.

This was rumored, and to reiterate the general view on it…

·         It’s a positive for the school reformers.

·         O’Laughlin is in favor of chart school expansion, and generally more favorable on their issues.