Next Session Watch: Child Custody Laws

It appears that there may be a push to change child custody laws next session. 

The movement afoot on the grassroots side… National Parents Organization's Missouri Chair Linda Reutzel recently hosted a showing of Erasing Family.

One advocate says, “a simple change in law that starts with the premise that in the case of divorce, parenting should be 50-50 with a rebuttable presumption, would create less acrimony between parents, costs families less, and reduce the burden of what has become a $4 billion a year industry….”

Scism Adds $100K to Campaign

In Senate 3, Kent Scism added $100,000 to his campaign committee, Scism for Senate. 

·         Scism has a successful car dealership and appears able and willing to self-fund.

·         Other Republican names have been mentioned. 

·         This contribution may be timed to dissuade those considering a primary bid.

Pro-Hoffman PAC

One reader notes that there are indications that Dems are serious again about House 96.  One such clue is that a PAC has been set up to help their candidate, Erica Hoffman.  Women for Justice PAC has the same treasurer, Tom Madden, as the pro-Doug Beck PAC, Doug PAC, and Protect Missouri Workers PAC.  I’m told Madden lives in this House district.

Rematch in House 96

Erica Hoffman on Facebook last week… “I am running for MO House of Representatives AGAIN in 2020.”

Hoffman was the Democratic candidate last cycle against incumbent Rep. David Gregory.She elicited excitement from Dems because Gregory’s South St. Louis County suburban district was thought ripe for the flipping.

Sinquefield in Senate 27

Rex Sinquefield sent $50,000 to the pro-Holly Rehder PAC, Holly PAC.  Rehder is engaged in a very competitive Republican primary with Rep. Kathy Swan.  Swan is endorsed by term-limited incumbent Sen. Wayne Wallingford.  Rehder has maintained a fundraising lead on Swan, and this big check from Sinquefield will help increase it.

Moon Takes Animals’ “Manhood”

Maybe this plays well in his Republican primary?  I honestly don’t know.  See it here.

MOGOP Celebrates Steward

Last night in the Frontenac Hotel in St. Louis – site of countless Republican election night parties – the Missouri Republican Party held big fundraiser. Trump’s 2020 campaign press secretary Kaleigh McEnany gave the keynote.  

Merideth: Even His Website…

Rep. Peter Merideth continues to beg Attorney General Eric Schmitt to issue an opinion giving the legislature guidance on the sunshine law.

His latest howl of disbelief… even the AG website says this is his job… “The Attorney General’s Office brings and defends lawsuits on behalf of the State and prepares formal legal opinions requested by State officers, legislators, or county attorneys on issues of law.”

New Galloway Campaign Manager

The latest email fundraising blast from Nicole Galloway has an “introduction” from her new campaign manager…

My name is Chris Sloan and I am Nicole Galloway’s Campaign Manager. I wanted to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about my background…

Most recently I was the Campaign Manager on Steve Sisolak’s race in Nevada — where we elected the first Democrat as Governor in 22 years.

Vince Contra Rex?

On twitter, Former St. Louis City mayor Vince Schoemehl reacts to news that St. Louis County Port Authority is considering commissioning their own study of airport privatization.

Thank God someone is paying attention. Left to current flow of events Rex, Inc. will walk off with the airport.

Foster to AG’s Office

Josh Foster, staffer to Sen. Ed Emery, is headed “across the street.”  Starting Monday he’ll join the Attorney General’s office as Policy Director.

Proposed Summary Statement for MNEA IPs

The secretary of state’s proposed summary statements for the various initiative petitions proposed by the Missouri NEA amount to a deathblow.

In all the versions of the petitions, the summary statements say the IPs would “allow the General Assembly to enact state taxes to fund public schools without voter approval.”

MTIA to Close Shop

Word is that with the impending retirement of its executive director, the Missouri Telecommunications Industry Association is dissolving.  Ric Telhorst, who has led the organization for the past two decades, is retiring at the end of the year.

According to its website (see it there) the nonprofit trade association was “founded as the Missouri Telephone Association in 1913… [as] a forum for discussion and cooperation among all companies on issues affecting Missouri’s telecommunications industry...”

Elad Gross, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, had a fearsomely long report: 102 pages.  It documents a deluge of small donations $5, and $10.  Gross is working the grassroots angle, and working it hard.  It’s much more impressive than the topline numbers: $27,655 raised; $22,925 spent; and $26,172 on-hand.  AG Eric Schmitt, meanwhile, has about $2.3 million on-hand between his candidate committee and PAC.

Early October Quarters

Sen. Lauren Arthur, running for re-election in Senate 17, put up Schuppesque numbers.  She raised $101,513, and now has $282,696 on-hand.  Hitting the $100K mark for a state senate race is very impressive given the contribution limits in place.  And keep in mind….

·         It’s the second quarter in row she’s hit that mark.

·         There’s still no declared Republican opponent.

It Starts Today Raises $186K

It Starts Today Missouri reported raising $185,908 in the last quarter.  This is a Democratic online fundraising entity.  It was founded by Jonathan Zucker who was the first COO and second CEO of ActBlue. 

It Starts Today asks folks to contribute a small amount each month to be distributed among state legislative candidates.

MOScout Poll: Statewides 2020

Survey conducted October 9 through October 10, 2019. 1,451 likely 2020 General Election voters.

Q1: Possible candidates in the 2020 General Election for Governor of Missouri are the Republican Mike Parson and the Democrat Nicole Galloway. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?

Mike Parson: 53%

Nicole Galloway: 41%

Undecided: 6%

Galloway’s Huge Quarter

Auditor Nicole Galloway pre-filed her October quarter, demolishing expectations with $543,150 raised.  This far exceeded Governor Mike Parson’s pre-announced $316K haul.

The pro-Galloway PAC, Keep Government Accountable, had a strong quarter also.  It raised $517,500 in the last three months. However, this trailed what Parson’s PAC, Uniting Missouri, which is said to have raised three times that: $1.5 million.

RTW Off the Table

Tipster says that “there is an effort among the consultant class in Missouri to create Right to Work on the local county level.”  But… “One important key component [is missing]: financial backing.  David Humphreys and others are outright opposed to the concept.”

Parson’s Big #

Post-Dispatch reports that Governor Mike Parson will report some huge numbers next week, showing that his fundraising is going full throttle.  See it here.  “Parson, who likely will face off against Democratic state Auditor Nicole Galloway, raised $316,000 during the most recent fundraising quarter ending Sept. 30. Uniting Missouri, a PAC formed to back him, raised another $1.5 million during the same time period.”