Mission Creep in the GOP?

The series of polls I’ve done to baseline the Republican Senate primaries all show exceptional support for President Donald Trump with Republican primary voters.

It’s interesting because Trump’s politics continue to veer from the conservative principles which used to dominate the Republican Party.

Driving the Day

St. Louis County takes another step as it tries to move past the Stenger days.  It’s special election day.  Voters will fill the vacancies on the County Council.  Up for election are District 1 (Hazel Erby) and District 2 (Sam Page’s old seat).  Democrats Rita Heard Days and Kelli Dunaway are the favorites.

Gossip from HRCC’s Summer Caucus

Tidbits from the House Republican Campaign’s Summer Caucus last weekend in Kansas City….

• As I wrote Saturday, a special session running concurrent with veto session is a real possibility.

• Rumors have the governor appointing some term-limited legislators to state positions between now and the start of session…

More Stenger Scarface Quotes

Post-Dispatch reports on the Feds’ sentencing memo for Steve Stenger.  See it here.  It’s full of crazy, profane quotes.  But honestly this St. Louis County scandal hasn’t produced any quotes as snappy and memorable as our Jeff City brew-ha-has… “Green balloons,” “Munich is a cool place,” “Eric, why you gettin’ all yelly,” “Proper pull-up,” etc….

Nothing here that will enter the lobbyist lexicon, unfortunately.

Shippy to Campaign

Team Parson announced that Steele Shippy was moving from the government side to the campaign side.  Shippy has been serving as communications director in the governor’s office.  He’s now taking the helm as campaign manager for Governor Mike Parson’s re-election effort.

What It Means

·         The first of likely several moves we’ll see in the next couple of months as Parson moves toward a war-footing ahead of next year’s campaign.

·         Look for similar moves from Team Galloway, probably soon after or in conjunction with a mid-August official entry announcement.

Economist: MO Should Expand Medicaid

Springfield News Leader reports that “Missouri's low taxes and diverse manufacturing sector are strong economic assets for the Show-Me State, but that the state lags in educational achievements and that embracing Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act would likely lower health care premiums…