The Week Ahead…

Grab some popcorn because things could be interesting this week in the Senate.  At last Thursday’s press availability, Floor Leader Caleb Rowden said that education reform would probably be coming up for debate soon.

He may have been referring to Sen. Andrew Koenig’s SB 160 that establishes education saving accounts, or Sen. Bill Eigel’s SB 292 which would expand where charter schools can operate.

February Revenue Numbers

The February state numbers show revenue from individual income tax flat with February 2018.  But the amount that the state expended on refunds dropped 16%.  That together with strong sales tax growth of 10.5% brought the net revenue for the month to a positive 17.9% compared to a year ago.

A lot of eyes are watching that refund number because the anticipation is that the tax cut snafu is depressing the refunds that Missourians will receive.

Schatz’ Anti-CLEAN

Filed yesterday (the last day to file bills) was SJR 29.  Its sponsor is Pro Tem Dave Schatz, signaling that this is potentially THE vehicle for the anti-CLEAN effort.

This version is very simple.  It would swap out the $5 lobbyist gift limit, replacing it with a total ban.  This is the “ballot candy” that will be popular with voters.

And it would re-order the criteria by which the district lines are drawn.  CLEAN prioritized “fairness” and “competitiveness.”  This SJR would put contiguousness and compactness ahead of those characteristics.

Why It Matters

This is likely a “go to the mattresses” issues for Senate Dems.  It’s a filibuster-PQ timebomb.  In other words you want to get your bills passed before this thing goes off…