Remington/MOScout Poll: Dems Will get Vaccine

Survey conducted December 16 through December 17, 2020. 1,512 likely 2022 Democratic Primary Election voters participated in the survey.

Q1: When a vaccine for COVID-19 becomes available, will you get vaccinated?

Yes: 82%

No: 8%

Not sure: 10%

More Reaction to Price Scandal

Reaction from folks in the MOScout world are running heavily against the sit-on-your-hands approach that Democratic leadership is taking with the Ethics Committee’s report on Rep. Wiley Price…

Ethics Committee Reports on Price

The House Ethics Committee released its report on Rep. Wiley Price. The report outlines allegations that Price had sex with an intern, sought retribution against a staffer who reported it, obstructed the Ethics Committee’s investigation and committed perjury.

How Will STLians React to Prop D?

Show Me Victories conducted a poll to see how St. Louis voters will approach their first election with approval voting. They found that “voters are thinking strategically.” See the result here.

Circus With the Tent on Fire

The House held its hearing last night on Rep. Justin Hill’s resolution declaring no confidence in the presidential election results. It was, in the words of one building denizen, “a circus with the tent on fire.”

How Many Vaccines? How Fast?

Director Randall Williams told reporters that he expected to have enough supply of vaccines to cover two million Missourians by the end of February.

That’s extraordinary news.

1. R is Rural – and Republican.

2. MO’s 2022 Partisan Weighting.

3. Work-sharing uptick.

4. COVID Qualms.

5. Presidential Pardoning

6. Best Cities for Beer Drinkers

Q1: House Bill 50 would abolish the death penalty and any person sentenced to death would be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Do you support or oppose this bill?

Support: 34%

Oppose: 53%

Not sure: 13%

Hill “Don’t Accept the Results” Resolution

Rep. Justin Hill’s resolution asking that Congress “refuse to accept electoral votes for the office of President of the United States from the states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada” is scheduled for a House hearing Monday at 5PM.

MO GOP Hearts Texas Lawsuit To Overturn Election

Following Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s embrace of the Texas AG’s lawsuit to overturn election results in other states, Missouri Republicans are jumping on the bandwagon.

Gov to Streamline Early Childhood

Word is circulating that Governor Mike Parson is planning to boost the profile of early childhood services by consolidating initiatives from across state government into a new office.

According to initial plans, the yet-to-be-named structure will be located in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Cannon to Liberty

Joelle Cannon will be the new Midwestern director of government relations for Liberty Utilities. A 12-year veteran of Capitol Hill, she has worked for Mike Pence, Tom Coburn, and, most recently, Senator Roy Blunt.

What Will Next Year (As In, Next Month) Look Like

Folks are considering how COVID will shape the political year ahead. I’ve written before about the question of Governor Mike Parson’s inauguration. There still hasn’t been any indication how it will be handled in this time of COVID. Public health officials would surely recommend against an indoor party/ball. But Parson has been reluctant to abandon traditions this year. It fits his general orientation of “learning to live with the virus.” It wouldn’t surprise me to see a traditional inaugural ball – masks optional.

1. More Americans confident in COVID vaccines.

2. But Pfizer vaccine protocol will take about a month.

3. Missouri’s sharp drop in labor force is not unique. It’s happening nationally.

4. Wentzville gets workers from closed GM plant in Ohio.

5. Local sales and use tax collection nears state sales and use tax collection.

6. License plate requirement by state.

7. Which gun laws actually reduce violence.

8. If “did not vote” were an electoral college candidate.

WSJ on Farr

Wall Street Journal published a long and in-depth article about Emerson CEO David Farr’s navigating the COVID crisis. It’s full of lots of color.

· This could all be managed, Mr. Farr thought. Seeing the Chinese government deal with the virus early in the year and reopen without major outbreaks gave him some confidence. “I got into a lot of heated battles around here in St. Louis because I had the opinion that you can live with this virus,” he said.

Targeting SuperPay

Among the pre-filed bills, Rep. Jered Taylor’s HB 93 would put a salary cap on school superintendents. “The total compensation provided to a superintendent under this section shall not exceed three and one-half times the average total compensation provided to all teachers who are certified under section 168.021 and employed full time by the school district.”

How Red is MO Now?

Missouri now a redder state than Kansas? Nate Silver tweets “Kansas (Trump +14.7) now less red than Missouri (Trump +15.4)”

Gov Retreats on COVID Liability

Just weeks after expanding the special session to include COVID liability, Governor Mike Parson did an abrupt U-turn and yanked the topic.

COVID liability will now join a thousand other bills at the start of the new session, subject to the same competition for attention, and subject to the same hostage and horse-trading scenarios.

Driving the Day: Pre-Filing Day

Today legislators will start pre-filing their bills for next month’s session.It’s worth scrolling through the list at the end of the day

Coming: Renewed Push for Transportation Funding

Look for a new effort to increase the state’s transportation funding. Two years ago, voters rejected Proposition D, a gas tax proposal. 46% voted in favor and 53% against.

Still, there’s some optimism that with a longer “education campaign,” voters would be more amenable.