Remington/MOScout Poll: MO Senate Scenarios

Survey conducted March 24 through March 25, 2021. 1,041 likely 2022 Republican Primary voters participated in the survey. Survey weighted to match expected turnout demographics for the 2022 Republican Primary Election. Margin of Error is +/-3% with a 95% level of confidence.

House Budget Rejects MedEx Funding

The House Budget Committee rejected HB 20 by a vote of 20-9 yesterday. It was a party-line vote.

Greitens Grilled

Chatter about the Missouri Senate Republican primary continues to captivate.Yesterday, the hot item was an Eric Greitens interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.Greitens was raked over hot coals for his various scandals.

Schmitt Enters Senate Race

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt officially entered the US Senate race this morning. See Schmitt’s website here.

Greitens Enters Senate Race

Everyone saw it coming, but it’s still news… Former governor Eric Greitens announced he’s running for US Senate.

Kehoe Decides Against Senate Bid

Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe issued a statement that he won’t seek to replace Senator Roy Blunt…

I am humbled to know so many Missourians see an even greater leadership role for me in Missouri… While Claudia and I have been honored by the encouragement and offers of support for me to serve as Missouri’s next US Senator, my true calling remains to work on behalf of Missourians in Missouri as Lieutenant Governor and as a candidate for Governor in 2024.

Parson Outlines Increased Vaccine Eligibility

Governor Mike Parson announced that “Missouri will activate Phase 2 of the state's COVID-19 Vaccination Plan on Monday, March 29, 2021, and Phase 3 on Friday, April 9, 2021.”

The expansion in eligibility comes as the state expects a rapid increase in the number of doses available in the coming weeks.

Gas Tax Faces House Resistance

After Senate Pro Tem Dave Schatz’ herculean effort to pass the gas tax through the Senate before Spring Break, it’s not clear that there’s enough muscle on the House side to push it to the governor’s desk.

Kidd Starts Committee

Jamie Kidd formed a candidate committee to run for House 20 in 2022.

Hartzler Eyes Entry

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler’s team sent word to various media outlets that she’s seriously considering the US Senate race.

Senate Race Captivates

The legislature chugged across the finish line to Spring Break, but talk was mostly about the wide-open US Senate race.

Gas Tax Compromise

The legislature moved several priorities another step farther yesterday.

· In the Senate, Sen. Dave Schatz’ gas tax legislation was perfected. The tax would increase 12.5 cents (phased in) down from the original 15 cents proposed.

All Eyes on Ashcroft

Senator Roy Blunt’s bombshell announcement that he won’t seek re-election continues to dominate the talk of Missouri politicos.

Yesterday brought even more possible Republican candidates to replace him…

Blunt Passes on Re-election

Senator Roy Blunt announced yesterday that he would not seek re-election.

The surprise jolted a wave of Missouri’s most prominent politicians to declare that they were going to talk to their families and prayerfully consider how they could best serve the state.

The Week Ahead

It should be a very full week in the building as the legislature tries to wrap up loose ends before next week’s Spring Break.

1. Changing “metro” definition.

2. Q in JC

3. LGBT by generation.

4. COVID MO death tally.

5. Masks burnings.

6. Provel USA

Vescovo Packs Conservation

Speaker Rob Vescovo employed the powers of his office this week to add 5 Republicans to the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee.

Ahead of Break

It was a relatively slow week in the legislature. Just one more week until Spring Break, traditionally considered the halfway point in the session.

We’ll see if the Senate pushes through some the bigger priorities teed up on the informal perfection calendar: the education reform bill, and bill to rein in local health boards.

Moon Takes Over Wash U Tax Bill

Sen. Mike Moon’s SB 451 would tax Washington University’s endowment and offset that tax revenue with cut in the state’s income tax.

Reed Misses Runoff

City Treasurer Tishaura Jones garnered the most votes in yesterday’s St. Louis City mayoral primary.She won 25,374 votes, followed by Alderwoman Cara Spencer’s 20,649 votes.Board President Lewis Reed came in third place with 17,162 votes and Andrew Jones ran fourth with just under 7,000 votes.