1. Support for “vaccine passport” varies by partisanship, but also by activity.

2. Minimum wage by state, expressed in local beer price.

3. Working from home = more smoke breaks

4. Healthcare worker COVID deaths by state.

5. Topics in State of the State addresses

6. Voter demographics shift, by generation.

7. Dugout Canoe?

Who Won the Week?

Kate Casas – “She is unrelenting on checking and rechecking her whips.”

ESAs TAFPed

In a major victory for school choice advocates, Rep. Phil Christofanelli’s HB 349 passed the Senate yesterday and was Truly Agreed and Finally Passed. It heads to Governor Mike Parson’s desk.

TAFPed

Yesterday’s Truly Agreed and Finally Passed bills…

· Rep. Bruce DeGroot’s HB 362 dealing with the sunshine law.

· Sen. Bill White’s SB 120, military affairs.

House Approves Crime Bill

The House made its changes (adding maybe 20 amendments??) to Sen. Bill Eigel’s crime bill and sent it back to the Senate, approving it by a vote of 98-50.

Tale of Two Chambers

The House adjourned relatively early after third reading some House bills, while the Senate worked pass midnight slogging through stalls and snags.

Two Weeks Left…

Both chambers will convene a few hours earlier today (2PM instead of the usual 4PM) to get a running start at the two final weeks of legislative session.

1. Party of business

2. Your FB value

3. Healthcare vs Ag

4. Jobs by industry

5. GDP by state

6. Fewer college enrollments

7. New default font?

Remington/MOScout Poll: Current Issues

Q1: A proposal in the state legislature would increase the gas tax by two and a half cents a year for five years until it is increased by a total of twelve and half cents. Missouri residents would be able to claim a refund to offset the new tax. Do you support or oppose this proposal?

Support: 41%

Oppose: 42%

Not sure: 17%

The Final Stretch

As the legislative session winds down, there’s no shortage of big bills left for legislators to work through. In addition to finishing the budget next week some of the big priorities left…

The Latest MedEx Battle

The Senate defeated an amendment to insert Medicaid expansion funding into the state budget.The proposal went down 20-14.Four Republicans joined the ten Democrats.

Greitens Forms PACs

Eric Greitens has formed two new PACs in his quest to become a US Senator.

Those Republican Supermajorities…

Ever try to explain to an average person why the Republican legislative supermajorities can’t just pass their agenda in a rapid-fire sequence?

US Senate Watch

· Tipster: Both Congressmen Billy Long and Jason Smith were in attendance at the Pulaski County Lincoln Day over the weekend. Pulaski County isn’t in either of their congressional districts…

1. Note to staffer

2. Paper ballots is bipartisan

3. COVID grid

4. 24% of Missourians among “the unwilling.”

5. Airplane ticket prices

6. Cars + Alcohol = Bad news.

7. Oscars will hit new ratings low tonight.

Gubby Appt

Governor Mike Parson appointed James Caleb Cunningham as Camden County Prosecuting Attorney. He will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Heather Miller to Associate Circuit Judge in the 26th Judicial Circuit.

Wright Announces House Run

On TwitterKendall Martinez-Wright announced she’s going to run for House 5.

Roeber Expelled

The House voted unanimously 153-0 to expelled Rep. Rick Roeber from the body. Lawmakers agreed with the Ethics Committee report that the allegations of child abuse and sexual assault were credible.

Second Floor Shake-Up

Governor Mike Parson made moves yesterday to reconfigure his top-level advisors.

MONA Moves

Rep. Tom Hannegan’s HB 275 was discharged from the House Committee on Children and Families. It’s a rarely used procedure (House Rule 35) where 55 House members file a petition to move a bill out of committee and onto the House Calendar.