Hawley Endorsement?

Kyle Plotkin teased the possibility of a Josh Hawley endorsement in the Missouri Senate race.

Senate’s Bitter Divide

The atmosphere of the Senate is not improving.

Candidate Filing One Month Away…

Four weeks from tomorrow folks will be lined up in the Secretary of State’s office to file for 2022 statewide and state legislative offices…

1. Party identification favors GOP.

2. Momma don’t let your babies grow up to be fishers…

3. From science to society.

4. Interest rates, 30 year chart.

5. Abortion rates, by state.

6. We’re locking up lots of people.

7-9. Our drug overdose numbers are climbing.

10. State tax revenues surge, by state.

11-13. Sports betting (who and how much).

14. Gun money.

Parson Takes Emergency Action on COVID

Although Governor Mike Parson is dead set against declaring another state of emergency on COVID, he did take emergency actions yesterday to help the “strained” hospital staff. Additionally, he called on Missourians to “consider” getting vaccinated.

Politico: Dual Endorsements from Trump?

Politico raises the possibility that former President Donald Trump might endorse more than one US Senate candidate in Missouri.

Exclusive: Senators Call for McKenna’s Removal

Six Republican senators sent a letter to the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission calling for the removal of MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna.

The senators accuse McKenna of executing a “bait-and-switch” with the legislature, “diverting the state’s road and bridge dollars to pay raises and personnel.”

Brian Gelner filed his January quarter. Gelner is a businessman running in Senate 20 to replace Sen. Eric Burlison and he had a huge quarter.

· Gelner raised over $250,000 without a big personal contribution (which it appears he’s capable of making by the way).

Jones Antes Up For Senate Bid

Robert Jones, running for Senate 26, contributed about $80,000 to his campaign over the weekend.

Emergency Clause

The other redistricting debate – besides where the lines will fall – involves the emergency clause.

House Sprints Ahead

The House has been galloping ahead with their priorities at a lightning speed. Yesterday they passed the congressional redistricting map out of committee. They also have held hearings on key priorities: initiative petition reform, charter school funding, and anti-vaccine mandates.

Bill Referrals Raise Senate Tensions

Considering we haven’t even started debating bills it’s remarkable that every day there’s bubbling tension between the Conservative Caucus and Senate leadership. Yesterday Sens. Mike Moon and Bob Onder complained about bill referrals.

MRL Picks New Fights

Missouri Right to Life entered two hot debates yesterday, neither directly related to abortion policies. Still, the organization argues both fights are critical to their mission.

Coming Soon… COVID Off the Charts

I won’t be surprised if this week the COVID hospitalizations are literally “off this chart.” Yesterday according to the state dashboard 3,235 Missourians were hospitalized with COVID smashing the old record and jumping above 3,000 for the first time.

1. Consumption shift.

2. What/Who shrank the labor force?

3. It’s the older folks who have “disappeared.”

4. With lots of them just retiring early.

5. Missing immigrants.

6. Immigrants are entrepreneurs.

7. Lead pipe map.

8. The rise and fall of “Alexa.”

Q2: When thinking about your next United States Congressman, would you rather have someone whose first priority is helping Southwest Missouri, or someone whose first priority is fighting the agenda of the Biden Administration?

Help Southwest Missouri: 38%

Fight the agenda of the Biden Administration: 58%

Not sure: 4%

Senate Tees Up Rules Debate

The first big debate in the Senate will be about process. Two changes to the Senate rules have been proposed and will give senators another chance to list their grievances from past sessions.

Acrimonious Start to Senate’s Session

Normally the opening day rhetoric is all sunshine and optimism. Not so yesterday in the Senate where several Republican senators, led by Sen. Denny Hoskins, took to the floor to air grievances.

Here’s something that boggles my mind… I started MOScout back during the 2007 session. That means – due to term limits – I’ve been in the building longer now than any of the legislators. And I’m not even an old-timer.

Wasson To Report $800K+

Jay Wasson, the last major candidate to announce his bid for the 7th Congressional District to replace Congressman Billy Long, will report raising over $830,000 on his January FEC filing.