January Revenues

State tax revenues rose again in January though at a more modest pace.

Kauerauf Nomination Dies

Sen. Mike Moon held the Senate floor for hours yesterday to doom Governor Mike Parson’s nomination of Don Kauerauf. Kauerauf had become a lightning rod for Missourians who felt the government’s reaction to COVID was too heavy-handed.

House Calls Short Week

Ryan Nonnemaker, chief of staff to Floor Leader Dean Plocher, posted a revised schedule for the House in light of the incoming winter storm.

· The House will be in session today, but is cancelling the rest of the week.

Federal Filings: What To Watch For

Today is the campaign finance deadline for federal candidates. Here’s what to watch for…

1. Labor force participation (old news).

2. Less immigration (old news).

3. Higher bar for constitutional changes.

4. Sports betting $$$.

5. Police deaths last year.

6. Increased partisanship in SCOTUS nominations.

7. Too many meetings.

Q3: The candidates in the 2022 Republican Primary for U.S. Senate are the Eric Greitens, Vicky Hartzler, Billy Long, Mark McCloskey, Dave Schatz, and Eric Schmitt. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?

Eric Greitens: 28%

Vicky Hartzler: 19%

Billy Long: 7%

Mark McCloskey: 5%

Dave Schatz: 1%

Eric Schmitt: 23%

Undecided: 17%

Parson Appts to STL Regional Sports Authority

Governor Mike Parson sent new appointees today to the Missouri Senate for confirmation.

Senate Grapples with Map

Act One of the Congressional Redistricting show played out yesterday in the Senate.

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.