IPs Filed For Fuel Tax
Seven initiative petitions dealing funding for transportation were filed. See them here. Some are straight fuel taxes, but a couple of them are quite clever. They propose a new sales tax for law enforcement, not roads. That is, they would designate the new money for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. In 2017, the MSHP spent about $240 million from MoDOT’s budget. But freeing that up, there would be more money available for roads. And presumably a law enforcement tax polls better than a roads tax – which has been unsuccessful in the past.
The petitions were filed by Terry Briggs, executive director of SITE Improvement Association.
Originally in January 31 MOScout.
CMC for MMJ
According to Weed News, US Senator Claire McCaskill has come out in favor of medical marijuana. See it here. “I support medical marijuana in Missouri. I think it’s the right way to go.”
Originally in January 31 MOScout.
Bits
Treasurer Eric Schmitt is “St. Louis University's newest adjunct faculty member. He will come to campus in a few weeks to teach a special topics class in the philosophy department called ‘21st Century American Civics.’” See it here.
Secretary of State John Ashcroft joined an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the Pennsylvania gerrymandering ruling because it “will cause chaos in their states.” See it here.
The Twenty-First Circuit Judicial Commission announced the panel of three nominees to be submitted to Governor Eric Greitens to fill the circuit judge vacancy in St. Louis County created by the retirement of Judge Carolyn Whittington. Those nominated by the commission are: Judge Joseph L. Green, Peter W. Gullborg, and Judge Mary Elizabeth Ott.
Originally in January 30 MOScout.
New House Subcommittees
Speaker Todd Richardson created several new subcommittees: The Subcommittee on Agriculture Education will report to the Committee on Agriculture Policy, and be chaired by Rep. Hannah Kelly; The Subcommittee on Creation and Appointments will report to the Committee on Insurance Policy, and be chaired by Rep. John Wiemann; The Subcommittee on Scope of Practice will report to the Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing, and be chaired by Rep. Chrissy Sommer; The Subcommittee on Second Amendment Preservation will report to the Committee on General Laws and be chaired by Rep. Chuck Basye; The Subcommittee on Tax Credit Review will report to the Special Committee on Government Oversight, and be chaired by Rep. Jered Taylor; and the Subcommittee on Mandatory Minimums. It’s being chaired by Rep. Tom Hannegan, and will report to the Committee on Crime Prevention and Public Safety.
Originally in February 2 MOScout.
White Houser Johnny DeStefano
Washington Post reports that KC native Johnny DeStefano (brother-in-law to Centene lobbyist Shawn Furey) is thistight with Trump’s chief of staff John Kelly. See it here.
Kelly’s views on personnel and policy are shared only with a group of people he trusts, including Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen; Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, also a former general. At the White House, he confides in White House aide Johnny DeStefano, deputy Joe Hagin and Rob Porter, the president’s staff secretary.
Originally in January 26 MOScout.