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This week...

Education Reform Bill Narrowly Passes House, Sent to the Governor

Yesterday, the House narrowly voted to send , a large-scale K-12 education reform bill which encompasses several provisions, including allowing charter schools in Boone County, statewide expansion of an education voucher program, and calls for increased funding for teacher salaries and K-12 public schools. The bill has been feverishly lobbied by education reform and public school education interests and received the exact number of votes (82) required for passage. The bill is now headed to the Governor’s desk for his final consideration. .

Controversial Landfill Issue Nears Resolution

prohibiting the creation of a Kansas City landfill passed out of the Senate Wednesday evening. The bill would mandate developers first obtain approval from cities within one mile of a proposed landfill before moving forward, an increased radius from the current ½ mile requirement. The bill needs one final vote in the House before it can be sent to the Governor.

The City of Raymore has been fighting the proposed landfill for several months. As part of the “deal”, earlier this week, the City Council approved a package of financial relief paid to the landfill’s developers of more than $3 million to abandon their plans to move forward on the landfill development. .

FRA Continues to Influence Legislative Movement

Pressure continues to mount in the Senate to take up and pass , a bill to reauthorize the collection of the Federal Reimbursement Allowance (FRA) tax which helps fund hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies, and ambulance services. The Senate Freedom Caucus continues to demand the House first take up , which would prohibit state Medicaid dollars from going to Planned Parenthood, before they will allow the FRA to pass. Meanwhile, Senate Appropriations Chairman Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) will not convene the Senate Appropriations Committee until the Senate passes the FRA. 

Just four weeks remain in the legislative session, and only three to pass the FY25 state operating budget before the constitutional deadline of May 10.

Sen. Greg Razer (D-Kansas City) Appointed to State Tax Commission

State Senator Greg Razer, a Democrat from Kansas City, has been slated to be appointed to the Missouri State Tax Commission. His appointment still requires confirmation by the full Senate. Razer has endorsed local businessman Pat Contreras to run for his seat. Meanwhile, Representative Patty Lewis (D) announced she will also run for the now vacated seat that is up in the 2024 election cycle. .

Q1 Fundraising Numbers Released

Governor

• Jay Ashcroft (R) raised $158,001; spent $115,981; and has $656,006 on-hand. Committee for Liberty PAC: $1,908,777 COH
• Bill Eigel (R) raised $232,514; spent $208,675; and has $727,019 on-hand. BILL PAC: $1,001,608 COH
• Mike Kehoe (R) raised $556,538; spent $273,595; and has $1,745,279 on-hand with $75,507 in debt. American Dream PAC: $4,521,791 COH
• Crystal Quade (D) raised $243,777; spent $192,738; and has $298,644 on-hand. Crystal PAC: $92,271 COH
• Mike Hamra (D) raised $511,974; spent $270,315; and has $912,654 on-hand, with $524,809 in debt. Together Missouri PAC: $171,925 COH

Lieutenant Governor

• Lincoln Hough (R) raised $22,875; spent $50,766; and has $377,679 on-hand. Lincoln PAC: $1,215,119 COH
• Holly Thompson Rehder (R) raised $62,580; spent $26,822; and has $302,928 on-hand. Southern Drawl PAC: $264,595 COH
• Tim Baker raised $200; spent $3,232; and has $5,645 on-hand.
• Paul Berry hasn’t filed his April report yet
• Dave Wasinger raised $237,428; spent $14,874; and has $222,553 on-hand, and $103,695 in debt.
• Matthew Porter started after deadline.
• Richard Brown (D) raised $1,526; spent $626; and has $6,159 on-hand with $6,185 in debt.

Attorney General

• Incumbent Andrew Bailey (R) raised $135,162; spent $101,950; and has $564,025 on-hand with $19,553in debt. Liberty and Justice PAC: $ 1,986,822 COH
• Will Scharf (R) raised $38,588; spent $61,181; and has $824,117 on-hand. Club for Growth Action: $2,159,176 COH
• Elad Gross (D) raised $33,486; spent $40,704; and has $52,288 on-hand, with $3,471 in debt.

Secretary of State

• Denny Hoskins (R) raised $13,739; spent $29,891; and has $100,464 on-hand. Old Drum Conservative PAC: $154,502 COH
• Shane Schoeller (R) raised $24,060; spent $49,942; and has $21,102 on-hand. Safe Elections PAC: $12,041 COH
• Adam Schwadron (R) raised $6,500; spent $16,697; and has $82,705 on-hand with $75,000 indebt. Missouri Values PAC: $113,980 COH
• Valentina Gomez (R) raised $5,150; spent $2,495; and has $4,244 on-hand.
• Dean Plocher (R) raised $7,500; spent $19,943; and $528,314 on-hand. Missouri United PAC: $810,651 COH.
• Jamie Corley (R) hasn’t formed a committee yet.
• Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R) raised $3,104; spent $7,256; and has $23,008 on-hand. Conservative Solutions for Missouri PAC: $77,290 COH
• Mike Carter (R) filed a Limited Activity report.
• Barbara Phifer (D) raised $8,935; spent $7,285; and has $8,998 on-hand.

Treasurer

• Incumbent Vivek Malek (R) raised $133,158; spent $66,632; and has $1,299,681 on-hand with $800,317 in debt. American Promise PAC: $1,233,138 COH
• Cody Smith (R) raised $13,390; spent $13,609; and has $330,888 on-hand. Ozark Gateway Leadership PAC: $174,016 COH 
• Andrew Koenig (R) raised $5,888; spent $2,537; and has $114,065 on-hand. Freedom’s Promise PAC: $67,065 COH
• Lori Rook (R) raised $920; spent $10,892; and has $506,978 on-hand, with $500,000 in debt.
• Tina Goodrick (R) raised $960; spent $515; and has $445 on-hand.
• Karan Pujji (R) and Mark Osmack (D) have not formed committees yet.

Data courtesy of Missouri Scout.

House Ethics Committee Releases Report of Investigation into House Speaker

After working behind closed doors for the last several months, the House Ethics Committee released the of their investigation of House Speaker Dean Plocher (R-Des Peres) relating to a series of events involving the reimbursement of expenditures, staff departures and conversations around a software vendor. .