MOScout Daily Update: Jones for Richey?

Scooplette: Jones for Richey

Tipster says that former Speaker Tim Jones will be joining Doug Richey's campaign for state senate as policy advisor.

What It Means

This comes after word circulated that consultant Gregg Keller is leading the pro-Richey PAC. It looks like Richey is making moves to solidify himself to run to right of Rep. Kurtis Gregory in that primary.

The Next Big Thing

It's said that in 1994 Jeff Bezos quit his job to start Amazon because he saw the potential in riding the trajectory of growth of internet users.

I thought of this piece of folklore when I happened on a chart recently…

Goldman Sachs is projecting that in 12 years, by 2035, 100% of new car sales in the United States will be electric vehicles.

It seems to me that technology is poised to create (and destroy) millions of jobs across several industries in the next 20 years. The embrace of electric vehicles is just one of a half-dozen big disruptions looming. Technological advances in large language models, renewable energies, and autonomous delivery vehicles all could be transformative.

There have been efforts in the past to chase a big whale of economic development. China Hub for example, or the pursuit of HyperLoop. But most of the state economic development efforts are either small-ball incentives to attract or retain a new factory or headquarters, or it's some version of "cut taxes and they will come."

Maybe instead the legislative leaders should pick one of the big trends that's occurring in the economy; make a plan for Missouri to get in front of the wave, and try to ride it.

Focused incentives could be part of the plan, but also an established regulatory framework, and a bipartisan commitment to put politics aside in rolling out the welcome mat.

Pro-Kelly PAC

According to the Missouri Ethics Commission website, a new PAC, Esther PAC, has been formed to support Rep. Hannah Kelly. See the paperwork here.

· Kelly is term-limited.

Boilmakers President Ousted

Kansas City Star reports that the "longtime president of the Boilermakers union, with international headquarters in Kansas City, Kansas, has been ousted by his own executive council, accused of misappropriating union funds for personal use. Newton B. Jones, who has led the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers since his father retired in 2003, was removed from office following a hearing last week. The action came after the union's executive council found he had violated a section of the Boilermaker's constitution dealing with the misuse of funds."

Fitz Smells Something Rotten in Desloge

Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick announced his office has begun an audit of the City of Desloge Municipal Court.

The State Auditor's Office was contacted through the Whistleblower Hotline in October of 2022. The website submission raised concerns about the former court clerk misappropriating payments for fines within the municipal court. The State Auditor's Office investigated the concerns and found them to be credible. An audit team will now formally launch an audit of the City of Desloge Municipal Court.

· The City of Desloge is represented Sen. Elaine Gannon and Rep. Mike Henderson.

Blunt Joins BPC

Press release: The Bipartisan Policy Center announced former U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and former Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) are joining BPC as Executive Fellows. As veteran legislators, they have demonstrated a commitment to forging relationships on both sides of the aisle on some of America's most pressing issues, looking for common-sense solutions.

Death Penalty Second Thoughts

NYTimes looks at the death penalty sentence of Michael Tisius. Read it here.

· The murders were so brazen, so brutal, they stunned the people of Missouri. Just after midnight on June 22, 2000, Michael Tisius and Tracie Bulington entered a county jail, intent on forcibly freeing an imprisoned friend. Mr. Tisius, 19 years old and carrying a gun, shot and killed two guards during the attempt, then fled…

· Now, with Mr. Tisius’ execution set for Tuesday… six jurors, including two alternates, have said in sworn affidavits included in a clemency petition that they would be supportive or would not object if the governor of Missouri stepped in to commute the sentence to life imprisonment, rather than death….

· They were still convinced of his guilt, the jurors said, and believed he should never be released from prison. But they spoke of new details they learned from Mr. Tisius’ legal team and what they remembered from the trial: the harrowing background of Mr. Tisius’ childhood, which included abuse and neglect; of his mental impairments; and of his good behavior in prison since his conviction.

· In interviews with The New York Times, two jurors said they have been haunted by their experience. One woman who served as an alternate said she has suffered from anxiety, sleeplessness and guilt. If she had been allowed to vote, she said, she would not have chosen the death sentence. Another juror, Jason Smith of Republic, Mo., said that in the 13 years since the sentencing, his views on Mr. Tisius, who is now 42, have shifted.

And

Statement from governor's office: Governor Mike Parson confirmed that the state of Missouri will carry out the sentence of Michael Tisius on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, as ordered by the Supreme Court of Missouri.

eMailbag on Standing Division

The only time I remember doing a standing division was once when Charlie Shields was Floor Leader – because he wanted to see what it was like.

$5K+ Contributions

International Brotherhood of Teamsters Missouri PAC - Federal Committee - $37,411 from IBT DRIVE (Washington DC).

MBA River Heritage Region PAC - $10,000 from Southern Bank.

Missourians for Effective Leadership PAC - $10,000 from Burns and McDonnell International Inc.

Lobbyists Registrations

Jay Hahn and Ryan Deboef added Missouri Soybean Association.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Rep. Tara Peters, Connie Cierpiot, and Ann Brand.