MOScout Daily Update: Guard Activiated in Fear of Protests - Fitz Plays Tough Ump with Hallsville - Mahacek for House 95 and more…
Quick Friday update…
Fitz Contra School Bonds
KOMU reports on Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick’s decision not to certify a school bond issue election. Read it here.
Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick is defending his decision not to certify Hallsville School District's bond from the April election, stating in a news release that "he cannot and will not turn a blind eye to cases where the very specific requirements laid out in statute have not been met."
The Boone County Clerk's Office failed to publish a notice of a bond election before the election in a newspaper for the affected area in the manner required by state law, Fitzpatrick said. The Boone County clerk published notices two weeks and three weeks before the election. The first publication must occur two weeks prior to the election with the second publication occurring within one week, state law requires.
The publication is included in the Centralia Fireside Guard, the Columbia Missourian, and the Boone County Journal. Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said the statute is a difficult standard to uphold given the newspapers' schedules. "One of the things that's challenging about that is two out of those three are once-a-week papers," Lennon said. "And so, in order to make sure that we are working within the spirit of making sure that voters get adequate notice, we put it in at three weeks and two weeks so that if something were to go wrong, we wouldn't have delinquency in having notice at all."
Fitz’ statement: “While some want me to sweep these errors under the rug, that would not be the right thing to do. As State Auditor, it's my job to call balls and strikes, and I cannot in good faith certify that state laws have been complied with when I know they have not… Some say, myself included, these election notice laws are antiquated and they need to change, and if the General Assembly wants to change state law, I am ready to be part of that solution… I believe Missourians want elected officials who strive to uphold the law the way it's written, rather than those who ignore laws they view as inconvenient…”
Mahacek Eyes O’Donnell Seat
Republican Bob Mahacek will kick-ff his campaign for House 95 later this month. The south St. Louis County was occupied by Michael O’Donnell before he left the legislature to work for the Secretary of State earlier this year.
· Mahacek ran for House 92 in 2022, losing to Democrat Micheal Burton (51%-49%). House 95 should be a safe Republican hold in 2026.
Fitzwater on LA’s PBM Fight
Missouri Pharmacy Association CEO Ron Fitzwater posted on social media, calling attention to Louisiana where their legislature wrestled with a bill to “rein in” Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). (In addition to his role with MORX, Fitzwater is the mayor of Jefferson City, and pops to Sen. Travis Fitzwater.)
From NOLA.com: With just an hour left in the regular session, the Louisiana Senate on Thursday killed a controversial bill that would have barred companies from owning both pharmacy benefits managers and pharmacies. That decision defied Gov. Jeff Landry, who said he would call the legislature back in for a special session to address the PBM issue.
· In Missouri, Prescription Benefits Matter was launched this year to “educate and empower patients, caregivers, employers, and decision makers about prescription benefits.”
Kehoe: Upcoming Protests = State of Emergency
Governor Mike Kehoe issued an executive order activating the Missouri National Guard “as a precautionary measure in reaction to recent instances of civil unrest across the country.”
Executive Order 25-25 declares that a State of Emergency exists in the State of Missouri due to civil unrest and calls on the Adjutant General, or his designee, to forthwith call and order into active service such portions of the National Guard as he deems necessary to aid executive officials of Missouri to protect life and property.
· Texas Governor Greg Abbott also marshalled its National Guard preemptively.
Aune: It’s An Attempt to Intimidate
House Minority Leader Ashley Aune: “Governor Kehoe’s preemptive declaration of a state of emergency as Missourians prepare to protest an increasingly authoritarian presidential administration is a blatant attempt to intimidate and suppress First Amendment rights…”
Oil Spike
Situational awareness: After falling in recent months on forecasts of slower economic growth, last night’s Israeli action spooked the oil markets…
New Committees
· Healthy Missouri was formed. It’s a political action committee. Mollie Swift is its treasurer. See the filing here.
· Missourians for a Single Market was formed. It’s a political action committee. Jeremy Cady is its treasurer. See the filing here.
$5K+ Contributions
Missouri American Water Company Employees Political Action Committee - $15,000 from JH Berra Construction Co. Inc.
MO Independent Bankers Assoc PAC - $5,950 from Peoples Savings Bank.
MO Independent Bankers Assoc PAC - $8,150 from Bank of Old Monroe.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Nicole Galloway, Michelle Pleus, Morgan Mundell, and Joe Smith.