Missouri Freedom Caucus Rips Apart Over Stadium Funding Bill

Strategic Insights -

Missouri state Sen. Rick Brattin stepped down as chairman of the Missouri Freedom Caucus after voting in favor of $1.5 billion in tax incentives to finance new or renovated stadiums for the Chiefs and Royals. The group had pledged to oppose the funding scheme, calling it a "handout to billionaire sports team owners." However, Brattin and another Freedom Caucus member, state Sen. Brad Hudson, voted in support of the plan after a provision was added making changes to local property tax bills. The move has sparked a rift within the group, with some members accusing Brattin of betrayal and others arguing he was duped by the inclusion of language allowing the stadium funding to survive even if a court tosses out the property tax provisions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Missouri Freedom Caucus, a group of renegade GOP state lawmakers, appears to be ripping apart over a plan to fund stadiums for the Chiefs and Royals.
  • State Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, stepped down as chairman of the Missouri Freedom Caucus after voting in favor of $1.5 billion in tax incentives to finance new or renovated stadiums.
  • Brattin and state Sen. Brad Hudson, a Cape Fair Republican who is also a Freedom Caucus member, voted in support of the plan after a provision was added making changes to local property tax bills.
  • The provision allows the stadium funding to survive even if a court tosses out the property tax provisions, sparking accusations of betrayal within the group.
  • The move has sparked a rift within the group, with some members accusing Brattin of betrayal and others arguing he was duped by the inclusion of the language.
  • State Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance, was announced as the new chairman of the Missouri Freedom Caucus, but did not mention the rifts within the group.
  • The Freedom Caucus' future is uncertain, with some members calling for the group to disband due to its loss of credibility and leadership.
  • The bill to fund the stadiums includes a provision to increase the size of a disaster relief package for St. Louis from $25 million to $100 million, in an attempt to win over Democrats.
  • The bill also includes a provision to put a hard cap on increases in property tax bills in most counties, with exceptions for newly voted levies and the additional value from improvements.
  • The bill was approved by the Senate on a 19-13 vote, with 12 Republicans and 7 Democrats voting in favor, and 3 Democrats and 10 Republicans voting against.

Statistics:

  • $1.5 billion: the estimated cost of the stadium funding bill over 30 years.
  • 19-13: the vote count in the Senate to approve the stadium funding bill.
  • 12 Republicans and 7 Democrats: the number of lawmakers who voted in favor of the bill.
  • 3 Democrats and 10 Republicans: the number of lawmakers who voted against the bill.
  • 75 counties: the number of counties where tax bills will not increase more than 5% per year from a base amount, or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.
  • 22 counties: the number of counties where no increase in the basic bill will be allowed.
  • $25 million to $100 million: the increase in the size of the disaster relief package for St. Louis.

Sources:

  • "Missouri governor allows more spending, property tax cap as he pursues stadium deal" -- Missouri Independent
  • x.com/MOFreedomCaucus/status/1931125680311238946
  • announcement of State Sen. Nick Schroer's appointment as chairman
  • bill to fund the stadiums in the Senate
  • x.com/BillEigel/status/1930982954425004524
  • Missouri Independent article "Missouri governor allows more spending, property tax cap as he pursues stadium deal"