SD8

I guess this new TV ad from Rep. Will Kraus (R-Lee's Summit) attacking Rep. Bryan Pratt (R-Blue Springs) means that he isn't worried about Rep. Gary Dusenberg (R-Blue Springs) in the SD8 primary. 

Note that Kraus and Bill Stouffer are using the same DC media firm, CRAFT | Media / Digital. 

Yesterday afternoon, it was reported that Bryan Pratt was removed from the House Rules Committee by Speaker Ron Richard because Pratt would not commit to supporting the tax incentives bill in the ongoing special sessions. “It is frustrating that because I want to vote against giving Missouri taxpayer dollars to keep large corporations in business, I am no longer allowed to serve on that committee,” Pratt said in a press release.

More from KMBC's Micheal Mahoney: "Speaker Ron Richard continues to rule with an iron hand in the Special Session on the Claycomo Ford plant (see previous post). Jackson County St. Rep and Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt has been yanked off the important rules committee for opposing the bill. Pratt says it happened after he told Speaker Richard he thought the Claycomo measure was a “bail out bill”, and that he and his Eastern Jackson County constituents oppose it."

KMBC's Micheal Mahoney: "Republican St. Rep. Will Kraus of Lee’s Summit says he was 'replaced' on an important committee for refusing to promise to vote for the Claycomo jobs bill. Rep. Kraus says he was asked today by the Economic Development and Jobs Creation Committee Chair Tim Flook to promise to vote for the bill. Kraus says he told Flook he couldn’t do that. Kraus says he wanted to listen to both sides in the committee hearing. Flook told him to go see House Speaker Ron Richard. Kraus says that was where he learned he was being 'replaced' on the committee. A statement for Speaker Ron Richard confirms the move."

Rep. Will Kraus (R-Lee's Summit) is running against Rep. Bryan Pratt (R-Blue Springs) and Rep. Gary Dusenberg (R-Blue Springs) to be the next State Senator from the 8th District (Matt Bartle is term limited).  Pratt played a key role in last week's shenanigans in the House, and has already been pummeled in the press for his absurd rhetoric and cynical leadership. 

Kraus voted for Thursday's ridiculous legislation, but has distanced himself from the House GOP leadership on the issues of ethics. He was one of three Republicans to sign the discharge petition to force the bipartisan ethics reform bill (opposed by Pratt) onto the House Calendar, bypassing the House Rules Committee (on which Pratt sits). 

Friday, he said he was "disappointed" in Thursday's bill, pointing to three critical components of an effective ethics reform bill" ignored by his leadership:

“While I voted for the bill because I think ethics reform is necessary and important, we in the House could have taken the opportunity to address comprehensive ethics reform, and we failed to do so.”

Sources close to Rep. Brian Yates (R-Lee's Summit) report that the four-term legislator is expected to resign his seat in the coming days.  Yates is term-limited, and was previously thought to be in the hunt for the 8th District Senate seat, now held by Sen. Matt Bartle (R-Blue Springs).

With Yates' apparent departure, it's unclear who -- if anyone -- will step up to challenge Rep. Bryan Pratt (R-Blue Springs) for the SD8 seat.   Rep. Gary Dusenberg (R-Blue Springs) and Blue Springs Mayor Carson Ross have been floated as possible primary contenders.  The latest news out of Jackson County is that three-term legislator Rep. Will Kraus (R-Lee's Summit) has begun exploring a bid for the 8th District Senate seat.  If Kraus decides to run, who will Yates and Bartle support?