The Missouri Times | August 24, 2020 by Missouri Times

The Missouri Times

AUGUST 24, 2020

WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS ADVISOR PRAISES MISSOURI’S TESTING STRATEGY Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Missouri’s “box in” testing strategy during COVID-19 outbreaks received praise from Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House Coronavirus Task Force response coordinator, while visiting the Missouri Capitol. “This ‘box in’ strategy that is being used here in Missouri I think really is an important example of how to protect vulnerable individuals. When you see what Missouri has done with the longterm care facilities, when you see what they’ve done with the VA care facilities, it’s really an important, critical message,” Birx told reporters. The “box in” approach involves testing all staff and residents specifically in longterm and other congregate living facilities to keep the virus contained and prevent further spread. It focuses on contact tracing and quarantine as well. The method was first introduced to Missouri officials by Birx during a conference call in early April and officials “aggressively” used the strategy throughout Missouri, according to the Governor’s Office. Nearly 470 longterm care facilities in Missouri have reported at least one positive case of COVID-19 among staff, residents, or both, according to the Governor’s Office. The state has used “box in” testing on nearly 400 congregate living facilities, administering more than 115,000 tests through this method. Birx met with Gov. Mike Parson, Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Randall Williams, and other state officials Tuesday as part of her 20 state tour in the U.S. Birx has served as the response coordinator for the White House task force since February. “It was an honor to host Dr. Birx in Missouri today and learn more about where we stand from a national per-

spective,” Parson said. “I want to thank her, the president, vice president, and the entire Trump administration for all they’ve done for both the country and Missouri throughout COVID-19. We appreciate their continued support and guidance during this unprecedented time.” In April and May, more than 7 percent of all coronavirus cases in Missouri were fatal. But so far in August, less than half a percent have turned deadly, officials said Tuesday. More than 69,000 people in Missouri have tested positive for coronavirus as of Tuesday afternoon, and 1,402 people have died. Birx also said the outbreak seen in March and April was different than the spike following Memorial Day weekend. While the earlier outbreak was mostly in metro areas throughout the U.S., the more recent spike “was really a reflection of Americans moving into summer and traveling around the country.” BIRX on page 11

SPECIAL SESSION REBOOT WHERE DO WE STAND WITH THE ANTI-CRIME BILLS?

Cameron Gerber After a chaotic stint in the Senate, the major provisions of the special session on violent crime have made it to the lower chamber — albeit in six pieces. It all started with SB 1, the flagship anti-crime bill on the Senate side. The bill was contentious in the upper chamber from the beginning, leading to a 12-hour debate a week and a half into the special session, before a compromise could be reached on juvenile certification and residency requirements. But after the anti-crime bill passed out of the Senate and sat in a House committee, Gov. Mike Parson changed the course of special session; he expanded the call to include concurrent jurisdiction in the city of St. Louis. The controversial move would give the Attorney General’s Office the power to prosecute certain homicides in St. Louis: if a case is

at least 90 days old, the chief law enforcement officer makes the request, and the circuit attorney has not yet filed charges. It does not yet have a bill in the House. The Senate bill stalled, and with no appetite for how it looked in Rep. David Gregory’s Judiciary Committee, House leadership ultimately decided to start over and take a piecemeal route. “In an effort to protect the integrity of the lawmaking process, and to ensure these important issues are thoroughly vetted, we intend to simplify the process with single-subject bills so we can focus on the merits of each bill individually to produce legislation that makes our streets and neighborhoods safe,” a joint statement from Republican House leadership said. Though 69 bills and one resolution have been filed in the House, only six have pro-

gressed through committees. And as of Thursday, no concurrent jurisdiction bill has been assigned to a committee. HB 2, sponsored by Rep. Barry Hovis, covers witness tampering and intimidation: An otherwise inadmissible witness statement could be used if the court finds evidence that the defendant attempted to prevent the witness from testifying and the witness failed to appear despite requests from the court. Proponents from law enforcement and legal backgrounds testified in committee that the bill would clarify existing law. The bill passed unanimously through the Judiciary Committee. Rep. Ron Hicks sponsored HB 46, which would remove residency requirements in St. Louis for officers hired prior to Sept. 1, 2023. Supporters testified in committee that the ROBOOT on page 7

A LOOK BACK AT MISSOURI’S FIRST ELECTIONS Cameron Gerber As Missouri prepares to celebrate the bicentennial of its entry as the 24th state in the U.S. in 2021, another important anniversary for the Show-Me State comes this year: Missouri’s first statewide election was held on Aug. 28, 1820. Before it officially reached statehood, Missouri was already on its way to establishing a government. The territory first applied for statehood in 1817 and was given the authority to draft a constitution as part of the Missouri Compromise. The first of four state constitutions was ratified on July 19, 1820, outlining the state’s structure and system of government and allowing it to proceed with

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an election. Missourians voted for the governor, lieutenant governor, one congressman, county officers, the president, and the first members of the Missouri House and Senate on Aug. 28. William Clark, known for being a co-leader at the helm of the Corps of Discovery Expedition that explored the newly acquired Lousiana Territory in the early 1800s, had served as governor of the Missouri Territory since 1813. He would face St. Louis frontiersman Alexander McNair in the gubernatorial election. Jeffrey E. Smith, a trustee of the Missouri Historical Society, said in his 2008 article “Missouri’s Era of Not-So-Good Feelings”

that Clark hadn’t taken a hard enough line for the expanding population of the territory. “Clark had done all he could, he thought, to balance the land rights of all the parties — the federal government, Native American tribes, and individual settlers ... Oddly enough, his efforts at reaching an arrangement fair to all sides satisfied none,” Smith said. Clark himself wrote a letter to Missourians encouraging them to pass on the mantle in the forthcoming election. McNair beat Clark in the election by a wide margin, overtaking the famed explorer by nearly 4,000 ballots, or 72 percent of the vote. McNair served as HISTORY on page 3 governor for one

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IN OTHER NEWS

TRUMP ADMIN INVESTS NEARLY $3M IN HIGHSPEED BROADBAND IN RURAL MISSOURI USDA press release

The Trump Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing nearly $3 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Missouri. This investment is part of the $100 million in grant funding made available for the ReConnect Pilot Program through the CARES Act. “The need for rural broadband has never been more apparent than it is now – as our nation manages the coronavirus national emergency. Access

to telehealth services, remote learning for school children, and remote business operations all require access to broadband,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “I am so proud of our rural communities who have been working day in and day out, just like they always do, producing the food and fiber America depends on. We need them more than ever during these trying times, and expanding access to this critical infrastructure will help ensure rural America prospers for years to come.” In rural Missouri, Big

$2.9 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network to connect 4,839 people, 54 farms, 27 businesses, two public schools and one fire station to highspeed broadband internet in Cape Girardeau County. USDA received 11 Round Two ReConnect Program applications that are eligible for the $100 million Congress allocated to the program through the CARES Act. More investments made possible with these resources will be announced in the coming weeks.

River Broadband will use a

ANHEUSER-BUSCH DONATING HAND SANITIZER TO POLLING PLACES Anheuser-Busch is donating millions of ounces of hand sanitizer to polling places across the country as part of its “Brew Democracy” initiative. The beer company said it will be producing and donating more than 8 million ounces across the country ahead of the November general election to accommodate the growing focus on cleanliness in the face of COVID-19. “As a leading U.S. employer, Anheuser-Busch is committed to uniting our communities, strengthening our democracy, and encouraging even greater participation in the political process,” Anheuser-Busch Chief External Affairs Officer Cesar Vargas said. “One part of this commitment is shifting our production capabilities to donate hand sanitizer so that election officials and voters throughout the country can take part in a safe election this fall. We like to say that ‘beer is bipartisan’ and we are proud to step up and serve our communities during this

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election season.” The company’s donation was a collaborative effort alongside the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED), the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Production will take place at breweries in California and Virginia and be distributed by the company. “We’ve said it time and time again, protecting our nation’s elections requires a whole nation of effort and in these challenging times, that’s never been more true,” Christopher Krebs, director of CISA, said. “We appreciate those who are doing their part and providing resources to protect our nation’s most precious democratic process by helping keep American voters safe and healthy this fall.” Anheuser-Busch began producing hand sanitizer earlier this year to help fight the spread of COVID-19. Since March, it has donated

more than 500,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to community organizations, including food banks, emergency management centers, and health care systems across 20 states and Washington D.C., according to the company. Anheuser-Busch is headquartered in St. Louis where it began in 1852. The St. Louis brewery is known for being the home of Budweiser and brews more than 25 brands.

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MEET MADISON RUDMAN, THE MISSOURI TIMES’ NEW DIGITAL PRODUCER Madison Rudman, 23, has joined The Missouri Times team as our digital producer. She’s a graduate of the University of Arkansas where she studied communications and journalism. She is a proud Kansas City resident where she lives with her family and two special needs rescue dogs. Get to know Madison below as we welcome her to the team!

What is your favorite thing about Missouri?

My favorite thing about Missouri is that you get the best of both worlds. There’s both cities and open, rural land, and I’m happy to call Missouri home.

What is your favorite restaurant in Missouri?

My favorite restaurant in Missouri has to be my local bar and grill, Wally’s.

You have two special needs rescue dogs. Tell us more about them!

Monkey, 4, and Stella, 2, are my two rescue dogs, and they were both born deaf. They are both white boxers, a breed and color combination that is very susceptible to deafness in addition to other health conditions. However, they are the happiest dogs, and you’d never realize they’re special needs!

Where is the best place you’ve traveled?

My favorite place I’ve traveled to has to be the Cayman Islands. It’s a tiny island, but the beaches are stunning, and the water is crystal clear. I love snorkeling around the coral reefs there because you can see everything so clearly.

Why did you decide you wanted to work in journalism?

I love the variety that the field of journalism has to offer. Initially, most people think of journalism as just writing. But it is so

AROUND THE CAPITOL

much more than that. I love new age journalism because there are so many different mediums in which you can tell a story.

Who has had the greatest influence on your life?

My mom has had the greatest influence on my life. She has taught me to be strong, no matter what life brings my way. Through her passion for rescuing animal cruelty survivors, she has also taught me just how much love can change a being.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I have a passion for photography. I love capturing beautiful pictures of Monkey and Stella to display on their social media accounts. My goal is to show people that special needs dogs are just like any other pet and deserve all the love in the world.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I will know all the lyrics to a song after hearing it just a couple of times.

What is something you’re particularly proud of?

I am proud of my ability to persevere. Life is not always simple and easy, but there’s a positive in every situation.

Who is one person, alive or dead, who you would like to have dinner with?

President Lincoln. I would love to learn more about his life as a southerner who freed the slaves in our country. I also know that only one of his children lived to adulthood. I would be interested to hear about how he coped with the loss of three of his children as infants. Overall, I think the late President Lincoln would have many untold stories to share.

Amber Watson named vice president of operations at Capitol City Research

On any given day, Amber Watson is controlling chaos and putting out fires. Having worked as a contractor for Capitol City Research since 2016, Watson joined the firm full time as a project manager last year — and has already been elevated to vice president of operations. “Amber has been absolutely critical in the expansion of our business,” Capitol City Research Partner Ethan Todd said. “She keeps the trains running.” Watson has held a bevy of jobs in and around the Missouri Capitol, from lobbying right out of college to campaign work to constituent services in the Senate. And each job has given her some tools she’s carried into her new position. At Capitol City Research, Watson oversees employees and contractors, sets deadlines, collects work, and makes sure she’s available to answer questions. And her favorite thing about Capitol City Research is the people. “They are a hilarious bunch of people who are cut out to do the work we’re doing. It takes a very special breed to do

exactly what we’re doing,” she said. “You can’t have thin skin, and you must have a strong stomach.” “I can honestly tell you we’ve done all sorts of things, including when it comes down to research. Everything is open for us to do; we’ve seen things.” Capitol City Research was founded in 2014 to serve campaigns, corporations, law firms, and PACs in more than 30 states. During the 2018 cycle, it boasted a 73 percent win rate. For those working in politics, Watson has some advice: “Be mindful of what you say, [and] make sure your filter is on. Always know that whatever you say and do is not private. Usually in the sense that when you work in research, you just tend to know more things than you bargained for. The best advice I can give is just to know your filter.” Watson is a graduate of William Woods University. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband and three children. But when she’s not working, you might be able to catch her at her favorite restaurant eating chicken wings: CJ’s in Columbia.

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HISTORY continued from cover term before moving on to work in Native American relations until his death in 1826. Clark continued to serve with the U.S. government until his death in 1838. William Henry Ashley, a hunter and former militia officer from St. Louis, was elected lieutenant governor over Nathaniel Cook by less than 700 votes. Ashley ran for governor in the 1824 election but was defeated. Missouri’s first congressman was John Scott, an attorney from Ste. Genevieve. Scott had previously served as a delegate to Congress in 1816 but was ousted due to Missouri’s status as a territory at the time. He continued to serve in that position until 1826. The first Missouri General Assembly, which would go on to meet in September of the same year in St. Louis, was selected during this election. As per the state constitution, 43 representatives and 14 senators were elected to the legislature. The new positions were popular, with almost 40 candidates in the running to represent Howard

County and 19 to represent St. Louis. Seven of those elected were members of the Constitutional Convention earlier that year. President James Monroe, the incumbent, won the 1820 election. Monroe ran without any competition from the Federalist Party, the last time in U.S. presidential elections that a ticket ran without party opposition. Given Missouri’s status as a statein-the-making, the issue of whether to count its electoral votes raised an issue with Congress as the Senate was still considering the Missouri Compromise at the time. A bill passed through Congress dictating that Missouri’s votes would only count if they would tip the scales of the election one way or the other. As every American delegate — besides one in Delaware — voted in Monore’s favor, Missouri’s three votes for the incumbent president did not count. Missouri was admitted as the 24th state of the union on Aug. 10 of the following year.

Editor’s Box: As lawmakers and staff return to Jefferson City for special session, we’re pleased to bring you exclusive content in this edition of the newspaper. Be sure to check out our website, themissouritimes.com, for more up-to-date news as the special session progresses.

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SUNDAY MORNINGS KANSAS CITY - 38 THE SPOT AT 10:00 A.M. ST. LOUIS - ABC 30 KDNL AT 9:00 A.M. MID-MO - CONNECTIONS 22 AT 11:00 A.M. SWMO - CONNECTIONS 22 AT 11:00 A.M.

STREAM ONLINE AT TWMP.TV

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Cameron Gerber

The Peace Officer Standard and Training (POST) Commission is requesting feedback on law enforcement training and discipline in Missouri. The commission, alongside the Department of Public Safety (DPS), is seeking comments from both the public and law enforcement on Missouri’s current standards and disciplinary practices for officers. The results of the survey are to be discussed in two virtual listening sessions open to the public on Aug. 31 and Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. The commission will continue to gather public comments made during the sessions via email. The survey stated the commission “believes specific experiences and interactions between members of the public and law enforcement will be beneficial in assessing the role and influence of law enforcement training.” The request comes as the nation continues to grapple with police brutality and racism with calls for change resounding across the country following the death of George Floyd, a Black Minneapolis man, at the hands of police officers in May. Large demonstrations broke out across the U.S., including in several places in Missouri. Gov. Mike Parson has decried the actions which led to Floyd’s death and called for the now-former officers responsible to be held accountable. He’s also called legislators back to Jefferson City to address crime in Missouri in an ongoing special session. The POST commission is tasked with

establishing the core curriculum for Missouri’s 19 basic training academies, definitions, rules, and regulations for the overall program and continuing education of officers. It also serves as an advisory group for the DPS director. The commission is not involved with the revocation of licenses of officers, but it can establish a procedure for the relicensing of peace officers when they have expired. In addition, the POST Commission can set the minimum hours of needed basic training for peace officers and set the standards for the basic training of peace officers. In a statement, the commission said officers are required to undergo 24 hours of training in studies across various areas of their jobs in order to maintain their peace officer license. The POST Program licenses peace officers and ensures compliance with certain requirements. It can also conduct disciplinary investigations. Additionally, the program licenses law enforcement basic training centers and instructors, according to its website. The POST Commission is made up of 11 members who are expected to serve a threeyear term. The makeup is three police chiefs, three sheriffs, one representative of a state law enforcement agency, two peace officers at or below the rank of sergeant employed by a political subdivision, one chief executive officer of a training academy, and a public member. Parson named two new members to the board in June. The POST Commission is accepting comments through Aug. 26.

JULY JOBS REPORT SHOWS CONTINUED RECOVERY DESPITE SUBSTANTIAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATES Cameron Gerber Missouri gained more than 52,000 jobs last month, according to seasonally adjusted numbers in the July jobs report. The report found an overall increase in employment for the month compared to June with a seasonally adjusted decrease in unemployment by nearly a full percentage point from 7.8 to 6.9 percent. Missouri remained below the national rate of 10.2 percent for the month. Employment decreased compared to last year in nearly every sector besides construction, according to the report. Manufacturing employment was down by 2 percent, education and health services were down by nearly 4 percent, and leisure and hospitality saw a decrease of 19 percent over the year despite adding 11,600 jobs in July. Hard-hit industries saw increases in employment for the month. The retail industry saw a seasonally adjusted increase of more than 3,000 jobs in Missouri last month, according to

PSC REFUSES CHANGES TO EVERGY COST REVIEW Cameron Gerber Missouri’s Public Service Commission (PSC) denied a request to limit the scope of a review of costs related to Evergy Metro’s investment mechanisms. The company requested the PSC refine the scope of its review of Evergy’s Demand-Side Investment Mechanism (DSIM). The review covered the company’s refusal to enter a capacity-sale contract, which Evergy argued was not related to its DSIM. Evergy requested the review focus on the other element regarding the company and fees related to the mechanism. Commission Staff argued the costs were related to the DSIM and are applicable to the PSC’s review. The Office of Public Counsel (OPC) spoke in Staff ’s favor, saying the costs were relevant to the review under the umbrella of DSIM. The commission opted to deny Evergy’s request despite further contention from the company over the scope of the review. The PSC also considered a case on Evergy West’s true-up filing submitted in June during the Aug. 19 agenda meeting. The filing showed Evergy West had undercharged customers between March 2019 and February 2020, leading to an under-collection of nearly $4 million. The filing included a plan to collect this loss from customers via rate adjustments, which commission Staff approved. The commission followed up on an order given last week. The PSC ordered its Staff to compile responses from Missouri’s utility companies on the number of disconnections,

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

POST Commission seeks public feedback

late and past-due payments, and payment plans to decide how to recoup losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission requested input from companies last week to gauge their responses to proposals from the commission. The deadline for comment from utilities is Aug. 31, and Staff has until Sept. 21 to file a full data report, after which the commission will consider all collected data to reach a decision. The commission approved an order regarding tariff sheets filed by the Missouri-American Water Company and allow them to go into effect on Aug. 21. The sheets substituted a past filing that included exceptions for fire and master service lines in Joplin and St. Joseph which commission Staff recommended be changed. The PSC also set a procedural schedule for a case involving Missouri-American’s request for accounting authority over losses resulting from the virus. The commission scheduled a series of hearings and statements to run from October to November. The next PSC agenda meeting is set for Aug. 26. The meetings will remain remote for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19.

MISSOURI DEPT. OF LABOR: INITIAL UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS

the report, and the foodservice industry added 11,600 new jobs. The report showed the unemployment rate remained more than double the 3.2 percent recorded in July 2019. Unemployment was at a record low of 3 percent in July 2018, according to the report. The Department of Labor’s website indicated a decrease in initial unemployment claims for the month, with more than 17,000 filed the week of July 4 and just under 11,000 filings during July’s final week. Unemployment rates skyrocketed in March as stay at home orders took effect over the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment peaked the final week of March with 104,000 initial unemployment claims filed. Rates remained unusually high through the next few months before dropping more than 2 percent in June. “It certainly is a positive sign,” Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Rob Dixon said during a press conference last month. “But we still have a ways to go.”

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SPECIAL SESSION

Behind the scenes of a special session during an extraordinary time A look at how a special session is put on during a global health crisis

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

On the same day Gov. Mike Parson summoned lawmakers back to Jefferson City to address violent crime, a COVID-19 outbreak broke out in the House leaving legislators and staffers asking: “How do we make this work?” Parson made the call to convene an extraordinary session in the middle of July to address six anticrime measures, from St. Louis police residency requirements to greater witness protection measures. “In general, special session is no different from normal session. It’s business as normal, but working at 20 percent capacity because there’s just one bill,” Dan Kleinsorge, chief of staff to Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, said. But this session has been anything but “general” or “normal” as it comes in the midst of a global health crisis. More than 70,000 Missourians have tested positive for the virus since March. And in Cole County, where the Capitol sits, more than 630 people have contracted COVID-19 and three have died. As Kleinsorge pointed out, lawmakers and staffers already had a bit of a “dry run” with adapting to the pandemic: The first reported positive case in Missouri came in early March, as the regular legislative session was in full swing. As the health crisis persisted, the Capitol shut down for some time before reconvening with extra safety precautions in place. An abundance of signs pepper hallways and elevators, reminding lawmakers and visitors alike to social distance, wear masks, and practice good hygiene. Hand sanitizer can be found in every hearing room and corner of the Capitol. Proceedings, particularly in the upper chamber, became more virtual-friendly. Hightraffic offices installed dutch doors or plexiglass. And members of the Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) stand sentry at statehouse entrances to check temperatures and inquire about potential exposures to COVID-19.

“This is tougher than any normal year. It’s going to be a little more challenging,” House Speaker Elijah Haahr said. “The whole point of doing all this is so we can have the most people in the building at the same time as possible.”

‘The situation we’re in is escalating’

One of the “biggest” decisions made was to send people home to work remotely, Dana Rademan Miller, chief clerk of the House, said. In the House, about 40 laptops were purchased or procured for remote working as well as investments made into webcams and Webex, a video conferencing service. “We invested a lot in setting up remote, virtual private networks, so you can send an employee home with a laptop,” Miller said. “We started that in March and did more as the summer progressed. The situation we’re in is escalating, not deescalating.” And aside from allowing certain employees, like those in communications, to work from home, the largely paper-driven process of drafting legislation has turned into a more digital system for drafting and filing. Members are still required to come into the clerk’s office with a signature — but in general, the process has become more digitized. “The members seem to have adapted,” Miller said. “We just sent out a notification saying this is how it has to be for right now and didn’t really get any pushback.”

Method to the madness

It was the Senate that kicked off the special session — and there was a reason for that. On the same day Parson made the call to convene lawmakers in Jefferson City, an “outbreak” occurred in the House. At least seven staffers tested positive for coronavirus. “Some of the individuals who had been diagnosed are directly part of the chain vital to the legislative process. They help draft the bills and staff committees,” Miller said. “We had upfront conversations with Speaker Elijah Haahr’s office: How do we have session?” “If we had started in the

House, just getting the bills drafted would have been a big challenge,” Haahr said. But even though the Senate began with one large anti-crime bill that contained all of the governor’s priorities (at the time), the special session has been anything but speedy, already costing nearly $100,000 in mileage and per diem as of Aug. 20. SB 1, the flagship legislation, made it out of the Senate but stalled in the lower chamber after Parson expanded the scope to include concurrent jurisdiction. House leadership decided to break the bill down into individual pieces of legislation with the six original components slated to head to the floor this week. (No concurrent jurisdiction bill is scheduled to even be heard by a House committee as of Aug. 20.) And the longer lawmakers are in the building, the more concerns about social distancing and face coverings arise, especially in the House where it’s more difficult to stay 6 feet away from another member on the floor. In the upper chamber, senators’ desks have more space between them. State Rep. Peter Merideth has moved to implement a new House rule that would require representatives, staff members, and guests of the House to don masks inside the Capitol at all times unless eating or drinking. As of now, neither chamber explicitly requires face coverings although they have become more prevalent among lawmakers in recent weeks. “I’m hoping we see more adherence to [mask] guidelines. We get a little complacent sometimes. We’re isolated in a rural area and might think we’re not going to be affected by this, it’s only a big city thing, but it’s not,” Miller said. “We’re going to do our best to help keep the members educated, and I noticed during our technical session that quite a few of them who had gotten complacent had put a mask back on.”

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“I think it’s important to wear a mask because it helps keep other people safe, and it’s important to model that behavior and set that example,” Sen. Lauren Arthur said. “If we expect our constituents to do it, we should be able to do it too.”

COVID testing

Another new element at the Capitol during the special session is free COVID-19 testing for lawmakers and those who work in the building. Those who wished to get tested could pre-register online and expect results in 48 hours or less. More than 200 tests, costing the state about $100 each, have been administered with up to a dozen DMAT team members collecting samples. Money from the federal CARES Act is being used to pay for the tests. So far, four people have tested positive through the screening at the Capitol. Arthur was one lawmaker who got the test done at the statehouse — and hers came back negative after about 30 hours. “It was really easy and straightforward,” she said. “I made an appointment online, and then showed up and everything was run really efficiently and professionally. … We received the results very quickly. I wish that kind of testing was available to everyone.” Arthur said she’s limiting her time in the Capitol — only being in the statehouse when she’s needed — but pointed to what might be a silver lining with all the change. “This has prompted a lot of thinking of how we can modernize our legislative process. There’s a lot of tradition in the Senate — and it’s important to respect and maintain it — but we should also think through if there are ways to do things that make the process more accessible and bring it into the 21st century,” she said.

The Missouri Times Criminal Justice. HB 16 defines the unlawful transfer of a weapon to a minor as the lending or sale of a firearm to a minor for the purpose of interfering with or avoiding an arrest or investigation. The bill would remove a provision in current state law that excludes transfer from felony status if there is parental approval for the transaction. The bill passed out of General Laws. All six bills passed out of multiple rules committees on Aug. 18 without much fanfare, allowing them to move forward to the House floor this week. Already, multiple protests have broken out in downtown Jefferson City with demonstrators — lawmakers among them — speaking out against the scope of the special session. Protestors have called for the session to address the root of violent crime in Missouri through things such as greater access to education and employment opportunities. Parson has said he’s “disappointed” that the special session has taken as long as it has; he originally called lawmakers back to Jefferson City on July 15, and it got underway in the Senate on July 27.

SPECIAL SESSION

REBOOT continued from cover city’s police department had more than 100 openings, and the residency requirement was a large barrier for potential applicants. Opponents argued that officers should live near their jurisdiction in order to foster relationships with the communities they serve. The bill passed through the House Judiciary Committee with an amendment expanding the provision to other public safety employees, including firefighters and paramedics, within the city of St. Louis. HB 66, sponsored by Rep. Jonathan Patterson, would create the “Pretrial Witness Protection Services Fund.” The fund would be distributed to law enforcement agencies through the Department of Public Safety. The bill passed unanimously through the Judiciary Committee. HBs 11, 12, and 16, sponsored by Rep. Nick Schroer, make changes to provisions involving minors. HB 11 would elevate the crime of endangering the welfare of a child from a misdemeanor to a first-degree felony. The bill passed unanimously through the Standing Committee on General Laws. HB 12 intends to allow a court to order a hearing for children from the ages of 16 to 18 to be certified as adults. The original language on the Senate side set the range from 14 to 18 in the perfected bill. The House version also added an amendment requiring courts to hold a probable cause hearing prior to certification before passing out of the Special Committee on

Can the Senate pass anti-crime legislation without a PQ? A look at the ‘nuclear option’ procedural move

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Multiple protests have broken out in Jefferson City related to the ongoing special session on violent crime. Demonstrators have asked lawmakers to consider other measures to reduce crime in Missouri, such as greater educational and economic opportunities for minorities. (Photo by Cameron Gerber.)

As the House prepares to take up its own versions of the anti-crime legislation driving the special session, questions abound about what the Senate will ultimately receive — and just how the upper chamber will tackle those bills. Could we see a PQ? Although just two letters, a PQ carries a lot of weight. A PQ, “moving the previous question,” is a procedural move used to shut off debate on a bill. While it’s often used in the House, it’s a tactic seen much less in the Senate, a body that ardently values tradition and decorum. “Forcing the end of a debate through a PQ is a hostile tactic often used in the lower chamber and should be avoided at all costs in the Senate,” Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo said. “If this nuclear option were to be used in the upper chamber, it would destroy the Senate’s ability to move forward on any other issue in this session or the next. The Senate prides itself on being the more pragmatic, thoughtful chamber.” “The Senate is a more deliberative body than the House of Representatives. We are in favor of unlimited debate on the questions in order to reach compromises to make sure the legislation is well thought through before it makes its way to the governor’s desk,” Republican Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer said. “That being said, the counter-balance to the filibuster to the PQ.” Rule 84 in the Senate states: “The previous question shall be in this form: ‘Shall the main question be now put?’ It shall only be admitted on written demand of five senators, and sustained by a vote of a majority of the senators elected, and in effect shall be put without debate, and bring the senate to direct vote upon a motion to commit, if such motion shall have been made; and if this motion does

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not prevail, then upon amendments, and then upon the main question. On demand for the previous question, a call of the senate shall be in order, but after a majority of the senators elected have sustained such a motion, no call shall be in order prior to the decision on the main question.” While the rule only calls for five senators to sign onto the PQ, most Senate presidents have set their own custom, requiring even greater support before a PQ would be considered. It was 1970 when a PQ was used in the Senate after a more than 100-year hiatus. Then-President Pro Tem Earl Blackwell stood steadfast against the governor’s call to raise income taxes. The Senate ultimately moved to PQ the motion, shutting off debate, and Blackwell’s leadership position soon came to an end as well. Since, the PQ has been used about several dozen times successfully. July 2017: One successful motion on an abortion restrictions bill May 2017: Three successful motions on a minimum wage regulations bill September 2016: One successful motion on a voter identification bill; one successful motion on a concealed carry and firearm safety bill March 2016: Two successful motions on religious freedom legislation May 2015: Three successful motions on a right to work bill September 2014: One successful motion on an abortion waiting periods bill May 2007: Four successful motions on a resolution related to official state language; two successful motions on a sex education and abortion clinics bill April 2007: Three successful motions on a higher education initiatives bill; three successful motions on an appropriations bill May 2006: Five successful motions

on a voting process revision bill May 2004: One motion attempted on a foster care bill April 2004: Three successful motions on a tort law revisions bill May 2003: One successful motion on a concealed carry permit bill May 1999: One successful motion on an abortion bill April 1982: Three successful motions on a busing bill May 1977: Two unsuccessful motions on a death penalty bill January 1972: Two successful motions on an unemployment regulations bill December 1970: Two successful, one unsuccessful motions on an income tax bill Before 1970, several PQs were made in 1867 during an appropriations debate regarding Missouri’s exhibit for the Paris Exposition and the creation of a permanent school fund. Others were made regarding legislation on expanding the city limits of St. Louis, bond issues, and whether D.D. Burnes was entitled to his SD 3 seat. “I think myself and most members of the Senate are very hesitant to use a PQ, and in most cases, any time we are able to reach a compromise and move legislation forward without a PQ, I think everyone certainly favors doing that,” Luetkemeyer said. “The times when a PQ would be appropriate are when you’re dealing with some type of deep partisan divide where it’s very clear that there is no negotiated settlement to be had, and the only way to move forward is to put the issue before the Senate to vote.” As for using the parliamentary motion on the crime legislation, Rizzo said: “Using a PQ to bailout the governor for his terribly mismanaged session would be beneath the dignity of the Senate and its leaders.”

The Missouri Times

OPINION

Our democracy is only as Moving election deadline strong as the right to vote won’t instill confidence Yinka Faleti; candidate for Missouri secretary of state

I did not automatically have the right to vote. I had to earn it. I immigrated to the U.S. at age seven from Lagos, Nigeria. As a teenager, I became an American citizen. I then earned my appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. After graduating in 1998, I served more than six years on active duty in tank units in the U.S. Army, deploying to Kuwait twice — both before and in response to September 11. Our deployment to Kuwait before September 11 was aimed squarely at protecting our allies. Our deployment after September 11 was aimed squarely at protecting our American democracy. Our democracy is the envy of the world, but it is only as strong as the right to vote. That is precisely why foreign actors and power-first politicians are working so hard to undermine that right. They attack our right to vote and make it less secure, harder to access, and confusing to understand because doing so serves their selfish political agendas. We know foreign actors have been intentionally attacking our electoral system for years, making it less secure. The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence issued a report in 2019 that decisively stated what we already knew: The Russian government directed extensive activity, beginning in 2014 and carrying into at least 2017, against U.S. election infrastructure at the state and local level. To combat these efforts, Missouri received $7,230,625 in federal election security grants in 2018. But only $556,746.30 of those funds, held by the secretary of state, were disbursed between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019. Because of our secretary of state’s failure to protect our elections, these vulnerabilities still exist and are available for exploitation by nefarious actors. Our elections are also made less secure and less

legitimate when access to the vote is limited. When elected officials use their power to pick and choose a limited group of voters to keep them in office instead of the voters choosing their elected officials, our elections fail to be a true representation of the will of all the people, and our democracy becomes a mockery. Just days ago, the nonpartisan Center for American Progress Action Fund released a report specifically citing Jay Ashcroft, Missouri’s secretary of state, as one who is “hindering fair and accessible elections.” Voter suppression is carried out by politicians who know they cannot earn the vote of the people in a fair democratic election. Voter suppression makes our elections less secure. Period. Finally, our elections are less secure when crucial information is withheld from the voters of Missouri. In a letter dated July 31, 2020, the U.S. Postal Service informed Jay Ashcroft that it recommends Missouri voters return their ballots one week earlier than Election Day because the now-diminished U.S. Postal Service is unable to guarantee timely delivery of ballots due to Missouri’s archaic election laws. Our secretary of state failed to inform Missouri voters of this critical information. The letter was discovered over two weeks later only after media began to ask questions. Ashcroft’s irresponsibility is derelict and dangerous to our democracy. My parents brought me here as a child for a better life and to take part in the world’s oldest experiment in a representative democracy. But our democracy is under attack from enemies — both foreign and domestic. We have to demand that those in power protect our elections, expand access to the ballot, and provide us with information we need to be informed and effective citizens. We need them to either protect our sacred and fundamental right to vote, or we need them to step aside.

Schools, small businesses need a legislative fix for COVID liability

State Rep. Holly Rehder

Across our state, schools and small businesses are grappling with the difficult choice of whether to open up their doors or to keep them closed due to COVID-19. For small businesses, deciding to keep their doors closed could mean losing their livelihood and depriving the area of much-needed services. For schools, the decision to keep doors closed could mean students lose out on the needed social interaction and a safe and secure environment for learning. We are all concerned with the spread of COVID-19 and how that may affect susceptible populations. The infection rates vary greatly by region, and I know school administrators and business owners are taking that into account when they are making these decisions. Unfortunately, school principals, superintendents, and small business owners around the state must also worry about COVID-related lawsuits that may arise from a decision to reopen. Parents are deciding between schooling at home or signing waivers for in-seat learning that may be quite intimidating. Imagine a school decided to open back up because research shows that kids need social interaction in a classroom environment, and the risk of COVID-19 was small in the area. Now imagine a few students contract COVID-19. We’ve all seen how rampant senseless lawsuits have become — and it is incredibly expensive to defend yourself even knowing you will eventually prevail. Any single lawsuit can spell financial disaster for struggling districts, and even just a small number of COVIDrelated suits could destroy a school financially. The danger is that schools that could likely reopen safely would still choose not to do so because of fear of COVID-19-related

lawsuits. Instead of making a decision based on facts, research, and the welfare of children, the decisions are made based on fear of trial lawyers. This should not be the most important issue in deciding to reopen. I believe schools and businesses should be able to reopen without fear of lawsuits. I also believe that parents should be able to make choices regarding their child’s education, including opting into virtual or distance learning if that is what they think is best for their child and family. The point being, people can make well-reasoned decisions based on what is best for themselves. The decision to reopen society should not be based on fear of lawsuits. As long as COVID-19 exists, there is a danger of it spreading at any function. We as a state must recognize this fact and absolve businesses and schools of any fear of reprisal for determining that it is in the best interests of the community to reopen. We, as individuals, need to realize we are personally responsible for ourselves and our children: Where we choose to travel, shop, and send our children are risks we are choosing and are personally responsible for. We cannot blame other entities for what are ultimately our choices. I sympathize with these businesses and schools that wish to reopen and get society moving again. That is why I believe Jefferson City needs to consider legislation that would hold schools and small businesses immune from lawsuits accusing them of spreading COVID-19. When a school or business is deciding when to reopen, they should not have to factor in fear of litigation for trying to serve the community. They should be able to make that decision based on the welfare of the community, not based on lawsuits.

Jay Ashcroft; Missouri secretary of state

Since June, I have been telling Missouri voters through print, TV, and radio interviews to request absentee or mail-in ballots early and to return them to their local election authority without delay. With more than 10 weeks before the Nov. 3 election, there is no reason to think the sky is falling. Missouri’s election night reporting has been a success. Missourians have come to expect they will know the winners and losers before they go to sleep. It instills confidence in our elections, knowing that the ballots you have cast have been counted that night by Missouri’s 116 local election authorities and reported to the Secretary of State’s Office. Moving the deadline to count mailed votes does nothing to instill confidence. It would simply drag out election reporting for days. The simple solution to this problem lies in the

hands of voters: If you wish to vote by absentee or mail-in ballot, complete an application soon and submit it to your local election authority (LEA). Then, complete your ballot when you receive it and return it to your LEA. By law, LEAs must begin mailing absentee and mailin ballots to voters six weeks before the election — that’s Sept. 22. This provides a window of time for processing and printing ballots and also provides plenty of time for a voter to receive, complete, and return a ballot. For two months now, I have been encouraging voters to mail their ballots at least two weeks before the election; that held true for the Aug. 4 election, too. The sky is not falling. If you wish to vote by absentee or mail-in ballot, you have ample time, but voting in person is still the best option to ensure your vote is counted.

Retired chief opposes punishing youth as adults Betty Frizzell; former deputy sheriff for the Lincoln and Ripley County Sheriff’s Departments and former chief of the Winfield Police Department Right now the Missouri Legislature has a chance to get it right when considering how we handle children in the criminal justice system. The original version of HB 12 aimed to punish more of Missouri’s youth as adults. As chief of police and a frontline witness to child trauma, I learned that this will not stop crime, but it will increase crime. Incarcerating children in adult facilities increases the likelihood that they will reoffend when they are released. I am encouraged to see that the House has corrected course, amending HB 12 to prevent 12-year-olds from being tried as adults. The new HCS HB 12 will improve public safety by grounding our crime reduction strategy in recidivism data and youth brain science. I witnessed the power of trauma when I led the sexual assault response team for the Lincoln County Sheriff ’s Department. I connected the dots between trauma and violence as a gang investigator for the city of Louisiana — I saw that many young gang members were hiding their own unresolved childhood trauma. Adult prison is the worst place for us to send troubled youth. Studies have shown that juveniles in adult prison are five times more likely to experience assault and nine times more likely to commit suicide than those incarcerated in juvenile institutions. Adult prison deepens the root issues that lead to violence. Adult prisons confront young people with abuse, isolation, and violence, preparing them to pass that trauma on to the community upon their return. They separate youth from positive influences and pressure them to join gangs for survival. As a result, youth incarcerated in adult facilities are more likely to re-offend upon release. Two years ago, our legislators recognized that because 17-year-olds’ brains are still developing, they can make awful decisions under peer pressure, but they also have strong potential

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for rehabilitation. Both parties worked together to stop 17-year-olds from being automatically placed in adult facilities. Our state has also become known nationally for the “Missouri Model,” an approach to confronting youth trauma developed by institutions across the state. I was troubled to see the initial version of HB 12 threaten to roll back this progress and send more youth into the adult system. By expanding mandatory juvenile certification hearings, that version would have put an additional 300 children on track for the adult system every year. Fortunately, the amended version of HCS HB 12 is a step forward. New provisions raise the minimum age for adult certification from 12 to 16. This change will give us the chance to rehabilitate more youth. We can also decrease crime by investing in local solutions that work. The CURE Violence program in St. Louis has just started putting trauma-informed community members on the ground to directly prevent shootings and acts of retaliation. In Chicago, a Northwestern University evaluation found that shootings dropped by over 40 percent in neighborhoods with CURE Violence programs. Another clear opportunity is mental health. Any officer can tell you that mental health issues are everywhere, both in the community and among police. We need to invest in mental health support for community members and law enforcement alike. I am encouraged to see Missouri recognizing that adult prison is the wrong place for youth. Instead of watching the old cycle of trauma, violence, and punishment continue, we are starting to look for ways to prevent crime before it occurs. I support the amended version of HCS HB 12 to invest in youth rehabilitation and ensure a better future for our communities.

The Missouri Times

Cameron Gerber Rep. Kip Kendrick called on Gov. Mike Parson to expand the call of the special session to allow mail-in ballots delivered late to be counted. “For several reasons, it is imperative that we do all that we can do to uphold the integrity of the election process in Missouri,” Kendrick said in a letter. The Democrat from Columbia called President Donald Trump’s opposition of additional funding for the U.S. Postal Service and the expectation of an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in the fall as reasons for the expansion. He asked for the General Assembly to take legislative action to ensure properly postmarked ballots would be counted. “This move would go a long way to ensure that all Missouri voters, regardless of political affiliation, will have their vote counted this November,” he said. “It is unacceptable that

2020 ELECTIONS

Mail-in voting concerns in Missouri amid post office funding fight? Call sounds for new special session

election integrity is in doubt at the moment, and it is even more unacceptable for our state to not take proactive measures to protect the vote.” Kendrick’s call comes on the heels of a letter from the U.S. Postal Service to Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office warning the state’s deadlines could lead to mail-in ballots not being delivered in time to count. “We wanted to note that, under our readings of Missouri’s election laws, certain deadlines for requesting and casting mail-in ballots may be incongruous with the Postal Service’s delivery standards,” Thomas Marshall, general counsel and executive vice president of the Postal Service, said in the letter obtained by The Missouri Times. “This mismatch creates a risk that some ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them.” Marshall outlined a series of recommendations, recommending voters submit ballot requests well

ahead of the election, blank ballots should be mailed to voters through first-class mail at least a week ahead of time, and voters should mail their ballots by Oct. 27 at the latest (a week ahead of the election). The current deadline to request a mail-in ballot in Missouri is Oct. 21, less than two weeks before Election Day. Ballots must be received by the election authority by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 to be counted. Marshall said there was a “significant risk” that some voters would not have adequate time to complete and mail ballots by the state’s deadline, noting that first-class and marketing mail usually takes two to five days or three to 10 days to be delivered, respectively, which could cause some ballots to arrive past the deadline. The Washington Post reported 46 states and Washington D.C. received the same notice from Thomas. This is the first year that Missourians are able to

vote by mail. Parson expanded voting options in June by signing SB 631 into law, allowing for mailin voting and changed absentee voting options in the August and November elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mail-in ballots are available by request to all registered Missouri voters. “This is a non-issue in Missouri. You can vote safely in person on Election Day, and we have already proven that three times in 2020 during the COVID pandemic,” Ashcroft said in a statement. “Any chance I get, if voters wish to vote absentee or by mail, I encourage them to apply early and to send in their ballot as soon as possible.” The Missouri Legislature has been called back to Jefferson City to address a variety of measures put forth by Parson related to violent crime in the state. The Republican chief executive has already expanded the scope of special session to include concurrent jurisdiction. So far, no special session measures put forth by the governor addresses the upcoming election.

legislature’s summary instead seeks to entice voters to adopt the measure by misleadingly overstating a modest $5 reduction in allowable lobbyist gifts and a $100 reduction to Senate campaign contribution limits. Where, as here, the legislature seeks to override the recent, clearly expressed will of Missouri voters on a matter as important as redistricting, the law requires that voters be plainly informed what they are being asked to consider.” “The ‘central purpose’ or ‘primary objective’ of SJR 38 is to effectively repeal Amendment 1. Accordingly, the summary statement must alert voters to that change in some fashion. Instead, the General Assembly’s statement does not mention the change at all. It is insufficient, unfair, and must be rewritten.” The original summary as drafted by the General Assembly read: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: Ban all lobbyist gifts to legislators and their employees; Reduce legislative campaign contribution limits; and

Create citizen-led independent bipartisan commissions to draw state legislative districts based on one person, one vote, minority voter protection, compactness, competitiveness, fairness and other criteria?” The judgment changed the summary statement to: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: Repeal rules for drawing state legislative districts approved by voters in November 2018 and replace them with rules proposed by the legislature; Lower the campaign contribution limit for senate candidates by $100; and Lower legislative gift limits from $5 to $0, with exemptions for some lobbyists?” The measure has been certified as Amendment 3 by the Secretary of State’s Office. “Politicians may lie to our faces about what they’re trying to do do with Amendment 3, but they can’t lie in what appears on the ballot,” Sean Soendker Nicholson, campaign director for the No on Amendment 3 campaign, said. “Everyone needs to understand that politicians are trying to trick

voters by hiding a deceptive gerrymandering plan in the state constitution. The whole of their plan is to protect incumbent politicians in rigged maps drawn in back rooms by lobbyists and political operatives.” Approved by voters in November 2018 as the Amendment 1 ballot measure, Clean Missouri tackled a myriad of issues in state government, from establishing a new redistricting process to limiting lobbyist gifts to lawmakers and more. Amendment 1 changed the state’s redistricting process to require a new nonpartisan state demographer to draw legislative maps for the General Assembly following the 2020 U.S. Census. It also enacted ethics reform, such as placing a $5 limit on lobbyist gifts to lawmakers. Aside from lobbyist gifts and campaign contribution limits, SJR 38 sought to change how the redistricting process would work — again.

JUDGE SCRAPS CLEAN MISSOURI BALLOT LANGUAGE

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Redistricting ballot language before voters in November will look different from what the Missouri Legislature originally drafted following changes made by a Cole County Circuit Court judge. Circuit Judge Patricia S. Joyce called the General Assembly’s drafted language for SJR 38 “misleading, unfair, and insufficient” in her judgment. The contentious legislation, which passed out of the legislature in May, would make changes to the voter-approved Clean Missouri, implement a ban on certain lobbyist gifts to legislators, and lower Senate campaign contribution limits if approved in November. It also includes provisions on redistricting. “[T]he legislature’s summary fails to inform voters that adopting SJR 38 would eliminate the legislative redistricting rules Missourians overwhelmingly adopted just two years ago to combat political gerrymandering and replace them with a redistricting process similar in substance to the one they just voted to abandon,” the judgment said. “The

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Read more about the redistricting fight online at themissouritimes.com.

Missouri Times Ad 2.pdf 1 1/23/2019 3:41:28 PM

Capitol Calendar

The Missouri Times

CHECK ANY TIME AND SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THE CALENDAR IN YOUR EMAIL WEEKLY AT THEMISSOURITIMES.COM/CALENDAR Sent events for included to calendar@themissouritimes.com.

August 27 | House Democrats Summer Caucus Kickoff — Isle of Capri Casino; Boonville — 6-8 p.m. 29 | Chuck Basye gun auction & fundraiser — Harrisburg Lions Club — 5:30-8 p.m.

September

16 | Dan Hegeman breakfast — Jefferson City Country Club — 8-9 a.m.

ALS IMPACTS FAMILIES.

14 | The Missouri Times “30 Under 30” event featuring the roast of Lincoln Hough — The Millbottom — 6 p.m.

16 | Denny Hoskins breakfast — Jefferson City Country Club — 8-9 a.m.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a

14 | Caleb Rowden annual golf tournament — Old Hawthorne, Columbia

CMY

16 | Dave Schatz breakfast — Jefferson City Country Club — 8-9 a.m.

16 | Mike Bernskoetter breakfast — Jefferson City Country Club — 8-9 a.m.

16 | Bill White reception — 310 Monroe (upstairs); Jefferson City — 8-9:30 a.m.

5 | David Lenihan Derby Days event

The Grand; Jefferson City — 4-5:30 p.m.

progressive neuromuscular disease that robs a person of their ability to talk, walk, move and eventually breathe. There is no cure. Because of it’s debalitating and relentless nature, ALS exacts an enormous toll on families. The ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter helps families manage the emotional and

14 | Justin Brown, Lincoln Hough, Tony Luetkemeyer fundraiser — Honey Hill Orchard; Holts Summit — 4:30-6 p.m. 15 | Missouri Senate Campaign Committee Meet the Candidates Luncheon — Jefferson City Country Club —11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

16 | Karla Eslinger breakfast — Jefferson City Country Club — 8-9 a.m. 18 | Denny Hoskins and Dan Houx golf tournament — Mules National; Warrensburg 24 | Bruce DeGroot, Curtis Trent, Phil Christofanelli, Cody Smith fundraiser — 12502 Honey Hill Orchard Road, Holts Summit — 4-8 p.m.

15 | Veto session reception for Bob Onder-

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MISSOURI SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION.

physical strain brought on by an ALS diagnosis, with free programs and services for patients, caregivers and children.

Learn more at

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Next Steps: “Mighty Missouri Medical Manufacturing Act”

COVID-19

The Missouri Times

As elected officials vacate Jefferson City and return to their families and jobs, The Missouri Times is bringing you updates on initiatives that didn’t quite make it through before May. The “Next Steps” series will showcase progress made on certain legislative issues and offer a look ahead to what could come. Find more in the series online.

Cameron Gerber

Shortly before this year’s regular legislative session ended, an amendment was added to a House bill on property tax reform to entice medical manufacturers to do business in Missouri. And in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, sponsor Rep. Steve Helms said it may be more important than ever. “I definitely think the interest for this is not going to go away,” Helms said. “I know nationally there is a push to bring back medical manufacturing jobs to America.” The amendment to HB 1710, known as the “Mighty Missouri Medical Manufacturing Act,” would have allowed businesses already in the state or those relocating to Missouri to keep the withholding taxes for newly created jobs. These businesses would also be exempt from sales tax on purchases made to help with expansion. The exemptions would be granted to qualifying businesses expanding or creating jobs in

Missouri deemed vital to the state’s health care system, including pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturers and medical equipment and supplies manufacturers. Helms, a Republican representing part of Springfield, served as the chairman for the Subcommittee on Health Care Reform and sat on various other committees pertaining to health care and insurance this session. Helms said the act was meant to help the state to recover in the face of economic impacts from COVID-19. “Missouri is not going to be giving them any money other than what they would be creating themselves; companies would just be keeping part of the taxes that they would pay to the state,” Helms said. “I personally believe the state loses no money on jobs that we otherwise wouldn’t get. Being that Missouri is not a big player in the medical manufacturing field, it doesn’t seem likely that these jobs would come here without this incentive, so we don’t lose anything bringing in more jobs that otherwise wouldn’t be here.”

Helms said the broad scope of the bill would cover manufacturers of any kind of medical equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE). “It’s more broad than it is narrow. The supply chain for health care is critical, and at the start of the coronavirus we were in sad shape, and I think we want that to change going forward,” Helms said. “Whether you’re in Missouri already or you’re bringing your business to Missouri, if you expand jobs in the medical manufacturing field and it is a job creator, you benefit.” The bill was perfected in the House before the final week of session with the amendment attached but saw no further action the following week. Helms said the only reason the bill didn’t cross the finish line was the time crunch. “I think we had a really good shot at getting it passed, but some groups wanted a clause put in there to exclude stem cell research companies from the bill,” Helms said. “Because of the time restraints, we had some folks on the Senate side

that would have killed it, and if we had more time we could have massaged that language. I think everybody wants more medical manufacturing in Missouri.” “It’s very wide open,” he said. “I had one company that creates vaccines for pets contacting me saying they could have the opportunity to move some of their facilities from other countries to Missouri. It was interesting to have a company say they would advocate to move their facility from another country here if they had this incentive.” Helms said he has plans to get the “Mighty Missouri Medical Manufacturing Act” before lawmakers again next year. “I do plan to file it as an individual bill in 2021; I think it’s an important bill, I think it’s necessary, and I think it will bring jobs to Missouri.”

DESE lowers barriers to substitute teaching certification Cameron Gerber

Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Board of Education agreed to allow substitute teacher candidates an alternative way to be licensed. The board approved the provision, which allows substitute teacher candidates to take 20 hours of online training rather than the 60 hours currently required for certification. The item was proposed as a way to compensate for an expected shortage of substitute teachers. “Many teachers and school administrators have expressed concern about the potential shortage of substitute teachers during the 202021 school year due to COVID-19,” said Office of Educator Quality Assistant Commissioner Paul Katnik. “With already a declining number of candidates entering the education profession, this option will help Missouri school districts and charter schools develop a deeper pool of substitute teachers both in the short and long-term.”

BIRX continued from cover This secondary spread was seen first among asymptomatic, younger people, Birx said. “We had a productive discussion with Gov. Parson along with state and local health officials about how the federal govern-

ment can continue to partner with Missouri to keep its citizens safe,” Birx said. “The [Trump] administration continues to encourage all Americans to slow the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing including avoiding crowded places, wearing a mask, and washing their hands.”

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The training will include 20 hours of instruction in professionalism, honoring diversity, student engagement, classroom management, and instructional strategies. The new rule will remain in effect until February when the board will evaluate whether to extend the change through the remainder of the school year. The board also approved an emergency clause to the rule change, allowing the change to take effect on Sept. 2 in order to expedite the hiring process. The board approved the rule change during Tuesday’s agenda meeting by a vote of 6 to 2, with some board members expressing concerns about prospective substitutes having a lack of experience or knowledge, calling it a “temporary fix.” Supporters of the change said it would increase the pool of applicants for substitutes and help keep schools open for in-person instruction. The number of applicants for substitute teaching had declined over the past six years, according to documents in the agenda, and the board found the

COVID-19 health crisis will likely lead to a further decrease. The board also heard reports on the 2022 budget estimates, data on the reopening of schools, and an update from the Task Force for Learning Acceleration before approving the discipline of three Missouri educators. Board members agreed to transfer the charter sponsorship of Hogan Preparatory Academy from the University of Central Missouri (UCM) to the Missouri Charter Public School Commission (MCPSC). UCM requested the cancelation of its sponsorship in July, and the board approved the transfer to allow the school to remain operational this fall. A considerable amount of debate surrounding a set of motions to eliminate cumulative GPA requirements for education students led to a stalemate in the board, with board members ultimately voting to shelve the discussion until the next agenda meeting. The next Board of Education meeting is set for Sept. 15.

The Missouri Times