Missouri Times - May 13, 2019

The Missouri Times

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FALLEN OFFICERS MEMORIAL MAY 13, 2019

ABORTION DEBATE

TAKES CENTER STAGE BUDGET HASHED OUT www.missouritimes.com

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The Missouri Times

OPINION

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Scott Faughn, Publisher | scott@themissouritimes.com | @ScottFaughn Rachael Herndon Dunn, Editor | rachael@themissouritimes.com | @TheRachDunn Alisha Shurr, Reporter | alisha@themissouritimes.com | @AlishaShurr Aaron Basham, Multimedia Producer | aaron@themissouritimes.com Kaden Quinn, Reporting Intern | kaden@themissouritimes.com

Expanding gambling with new slot machines won’t help veterans and it shouldn’t be done without voter approval Julie Ausmus No community is more proud of veterans than Cameron. We are the home of one of the state’s veterans’ homes and we take pride in honoring those that served. I am all for finding ways to further give more financial support to veterans for all of the sacrifices they have endured on behalf of our country; however, some legislators are making promises that the expansion of illegal gambling and raising of taxes in the state will help veterans with new funds. We all know that we can’t trust government to deliver on the promises of new funding sources. And in this instance, I fear we are making a trade with the devil.

The Missouri Legislature is looking to legalize and expand Video Lottery Terminals (think digital slot machines) to rest stops, malls, and other places of business across the state. They know that Missourians won’t go for the expansion of gambling unless they can tie it to something to satisfy Missourians. In this case, the state promises that some of the proceeds from taxing lottery slot machines will go towards helping veterans.

I think if the government wants to be serious about helping communities and veterans, they should look at positive ways to do so instead of going around the will of voters and expanding gaming in the state without their approval.

While regulated casinos offer programs to promote responsible gaming to those with a gambling problem, the retail locations hosting these slot machines won’t. Instead, they will crop up in gas stations, rest stops and shopping malls. This will grow addictions and justify it all by skimming some money off the top–money that most veterans will

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never see. This legislation aims to create more lottery slot machines outside casinos then inside of them.

That’s something that Missouri simply can’t afford.

As a new member of our city council, I know what it means to see prosperity happen in the state. The City of Cameron is at the intersection of America’s crossroads and we are working hard every day to make sure folks know we are open for business. We want to attract small businesses to set up shop in our towns. We want to attract families to bring that vital life blood back to our small towns and rural communities. Lottery slot machines don’t lend a positive impression on a small town like Cameron for those that are passing through or those that might consider to stay.

Lottery slot machines would suck up local dollars from communities instead of having them invested in the local community. This legislation also takes slot machines out of the highly controlled and regulated environment of casinos and dumps them in family venues and stops across the state. The money goes into the pockets of the interests who own the terminals, while veterans would see mere pennies on the dollar.

Besides the owners in slot machine industry – this proposal makes almost everyone worse off. Veterans, small towns and families are worse off. Already, such terminals exist and are illegally operating in the state. Legitimizing and growing the trade is not going to make things better. Missourians should oppose bills that would see these slot machines become a permanent fixture of our state.

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HOT LIST CONSERVATIVE CAUCUSES

The Conservative Caucuses in both chambers really pulled out all the stops in the last week. In the Senate, the group of six held up legislation in an effort to spur the movement of priority bills in House committees. In the House, lawmakers used their sway to help get budget language reconsidered.

HOUSE RULES CHAIRS

Rep. Rehder, chair of one of the House rules committees, stood firm and held her ground this week against mounting pressure from conservative senators on the other side of the Capitol. Rep. Miller, who chairs the other House rules committee, publicly stood by his colleague.

DOR

This year DOR tripled the number of calls answered at its Taxpayer Assistance Call Center during peak tax season from February to April. In 2017, it answered around 30 percent of calls. In 2019, its answered nearly 90 percent of calls.

BUDGET

After a kerfuffle over DACA language, the two chambers finalized the state’s $30 billion budget. Budget staff and committee members were hard at work making sure all the numbers were correct and line items were funded as determined.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Sara Walsh - @SaraForMissouri - May 6 Very thoughtful! Missouri House Majority Floor Leader @RobVescovo had flowers placed on all the ladies desks on the House floor for Mother’s Day. Nice sentiment. Happy Mother’s Day everyone! #MoLeg

Tweets of the Week Highlights in 280 characters or less.

Erica Engelby @EricaEngelby Missouri House of Representatives just approved an amendment that makes the St. Louis Blues the official state hockey team of Missouri. #LGB Tracy McCreery @TracyMcCreery Yes, #LGBTQ folks can be fired for being gay in Missouri. Let’s add sexual orientation & gender identity to our human rights act #MoLeg #MONA Adam Rapert @adam_rapert “Before I begin I would like to say that if you’ve brought a super soaker, please don’t aim at my suit. It’s my favorite suit.” @ michaeljknowles #moleg

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Building a renewable energy future we can all rely on.

KCP&L is committed to delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable energy – today and for generations to come. That commitment helped us generate 22% of our electricity from wind power in 2018. It’s also why we expect to have awarded more than $100 million in solar rebates to our Missouri customers by 2023. Learn more about how we’re embracing renewable energy resources and energy efficient solutions to help power a brighter future.

Please visit us at kcpl.com/environment

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SENATE STALLS ON ‘COMPREHENSIVE’ ABORTION BILL — BUT SUPPORTERS SAY IT’LL BE BACK After several hours of debate, the Missouri Senate stalled on what could be one of the strictest anti-abortion bills in the country — but proponents of the legislation have indicated the fight isn’t over.

Championed by Sen. Bob Onder, the comprehensive legislation has many components — some of which overlap or “nestle” in the event of potential court rulings — and would make Missouri a so-called “sanctuary of life” state, meaning it would

“DENYING LIFE IN THE WOMB IS ALMOST THE EQUIVALENT TO BELIEVING THE EARTH IS FLAT.” - KOENIG flatly prohibit abortion if Roe v. Wade is ever overturned. The bill includes a “heartbeat” component, which would require physicians to perform a heartbeat detection test first. If a heartbeat is detected, abortions would be prohibited except in the cases of a medical emergency.

SB 279 would also establish the “PainCapable Unborn Child Protection Act,” prohibiting abortion in cases when an “unborn child” is capable of feeling pain — which is typically set at 20 weeks. Additionally, it would prohibit abortions based on sex, race, or detection of Down Syndrome.

“We believe as years have gone on since [the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision], the science … and the window of the womb we have with modern ultrasounds, more and more reinforce the humanity of the unborn child and more and more argue that we should protect innocent human life,” Onder told The Missouri Times.

He noted “a number of states” have adopted individual provisions included in his bill but couldn’t say if “any other state has …

taken this comprehensive of an approach.”

He intentionally included components that “overlap” in the bill depending on potential future Supreme Court decisions regarding abortions.

Republican senators voiced support for Onder’s bill from the floor. Sen. Wayne Wallingford said he could understand circumstances when it’s “not the right time” for a couple to have a child, “but it’s never the right time to take a life,” he said.

“Denying life in the womb is almost the equivalent to believing the Earth is flat,” Sen. Andrew Koenig said.

“While lawmakers in states like New York and Virginia advocate for infanticide, here in Missouri we’re fighting to protect the lives of unborn children,” Koenig later told The Missouri Times.

Sen. Jill Schupp, a Democrat, attempted to attach an amendment to the bill, exempting victims of human trafficking from abortion bans. The provision would protect these women from being “re-victimized by having to carry the product of their victimization to term.”

“To force these women to carry a reminder of their victimization from trafficking would be heartless and unconscionable,” Schupp said. “I can’t see moving forward with this bill without considering their lives.”

Sens. Lauren Arthur and Scott Sifton supported Schupp’s amendment from the floor. Arthur, in particular, said she hoped to see additional protections included for women who are impregnated due to rape or rape by incest.

“We’ve debated abortion a number of years since I’ve served in this legislature … but it’s been interesting to see the evolution of this debate. A few years ago, I think this would have been considered too extreme, for even members of the Republican Caucus,” Arthur said. “The idea that we’re forcing women who have been raped, raped even by family members, and we’re not providing exceptions in the cases of rape or incest, that’s pretty extreme.”

“While proponents of this legislation would argue that Missourians favor a ban on abortion, when you start talking about the specifics … I think most Missourians would agree that’s a pretty extreme measure [to not include exceptions for rape], and most Missourians would oppose something like that,” she said.

But Republicans voiced opposition to the amendment. Wallingford, in particular, said it “goes against what we’re trying to do here, which is to save lives.” And Onder argued the amendment could have the “unintended consequence” of facilitating human traffickers further as those people “exploit their female victims by forcing them to have abortions.”

Onder has pushed for legislation, including this session, in an effort to protect trafficking victims. However, he said: “Sex trafficking victims, first and foremost, need to be liberated from their lives of sexual slavery, and really mixing the human trafficking issue with the pro-life issue is really not productive.”

He also opposed Arthur’s suggestion, contending, “I don’t think one crime justifies another.”

Earlier Wednesday, activists from Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and other pro-choice organizations descended on the Capitol to rally for reproductive rights.

“The real agenda of these bills is to ban abortion outright,” Sara Baker, legislative and policy director for the ACLU of Missouri, said in a statement to The Missouri Times. “Since they can’t, they are using this restrictive law to put abortion out of reach. Measures like this do not end abortion, they end a woman’s ability to safely obtain an abortion. With our collective voice, we want to make one thing clear to politicians: stop the bans.”

M’Evie Mead, director of policy and organizing for Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri, accused lawmakers of “engaging in a political race to get” an abortion law before a “Kavanaugh Supreme Court,” referring to Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the controversial and latest addition to the nation’s highest court.

“This is bad policy, bad politics, and it will

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destroy peoples’ lives,” Mead told The Missouri Times.

With a little more than a week left in the legislative session, Mead praised the more than 200 advocates at the Capitol Wednesday and the senators who stood in opposition to the bill. She said she hopes the Senate “doesn’t revert to procedural tricks” to pass an abortion bill before the session’s end.

After about three hours of debate, the bill was placed on the informal calendar — but President Pro Tem Dave Schatz has promised to push an abortion bill through the General Assembly and bring it to the governor before

“THE IDEA THAT WE’RE FORCING WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN RAPED, RAPED EVEN BY FAMILY MEMBERS, AND WE’RE NOT PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS IN THE CASES OF RAPE OR INCEST, THAT’S PRETTY EXTREME.” -ARTHUR

the term’s end. And Onder said Wednesday he expects his bill isn’t dead.

“We have a week left in session. There were some other things going on tonight that kept us from giving this bill more time, but I think we can expect this bill will be back,” Onder predicted.

Following a short dinnertime recess, the Senate reconvened and took up a mining bill with a contentious eminent domain amendment.

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Revenue collections bounce back in April Alisha Shurr

Just as budget experts predicted, state revenue collections started bouncing back in the weeks following the April 15 tax deadline.

Missouri’s general revenue collections are currently up, which is a marked difference from previous months when figures were lagging compared to the previous year.

“Revenues bounced back in April,” State Budget Director Dan Haug told the Missouri Times.

“This is what we expected to see,” said Rep. Kip Kendrick, ranking member of the House Budget Committee. “For the first time this fiscal year, we saw the revenue actually creep into the black.”

Officials projected people would file returns close to tax day, April 15, after which revenue collections would climb.

Based on revenue figures, it seems that prediction held true.

Net general revenue collections for 2019 fiscal year-to-date increased 2.8 percent compared to April 2018, from $7.8 billion last year to $8.0 billion this year. April 2019 alone increased 46.5 percent compared to those for April 2018, from $1.08 billion last year to $1.59

billion this year.

Comparatively, net general revenue collections for 2019 fiscal year-todate were down 7 percent at the end of January and down 4.3 percent at the end of March.

“With these withholding errors increasingly looking like the culprit for the revenues issue we have had, it is important to clarify that withholdings being down means more money in the pocket of Missourians and their ultimate tax liability is lower,” said House Budget Chair Cody Smith.

He also noted while revenues are currently looking strong, it should not be conflated with the consensus revenue estimate. The figure he is watching is the total amount the state is projected to collect; according to the latest numbers Smith has, Missouri is $1.47 billion shy with just under two months to go.

“I think we are in good shape to come in around the consensus revenue estimate of 1.7 percent growth,” said Haug. “That should mean that the budget for this year and also the budget for 2020 are on track for the amount of revenues we thought were going to come in.”

“I think it puts the budget in fairly good shape moving forward,” said Kendrick, though prefacing the state “isn’t completely in the clear.” He cautioned collection figures need to be up considerably heading into June 2019 since June 2018 collections had been up significantly.

“I THINK WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE TO COME IN AROUND THE CONSENSUS REVENUE ESTIMATE OF 1.7 PERCENT GROWTH.” - HAUG

April 2019 General Revenue Report Individual income tax collections Increased 0.1 percent for the year, from $6.41 billion last year to $6.42

billion this year.

Increased 45.3 percent for the month.

Sales and use tax collections Increased 2.8 percent for the year, from $1.79 billion last year to $1.84 billion this year.

Increased 5.9 percent for the month.

Corporate income and corporate franchise tax collections Increased 22.1 percent for the year, from $356.4 million last year to $435.1 million this year.

Increased 68.0 percent for the month.

All other collections Increased 2.6 percent for the year, from $395.2 million last year to $405.4 million this year.

Increased 17.4 percent for the month.

Refunds Decreased 6.2 percent for the year, from $1.15 billion last year to $1.08 billion this year.

Increased 10.4 percent for the month.

Haug said in a press release the General Revenue Fund repaid the $500 million borrowed from the Budget Reserve Fund during fiscal year 2019, well ahead of the constitutional deadline of May 15.

CON APPROVED FOR PSYCHIATRIC CARE FACILITY IN MARYLAND HEIGHTS Alisha Shurr A soon-to-be new facility in St. Louis County is aiming to address an unmet need in the area: psychiatric beds for geriatric patients. On Monday, the proposed Maryland Heights Center for Cognitive Disorders received a certificate of need (CON) for the project.

“The proposed unit will focus on serving the needs of the geriatric population in St. Louis County and the surrounding area. The services offered by the unit will particularly serve the elderly in the community who require inpatient hospitalization due to mental disorders,” the application states.

The need-based formula used by the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee shows a need for 328 psychiatric beds in the Maryland Heights

Center service area. Representatives with the center contended the need is specifically greater for the geriatric population.

The Maryland Heights Center is expected to cost $5.7 million and be completed within the year. The committee unanimously approved of the project.

The 16-bed psychiatric hospital was just one of several agenda items at one of six yearly certificate of need meetings for the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee A new $5.1 million assisted living facility in Raytown, Missouri, was awarded a certificate of need. The Turnleaf Villas Senior Community is set to provide 10 private bedrooms for assisted living

in a single facility, 18 private bedrooms for Alzheimer’s Memory Care in two facilities and 14 two-bedroom, two-bath, and single-car garage townhomes for senior independent living.

“Seniors will have access to various types of care and have the ability to live within the same community through their lives and remain comfortably with the people, [surroundings], and services they are familiar with,” the application states.

Turnleaf Villas did receive some pushback on their proposed 56-bed unit. Sen. Mike Cunningham raised questions on how it would affect a nearby facility which covers a large Medicaid population is currently struggling with staffing needs. He was the lone no vote

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on the proposal.

Belton Regional Medical Center and Saint Luke’s East Hospital both received unanimous approval to purchase a robotic surgery system.

The committee postponed making a decision on Sunshine Villa Homes application to purchase 4-ALF beds from Delta South. Both facilities are owned by the same individual.

The bed transfer was already postponed from an earlier expedited ballot and was postponed again, this time until the July 7 meeting. Unless the committee takes action, the request will automatically take effect on July 15.

GALLOWAY REQUESTS LEGAL OPINION ON SUNSHINE LAW EXCEPTIONS Alisha Shurr Missouri’s state auditor is seeking the legal opinion of the attorney general on redaction of information from open records requests based on the First Amendment.

In her official capacity, Nicole Galloway filed a formal request on whether her office should redact information of an identifying nature from requests under the Sunshine Law based on the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

“Most recently, reports revealed Governor Parson’s office used the First Amendment to withhold information requested under the Sunshine Law,” Galloway said in a statement. “This is why I have requested clarification from the Attorney General as to whether these actions were lawful. There should be no confusion on how the Sunshine Law is applied.”

The request comes after reports saying the Office of the Governor redacted personal information from requests based on the First Amendment.

The auditor’s office does not close information based on an exception to the Sunshine Law found in the First Amendment. But with the use of the exemption by a state office, according to the request, the auditor’s office is looking “to ensure that it is properly complying with the law.”

“This is yet another lame partisan political attempt by the State Auditor.

The Auditor has zero credibility when it comes to properly handling government records, given the fact that she’s admitted to using auto-delete functions to destroy text messages on a state cell phone,” said Steele Shippy, the communications director for Parson. “The Governor’s office will continue to protect the personal information of Missourians, as the law allows for under both the First Amendment and Missouri’s Sunshine Law.” A spokesperson with the attorney general’s office said officials are reviewing the request and will decide on further steps.

“The Attorney General is dedicated to protecting, defending, and enforcing the Sunshine Law, and he works every day to ensure transparency at all levels of government,” Chris Nuelle, a spokesman for the attorney general, said.

Based on the information available on the attorney general’s webpage, the last two formal opinions issued — outside of reviewing initiative petitions and ballot language — were in February 2019 and April 2013. One was on the request of Missouri Ethics Commission Executive Director Liz Ziegler and the other was a request from then-Sen. Brian Munzlinger.

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EXECUTIVE

Five state teams receive Governor’s Award for Quality and Productivity State leaders recognized the accomplishments of workers that set an example of quality and productivity within Missouri’s government.

On Tuesday morning, Gov. Mike Parson and the Office of Administration recognized five state teams with the 2018 Governor’s Award for Quality and Productivity (GAQP). The award is geared to acknowledge accomplishments that serve as an example of continuous improvement, quality, efficiency and productivity in Missouri state government.

“These teams are great examples of what our State of Missouri public servants can do,” Parson said. “They all decided the status quo was not acceptable. And, they changed the way work gets done. We need a lot more change like this. This is how we will serve our citizens better.”

Since 1988, the award program has recognized service excellence, encouraged and rewarded innovation, and reinforced pride in service to Missouri state government. The GAQP program is administered by the Missouri Division of Personnel’s Center for Management and Professional Development.

All winning nominations were required to meet criteria related to effectiveness, responsiveness and efficiency that would serve as a model of excellence for other work teams in state government.

This year’s GAQP recipients include:

PINNACLE AWARD Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA) Flagger Team: Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) for designing and creating an automated flagger that has made traffic control safer, more efficient, and more effective for MoDOT employees and drivers. After two individuals were struck and killed by motorists while on duty flagging traffic in a period of less than six months, a small but extraordinarily dedicated team began developing a concept that evolved into the TMA Flagger. Since November 2016, the TMA flaggers have improved worker safety by replacing flaggers on Missouri roadways who are typically located near traffic approaching a work zone. The flaggers used easily-recognizable signage for all drivers, and continued to operate in harsh weather conditions that required MoDOT flaggers to postpone work or to move along traffic with frequent interruptions.

CUSTOMER SERVICE Missouri Division of Employment Security (DES) Unemployment Insurance Claims Intake CrossTraining Initiative: Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for identifying a way to better handle the influx of unemployment insurance claims in the winter when seasonal layoffs occur. In the past, nearly 25 percent of an entire year’s initial Unemployment Insurance (UI) workload

is filed in December and January. DES leadership created a vision to handle the spike in initial UI claims. An agencywide workforce development initiative was executed and a cross-divisional team was assembled for intensive initial claims intake cross-training for rapid staff augmentation. Compared to a fiveweek period in December and January 2018 to the same period the prior year, calls answered increased 29 percent, average wait time decreased 41 percent, and the total number of unanswered calls decreased 72 percent.

EFFICIENCY/PROCESS IMPROVEMENT St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center (SLPRC) Nursing Recruitment and Retention Turnaround Team: Missouri Department of Mental Health for reducing the turnover and vacancy rates of psychiatric technicians, licensed professional nurses, and behavioral health registered nurses, which are mental health positions critical to the facility, department, and patients.

The SLPRC has been challenged with high turnover among its nursing ranks and other professionals, with the highest turnover among the three aforementioned positions. In response, the team implemented numerous changes, including: adopting a private sector schedule for RNs and LPNs; using robust process improvement to reduce costs, errors, and inefficient processes;

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committing to Trauma Informed Care, which recognizes pervasive chronic stress and trauma exposure in behavioral health settings; and enhancing staff satisfaction for direct care staff. The changes led to dramatic deceases in turnover and vacancy rates as well as transforming the hospital’s organizational culture and safety for both staff and patients.

Road to 100% Team: Missouri Department of Revenue for tripling the number of calls answered at its Taxpayer Assistance Call Center during peak tax season from February to April. The call center was answering an average of 29 percent to 33 percent of calls during these months in Fiscal Year 2017, and call overflows impacted the calls answered by the Motor Vehicle and Driver Licensing Division. With support from all levels, the department and call center established a new goal to answer 100 percent of incoming calls. To tackle the issue, the Road to 100% Team created analytical tools that provided critical information on call center performance and used the data to improve performance, motivate call center employees to increase their performance, and reduce the number of incoming calls. In Fiscal Year 2018, 81 percent to 89 percent of calls were answered February to April. As the Road to 100% initiative ramped up, the Department’s Driver License Call Center followed suit and reached 100 percent of calls answered multiple times for the first time in recent history.

INNOVATION Discover Nature Schools (DNS) Team: Missouri Department of Conservation for developing an educational program based on Missouri specific science curricula that met strict state and national standards that was also embraced by educators and ultimately students across Missouri. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for decades produced educational resources widely embraced by educators and enjoyed by students across Missouri, but its educational products (magazines, posters, publications, CDs and books) were often utilized as supplemental materials by educators. As educational standards have become increasingly rigorous, the margin for supplemental/ discretionary educational materials used by educators has narrowed. MDC developed the Discover Nature Schools (DNS) program for Pre-K through 12th grade. DNS is a Missouri specific science curricular approach/educational framework that meets Missouri learning standards, national science standards, the needs of teachers, and the needs of students regardless of educational level or ability. As a result, Missouri has become the first state to create such a comprehensive nature based education curricula. DNS was created utilizing groundbreaking partnerships with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and national teacher’s organizations.

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The Missouri Times

FINISHING TOUCHES: Conference committee hashes out budget differences Alisha Shurr

The final round of alterations was made to the state’s roughly $30 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year last week.

Lawmakers appointed to the appropriations conference committee hashed out the differences between the Senate and House versions of the FY 2020 operating budget on Tuesday.

Compromises were struck, language and dollars argued, and by the end, the puzzle that is the budget was completed.

After a kerfuffle over language on who is eligible for in-state tuition at Missouri’s public universities, the chambers made a rare move and sent one bill back to conference.

Lawmakers agreed to increase core funding for all public universities by $1 million with some, such as Missouri State University, receiving as much as a $10 million increase. State Technical College

received a $500,000 core increase and $500,000 for deferred maintenance.

Additionally, $10 million in lottery funds was allocated to the Fast Track grant program— provided pending legislation crosses the finish line.

The chambers opted to go with the House position on public school transportation — an increase of $5 million in funding instead of the $10 million proposed by the Senate.

Also, $100 million in general revenue may not be going directly to road and bridge repair, as proposed by the House, but $100 million of general revenue will still be spent on transportation infrastructure.

Lawmakers agreed to allocate $50 million in general revenue for an initial payment on a $301 bond for bridge repairs and another $50 million for a costshare program with local municipalities

to fund road repairs.

Some were still hesitant about setting new precedent and using general revenue to fund transportation infrastructure — a first since the creation of the gas tax. Senate Appropriations Chair Dan Hegeman noted he was “willing to do it this one year.”

“I think we need to do our jobs, quite frankly, and look at a real solution to address the critical infrastructure in our state,” said Sen. Lincoln Hough. “I don’t want to see it come back.”

Most concurred using general revenue for road and bridge repair was not “a long-term solution.”

Other highlights: $5 million for rural broadband grants $250,000 for victims of sexual assault $5 million for lottery pull tabs Capitol police will remain under the Department of Public Safety’s purview

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$67,500 for virtual desktops $347,338 for industrial hemp program $5 million for Department of Conversation to study chronic wasting disease $9.6 million for Missouri Works One Start $350,000 for bicentennial celebration $6 million in SEMA grants for flood recover ($2 million moved to HB 19) $25,000 for Lieutenant Governor’s Buy Missouri Program Mileage reimbursement rate increase from $0.37 to $0.43 per mile The bills — of which 12 were in conference — need another vote by each chamber before heading to the governor’s desk.

The Consensus Revenue Estimate is projecting the general revenue collection for Fiscal Year 2020 will go up compared to the current year. Net general revenue

collections in FY2020 are estimated to be $9.822 billion. This represents growth of $193 million over the estimated revenue for FY 2019. The estimate for FY 2020 assumes growth of 2.0 percent. The revised estimate for the current fiscal year is $9.629 billion.

Between general revenue collections, federal funds, and other sources of revenue the total budget for FY 2020 — which starts July 1, 2019 — is $30,090,180,470. That figure includes one-time expense for Capitol improvements.

The operating budget for FY 2020 is $29.7 billion. The approved operating budget for FY 2019 is $28.8 billion.

Operating expenditures in FY 2018 totaled $25.7 billion.

For more on the budget, check out themissouritimes.com.

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Senate conservatives continue ‘defense’ filibuster against House bills, avoid PDMP Kaitlyn Schallhorn In what was described as a “defense of the Senate conversation,” conservative senators held court for several hours Tuesday, lambasting two House committees for blocking Senate legislation while simultaneously stalling on a bill from the lower chamber regarding a prescription drug monitoring program.

Those tuning into the Senate chambers Tuesday afternoon would have heard the recitation of a variety of Veterans Day speeches read by Sen. Denny Hoskins, a member of the Conservative Caucus. It was Hoskins’ second day of holding court on the floor, filibustering the reading of the journal for a few hours while decrying the House rules committees for not making conservative senators’ bills more of a priority.

Specifically, Hoskins lamented two conservative bills — his SB 283, removing a sunset on a higher education grant program for veterans; and SB 145 from Sen. Eric Burlison, the HAILEY’S Law bill that would reform the state’s Amber Alert System — that are being held in the two House rules committee. He accused the lower chamber of

playing “political games.”

“I don’t play political games, particularly with veterans and veterans’ survivors,” Hoskins said. “I’m not here to play political games with … children’s lives. Unfortunately, a small few in the House are willing to do that.”

SB 283 has been in the House Rules – Administrative Oversight Committee since mid-April; SB 145 has been in the House Rules – Legislative Oversight Committee since late last month.

“If you’re a House member, and you thought your bill was going to come up tonight, the chances aren’t very good,” Hoskins said Monday night as he filibustered the reading of the journal.

He reiterated the sentiment Tuesday, saying he would encourage any state representative who has a bill sitting on the Senate’s calendar to meet with leadership and the committee chairs as to “why they wouldn’t release Senate bills out of [the] committees.”

“We as the Senate will not be held hostage.

We as the Senate … will not reward those by taking up their House bills when our

Senate bills linger and die in the House rules committees,” Hoskins said.

Legislation pertaining to Hailey’s Law is, however, awaiting Senate approval as well. Language is attached to Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman’s HB 397, which under Sen. Jeanie Riddle’s guidance, has expanded into an “omnibus-esque bill” pertaining to child protections. That bill is currently awaiting Senate confirmation for a conference committee.

But the crux of the fight is over a House bill that would create a statewide PDMP. Missouri is the only state without such a program.

Republican Rep. Holly Rehder’s HB 188 — creating a PDMP — sits on the Senate’s calendar for the third reading of House bills. Rehder chairs the House Rules – Administrative Oversight Committee which only passed Sen. Justin Brown’s SB 71, modifying provisions related to workers’ compensation, out of committee Tuesday morning.

“I have no problem bringing up the PDMP bill,” Hoskins said Tuesday afternoon. “I have several amendments for that bill. And we’re

going to discuss the PDMP bill until the sun comes up tomorrow.”

Sen. Bill Eigel called Tuesday’s move a “defense of the Senate conversation” and said Rehder’s PDMP bill could “potentially put the First and Fourth Amendment protections of our citizens at risk here in the state of Missouri.”

“It’s never a good time to have legislation hijacked by just two chairmen over in the House, but here we are,” Eigel said, before holding the Senate floor for nearly an hour.

Rehder declined to comment on the actions in the Senate Tuesday afternoon. Rep. Rocky Miller, the chairman of the House Rules – Legislative Oversight Committee, did not return a request for comment.

With less than two weeks to go before the end of the legislative session, the House adjourned around 1 p.m. Tuesday. Hoskins’ filibuster — aided by Eigel — lasted until just before 6 p.m.

The Senate did tackle a couple of House bills up for third reading Tuesday, laying most over and only passing two. PDMP was not taken up Tuesday night.

HOSKINS ON PDMP BILL: BRING IT ON Kaitlyn Schallhorn Despite essentially filibustering a House bill establishing a statewide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) this week, Sen. Denny Hoskins hopes the legislation will be brought to the floor before the legislative session ends.

Hoskins said his filibusters weren’t an attempt to block the PDMP bill from being brought up, but rather an attempt to shed light on two House rules committees he said were holding “hostage” Senate bills, particularly those that are a priority for the Conservative Caucus.

Republican Rep. Holly Rehder’s HB 188 — creating a PDMP — sits on the Senate’s calendar for the third reading of House

bills. Rehder chairs the House Rules – Administrative Oversight Committee. This is the seventh year Rehder has carried a PDMP bill.

“I hope it will be brought up. I have a lot of amendments to add to make the bill better,” Hoskins told The Missouri Times Wednesday afternoon.

Hoskins filibustered the reading of the Senate journal for two days this week and pointed to two particular bills — his SB 283 removing a sunset on a higher education grant program for veterans, and Sen. Eric Burlison’s SB 145, the HAILEY’S Law bill reforming the state’s Amber Alert system — still held in two House rules committees. Hoskins accused the

lower chamber of “playing political games.”

SB 283 has been in the House Rules – Administrative Oversight Committee since mid-April; SB 145 has been in the House Rules – Legislative Oversight Committee since late last month. SB 283 is on the executive schedule for Rehder’s committee Thursday.

Since Hoskins has publicly castigated the House committees, leadership on both sides have held discussions, and multiple Senate bills were able to make it out of the committees Wednesday, he noted. In particular, Hoskins’ SB 219, modifying provisions related to CPA permits, advanced out of the House Rules – Legislative Oversight Committee Wednesday after initially failing and being reconsidered.

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Hoskins said he is hopeful his two priorities — SB 145 and SB 283 — will successfully pass out of the respective committees this week.

As for PDMP, Hoskins and others take issue with the government creating a database of information from law-abiding citizens. In particular, Hoskins pointed to potential data breaches and issues with a previous concealed carry database in the state.

Sen. Bill Eigel, also a Conservative Caucus member, has contended the PDMP bill could potentially violate Missourians constitutional rights and said the Senate does not need to “abdicate its duties” or “pass every single bill” brought before it.

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The Missouri Times

OFFICIALS LOOKING AT POTENTIAL INCENTIVE PACKAGE TO WIN $1B GM EXPANSION Alisha Shurr Officials from Generals Motors met with Gov. Mike Parson and other state leaders to begin preliminary talks about a potential $1 billion expansion at its Wentzville plant.

Missouri is just one of several states competing for the potential investment. It is unclear which other locations are under consideration by General Motors.

“I am excited Missouri has a seat at the table to compete for a tremendous opportunity that would provide a boost to our state and our regional economy,” Parson told reporters. His comments came following “a very productive briefing with representatives from General Motors.”

General Motors Wentzville Assembly has been

operating since 1983 and employs roughly 4,600 hourly and salary employees who work over three shifts. The plant is situated on 438 acres of land in a former wheat field about 40 miles west of St. Louis in Wentzville.

Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon said over the next few weeks they plan on working with leadership in Jefferson City to do “whatever it takes to get this done.”

But in order for Missouri to put its “best foot forward,” an incentive package may be necessary.

“As governor, I want to do all that I can do to put us in the best situation possible to attract this significant investment,” Parson said. “I think it’s the goals we’ve been talking about all along — we know

where that infrastructure piece of legislation is, we know where the workforce development pieces are.

It will take some new legislation to meet this, but I think we’re well prepared for that.”

Details on what an incentive package would look like are still being ironed out. Speaker of the House Elijah Haahr told reporters at a weekly press availability that they plan on working on it over the weekend.

With just two weeks left in the regular session, it is getting down to the wire to introduce and pass legislation on the subject. Parson, Haahr, and Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz all said they feel there is enough time to get something completed.

“At this point, we do not believe a special session

is necessary. We still have two weeks of runway left to use,” said Haahr. “The governor’s office is working with us on the possibility of some legislation. We will be working over the weekend to fine-tune that, and we hopefully will roll it out next week.”

When asked, House Minority Leader Crystal Quade said she is open to the conversation and does not want to draw a “hard line” on what an incentive should not include.

“Our commitment … is to make sure we’re putting our best foot forward so that we can try to make sure that they stay here, they invest here, and they continue to build on the operation they have,” said Schatz.

Does Fast Track have a path forward?

Not without ed reform, conservatives say Kaitlyn Schallhorn The road to Fast Track is paved with education reform — at least according to some of the Senate’s more conservative members.

Republican state Sen. Andrew Koenig, a member of the Conservative Caucus, stalled a House bill granting scholarships for adults seeking further education related to high-demand jobs with a filibuster last week and attempted to attach education savings account (ESA) language to the bill.

HB 225, sponsored by state Rep. Kathy Swan and handled by state Sen. Gary Romine, would establish the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant program for Missourians who are at least 25-years-old and seeking additional education for high-demand jobs. It’s been deemed a priority for Gov. Mike Parson.

“The reality is HB 225 will not pass without ESAs on it,” Koenig said during the nearly four-hour debate.

A week later, his sentiments haven’t changed, placing him and other members of the Conservative Caucus at loggerheads with Romine, who is also a Republican. There’s still hope for Fast Track, multiple conservative senators have said — but without some sort of education reform measure attached to it, the impasse will likely be too great.

And Romine is remaining steadfast in his decision to keep Fast Track separated from charter school or ESA language.

“There’s a path forward, but it would require some kind of K-12 [education] reform — whether that’s charters or ESAs,” Koenig told The Missouri Times.

State Sen. Bill Eigel, also a Conservative Caucus member, said he wouldn’t call Fast Track discussions “dead” but couldn’t definitively say if the legislation will progress, especially without an education reform measure.

“We’ve already made that clear — if there’s some sort of education reform mechanism that’s attached to it, I think it’d probably pass through the Senate chamber pretty quick. And I think we’d be open to that discussion, whether it’s ESAs or charter schools,” Eigel told The Missouri Times.

“I think there is some willingness to give our governor the flexibility to try some different things in how he wants to see the government run. It’s an ongoing discussion. I wouldn’t say it’s a dead discussion by any means, but we haven’t found a path forward at this point,” he continued, adding he doesn’t necessarily see Fast Track advancing simply as a “standalone” bill.

While not a member of the Conservative Caucus, Republican state Sen. Ed Emery, too, said the only way he could get on board with Fast Track would be to attach school choice reforms to it.

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“I would be a no on Fast Track if it’s just by itself. But if it was combined with giving parents some choices in education, then I would support Fast Track along with the choice,” Emery told The Missouri Times.

Whether Romine and the band of senators pushing to couple education reform with Fast Track can come to an agreement is becoming less and less plausible with the legislature racing toward the session’s end on May 17. Romine said Tuesday afternoon he hasn’t had any “direct” conversations with the Conservative Caucus but would be willing for a line of communication to open.

Still, he remains resolute against attaching additional provisions to the workforce bill.

“As I’ve contended all along, we need to be dealing with policies and legislation based upon the merits and values of it, not leveraging one

piece of legislation against another.

I’d like to think at some point we’d get there, and we’d deal with the education reform for its merits, and we’d deal with Fast Track and any other piece of legislation for its merits,” Romine told The Missouri Times. “The best way to get things done, especially with this kind of time constraint, is [to] let each piece of legislation be dealt with based on the merits of the policy itself.”

Romine also said there’s a “need” and “desire” to pass Fast Track, contending it’s “an important part of the General Motors project the governor” is pushing. Officials from General Motors (GM) have recently met with Parson and other state leaders to discuss a potential $1 billion expansion at its Wentzville plant.

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Kaitlyn Schallhorn

After returning from a dinnertime recess, the Senate debated a mining royalties bill until late Wednesday night — a measure the House had attached a contentious eminent domain amendment to.

The amendment, which came from Rep. Jim Hansen earlier in the day in the lower chamber, would limit private companies’ ability to use eminent domain to construct aboveground merchant lines. It largely targets the proposed Grain Belt Clean Line Project.

The amendment was attached to Republican Sen. Gary Romine’s SB 202 which is related to mining royalties on federal lands. Hansen has also championed a bill with similar language that narrowly passed

through a Senate committee earlier this week.

Democrats held court debating the eminent domain language for a few hours Wednesday night, largely led by Sen. Jason Holsman. He and others, including Minority Leader Gina Walsh, said they supported Romine’s underlying bill but disagreed with the eminent domain addition — including how it was attached.

Holsman argued the Grain Belt project would be beneficial to the state by creating construction jobs, bringing progress and economic development to rural areas, and resulting in nearly $13 million in savings.

“We’re going to look back and say

this is the type of thing we needed to take the next step and get off dependence on fossil fuels,” he said.

“I thought the mining bill was a good bill, but now that [HB 1062] is tied to it, I don’t support it,” Walsh said.

Republican Sen. Ed Emery, too, expressed concern that the bill could create a “special law” in targeting the Grain Belt project.

Ultimately, Romine asked the House to either strip the amendment or go to conference over it. Following the action, Beth Conley, an Invenergy spokesperson, praised the Senate for having “stood up for dozens of Missouri communities that will save more than $12.8 million annually on electric bills” because of the Grain

Belt project.

“We hope lawmakers will continue to stand against the threat this legislation presents to one of the state’s largest and most beneficial infrastructure projects,” Conley said.

“We will continue to work closely with Missouri policymakers to ensure the Grain Belt Express project can move forward with certainty and stability for Missouri workers and landowners.”

Hansen’s HB 1062 passed out of the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee with a 6-5 vote Monday. Sen. Wayne Wallingford, the committee chairman, called the bill “one of the toughest bills that I’ve heard since

I’ve been in the legislature” since he could see both sides’ points.

“We’re trying to balance two good things — in my mind — and see which one ends up being the best for the state of Missouri,” he told The Missouri Times.

“The bill is vital to protect the private property rights of all Missourians from eminent domain abuse,” Hansen told The Missouri Times then. “I look forward to continuing to work with my constituents, fellow representatives, and senators to ensure the bill receives the support and attention it needs to pass on from the Missouri Senate and make its way to Governor Parson’s desk.”

EMINENT DOMAIN BILL, TARGETING GRAIN BELT PROJECT, SURVIVES SENATE COMMITTEE VOTE Kaitlyn Schallhorn

A Senate committee advanced a House eminent domain bill — which would be greatly detrimental to the Grain Belt Clean Line project — Monday afternoon.

The Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee voted 6-5, with a technical amendment, to advance the legislation. HB 1062, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hansen, would limit private companies’ ability to use eminent domain to construct above-ground merchant lines.

All Democrats on the committee voted against the bill and were joined

by Republican Sens. Ed Emery and Bill White.

As proposed, the Grain Belt project would develop an overhead and direct transmission line spanning

approximately 780 miles delivering wind energy from western Kansas to utilities and consumers in Missouri and other states. It would extend through eight Missouri counties: Buchanan, Clinton, Caldwell, Carrol, Chariton, Monroe, Randolph, and Ralls.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has already given the green light for the Grain Belt project.

“This is probably one of the toughest bills that I’ve heard since I’ve been in the legislature because I could argue both points,” Sen. Wayne Wallingford, the committee’s Republican chairman, told The Missouri Times.

Wallingford said he supported what the Grain Belt project “is trying to do, but now you have to

understand individual property owners’ concerns.”

“We’re trying to balance two good things — in my mind — and see which one ends up being the best for the state of Missouri,” he said.

And on Monday, the committee decided in a close vote that property rights won out as the best interest for the state.

“The bill is vital to protect the private property rights of all Missourians from eminent domain abuse,” Hansen told The Missouri Times, thanking the Senate committee for advancing his bill.

“I look forward to continuing to work with my constituents, fellow representatives, and senators to ensure the bill receives the support and attention it needs to pass on from

the Missouri Senate and make its way to Governor Parson’s desk.”

The House passed Hansen’s bill last month, and the PSC unanimously approved a certificate of convenience and necessity for the project in March.

James Owen, executive director of Renew Missouri, previously dismissed the eminent domain legislation as a tactic that will only “add to the litigation that’s been attempting to halt this job-creating project for five years.”

“Ultimately, it won’t stop for many reasons, but leaders think this frivolous legislation will score points with some noisy constituents,” he told The Missouri Times. “So it’s another hurdle to creating jobs and bringing low-cost energy to Missouri.

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Disappointing, but misguided.”

Last week, the Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA), which has advocated on behalf of the Grain Belt project, sent a letter to the Missouri Senate urging lawmakers to oppose HB 1062.

“The Grain Belt Express project represents a rare opportunity for local businesses, residents, and property owners to jointly benefit, while creating a much-needed investment in the state’s infrastructure for low-cost energy,” the letter states.

“Missouri may never see another opportunity with the merits and advantages of the Grain Belt Express project.”

L E G I S L AT U R E

Senate hits the brakes on eminent domain language

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ST. LOUIS, Missouri When customers in the St. Louis area are looking for a pool table, a jukebox, or even a Skee-Ball machine, they turn to Amini’s, a local speciality-furniture store that’s been in the community since 1975. Still, competing with mass-market online retailers proved challenging for this brick-and-mortar store.

So Amini’s CEO Arash Amini–the son of founders Mack and Jeanna Amini–decided to expand the company’s digital presence.

Now Amini’s uses Google Ads to target potential customers, and relies on Google My Business to stay visible on Google Search.

This new digital strategy helps Arash put e-commerce at the center of his plans for the business’ future.

Millions of Americans, like Arash, are growing their businesses with Google’s help.

Arash Amini Amini’s

Last year, Google helped provide $2.98 billion of economic activity for Missouri businesses, website publishers, and nonprofits. Read more at google.com/economicimpact

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PEOPLE

Freshmen to Watch: Representative Doug Richey Kaden Quinn Doug Richey is already a pastor, law enforcement chaplain, and adjunct professor. Now, he’s added state representative to his resume.

“I decided to run out of a desire to steward my civic responsibilities,” Richey, a Republican representing the 38th district, told The Missouri Times. “I believe that we ought to be involved as we can be in light of how we’re wired and gifted and available.

Looking at where I was at the time, what I enjoyed doing, and the needs that I saw, compelled me to step into the arena.”

Because of his time working in all three different jobs, Richey said he believes he has developed a strong likeness towards people both insideand-out of the state legislature. As he continues his work as a representative, Richey hopes this can give him a better understanding of legislation and help build relationships with his fellow legislators as well.

“In each of those responsibilities, I’ve had to serve a broad audience, and I think that in each of those roles you learn to value people,” Richey said. “Spending as much time as I have in those respective roles, it has helped me to not only enjoy people, but to know how to interact with

them in a way that is both respectful as well as respecting of the various limitations that we all have to deal with as to how we address the issues or concerns of the day. I think in each of those roles, and similarly, in this particular responsibility, you have to value people, you have to enjoy people, you also have to enjoy critical thinking and analytical work to have the wherewithal to arrive at a decision.”

“I have found that all that I have done throughout my life really has in many ways prepared me for this particular role,” he continued. “I’m grateful for that because it makes my being able to work within this position not only enjoyable but much more productive.”

During session, Richey has found he is most proud of his work on the House Budget Committee. While he might have had a handle on the personal side of politics, Richey firmly believes the committee has helped him acquire a better grasp of state government as a whole, giving him insight on what legislation would serve the state and what issues need to be prioritized.

“I asked to serve on the budget committee because I believe if you

want to understand all things state government, budget is where you need to go,” Richey said. “I have learned a lot serving on this first session in the budget committee. I think one way is just continuing to work within that budget context, to make sure that we are doing everything we can with the dollars that are available to meet the prioritized needs that the state has identified. I think that’s extremely important.”

Richey’s priorities in the legislature range from protecting constitutional liberties to public safety. But during this session his main focus has been on three bills in particular: HB 703, which would allow taxpayers to donate a portion of tax returns to the Kansas City Regional Law Enforcement Memorial Garden; HB 730, which modifies reimbursements for electronic monitoring; and HB 971, which seeks to protect infants born alive after a failed abortion procedure.

“I think that all of those three bills, each in their own right, are very important, and I’m excited to be a part of that process and have them cross the finish line,” Richey stated.

NARAL PRO-CHOICE MISSOURI NAMES MALLORY SCHWARZ AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR After an extensive and rigorous search, the NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri Board of Directors and staff are proud to announce that Mallory Schwarz has been selected as the organization’s new Executive Director. Mallory will officially assume the role on June 19, 2019.

“We are very excited to welcome Mallory Schwarz as our new Executive Director,” said NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri Board President, Leah Boersig. “With more than a decade of professional and personal experience advocating for comprehensive reproductive healthcare, Mallory has the knowledge, vision and dedication to ensure NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri will continue to lead the fight for reproductive freedom in our state.”

Mallory is a champion of women’s health and reproductive rights who has dedicated her career to ensuring access to a scope of reproductive healthcare options. She joins NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri after serving as the Manager of Federal Affairs representing the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the nation’s leading women’s health physician organization. Mallory is also the founder and director of the DC General Community Health Fair, an event serving more than 300 families experiencing homelessness in our nation’s capital, and formerly the Director of Government Relations for Republican Majority for Choice, a pro-choice issue advocacy organization advocating for policy

change within the Republican Party.

Mallory has strong roots at NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri, where she served as the organization’s Political and Field Organizer.

“Joining the NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri team is a homecoming,” said Schwarz. “I started my career in public health advocacy as an intern at this organization and am honored to apply my expertise in women’s health policy and passion for reproductive justice to ensure all Missourians have access to reproductive healthcare, including safe, legal abortion — without shame or stigma. I look forward to working with the NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri board and staff to continue to fight for and protect reproductive freedom for all in Missouri.”

Republicans nominate Lee Ann Pitman for vacant HD 99 seat Alisha Shurr

Helping her youngest child, who had a learning disability, navigate the school system taught her how to effectively advocate; aiding her ailing mother has exposed deficiencies in state statutes; and working as a senior accountant has developed her problem-solving and analytical skills.

Lee Ann Pitman wants to put it all together to represent the people of her community in the Missouri General Assembly.

“Now that my youngest is graduating high school, it is time for me to take the opportunity to give back and serve the people,” Pitman told the Missouri Times.

The 49-year-old has been selected by the Republican Party as its nominee for the vacant House seat representing part of St. Louis County.

On Nov. 5, Pitman will go up against Democrat Trish Gunby in the race for HD 99.

Gov. Mike Parson called the special election for the district following the resignation of Jean Evans, who was

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months into her second term. Evans is now the executive director of the Missouri Republican Party.

In the 2018 general election, the district elected Evans, a Republican, to the House while simultaneously voting to side with Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, for U.S. Senate.

“A lot of people just want someone to listen to them,” said Pitman. “I think the key is going out, knocking doors, and talking to the people in the district, learning what is really important to them.”

She noted that she brings a lot of skills and advantages to the table.

Pitman described herself as detailed, research-oriented, and rational with a level head. Life has taught her it’s okay to say “I don’t know, I need to go research that,” she said.

“I don’t go out and do things without information,” said Pitman.

“I’ve learned today I have a lot to learn. I am willing to put the effort in to do that.”

14

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C U LT U R E

Lobbyist Moves

State officials memorialize fallen law enforcement officers in solemn service Kaitlyn Schallhorn In the shadow of the Capitol, state officials and loved ones gathered for a solemn memorial service Saturday to remember and honor Missouri’s law enforcement officials killed in the line of duty.

The names of four men and women who died in 2018 were added to the Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial overlooking the Missouri River on Saturday — the 25th anniversary of the monument. Five others killed in earlier years were also added during the emotional service.

Those added were: Clinton Police Officer Christopher Ryan Morton, who was fatally shot on March 6, 2018 while responding to a 911 call FBI Special Agent Melissa S. Morrow, who died on March 22, 2018 from brain cancer that developed from her work on the search and recovery efforts at the

Pentagon following the 9/11 terrorist attacks Miller County Deputy Sheriff Casey L. Shoemate, who was killed in a car crash on April 20, 2018 while responding to a fire Greene County Deputy Sheriff Aaron Paul Roberts, who was killed on September 7, 2018 after his patrol car was swept into flood waters as he was responding to a 911 hangup call “Whenever there is a line of duty death, we know it hits the departments in a special way, and we also know the families of the fallen are always thinking of their loved ones,” Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten told The Missouri Times. “So today it’s important as the 25th anniversary of the memorial here … we continue to remember the service and sacrifices that the families have endured.”

Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Litigation Cris Stevens said

“it’s not enough” just to remember those who have been killed and their families.

“Let’s also remember those on patrol out there today. I ask not only that we keep our fallen law enforcement officers in our memorials and in our prayers, but that we support and defend those continuing the fight just like they’re sworn to support and defend our laws and our constitution,” Stevens said during the event.

Others included on the memorial Saturday were: Greene County Deputy Sheriff John Henry Keller who was attacked by an inmate in July 1895; Barren Fork Township Constable Joday Wilson who was fatally shot in March 1905; Macon Police Department Officer Claude W. Whyles who was fatally shot in February 1936; Missouri Department of Liquor Control Agent Thomas Jefferson Greer who died of

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a heart attack while responding to a call in February 1971; and Steele Police Department Chief William Edward Stanfield who died of a heart attack while responding to a call in May 1971.

Families and loved ones of officers killed in the line of duty solemnly placed white flowers on a memorial wreath during the ceremony as the names of the deceased were read.

Gov. Mike Parson did not attend Saturday’s event but has called for the state Capitol to be lit blue for a week in honor of Missouri’s fallen law enforcement officials.

“Law enforcement officers in Missouri and throughout our nation protect us every day without secondguessing the potential impacts on them,” Parson said in a statement.

“They selflessly spring into action to maintain the safety of others, and sadly, some give their lives doing so.”

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