Missouri Times | Jan. 8, 2020 by Missouri Times

The Missouri Times

MEET MISSOURIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FIRST FEMALE SENATOR | PAGE 12

NEW CAPITOL POLICE CHIEF NAMED | PAGE 15

MAY TORNADO STILL IMPACTING CAPITOL | PAGE 2 JANUARY 8, 2020

TORNADO AFTERMATH STILL IMPACTING CAPITOL PAGE 2

REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP DISMISSES GUN CONTROL EFFORTS

PAGE 9

CERES RETURNS

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AFTERMATH OF MAY TORNADO STILL TAKING TOLL Kaitlyn Schallhorn

It was just after 11 p.m. on May 22 when Shanon Hawk went to bed. But before she could fall asleep, she received a text message from the Cole County sheriff with a dire message: “Seek shelter immediately.” Hawk and her partner, Sam, didn’t take the warning lightly. They quickly fled to the basement bathroom of the home where Hawk had lived for 30 years, keeping track of the storm on their cell phones even after the power went out. But it wasn’t long before they didn’t need a radar map to know where it was. Doors blew open, nearly all the windows began to shatter, the basement’s ceiling tiles sucked outside, and the roof damaged by wind and water. Shards of glass and insulation flew all around. “When the tornado came, it seemed like the longest thing in the world, but I know it was probably actually very, very fast,” Hawk, legislative affairs director for Armstrong Teasdale, recalled. After the tornado, Hawk and her partner had to kick down doors in order to get out of the basement. And then she saw what the tornado had left in its wake: mangled trees in the front lawn, a nearly gutted house, a neighbor’s roof peacefully sprawled across her lawn, her own roof missing. The tornado took Hawk’s home that day — but not her resolve. She will still get emotional driving to that house, the path of the tornado still plainly evident. But she’s standing up to the insurance company as workers rebuild the house so she can sell it; she has moved into a new place in Cole County, a home where she can feel settled as the legislative ses-

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sion begins, and is still picking through her very own possessions, what responders deemed “salvageable.” “It was important to feel settled. And for me, it was important to get some stability before session,” Hawk said. “We’re still going through the boxes and learning what we still have.” Hawk estimated she has spent about $20,000 out of pocket on clothes, furniture, and other necessities since the tornado ripped through in May. “I’m blessed to have survived and have enough money to get through it, but what about the people who don’t have a lot of resources? Even if they have insurance, what are they supposed to do? Or what if they have children?” Hawk said. The grace of humanity in the aftermath of the storm isn’t lost on Hawk — even as she continues to deal with the wreckage and heal. Local churches sent food and gift cards and colleagues around the Capitol brought help. Brent and Deanna Hemphill picked debris out of her yard. Neighbors banded together. And the firm where she works stepped in as well, letting Hawk live in an apartment attached to its office in downtown Jefferson City. She had shelter, a place to go where she could shower, cook meals, and sleep. One less thing to worry about. “People will be recovering from this for a long time,” Hawk said. “It’s not just about the structural damage, it’s a lot of emotional damage we’re still going through. Our house was in the direct line. We were hit very hard. It was very traumatic, and it’s going to take a while to heal.”

HOT LIST

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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The Kansas City Chiefs are heading to the playoffs after clinching the No. 2 seed in the AFC. And Mayor Quinton Lucas knew just who to thank. After the Patriots fell to the Dolphins last week, the mayor sent some Kansas City barbecue to Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.

CAMPAIGN SEASON

It’s a new year, and we’re officially in the heart of the 2020 campaign season. State Sen. Bill Eigel is hitting the ground running with a unanimous endorsement from the St. Charles County GOP Committee for his re-election bid.

DOWNTOWN COFFEE

As everyone descends on Jefferson City for the start of a new legislative session, The Missouri Times’ editor is especially grateful for all the local coffee shops sure to get her through the next few months.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Dana Rademan Miller @DanaRademan A big thank-you to the @MoCapitolPolice for folding the Missouri flag that flew with @Ceres_MO for both her descent one year ago as well as her return to the dome today.

Tweets of the Week Highlights in 280 characters or less.

Trish Gunby @TrishForMo Signing first prefiled bill - Bill 1929 relating to gun safety. #TrishToJeff

Mike Parson @GovParsonMO Today, we announced our consent to initial refugee resettlement in Missouri in response to Executive Order 13888 signed by President Trump.

Eric Schmitt @Eric_Schmitt A new year and new challenges and I am committed to being part of the solution when it comes to violent crime in our state. People deserve to feel safe and as prosecutors we have an important role to play in making our communities safer. #moleg

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Missouri’s rich outdoor heritage

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OPINION

Tyler Schwartze, Executive Director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri

Missouri is the number one state in the nation for conservation and outdoor recreation. Let that sink in. We strive to be the top state in the nation in various categories, and sometimes fall short, but not when it comes to hunting, fishing, hiking, floating, bird watching, camping, recreation and so many other unique outdoor opportunities. We must work together to protect what we all love and cherish, so that future generations have the same great opportunities that we have. We are proud to be the only state in the nation with two dedicated sales taxes that we, the voters of Missouri, self-imposed to furnish enjoyment of the great outdoors. Very few states have one tax, let alone two that can help us lead healthier and happier lives. This Missouri Model of Conservation, as it’s known nationally and even worldwide, is the envy of every other state. Before 1935 our fish, forests and wildlife had become extremely decimated. The rebound began when sportsmen and conservationists from all over Missouri came together in Columbia at the Tiger Hotel to make sure future generations, which is now our generation, would not suffer any greater from the effects of

over-harvesting and depleting the resources. Our conservation founders devised a solution that was as simple as it was revolutionary. It resulted in the creation of Missouri’s non-partisan Conservation Commission, and ultimately the Missouri Department of Conservation. Then in 1976 the Design for Conservation Sales Tax was added to the Constitution by the voters. The Parks and Soils Sales tax again passed overwhelmingly in 2016. Over 80% of Missouri voters said, “Yes” to supporting state parks, clean water, less erosion, and much more. In this day and age, it’s pretty impressive that 4 out of 5 people said yes, that they care about preserving our natural resources in the Show-Me State. Can you imagine if we had to pay entrance fees to get into our state parks or visit a conservation area? What if we had to pay to launch at a boat ramp, hike a trail, or visit a nature center? Luckily we don’t have to. Travel to any number of neighboring states and see how much it costs to pay to play. We certainly are lucky and cannot let making important memories with our kids and grandkids get taken advantage of or taken away from us.

MORE LEGAL REFORM NEEDED FOR MISSOURI Jerry M. Hunter, partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

A career in employment and labor law has shown me just how devastating unwarranted lawsuits can be for businessowners in all industries. Too often, employers in the U.S. face costly lawsuits that trial attorneys use as a means of scoring big fees from bloated settlement agreements or courtroom wins. For many small-business owners, however, the costs of fighting and settling these lawsuits represent a serious economic challenge to running their business. This is especially true here in Missouri. Right now, there are too many avenues for ill-intentioned trial lawyers to use as a pathway for filing more meritless lawsuits that hurt employers across the state. For the sake of building a more robust business climate that treats employers and workers fairly in all workplace disputes, the Missouri Legislature needs to undertake significant reforms to curb lawsuit abuse in the upcoming 2020 legislative session. One of the top priorities for lawmakers moving into the 2020 session should be limiting punitive damages that can be awarded by Missouri courts. Punitive damages are supposed to be a way for courts to punish genuine and verifiable wrongdoing. However, rather than using it as intended, attorneys in Missouri too often use punitive damages as a sort of add-on to their claims so they can drive up settlement amounts, and in turn increase the fees they are able to

collect from the case. By implementing reforms that require attorneys to more sufficiently prove the need for punitive damages, we can discourage this practice and help keep legal costs down for employers in the process. This way, employers are not subjected to unnecessarily harsh damages simply so plaintiffs’ attorneys can drastically increase the amount in fees that they are able to collect at the conclusion of the case. Another issue for the Missouri Legislature to address in its upcoming session is the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA). MMPA was originally designed to allow the attorney general to bring claims on behalf of the state’s consumers, but plaintiffs’ lawyers have since turned it into justification for private lawsuits and class-action cases in pursuit of disproportionate damage awards, including the punitive damages mentioned above. In each of the past five legislative sessions, state lawmakers have proposed reforms to MMPA, all of which ultimately came up short. Now, it is time for the legislature to take up the issue once again and finally pass changes that can better align MMPA with its original intent of protecting consumers without putting small-business owners at risk of lawsuits in the process. However, these are only two of the many problems fueling Missouri’s lawsuit crisis. There are

still plenty of more things for the legislature to address that can rein in all the litigation facing the state’s employers. One other issue is arbitration in employment contracts. Arbitration is both a less costly and more efficient way for all parties to address workplace issues than litigation. However, it has faced continued attacks at both the state and federal level as trial attorneys push to limit arbitration in favor of lawsuits, which are often far more lucrative for the plaintiff attorneys. The Missouri legislature must buck this trend and pass legislation to authorize greater use of arbitration in employment and other litigation matters. The Missouri Legislature showed last year that it was willing and able to pass legal reforms that can curb unnecessary lawsuits when it passed legislation to prevent out-of-state attorneys from venue shopping in our courts. Now, they must continue those efforts in 2020 so that Missouri businesses no longer have to constantly be on guard for the next frivolous lawsuit. A healthy business climate is vital to a healthy state economy. Because of this, it is our state legislature’s responsibility to be on the watch for things that put Missouri businessowners at risk. To fulfill this responsibility, reforms that bring a halt to lawsuit abuse must be at the top of lawmakers’ dockets in the upcoming legislative session.

Even today, with so many free outdoor recreational activities and opportunities that we have at our fingertips, Missouri is at the pinnacle of the conservation world. So we will continue to speak up and let our voices in the outdoors be heard loud and clear. I urge you to find your outdoor passion and get outside and enjoy all the fantastic opportunities that abound in Missouri. Bike the Katy Trail, duck hunt on a conservation area, or catch a trout at one of our beautiful parks. Go camping, floating, or fishing in a clear Ozark stream. You support them, why not enjoy them. We didn’t always have it so good, and many people in our state have fought hard over the decades to preserve these things for us to enjoy today. So together, we will continue to defend the will of the people outlined in our Constitution. We will protect and preserve our rich outdoor heritage at all costs because that is what we the people of Missouri decided. Come and join me outside, and let’s enjoy our beautiful state together.

EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE BY EXPANDING THE ROLE OF NURSES Jeremy Cady, AFP state director; Craig Eichelman AARP Missouri state director It’s no secret that the U.S. faces health care challenges in the years ahead — with an aging population, anticipated doctor shortages, and numerous other issues. Missouri isn’t exempt from these problems, but the good news is that the state legislature has the opportunity to adopt common-sense reforms that are working in other states that would improve health care and alleviate the coming shortages. While the data are clear that America will need more physicians in the years ahead, there are already signs that America’s doctors are stretched too thin today. Besides the many troubling reports about rural communities underserved by physicians, the American Medical Association reports that 44 percent of U.S. physicians exhibited at least one symptom of burnout in 2017 — down from the 2014 peak, but still alarmingly high. Even more troubling is that things are likely to get worse. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the U.S. could face a shortage of about 122,000 physicians by 2032, as our over-65 population grows by nearly 50 percent. American physicians are aging along with the rest of the population — with about one-third of all active doctors expected to be older than 65 in 10 years — creating the potential for higher-thanexpected retirement numbers. This demographic time bomb presents a special challenge for Missouri. Only 17 states have

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more residents over the age of 65. And our state has seen eight acute hospitals in rural areas close in the past five years, leaving 44 counties without a hospital. As the shortage of physicians grows in the years ahead, rural areas are expected to be hurt more than other areas. But doctors aren’t the only people who can care for patients. The number of physicians’ assistants (PAs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) is likely to continue growing. These skilled professionals represent a valuable resource and a part of the solution to our challenges. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners includes Missouri among just a dozen “restricted practice” states — meaning the ability of a nurse practitioner to engage in at least one element of NP practice is restricted. Dozens of other states — including Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, and Arkansas — allow greater flexibility for nurse practitioners to do things such as evaluate patients, interpret diagnostic tests, and start and manage treatments. The fact is, nurse practitioners are already trained and qualified to perform these tasks. The problem is that state laws do not permit them — except with the supervision of a doctor. This is a waste of talent and training — one that unfairly limits them, and also undermines quality of care. Our laws should allow them to practice the full extent of their medical expertise — independent

of a doctor’s supervision, if they choose. Missouri’s rules dealing with physicians’ assistants and advance practice registered nurses are outdated, and they are holding down the quality of health care in our state. Rural and underserved areas are feeling the pain of these shortsighted policies as much as any part of the state — probably more. As Missouri’s health care needs grow in the years ahead, these burdensome restrictions will grow more costly and damaging. Expanding the role of nurses would also expand choice for consumers. It would mean more providers for the many services for which nurses are qualified, and it would liberate doctors to focus more on services that nurses are not qualified to offer. That’s a winwin for patients — greater access to care and a greater focus from Medical Doctors in critical areas. It also increases the likelihood that underserved communities will get the care they need. What’s more, there’s no shortage of good examples of how these reforms might work in practice. Because numerous states already empower nurse practitioners to do more to help patients, we can look at what has worked and adopt those changes here. Reforming scope-of-practice laws is a great first step toward expanding and improving health care for some of the neediest communities in our state. We can’t afford not to act.

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C A M PA I G N S DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS GALLOWAY NABS ASSOCIATION SAYS ABORTION CHRIS SLOAN AS FIGHT WILL ‘DRASTICALLY ALTER’ MISSOURI IN 2020 CAMPAIGN MANAGER Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Kaitlyn Schallhorn The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) said it has “excitement” about the 2020 Missouri gubernatorial race — but specifically pointed to the ongoing abortion fight as having the potential to “drastically alter” the contest, according to a memo obtained by The Missouri Times. The national Democratic gubernatorial campaign organization said its polling of 921 likely voters in November pointed to a “huge problem” for Republican Gov. Mike Parson over abortion. Parson faces Auditor Nicole Galloway, a Democrat, in the race. According to the memo, 20 percent of Republicans and 20 percent of voters who supported President Trump said the abortion law Parson signed last year “will make them less likely to support” Parson in 2020. Additionally, 60 percent of independent voters pointed to the law as a reason for not

supporting him in the upcoming election. Parson one of the nation’s strictest abortion laws, banning the procedure after eight weeks, in 2019. It included nestled components prohibiting abortions at 14, 18, and 20 weeks — designed to withstand court challenges. However, just before it was set to go into effect, U.S. District Judge Howard Sachs, appointed to the court by former President Jimmy Carter, blocked the law. The state has appealed. Missouri Republican Party Executive Director Jean Evans pointed to Parson’s high favorability in Missouri, saying his tenure at the helm of Missouri has been one of “peace and quiet and wage growth and job growth.” “When you’re trying to persuade people and paint him as some kind of criminal, that’s going to be difficult because he’s already defined himself as

a likable person who is committed to the state and has steadied the ship, so to speak,” Evans told The Missouri Times. Aside from the abortion issue, the DGA memo claimed Parson “has not cemented his position among Missouri voters.” It said four in 10 Missourians cannot “rate the job he is doing.” “The results show the race is wide open, Republican Governor Mike Parson is vulnerable, State Auditor Nicole Galloway has unique cross-party appeal, and with the right resources this race will be close until the finish,” the two-page memo, dated Nov. 20, said. The DGA, chaired by Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, said it surveyed 921 likely 2020 voters from Nov. 14-15. However, it did not specify a further breakdown of the demographics of those polled. Trump has already endorsed Parson for a full term in office.

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Auditor Nicole Galloway has nabbed former labor operative Chris Sloan to lead her gubernatorial campaign. “I’m thrilled to join Nicole Galloway’s team and to hit the ground running,” Sloan said in a statement. “We are going to build a grassroots campaign that will empower communities across Missouri to take back Jefferson City. Nicole’s candidacy offers the people a new way for Missouri, by putting the needs of working families ahead of connected insiders.” Sloan most recently served as campaign manager for Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, who won a close race over Republican Adam Laxalt to become the first Democrat to lead the state in two decades. Prior to joining the Sisolak campaign in the 2018 midterms, Sloan worked at the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) for about 10 years, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was the longtime director of government affairs for IUPAT. Sloan’s ties to organized labor could come as an asset to Galloway, particularly given Republican Gov. Mike Parson’s support for right-to-work proposals in the past. However, as governor, Parson has strongly backed workforce develop-

ment and infrastructure initiatives. Galloway has garnered large donations from the United Auto Workers (UAW). The UAW gave $50,000 to a political action committee in support of the auditor’s gubernatorial bid in August and another $30,000 in September. It gave $50,000 in 2018 as well. Meanwhile, Parson tapped Steele Shippy with leading his re-election campaign. Shippy previously served as the governor’s communications director. “The Governor’s office is a special place, and I will miss working alongside a tremendous team of dedicated and committed public servants,” Shippy said. “I will, however, continue to be a strong advocate for Governor Parson’s bold agenda to reform state government, rebuild our infrastructure, and develop Missouri’s workforce. It’s time to get to work on Team Parson 2020.” Shippy led Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s campaign to victory in 2016 and is the former executive assistant to Mike Huckabee, a previous Republican presidential candidate. Shippy has experience with grassroots coalitions and ballot initiatives, including Missouri’s right to Farm and Voter ID constitutional amendments.

JILL SCHUPP LAUNCHES BID FOR US CONGRESS Staff Reports

State Sen. Jill Schupp has announced she is running for U.S. Congress in the 2nd district, a seat held by Republican Congresswoman Ann Wagner. Schupp, a Democrat, officially announced her candidacy in early December after weeks of speculation. “Suburban St. Louis deserves a representative in Washington who will put our families first – not the lobbyists and the special interests who are currently running the show,” Schupp said. “I will work across the aisle to find common ground to solve issues our families deal with every day — to ensure our schools are safe, our tax code prioritizes families, and that people are able to afford the medicine they need. The special interests have plenty of lobbyists in Washington, it’s time my neighbors finally have someone fighting for them.” Schupp has represented SD 24, which includes St. Louis County, since 2014. Term limits prevent her from re-election to the seat again.

Prior to her time in the Senate, Schupp served as a state representative and on the Ladue School Board and Creve Coeur City Council. She is a former public elementary school teacher. “People are tired of name-calling in DC,” Schupp said on social media. “Since my school board days, people have elected me [because] they trust me to work on their behalf [and] find common ground to get things done.” In the General Assembly, Schupp founded the Missouri Veterans History Project and has pushed for legislation pertaining to education, health care, and senior citizens. Wagner has represented the 2nd district since 2013. She is a former U.S. ambassador and chairwoman of the Missouri Republican Party. Wagner defeated Democratic candidate Cort VanOstran by about 4 percentage points in the 2018 midterm elections. Both women have championed efforts to increase access to rape kits.

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ROBERT ROSS OFFICIALLY JUMPS INTO STATE SENATE RACE Staff Reports State Rep. Robert Ross has officially launched his state Senate campaign for SD 33. Ross, a Republican who has represented HD 142 in southern Missouri since 2013, was expected to jump into the race to replace term-limited Sen. Mike Cunningham. GOP state Rep. Karla Eslinger officially entered the race in the fall. “With the near constant attack from an ever-growing state and federal bureaucracy, now is not the time for on the job training,” Ross said in an email to supporters. “I have the proven record to be ready on day one to fight for us in Jefferson City as our next state senator.” “I saw this as an opportunity to continue serving an area and the people that I love here — being able to fight for their values and their interests in a building that always has competing opinions about everything,” Ross told The Missouri Times in an interview. Ross is a professional land surveyor in his district, a job he said has “taught [him] the importance of wise planning and having a clear vision — traits we see less and less of in government.” He pointed to his efforts of advocating for gun and individual property rights as proof he has “led the charge in protecting our rural values every day.” But Ross noted his work with the House Budget Committee, on which he’s served for seven years, has been a particular point of pride — especially his work to remove funding to abortion providers

through the appropriations process. (The state is in a legal dispute with Planned Parenthood over appropriations for the 2019 fiscal year.) Through the budget process, Ross said he serves as a “watchdog to the taxpayers” who is “continuing to advocate for accountability for how tax dollars are spent.” Aside from his work on the Budget Committee, Ross has chaired the House Government Oversight and Professional Registration and Licensing committees while in the General Assembly. Cunningham, a Republican from Rogersville, has already endorsed Esling-

er. But Ross said his experience, accomplishments, and relationships with other legislatures will make him stand out among the SD 33 constituents. “Robert Ross has been a solid conservative in the House,” Jim Lembke, senior advisor to the Conservative Leadership PAC, told The Missouri Times. “He will be a welcome addition to the Senate.” Ross reported having nearly $127,000 cash on hand at the end of the October quarterly filing. Eslinger, on the other hand, reported nearly $800. And former Rep. Van Kelly’s active campaign committee for the district had more than $86,000 at the end of October.

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION INITIATIVE PETITION APPROVED TO CIRCULATE Kaitlyn Schallhorn An initiative petition changing the Missouri constitution to legalize marijuana has been approved to circulate by the Secretary of State’s Office. The approved ballot language asks voters about removing prohibitions on recreational use and possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for those at least 21 years old. It also would allow the cultivation of up to three plants for personal use. Additionally, the initiative petition seeks to remove prohibitions on commercial cultivation, manufacture, and sale of marijuana from state-licensed facilities. It would also allow people who have certain

marijuana-related offenses to have an opportunity to seek a reduction in sentences and expunged records. The petition, if approved, would impose a 15 percent sales tax on the retail sale of marijuana which would go toward a new “Veterans, Infrastructure, and Health Fund.” After taxes are collected by the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the local government where the sale occurred, the remaining amount collected would be split evenly between: • A Missouri veterans commission or agency for health care and other services for mili-

tary veterans and families The State Road Fund for constructing and maintaining Missouri highways • DHSS for grants for agencies and other non-profits to increase access to drug addiction treatment and overdose prevention and reversal The initiative petition also seeks to amend some aspects of the already-passed medicinal marijuana provision to the state constitution. Specifically, it would make patient and primary caregiver cards valid for three years. •

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“State government entities are expected to have one-time costs of $21 million, annual costs from $6 million to unknown, and annual revenues from $86 million to $155 million by 2025,” the ballot language said. “Local governments estimate unknown costs and are expected to have annual revenues from $17 million to $27 million by 2025.” The petition, 2020-126, was filed by Deirdre Hirner of Jefferson City on Oct. 18.

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L E G I S L AT U R E

2020 LEGISLATION: A LOOK AT WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THIS YEAR Kaitlyn Schallhorn

With a little more than a month before lawmakers were due back in Jefferson City for the 2020 legislative session, pre-filing opened. The pre-filing process, annually set for the beginning of December, gives lawmakers a chance to set the stage for the upcoming session. Read on for an overview of bills and priorities brought up during prefiling.

GAMING

Sen. Denny Hoskins is once again putting forth legislation aimed at legalizing and setting regulations for sports betting and video lottery terminals (VLTs). Hoskins’ VLT bill, similar to legislation filed last year, would allow the Missouri Lottery Commission to implement VLTs and control the issuance of licenses to operators, retailers, and more. The bill would allow for VLTs to be placed in veteran and fraternal organizations, truck stops, and establishments serving

alcohol. The Republican state senator is also championing legislation that would allow the commission to set guidelines for and allow lottery games based on sporting events involving at least two teams. The bill included a provision for royalty fees, or integrity fee, of 0.0025 percent to the registered sports body. That royalty fee is also applied to NCAA basketball and football games. Sen. Dave Schatz also filed legislation giving the Missouri Gaming Commission authority to investigate and hamper illegal gaming in the state. The legislation follows a series of hearings held by state representatives during the interim.

MEDICAID EXPANSION

Democratic Sen. Jill Schupp is pushing legislation to expand MO HealthNet, Missouri’s Medicaid

program. The bill would expand eligibility to those who make less than $17,000 per year. “A consequence of Missouri’s current policy is that hundreds of thousands of Missourians have to choose between having a job and having health care coverage. This is wrong and it must change,” Schupp said in a statement. “Years of excuses have left Missouri lagging behind other states which have already improved and expanded Medicaid.”

injuries and have a total disability rating of at least 80 percent per the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Sen. Scott Sifton filed a bill modifying certain property tax provisions. His SB 547 would increase the amount St. Louis County residents can request for reimbursement after successfully appealing a property tax assessment to $6,000 for residential and the lesser of $10,000 or 25 percent of the tax savings from the appeal for others.

Several lawmakers across the board have pointed to property tax issues as a priority for 2020. Sen. Bill Eigel told The Missouri Times he filed a constitutional amendment that would limit the amount a property assessment could increase in a year. And Rep. Sonya Anderson also pre-filed a constitutional amendment. Hers would create a real and personal property tax exemption for veterans who suffer from combat-related

GOP Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer is tackling violent crime with several pieces of legislation he has filed. One bill addresses organized crime while another would strengthen penalties for individuals who use guns and other dangerous weapons to commit felonies. The latter would also increase mandatory sentences. Another bill would eliminate probation for repeat and “dangerous” offenders.

PROPERTY TAXES

VIOLENT CRIME

Sen. Bob Onder, too, filed legislation which would increase the minimum penalty for someone who is convicted of a felony while using a dangerous weapon to no less than five years in prison. Now, the minimum sentence is three years.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

Sen. Kiki Curls, who was the first to pre-file bills under Senate rules, is once again championing changes to the expungement process. Her SB 519 would allow legal aid organizations or clinics the ability to obtain information from the Missouri Central Repository as opposed to just private entities related to probation supervision. Additionally, Sen. Jamilah Nasheed has filed legislation which would allow certain individuals on probation or parole after a felony conviction the right to vote.

KOENIG, KELLY FILE BILLS TO STREAMLINE RAPE KIT TESTING PROCESS FOLLOWING AG REPORT Kaitlyn Schallhorn Following the Missouri attorney general’s audit of the more than 6,000 untested sexual assault kits in the state, Sen. Andrew Koenig and Rep. Hannah Kelly pre-filed legislation aimed at streamlining the process and making it easier for victims to track the status. “If there are rapists out there because there are kits not getting tested, then that’s a huge problem,” Koenig said. “It was one of the first bills I filed so it is going to be one of my top priorities.” Koenig’s SB 569 mandates medical providers, law enforcement agencies, court personnel, labs, and other appropriate entities participate in the state’s electronic tracking system. It also lays out a way for sexual assault victims or advocates to track and receive reports and updates on the status of the evidentiary collection kit through a secured electronic system.

The bill would require the Department of Public Safety to create a central repository to keep and preserve unreported kits for 30 years. A d d i t i o n a l l y, the bill streamlines the testing process. State statute now requires kits and each individual component be tracked separately — something the attorney general’s report called “extremely burdensome” that has the potential to “compromise the integrity of the kit for no additional tracking benefit.” Koenig’s bill would allow the testing and tracking of kits as a whole, which mirrored the attorney general’s recommendation. “It’s something I’ve known has been

a problem for a while so I wanted to do something in that space, and then when the [attorney general] sent out his report, it gave me some guidelines on how to fix the problem,” Koenig said. Kelly’s HB 1815 is the mirror version of Koenig’s bill. “I believe that life is precious, and when there is a crime committed against a life in these situations, we have these kits that — once processed — bring justice to the victims and their families,” Kelly said. “I believe that it’s a serious responsibility of the legislature to ensure that the victims and their families see justice.” Matthew Huffman, public affairs director for the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (MCADSV), said he was “encouraged” to see many of the attorney general’s recommendations mirrored in the legislation.

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“With the attorney general’s release of the statewide untested sexual assault kit inventory, we basically know from those results, as a state, we have let down survivors of sexual violence,” Huffman said. “It is our hope that moving forward, this is a priority for our state.” The audit, released in November, revealed 6,157 kits remained untested across Missouri and identified an additional 830 that might need to be retested. Jackson County had the highest rate of untested kits, and Moniteau County had the lowest, according to the report. Attorney General Eric Schmitt has made tackling the rape kit backlog a priority for his tenure in office. “It’s important to remember these kits are not just numbers. They are not

footnotes to the reporting of a crime. They represent real human beings, who have suffered, confronted their fears, reported the assault, and submitted a kit,” Schmitt said in a statement when the report was released. “A kit that may have been put on a shelf and remained untested — until now.”

“It’s important to remember these kits are not just numbers.”

The Missouri Times

REP. TRENT SEEKS TO CHANGE MISSOURI O’LAUGHLIN’S TAX CREDIT CONSTITUTION TO ENSURE ‘ONLY’ US COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE CITIZENS CAN VOTE IN STATE ELECTIONS THROUGH LEGISLATIVE SESSION Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Kaitlyn Schallhorn Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, chairwoman of the Interim Committee on Tax Credit Efficiency and Reform, announced the group has gotten the green light to continue throughout the legislative session. The interim committee, which held four meetings since late July, was tasked with examining the state’s large — and at times convoluted — tax credit programs. At what was set to be the final meeting in December, O’Laughlin announced Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz had granted approval for the committee to continue on during session. “My main goal is to ensure we have accountability and hard factual data with which legislators can make decisions. We do not have that at this moment,” O’Laughlin said during an interview. She said she wanted “further review” into how tax credits are processed and value is determined. “In the private sector world, data is the deciding factor. We have inefficient and burdensome rules in place, in some cases, on the state side for processing tax credits,” O’Laughlin,

With legislation pre-filed in December, Rep. Curtis Trent hopes to change the state constitution to ensure “only” U.S. citizens can vote in Missouri elections. Trent’s HJR 75 would put before voters a change to the state constitution from saying “all” U.S. citizens can vote in Missouri elections to “only” U.S. citizens can participate. The Republican from HD 133 said his resolution was more of a preventative measure rather than one to fix a current problem, but “the clarification is necessary.” “The goal is just to stop this problem before it starts by putting this option before the public to vote to clarify whether the [state] constitution shall permit non-citizen voting,” Trent said. “I think the people should make a decision upfront and not wait for a future legislature or local municipality to start doing something the people haven’t had time to contemplate.” Trent pointed to North Dakota voters approving a similar constitutional amendment in 2018. “I just wanted to make sure that people know this is about protecting the integrity of our elections and about making sure that

a member of the Senate Conservative Caucus, said. Some of the rules and processes simply drive our costs higher.” O’Laughlin said she took the time to visit The Grove in St. Louis and found “value” in the Historic Preservation Tax Credit. And she’s open to looking into the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit further. But it’s data, particularly a replacement for the REMI model used by the Department of Economic Development, that has O’Laughlin’s focus. “I think all legislators would appreciate having legislation that they know is data-driven and could help them make better decisions,” she said. The next meeting has not yet but scheduled, but O’Laughlin said she still plans to chair the committee. Other members of the committee included Republican Sens. Mike Cierpiot, Bill Eigel, Dan Hegeman, Denny Hoskins, and Andrew Koenig as well as Democratic Sens. John Rizzo and Brian Williams.

people’s confidence in our institutions, that we can rely on elections for their legitimacy, is protected,” Trent said. Trent’s bill garnered early support among a few members of the Senate Conservative Caucus on social media as well. “Protecting the integrity of our elections is imperative,” Sen. Andrew Koenig, SD-15, said. “Happy to support [Trent] in his efforts to protect [Missouri] elections, said Bill Eigel, SD-23. “Integrity of our election process should be a top priority of every state and local official.” But the Missouri House Victory Committee, the campaign committee for House Democrats, said, “Let’s be clear, Curtis Trent is not only wasting taxpayer money with this but also using xenophobia and bigotry to advance his political career. He’s insulting Missourians by assuming they are not only bigots but assuming they are too dumb to know the law.” Trent is locked in a bid for floor leader with fellow Republican Reps. Dean Plocher and J. Eggleston.

Republican leaders vow to ‘protect’ gun rights for Missourians ahead of session Kaitlyn Schallhorn As legislators prepared to head back to Jefferson City, Republican lawmakers made a point to reaffirm their aversion to taking up strong gun control legislation during the upcoming session. Gov. Mike Parson held multiple meetings with a handful of metro area mayors this year as Kansas City and St. Louis, in particular, have grappled with an abundance of gun violence. Following a November meeting, news reports suggested the Republican governor agreed to back the mayors’ call for stronger gun control — among other things. But in a one-pager published Saturday, Parson said he has not “supported restricting law abiding citizens’ right to bear arms.” Instead, Parson said the three big takeaways from his meetings with the metro area mayors centered on witness protection, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and “keeping

guns out of the hands of violent criminals.” “I have never wavered in my support of the Second Amendment,” Parson said. “I firmly believe in protecting Missourians’ Second Amendment rights and will continue working with federal, state, local, and community partners to protect the citizens of our state. Over the past months, we have rolled up our sleeves, gotten to work, and identified the immediate actions we can take at the state level to keep Missouri citizens safe, while still protecting their Second Amendment rights.” Missouri Republican Party executive director Jean Evans defended Parson on a recent episode of “This Week in Missouri Politics,” noting, “Saying everything is on the table is completely different than saying, ‘I’m for gun control or I want red flag laws or I want any of those other things.’”

House Speaker Elijah Haahr and Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo, too, have vowed not to support policies that “infringe” on the “Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Missouri citizens.” “Our federal and state constitutions hold the rights of gun owners sacred,” Haahr told The Missouri Times. “I take those rights seriously, as do the members of my caucus. We look forward to upholding those rights in this 2020 legislative session.” In a lengthy December Facebook post, Vescovo said “if heavy penalties that already exist” for murder and assault “don’t effectively deter” people from committing them, then “how will any new laws produce better results, especially if they’re little more than window dressing.” “Both gun grabbing laws and red flag laws do not get to the root of the problem,

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which is that criminals will still find ways to obtain weapons with these policies in place. Instead, those policies will create additional hurdles for law-abiding citizens, while those who wish to do harm will continue to obtain stolen weapons on the black market,” Vescovo said. Several bills have already been filed by Democrats in an effort to increase regulations and hamper gun violence throughout the state. Sen. Jill Schupp pre-filed legislation that would require passing a background check by a licensed firearms dealer before purchasing a firearm; Rep. LaKeySha Bosley is championing a proposal that would highly regulate the sale of ammunition, including by requiring dealers to keep records of those who purchase ammunition and require transactions to be done face-to-face.

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EXECUTIVE

Who has applied for Missouri’s new state demographer position?

Staff Reports

Kaitlyn Schallhorn Missouri solicited candidates to take on the task of drawing the state’s legislative districts following the 2020 census — and six candidates submitted completed applications to be delivered to Senate leadership, the Auditor’s Office announced. The job requires a degree in demography, geography, statistics, economics, sociology, urban planning, anthropology, epidemiology, or actuarial science, along with professional experience. Anyone who has served in a partisan, elected position within four years of applying is not eligible. The Auditor’s Office began accepting applications for the nonpartisan state demographer — a position created by the Clean Missouri Amendment — in September. The window to apply was open until Dec. 4. Two people submitted incomplete applications, and another individual submitted after the deadline, according to the Auditor’s Office. The State Auditor’s Office will not conduct interviews of applicants but instead will submit the applications, which are available online, to the Senate leadership. Here’s a look at who submitted completed applications.

Damon Braidlow

Damon Braidlow submitted an application for the position on Dec. 3. He has worked for the city of Columbia as an engineering technician since 2014. He has also worked as the city survey crew chief. Braidlow has a degree in geospatial sciences from Missouri State University.

Donald Cripe

Donald Cripe, from Holts Summit, submitted a completed application at the end of November. He is a longtime environmental specialist with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He’s been an environmental supervisor with DNR since 2014, according to his application. Cripe holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a master’s in geography, with a focus on cartography and historic geography, from Western Illinois University in Macomb. Aside from the DNR, Cripe has also worked for the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, his application said. In an interview with The Missouri Times, Cripe said when the topic of a state demographer was first discussed, he told his friends he would apply if it was open to the public. He pointed to his geography degree — “that’s really the study of the man and land relationship, how the people impact the earth and how the earth impacts people” — as a qualification for the job.

Sara Hartman

Sara Hartman, of Jefferson City, submitted an

PARSON PROMOTES JEFF EARL AS NEW LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR

application for the state demographer position on Dec. 3. She has worked as an office manager for Faith Lutheran in Jefferson City since 2015. Hartman has also worked as an adjunct professor for Central Methodist University in Columbia and for the Missouri Department of Higher Education. She has also worked for the Missouri State Census Data Center program. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s in economics — both from the University of Missouri.

Bryan Kinworthy

Bryan Kinworthy has worked for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as an environmental specialist since March 2018. He applied for the state demographer position on Dec. 3. Prior to his work with DNR, Kinworthy was a teaching and research assistant at the University of Calgary in Canada. He has also worked for the University of New Mexico and the Missouri Department of Social Services. Kinworthy has a bachelor’s degree in geography from Missouri State University and a master’s in geography from the University of New Mexico.

R. Zane Price

Robert Zane Price, from Holts Summit, submitted an application on Dec. 3. He has worked for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in the state parks division since 2017. There, he is the real estate manager who handles park licenses, leases, and contracts, among other things. Price has previously worked for the Kansas City Southern Railway Company, BHC Rhodes, and Upper Iowa University. Price holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Central Missouri State University and a master’s in geography from the University of Kansas.

Jason J. Ross

Jason Ross was the first to apply for the position. A retired Air Force veteran, Ross is an assistant professor of aerospace studies at Air Force ROTC Detachment 440 in Columbia. He is also a defense contractor with Golden Key Group, LLC. A product of Jefferson City High School, Ross holds degrees in education, geography, and military operational arts and sciences. He has previously applied to work for the state three other times: director of administration support in 2017, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) deputy director in 2019, and chief of staff for the Department of Higher Education in 2019.

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Gov. Mike Parson has tapped Jeff Earl as his new legislative director. Earl had been serving as the deputy legislative director for the Governor’s Office since 2017. “Jeff brings valuable legislative experience and strong leadership to our team,” Parson said in a statement. “He has excelled in his role as deputy legislative director, and I am more than confident in him to take over as legislative director.” Prior to serving in the Governor’s Office, Earl worked for the Missouri Department of Corrections as the legislative and constituent services director as well as the senior legislative advisor to former Auditor Tom Schweich. “I am thankful for this opportunity

the governor has given me, and I look forward to continuing to serve this administration,” Earl said while thanking his predecessor for his “leadership and guidance.” Justin Alferman had served in the position since Parson took office in 2018. He has stepped down “to pursue other opportunities,” the Governor’s Office said. “I want to thank Gov. Parson for the opportunity of a lifetime serving as his legislative director,” Alferman said on social media. “Serving as [the legislative director] for the [governor] was a dream job, and I can’t thank him enough for giving me the chance to serve.” Parson said Alferman had “done great work” in the position.

The Missouri Times

Ceres returns to Missouri Capitol on cold December Friday: ‘A part of history here’ Kaitlyn Schallhorn

She’s back! Ceres was officially uncovered in front of the state Capitol building on a chilly December afternoon, marking her return after a year-long hiatus for some much-needed repairs. Gov. Mike Parson and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe removed a green tarp from the 10-foot-4-inch bronze Ceres statue in front of a smattering of reporters and passersby with temperatures hovering just above 40 degrees. “It’s quite a celebration today,” Parson said. “Hopefully the public will get to see a part of history here.” She remained on display for a few days before being hoisted back atop the Capitol. The Roman goddess of agriculture was first placed on top of the Capitol in 1924. She was removed in November 2018 for the first time for conservation — or repairs — at a firm in Chicago.

WHAT CERES REPRESENTS

Ceres is the Roman goddess of agriculture, grain, and the love a mother bears for her child. She represents Missouri’s strong agriculture industry.

Written in the building plans is the description: “In her right hand, she carries the torch of education, and in her left, which hangs by her side, are a few blades of wheat,” Dana Rademan Miller, a member of the Missouri State Capitol Commission, told The Missouri Times. “Her outline will be seen from miles around by her soft glow,” the original planners said, according to Miller. When the statue is on top of the building, she faces south, away from the Missouri River and toward Jefferson City. She stands at 10 feet, 4 inches and weighs about 1,500 pounds.

THE RENOVATION PROCESS

Funding for the conservation of the statue was included in a bonding package passed by the General Assembly for repairs to the exterior of the Capitol building. About $400,000 of the $50 million restoration project went to Ceres. Ceres was sent to the Conservation of Sculpture and Object Studio, Inc., near Chicago.

Years of environmental buildup and bronze rot were removed by laser ablation. Although Ceres was “in great shape, all things considered,” Miller noted the statue served as an “unofficial lightning rod” for the Capitol. Workers discovered about 300 spots of damage on the statute caused by the lightning. (Missouri’s second Capitol building was struck by lightning in 1911 and burned.) While this was the first time Ceres was removed since she was lifted to the top of the building in October 1924, she has had work done on her before. Most recently, a crew worked on her from on top of the Capitol in 1995.

MORE HISTORY

It was the very first commission that was adamant about selecting a woman to “stand guard over the Capitol” — even though it would still be several years before women could vote in Missouri, Miller, the chief clerk of the House, said. “They were predicting how things would go,” Miller said. “It’s fitting she’s on top.” Ceres was created by famed

sculpture Sherry Fry, who is known for his role in developing American camouflage. Although it’s not been proven, rumor has it Fry got his inspiration for the Ceres statue from actress and model Audrey Munson, Miller said. Countless statues, particularly in New York City, and coins feature the late star with iconic Grecian features. A bronze statue atop Wisconsin’s Capitol building was also modeled after Munson. Munson had no qualms about posing sans clothes and was one of the first actresses to appear nude in a non-pornographic film. She was committed to a psychiatric facility by her mother when she was 40; she lived there until her death in 1996 at the age of 105. When Ceres was first placed on top of the Capitol, she had to be broken down into three pieces, and a pulley system was used to lift her. Ahead of the statue’s replacement back on the Capitol dome, GOP Rep. Mike Moon implored Parson to halt the process, citing the Bible. He asked Parson to keep the Capitol dome “idol free.”

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SHOW-ME GOVERNMENT

The bold Mary Gant Newquist: Meet Missouri’s first female state senator Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Mary Gant Newquist has always been boldly ambitious, a woman on a quest to learn all she could, to be all she could. And she solidified her spot in the annals of Missouri history 47 years ago when she was elected to the state Senate, the first woman to join the upper chamber. Newquist had served six years in the House (under the name Gant) representing a blue-collar Kansas City district when the Senate seat opened up. Then, she asked herself one question: “Why can’t I run?” So she did, becoming Missouri’s first female state senator with her election on Nov. 7, 1972. Now 83, Newquist said politics was both her “friend and foe.” She is a emocrat but was fiercely independent — backing Republicans when she felt it was right. And she maintains she wasn’t treated differently by her male colleagues in the General Assembly because of her gender. But nearly half a century later, it’s a “women’s issue” that has gained her some notoriety even to this day: her vote against the ratification of the Equal

Rights Amendment (ERA). Media reports at the time — and even now — didn’t paint the full picture of her decision and wrongly put Newquist in the camp of the late Phyllis Schlafly, a staunch conservative from Missouri known for her adamant opposition to ratifying the ERA. Newquist insists she is a supporter of women’s rights — and her legislative record aside from the ERA vote certainly seems to support that. She championed legislation related to equal pay, spousal abuse, and rape-shield laws. She’s defended Roe v. Wade. “I am so proud of what women have done and the quality of women in public service has improved dramatically,” Newquist told The Missouri Times over coffee and baklava in downtown Jefferson City. “These women are definitely equal to men, if not superior. And gender really doesn’t have anything to do with it.” So what was her objection to the ERA? To simplify it, Newquist wasn’t comfortable with the totality of

the amendment, the idea of just ratifying it and then letting the courts address it. In a way, Newquist thought the vast changes the ERA presented should “reflect what was going on culturally” and maybe even be tackled piece by piece. Her objection, too, came down to how a court would interpret what the ERA would mean for conscription, or a military draft, should that arise. Missouri is one of only a handful of states that have not ratified the proposed constitutional amendment solidifying rights “shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex.” Before the 1977 deadline, only 35 of the needed 38 states voted to ratify the ERA; the fight for it, however, is ongoing. Now, Newquist said she “vacillates” over whether she’d vote the same way again. There have been many advancements for women — and even other groups — without the ERA, she pointed out. But it’s clear how she was portrayed over her decision still troubles her to this day. But if Newquist is anything, she’s a sedulous

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fighter for her principles — and has a sharp sense of humor. In fact, during the ERA fight in the General Assembly, Newquist received a “chastising” letter from a woman who wasn’t her constituent. Instead of taking it to heart, Newquist sent a snarky reply back, along the lines of: “Some idiot sent me this stupid letter with your signature. And I’m returning it to you.” Newquist’s response ended up in the Kansas City Star, but her colleagues saw the humor in it, she said. In fact, it may have ingratiated herself even more among the male legislators. “I have had to overcome a lot, and I’m really not that brash, but I will stand up for my principles. I’m a big person who believes in principles, honesty, sincerity — but honesty number one — and don’t fool yourself,” Newquist said. “Look beyond what benefits you and think about what the basic principle is about why you’re doing what you’re doing or believe. Some people would call me simple, but I’m not.” (Continued on page 13.)

The Missouri Times

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

For someone who readily admits he never imagined a career in transportation, it’s difficult to imagine Patrick McKenna doing anything else — and that’s not just because of his extensive commuting experience. Finance has underscored McKenna’s career, long before he moved to Missouri to take over the Department of Transportation (MoDOT). He holds a degree in that field from what is now Bentley University in Massachusetts as well as a master’s in management and finance from the University of Maryland University College. He spent more than a dozen years in the U.S. Senate, eventually becoming its chief financial officer. But over time, McKenna has married transportation and finance — first in New Hampshire and now in the Show-Me State. While McKenna’s career and family began in the nation’s capital, he and his wife wanted their children to have a similar upbringing as they did — which meant they needed to relocate from Arlington, Virginia. “As what typically happens, you start thinking about something, and it just comes to you,” McKenna said. “We started talking about being in a smaller town, and two weeks later someone knocked on our door … and offered to buy our home. My wife is an attorney, so we signed a contract and looked at each other and said, ‘Now what?’” For a time after selling the house, McKenna became quite the commuter. His family moved to another home in southwest Virginia, and he would travel there on the weekends from Washington, D.C. Then, they found a home in New Hampshire, and he commuted to and from the Granite State for three years before eventually joining his family. He wouldn’t know it yet, but McKenna’s involvement in transportation as a career was just on the horizon. McKenna eventually worked for a handful of nonprofits in New Hampshire and ran his own business. But then the opportunity came to join the New Hampshire Department of Transportation where he would manage a similarly sized budget as the U.S. Senate. He became its deputy commissioner. McKenna and his wife joked they had “cheated retirement.” The McKenna family lived on the side of a mountain overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee. The town consisted of a handful of mountain peaks, about 40 islands, and a ski resort close enough to the McKennas they could cross country ski to it from their backdoor.

“It was a great place to raise our three children, but this opportunity [in Missouri] came up, and we just kind of looked at each other and said, ‘Well, we’re not retired yet, so let’s give it a shot.’” McKenna moved to Missouri in late 2015 to take over MoDOT — including, of course, its finances. And while his oldest son finished high school, McKenna commuted between his old and new home, too. “For me, it really blends the best of government and private sector, and we work a lot together because we actually plan and do the planning work and financial planning, but primarily most of the work that’s done on infrastructure is done by private companies. We work with industry, we work with private companies to get the best value for the taxpayers while we try to construct and reconstruct an aging infrastructure,” McKenna said. “It’s quite a challenge, and the financial issues are a very substantial challenge — not only here in Missouri, but all over the country.” McKenna argued infrastructure is a policy area the average citizen might not have a full grasp on: “A lot of times the first thing people think of with transportation is they’re annoyed with it. So that’s tough when you’re trying to also seek the public’s support for investment in a very fundamental piece of what they need for their livelihoods and their life and enjoyment.” But he’s trying to change that. Aside from using his financial prowess to tackle the department’s budget and substantially reduce its debt, McKenna has made not just transparency a pinnacle of the agency, but understanding. MoDOT has compiled numerous graphs, charts, pamphlets, and explainers — available online or in hard copy — explaining funding needs, how money is spent, and prioritization of projects. There are maps showcasing incidents and construction for travelers and a calculator for individuals to assess his or her contribution to transportation funding. The first “Citizen’s Guide to Transportation Funding in Missouri” was published in 2016. He wants the public, not just the department, to be aware of the resources MoDOT has and how its using them. For example, McKenna explained the department manages bridges — which he considers to be the No. 1 issue MoDOT handles — not so much by the sheer volume but unit cost.

“I like high expectations, it keeps you on your toes, and it’s the way it ought to be: We should do the things that we are entrusted with by statutory or constitutional authority. We should do them well.”

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Newquist was born during the Great Depression and is candid about how her political career impacted her three children as they grew up. Her former husband and father of her children, Ronald Gant, has since died. While she was running for Senate, Newquist met the man she would become married to for 40 years, the great love of her life: Peter Newquist. He was a banking lobbyist, which caused some controversy at the time as she chaired the Senate Banking Committee. They married in 1979 and remained together until his death earlier this year at the age of 96. As for the future of politics, Newquist vociferously decries how much influence money has gained over the years. “When people get the idea that they want to run for office, first of all, you ask why they’re running,” Newquist said. “I wasn’t running

In the past 20 years, the state has replaced about 1.2 million square feet of bridge deck; in the next 20, that figure will triple, McKenna predicts. As for the budget, McKenna says MoDOT has been paying down its debt “aggressively,” which includes taking advantage of dips in the interest rate. Between 2000 and 2010, the department borrowed just under $4 billion. As of May, it has just $1.6 billion in outstanding principal. “[P]eople expect efficient and limited government, and they expect us to do our job,” McKenna said. “I like high expectations, it keeps you on your toes, and it’s the way it ought to be: We should do the things that we are entrusted with by statutory or constitutional authority. We should do them well.” When it comes to his actual marriage, McKenna has a government metaphor for that, as well. His wife, Suzanne, is an attorney with the Depart-

SHOW-ME GOVERNMENT

PATRICK MCKENNA AND THE MARRIAGE OF TRANSPORTATION AND FINANCE

NEWQUIST (CONTINUED)

to make a career or to make money. I was running to serve because I genuinely loved the people in my district.” Newquist served in the Senate until 1981, after losing a close primary race to Lee Swinton. After, she was appointed by then-Gov. Kit Bond, a Republican, to chair the State Board of Mediation where she served for more than a dozen years. “Politics is a business. You have to know how to meet people and sell your platform, sell yourself, and be honest that you’re going to do the right thing. You can disagree and not be totally hateful. You can really calm the waters with humor and a smile.” “And just a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing,” Newquist chuckled.

ment of Natural Resources. “We have a really great relationship — and have a good relationship with all the state agencies we work with. It’s the way government ought to run,” McKenna said. “Typically you can have pretty substantial issues between the Department of Transportation and an environmental department, but we work together to make sure we minimize the impact of the work we do on the environment, and it works well.” McKenna has nothing but praise for how Gov. Mike Parson has made infrastructure and workforce development a priority while serving as Missouri’s chief executive — especially since he came into the job with virtually no transition period. A focus on both issues, McKenna said, will spur economic development and future prosperity for the entire state — just further juxtaposing finance and transportation.

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Capitol Calendar 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.

8 | First day of the legislative session 8 | Annual Legislative Prayer Service for Missouri Government Leaders — Concord Baptist Church — 9 a.m.

ALS IMPACTS FAMILIES.

CMY

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuromuscular disease that robs a person of their ability to talk, walk, move and

8 | Missouri Republican Assembly Pledge the Platform rally — Capitol rotunda — 9 a.m.-12 p.m. 15 | Common Sense

Economics for Legislators and Voters — House Hearing Room 2, Capitol —8 a.m.-9 a.m.

27 | Foundation for Soybean Innovation Reception — The Millbottom — 6:30-8 p.m.

24 | Adam Schnelting’s Hunger Gala — Old Hickory Golf Club, St. Charles — 6 p.m.

29 | Missouri Corn Growers Association annual meeting & reception — Capitol Plaza Hotel

27 | Missouri Soybean Association annual meeting — The Millbottom — 5:30-6:30 p.m.

29 | The Missouri Times’ Statesman of the Year event — The Millbottom, Jefferson City

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

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

www.alsa-stl.org.

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Ethan Todd takes new role at Capitol City Research Staff Reports

ZIM SCHWARTZE NAMED NEW MISSOURI CAPITOL POLICE CHIEF Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Zim Schwartze, director of the Springfield-Greene County 911 emergency communications, has been named the new chief of the Missouri Capitol Police effective Jan. 6. Schwartze is also an adjunct instructor at the Law Enforcement Training Institute at the University of Missouri, a position she has held since 1995. Throughout her career in public safety, spanning nearly three decades, Schwartze has served in the Columbia Police Department, obtaining the rank of captain; and worked as the director of the Columbia/Boone County Public Safety Joint Communications and Columbia/Boone County Office of Emergency Management. “Zim Schwartze is a proven public safety leader with experience in community policing, emergency management, emergency communications, and law enforcement education and training,” Department of Public Safety

Director Sandra Karsten said. “She also has a track record of working collaboratively with other public safety agencies, supporting members of her teams and transparency with the public.” “She’s an ideal fit for Missouri Capitol Police,” Karsten said. Schwartze didn’t always plan for a career in law enforcement. She originally received a degree in industrial engineering from the University of Missouri but found the work to be “rather boring.” Schwartze said she had always been interested in law enforcement so when a “good friend” who worked for the Columbia Police Department offered her a chance to ride along with

him in the early 1990s, she jumped at the opportunity. Inevitably, Schwartze fell in love with public safety and the officer, who is now her husband. “It’s truly a passion and a drive to want to help people. Whether you’re in law enforcement, 911, fire, EMS, it is truly a passion you have to help people,” Schwartze told The Missouri Times. “I think sometimes that’s overlooked. It’s truly a calling.” Schwartze said she’s looking forward to getting to know the other officers, lawmakers, and staff members who work in the Capitol every day. And as a proponent of community policing, she plans to have a rather hands-on approach with her new job.

“It’s truly a passion and a drive to want to help people. ... It’s truly a calling.”

“I’m very in touch with the folks that we serve — which in our case is not only the public coming to visit, but the staff and legislators who work there. That is our community, and I’m so excited to get in that world,” Schwartze said. Aside from her industrial engineering degree, Schwarte also holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri. Additionally, she is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Northwestern University Center of Public Safety. Since the Department of Public Safety announced Schwartze’s hiring, its Facebook page has been flooded with positive comments, a spokesperson noted. Captain Brian Kempker had been serving as acting chief since Oct. 1. Mark Maples had served as the police chief from October 2017 until September.

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PEOPLE

The Missouri Times

Beginning the first of the new year, Ethan Todd has taken a new role with Capitol City Research as a full-time vice president and senior partner. Todd has worked at the political, legal, and corporate research firm as a contractor since its inception in 2014. And he’s served as vice president of The Barklage Company political consulting firm in St. Louis — a position he will be leaving as he takes on his new role at Capitol City Research. “I am very proud of the growth Capitol City Research has had since 2014 and look forward to the opportunity to continue providing top-notch research for our clients,” Todd said. “I am very grateful to Willis Jones of Capitol City Research and David Barklage of The Barklage Company for all of the support, leadership, and mentoring they have provided over the past five years.” Capitol City Research in Jefferson City was founded in 2014 by Willis Jones. It has provided services for campaigns, political action committees, corporations, and law firms in nearly 30 states and boasted a 73 percent win rate for its clients in the 2018 campaign cycle. “Ethan was my first hire when I started Capitol City Research. Since bringing him on in 2014, he has helped grow the company 10-fold and has been a critical part of continuing to produce a quality product at a great price for our clients coast-tocoast,” Jones, Capitol City Research’s president and managing partner, said. Todd is a graduate of the University of Missouri and lives in St. Louis with his wife and children. He sits on the advisory board for the Show-Me Institute. Additionally, Todd was named one of the “50 Political Pros You Need to Know” by The Missouri Times in 2017. He’s also been included in the St. Louis Business Journal’s “30 Under 30 Class of 2019” and the Fall 2019 Cohort of Emerging Leaders by FOCUS St. Louis. “Ethan is a rare talent with years of experience making him a national rising star in the industry,” said David Barklage. “He’s deeply analytical and exceptionally skilled at thinking outside of the box on complex issues. Willis and Ethan have built Capitol City Research into one of the best political research operations in the nation. I expect it to be operating in every state in the nation within two years.”

The Missouri Times

Dear legislators, Welcome back to Jefferson City. As a trusted health care provider in Missouri, Planned Parenthood understands how important access to health care is for Missourians. We also know that across the state, particularly in rural areas, Missourians are being cut off from access to the most basic health care. Throughout this crisis, Planned Parenthood has been, and will continue to be a critical part of the health care safety net in Missouri, providing birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, HIV prevention, and more for anyone who needs it. Even you. Happy New Year, Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri