The Missouri Times | April 2020

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The Missouri Times

MEET THE MAN BEHIND THE GOVERNOR’S BRIEFINGS | PG. 4

QUARTERLY TIP SHEETS | PGS. 5-7

TMT CATCHES UP WITH MISSOURI’S LEADERS | PG. 4

APRIL 2020

AG takes on China

PAGE 8

Rowden end of session Q&A

PAGE 3

STATE OF EMERGENCY

Gov. Mike Parson extended Missouri’s emergency declaration until mid-June as the state’s death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 260 as the week closed.

The Republican chief executive originally declared a state of emergency on March 30. Since that executive order, more than 450 state regulations and statutes have been waived or suspended to help Missourians and businesses cope with the ongoing

COVID-19 pandemic, his office said.

The emergency declaration is in place until June 15.

Still, Parson said he plans to open the state by May 4, ending a statewide stay at home order. The stay at home mandate — which came after surmounting political pressure — instructed Missourians to only leave their homes for essential purposes, such as work, outdoor activities, and grocery shopping.

“I want to be clear that this is not an extension of the ‘Stay at Home Missouri’ Order,” Parson said.

“Extending the emergency declaration simply allows us to continue utilizing our resources and deploying them around the state, even as we move into the recovery process. This also enables us to keep all of the waivers or suspensions of state statutes and regulations in place while we adjust to the reopening.”

By: Kaitlyn Schallhorn

FIND MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE INSIDE. www.missouritimes.com

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OPEN LETTER FROM REP. RASHEEN ALDRIDGE 225 Madison St., Jefferson City, MO | (573) 746-2912

tips@themissouritimes.com

@MissouriTimes

Scott Faughn, Publisher | scott@themissouritimes.com | @ScottFaughn Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Editor | kaitlyn@themissouritimes.com | @K_Schallhorn Cameron Gerber, Reporter | cameron@themissouritimes.com

The Honorable John R. Ashcroft Secretary of State of Missouri 600 West Main Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 Secretary Ashcroft: As Secretary of State, you have a responsibility to make voting in the great state of Missouri as fair and accessible as possible for all voters. You have a responsibility to enable our citizens maintain their right to vote without needing to risk their lives. Your comments in recent weeks have troubled me that you do not plan to take every action to ensure that happens.

There are many ways to keep everyone’s health in mind while protecting the sanctity of our election process, Expansion of absentee voting by mail, including adoption of no-excuse absentee voting, elimination of the notary requirement for absentee ballots, and multiple options for request and return of absentee ballots. At minimum, absentee voting currently allowed due to incapacity or illness should explicitly include those practicing social distancing or self-quarantine as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

Several local elections authorities have appealed to you that someone can vote absentee if “prevented from going to the polls to vote on election day due to: ... incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness of disability.” Existing law provides a path to do what is needed under our current circumstances, and I wish you would heed the words of those authorities who simply want to ensure people can cast their votes safely.

Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and other health officials have stated that during the fall we are likely to have another outbreak of COVID-19. I recognize the logistical implications such a transition might have, which is why I’m urging you to begin work on preparing for such a contingency, to ensure that all precincts and election authorities across the state have access mail-in ballots or have the ability to vote absentee. Feasibility should also not be an issue.

We have a little over six months to organize these efforts at the statewide level. You currently sit on a $9 million slush fund to fund such an effort, so I do not foresee voting by mail to be a financial issue.

If we seriously want to put the health of Missourians first, which is the whole reason Gov. Mike Parson put in Stay at Home order, then the solution is simple: we need to get creative in how we expand the voter’s access to social distancing-compliant voting.

Sincerely, Rasheen Aldridge State Representative – 78th District

Check out our website for more COVID-19 coverage, including an updated list of where positive cases are confirmed and a timeline of the state’s response to the pandemic. www.missouritimes.com

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The Missouri Times

CAPITAL CITY

Rowden on return to Capitol and his goals for legislators Cameron Gerber

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought big changes to Missouri’s legislative session this year, but lawmakers are preparing to return to Jefferson City to continue their work on policy and the state budget.

Here is a conversation between The Missouri Times (TMT) and Rowden (CR), with responses edited for clarity.

TMT: What are the legislature’s main priorities with the budget?

CR: Our priorities are to pass a balanced budget that recognizes the economic consequences of COVID-19 but still allows us to make key investments in the things that move our state forward. It will not be an easy balance to find, but we are committed to finding it.

TMT: Aside from the budget, what are the legislative priorities going forward this session?

CR: I think our first goal will be to find policy areas where changes and tweaks can have a positive impact on Missourians dealing with COVID-19 related realities. Things like license reciprocity and expanding access to telehealth is just a sampling of issues that check both boxes of being good policy and also being something that will help our state post-COVID.

TMT: What were the challenges leadership faced in deciding when to return to

Jefferson City?

CR: With 197 legislators and hundreds of additional staff, finding the right path to get back into the building to accomplish some key goals for the state was not easy. We are continuing to take precautions to keep people in the building as safe as possible, but everyone who enters the building is aware of the risk associated with that. The biggest challenge has been balancing the various opinions and input we have received and putting together a plan to get back to work.

CR: I think it’s too early to answer this question. If we see a vaccine come online, and COVID becomes more similar to the flu in how we treat it and interact with folks who have it, I think that will lead to one path. Continued struggles to find treatments could certainly cause some of these changes to exist on a more permanent basis.

TMT: Lawmakers will be coming back to Jefferson City before the statewide stay at home order is lifted. What are you advising legislators in terms of social distancing and taking precaution?

TMT: What health and safety protocols will lawmakers be required to follow during the remainder of session? What about the public?

CR: We will continue to screen folks as they come in the building by taking their temperature and asking them some clarifying questions as far as symptoms and exposure. The Senate and the House might do things slightly different as far as precautions go, but the motivation is the same for sure.

TMT: What safety changes, if any, do you expect to remain in place for future sessions even after the COVID-19 threat has diminished?

Chez Monet opening 2nd location

CR: I think we should lead by example and continue to follow these guidelines to the greatest extent possible. That has been my advice to legislators and will be the advice I follow while in Jefferson City.

TMT: When the Senate convened to pass the supplemental budget earlier this month, video stream was available. Is this something you think the Senate will keep in place going forward?

CR: It would be my personal goal to be able to do that. I think the time has come for us to make that available on an ongoing basis.

Chez Monet, the bustling café in the Capitol basement, will open a second location, owner Joan Fairfax confirmed.

The new restaurant will be in the Governor Office Building on Madison Street, just blocks away from the Statehouse. Fairfax said she signed a lease for the space over the weekend.

While planning is underway, the grand opening for the new restaurant is still to be determined. With the Capitol largely closed amid the

www.missouritimes.com

TMT: Do you foresee — or even hope — for a special session later this year to take up other important issues if the threat has been diminished? If so, what would you like to see tackled?

CR: I think we will see special sessions — certainly to continue to respond to budget needs, and potentially on policy as well. I don’t think anyone is ever “hopeful” for a special, but if something rises to that level, we will be ready to answer the call.

TMT: What’s been the biggest challenge for you, personally, as a lawmaker during the pandemic?

CR: I have struggled with a reality that in a lot of ways, even though I am in my position of leadership in the state Senate, that we are very limited as to things we can do to help individuals dealing with health or economic consequences related to COVID. Bureaucracy moves entirely too slow, and we have a finite amount of money in Jefferson City. I would love to wave a magic wand and know the needs of each individual in my district and be able to address them. Hopefully the budget we pass and some of the policies we put in place in the coming weeks will help folks in the way we intend!

TMT: What has been your go-to takeout meal during the coronavirus pandemic?

CR: MOD Pizza, Murrys, 44 Canteen.

ongoing global pandemic, Chez Monet has shuttered its doors until further notice.

Originally from Tipton, Fairfax first opened Chez Monet on High Street in 1991 after working at Gerbes Super Market for some time as the bakery manager in mid-Missouri. Eventually, Fairfax closed the High Street location and began working out of her home where she has a commercial kitchen.

She specializes in cakes for all occasions and offers catering services

as well.

But when the opportunity arose, a vacant café in the Capitol basement, Fairfax opened up shop in February 2018, in the midst of the legislative session.

Chez Monet has become a family affair — with both relatives and friends working at the restaurant throughout the year. The café is typically open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and is a favorite among lawmakers, staffers, and lobbyists alike.

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The Missouri Times

C A P I T O L C U LT U R E

MEET AJ HOUSEWRIGHT

THE MAN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE GOVERNOR’S BRIEFINGS

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

The governor’s daily coronavirus briefing begins, and AJ Housewright is the first to step into the camera’s view.

Clad in a dark suit and tie, he strides past the podium, positioning himself just to Gov. Mike Parson’s right.

And as Parson speaks, Housewright interprets in Sign Language.

This has been the cyclic pattern for the 27-year-old since the governor began giving routine updates on the state’s response to the global pandemic in mid-March.

Parson’s guests of Missouri leaders rotate between briefings; Housewright, however, is a constant figure at the afternoon events.

Housewright began working for the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) as a staff interpreter nearly three years ago and is often dispatched to interpret for the state government. A graduate of William Woods University in Fulton, Housewright said he decided to make a career of interpreting since he’s done it all his life. He’s what’s referred to as a CODA in the deaf community, Hosuewright explained: a child of deaf adults.

Although Housewright said he’s “been signing for forever,” he’s also keen on government. And with this job, Housewright married his two interests — and found himself propelled into a front-row seat of how Missouri’s chief executive has tackled the global pandemic.

“The different settings, the different people I’ve met across my career has been really cool,” Housewright told The Missouri Times.

Working so close to the governor has been daunting at times — after all, Housewright is a natural introvert lacking a proclivity for standing in front of cameras — but the St. Louis native said he’s grateful to see firsthand a different side of government.

“It’s interesting to see the human side of politics because oftentimes you’ll see how the news will spin it or how people talk about politicians, but it’s different getting to meet them and hear what their interests are and

what they want to do for the state,” Housewright said. “That’s something that’s been pretty interesting with my career.”

Housewright’s dark wardrobe is no accident. It’s common among interpreters to wear clothes that contrast with their skin tones to make it easier for people to see their hands, he explained.

And despite how it may look, Housewright said his job as an interpreter can be mentally exhausting.

“People sometimes ask if I’m physically tired after ‘keeping up with how fast everyone talks,’ but I find myself mentally worn after a challenging assignment,” Housewright said. “Sign Language and English have different grammar structures, so I have to deconstruct what is said to find the concept behind the words and produce it in a visually friendly way — all in real-time.”

Even before he found himself at the literal forefront of the governor’s daily briefings, Housewright was no stranger to the Capitol. He’s covered State of the State addresses and worked in the statehouse with his boss as they monitored — or even testified on — legislation.

Housewright pointed to legislation Parson signed last summer establishing a statewide hearing aid distribution program with financial assistance for low-income individuals as one of the highlights of his career thus far.

“That was pretty cool to see the beginnings — the drafting of the bill, the concepts, the people saying this is a need we recognize in the community — and then going through and advocating for it at the state level, in the House and in the Senate, and finally to get to see the governor sign it and have the budget appropriated to it,” he said. “That was really cool

to see.”

The legislature established the commission (then just the Missouri Commission for the Deaf) in 1988. Eventually, it was moved from the Missouri School for the Deaf in Fulton to Jefferson City where it would grow into its current moniker by 2002.

The MCDHH advocates for policies and programs to help those with hearing loss as well as provide services for individuals, businesses, organizations, state agencies, and more, according to its website.

MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD ASSISTS K-12 SCHOOL Live from The Missouri Times...!

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, The Local 655 President Dave Cook and University Missouri Times is committed to bringing you of Missouri System President Mun Choi, head OFFICIALS TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO STUDENTS live updates through the week from the state’s to our website or Facebook page to catch up and

The Missouri National Guard and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) are working together to assist local Missouri schools in feeding the students in their communities who rely on school meals each day. Nearly 200 members of the National Guard will assist the communities listed below distribute and/ or deliver food to students for the next several weeks. The locations receiving assistance from the National Guard chose to participate in this partnership for a variety of reasons. Many locations listed below are small, rural school districts where workforce capacity issues are a growing concern amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Feeding students is one of the many essential supports that our lo-

cal schools and their staff members are continuing to provide during this period of distance learning,” said Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven. “We cannot thank our partners with the National Guard enough for coming alongside our local leaders to support our schools and Missouri families.”

The Missouri National Guard is currently conducting or preparing for various missions in support of state and local partners and stands ready to help in any way they can.

“Your Missouri National Guard is proud to be a part of this very important mission,” said Col. Denise Wilkinson, Commander of 70th Troop Command. “Assisting DESE with meal distribution to ensure Missouri children receive the nu-

tritional meals they need is another great example of the enduring partnerships and strong teams we’re building during these challenging times.”

Districts/schools receiving National Guard assistance for food service are as follows: Cape Girardeau 63 – Cape Girardeau, MO Hickman Mills C-1 – Kansas City, MO KIPP – St. Louis, MO Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy – Kansas City, MO Marshall – Marshall, MO North St. Francois Co. R-I – Bonne Terre, MO Osage County R-II – Linn, MO Portageville – Portageville, MO Richland R-I – Essex, MO Warren County R-III – Warrenton, MO Wright City R-II – Wright City, MO For more information, contact DESE Communications at 573.751.3469 or Public Affairs at the Missouri National Guard at 573.638.9500.

top leaders. From Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Health Director Randall Williams, to UFCW

www.missouritimes.com

find out when the next sit-down will be!

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Governor | TIP SHEET PREDICTION LIKELY REPUBLICAN

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STATEWIDE

Primary: SAFE PARSON General:

The biggest news from the fundraising quarter was State Auditor Nicole Galloway outraising the incumbent governor by $350,000. Of course, the governor has been pretty hamstrung from fundraising since the pandemic began, but in fundraising, it doesn’t matter. Of course, the PAC cash on hand still gives the governor a huge lead.

March began with Parson in control of the race, with Galloway’s best chance was the hope of an Eric Greitens primary challenge weakening Parson for a general election. Of course, those who watch our #SteinOfKnowledge show knew he wasn’t running back in January. However, for those who missed out: the month ended with Greitens not running, but the coronavirus shaking up everyone’s world.

The government’s response to the virus is an opportunity for Galloway. When you win a state by 19 percent, almost anything unexpected is more likely to make your numbers falter than rise which will help Galloway. She probably has to have Trump’s Missouri win down to around 5-7 percent to win, and maybe this does that.

Now the race will be held in a recession — and if the state isn’t opened up soon a depression — and the urban media is in a full attack on Parson. If Biden is able to lock down some traditionally Democratic states early, then maybe Missouri gets on a secondary list of states to dedicate resources too. With all that in mind the climate of uncertainty is an opportunity for Galloway to make the race closer.

The primary will be colorful as Rep. Jim Neely loaned himself $184,000, and you have to think he doesn’t spend that money. But if he does, then he can try and win some of the Greitens bros online.

However, the 2018 State Auditor candidate Saundra McDowell is currently making the biggest play for the Greitens bros with her Tiger King-worthy online videos she is making. They are a must-watch for anyone quarantined. The likely truth is McDowell or Neely are going to have to raise more than $1,000,000 to get the attention of Parson or anyone outside of fringe radio who could use an interesting guest.

(R) Governor Mike Parson Contributions this quarter: $289,000 Cash on hand: $1,411,000 Uniting Missouri PAC cash on hand: $3,841,000 (R) Rep. Jim Neely Contributions this quarter: $0 Cash on hand: $197,000 (R) Saundra McDowell Contributions this quarter: $0 Cash on hand: $0 (D) State Auditor Nicole Galloway Contributions this quarter: $642,000 Cash on hand: $1,019,000 Keep Government Accountable PAC cash on hand: $939,000

Lt. Governor | TIP SHEET PREDICTION — Primary: SAFE KEHOE General: SAFE REPUBLICAN

Something very dramatic is going to have to happen to change the dynamic to make this race anything but a coronation of Mike Kehoe. The more interesting thing will be once the state is back to some form of normal and the Lt. Governor has time to look up: What story will this campaign tell and how will it position him for a run for Governor in 2024?

(R) Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe Contributions this quarter: $39,000 Cash on hand: $308,330 American Dream PAC cash on hand: $276,000 Former Kansas City Councilwoman Alissia Canady Contributions this quarter: $0 Cash on hand: $0

Attorney General | TIP SHEET PREDICTION — SAFE REPUBLICAN

First off, let me get my “I like the spunk of Elad Gross” compliment out of the way right off the top. The guy is a hustler, and when this race is over he is going to have used it to be on the radar of a lot of people in the Democratic party.

With that over, Eric Schmitt is going to win, by a lot. For real, like a lot.

Rich Finneran is the more establishment Democrat in the race, and it’s going to be very interesting to

Contested seats in 2020: 17

APRIL 2020 TIPSHEET

The Missouri Times

see if the establishment attorney from a large firm wins, or does the young upstart who is popular with the grassroots win. In a Democratic primary where you really only have primary votes in St. Louis, Kansas City, and a few in Columbia and Springfield, you can actually meet a lot of the people who will vote in August. Finneran would probably be the candidate that could better take advantage of the world shift it would take to defeat Schmitt, but in our world, Gross would be an entertaining opponent for the tallest state senator in state history.

One thing to keep in mind is that you have to be a licensed attorney to file for Attorney General so in 2020, as was the case in 2016, there won’t be minor party candidates on the ballot. That allowed for Josh Hawley “leading the ticket” in 2016. He used that to make the case that he would be the best U.S. Senate candidate in 2018. If Senator Blunt decides not to seek re-election in 2022 the same set of circumstances could unfold.

(R) Attorney General Eric Schmitt Contributions this quarter: $58,000 Cash on hand: $629,000 MO Opportunity PAC cash on hand: $1,656,000 (D) Elad Gross Contributions this quarter: $26,000 Cash on hand: $24,000 (D) Rich Finneran Contributions this quarter: $55,000 Cash on hand: $77,000

Secretary of State | TIP SHEET PREDICTION — SAFE REPUBLICAN

So here the underdog, Yinka Faleti outraised the incumbent by a good amount. But when the PAC fundraising is factored in along with the previous cash on hand, Jay Ashcroft still has a commanding fundraising lead. As we have mentioned before, Faleti is a very talented candidate and has impressed several, but he has an enormous hill to climb to make this race competitive.

(R) Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft Contributions this quarter: $38,000 Cash on hand: $313,000 Committee for Liberty PAC cash on hand: $100,000 (D) Yinka Faleti Contributions this quarter: $73,000 Cash on hand: $103,000

Treasurer | TIP SHEET PREDICTION — LIKELY REPUBLICAN

Of all of the down-ballot races, former Rep. Vicki Englund is thought to have the best chance to take advantage of a shift in Missouri politics and maybe outperform the top of the ticket enough to pull off an upset. That might still be the case, but Biden is going to have to get that top of the ticket loss under 5 percent — and maybe under 3 percent — for that opportunity to arise, and she is going to have to have that cash on hand around $500,000 to make that work.

Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick simply has to hold his party’s support to win and moves like his “stop socialism” campaign are golden ways to do that. The bigger question will be Fitzpatrick’s future, and that is likely to hinge on his ability to fundraise. A good deal of that quarter-million dollar cash on hand is carried over from his time as House Budget chair. He is very young for a statewide race with perhaps the brightest future in the party, but outside of Eric Schmitt in 2016 when he used his track record on economic development issues to propel him, the State Treasurer’s office is very difficult to fundraise from.

While no one wants to hear it, the truth is that there is no future in politics, especially Republican politics, for poor fundraisers. It will be interesting going forward in this cycle to see how he can fundraise in an office where historically fundraising has been difficult.

(R) State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick Contributions this quarter: $14,000 Cash on hand: $257,000 Missourians for a Responsible Budget PAC cash on hand: $135,000 (D) Former State Rep. Vicki Englund Contributions this quarter: $23,000 Cash on hand: $27,000

STATE SENATE

#1 SD 27 (R+16.4) Sen. Wayne Wallingford is termlimited.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — GENERAL: SAFE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY: TOSS UP

This race is the unquestionably hottest in the state, and the fundraising quarter reflected that: Even in a quarter that included session and a global pandemic, nearly $30,000 was raised.

Rep. Holly Rehder brought in more than $12,000 from contributions from all over southeast Missouri, while Rep. Kathy Swan reported raising nearly $15,000 from a list of groups in healthcare, insurance, and firefighters.

The current money chase sits with Rehder having a fundraising

advantage of just under $50,000. The logic is with half the primary votes in Cape, Rehder will have to have a fundraising advantage to win, and it seems that she is likely to have one. Look for lots and lots of late money to come in this race in the last 30 days, and look for lots of that money to be spent on some of the most negative ads of the cycle.

(R) Rep. Holly Rehder Contributions this quarter: $12,528 Cash on hand: $198,962 PAC: Holly PAC Cash on hand: $ (R) Rep. Kathy Swan Contributions this quarter: $14,534 Cash on hand: $150,044

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#2 SD 31 (R+6.2) Sen. Ed Emery is term-limited.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — GENERAL: SAFE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY: LEAN BONDON

The quarter was relatively quiet in SD 31 as well, with former Rep. Rick Brattin raising $6,500 with contributions from around the Kansas City area, but also including Cathy Jo Loy and Bev Ehlen with the most notable contribution being from Grow Missouri. His PAC, the Brattin Brigade, has been silent since the $100,000 contribution from the Conservative Caucus.

Rep. Jack Bondon raised nearly $10,000 this quarter from a collection of donors around the state including the Realtors, Dentists, and gaming communities.

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APRIL 2020 TIPSHEET

This race is just over half Cass County, an increasingly suburban county, and that means that money will matter a great deal. Currently, Bondon is our frontrunner with a roughly $125,000 fundraising lead. Thus the race is still leaning toward Bondon. It’s unknown how much CL PAC is willing to fund Brattin, and without their help, Brattin would be in a difficult position.

(R) Rep. Jack Bondon Contributions this quarter: $9,375 Cash on hand: $192,714 PAC: Western Missouri Leadership Cash on hand: $36,359 (R) Fmr. Rep Rick Brattin Contributions this quarter: $6,510 Cash on hand: $14,411 PAC: The Brattin Brigade PAC Cash on hand: $94,478

#3 SD 33 (R+15.7) Sen. Mike Cunningham is termlimited.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — GENERAL: SAFE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY: LEAN ROSS

Rep. Robert Ross took in around $4,000 with contributions around the state, including from Republican activist Bev Ehlen. His Team Robert PAC has conserved his nearly $50,000 on hand. Rep. Karla Eslinger had a slow quarter after starting her campaign with a $150,000 loan.

She raised just over $4,000 with one notable contribution being from the State Fire Marshal Tim Bean.

Former Rep. Van Kelly has a relatively quiet fundraising quarter raising just under $2,000 in a race looking as if he will have to self-fund.

However, he does have the capacity to do so.

With the geography breaking down as follows: Douglas 11% Howell 22% Oregon 8% Ozark 5% Ripley 7% Texas 13% Webster 20% Wright 13% Ross has a solid claim on Texas and a portion of Howell Counties. Eslinger has a strong claim on the rest of Howell including West Plains, and former Rep. Kelly is strong in Douglas and Ozark. The fight is likely in Webster and Wright counties, and money will matter there. As of today, that gives Rep. Ross a slight edge.

(R) Rep. Robert Ross Contributions this quarter: $4,201 Cash on hand: $132,713 PAC: Team Robert Cash on hand: $47,134 (R) Former Rep. Van Kelly Contributions this quarter: $1,805 Cash on hand: $72,747 (R) Rep. Karla Eslinger Contributions this quarter: $4,380 Cash on hand: $154,723 (D) Tammy Harty Contributions this quarter: $780 Cash on hand: $3,851

#4 SD 29 (R+19.9) Sen. David Sater is term-limited.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — GENERAL: SAFE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY: TOSS UP

This race may come down to how David Cole presents himself. It’s likely that Rep. Moon can get to his right on style even if not on substance.

Cole seems to need to have a financial advantage to win. The question will be how much of a financial advantage, and whatever the answer is to that question, it’s probably going to be influenced by internal Republican Senate Caucus politics. As of now, the cash race is even. If the cash race is even 100 days from now, you assume Moon has an advantage.

(R) David Cole Contributions this quarter: $16,750 Cash on hand: $124,180 PAC: Southwest Missouri Conservative Values PAC Cash on hand: $3,500 (R) Rep. Mike Moon Contributions this quarter: $4,240 Cash on hand: $39,510 PAC: Table Rock Conservative PAC Cash on hand: $94,477

#5 SD 25 (R+11.4) Sen. Doug Libla is term-limited.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — GENERAL: SAFE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY: TOSS UP

The fundraising quarter was always going to be slowed by the coronavirus and Rep. Jeff Shawan being in session. However, bootheel farmer Jason Bean jumped into the race and raised a great deal of early money leading the quarter with over $90,000.

Bean’s fundraising report listed several area farmers including the Haggards, Rones, and Rowlands. It was an impressive first report and highlights the central issue of the race.

While there are more votes in the hills than the flatlands, Bean is the only candidate from the flatlands, and if he can get close to Shawan in fundraising, he has an advantage.

Shawan posted a $15,000 quarter with contributions mostly from Poplar Bluff while Eddy Justice raised just $3,600 from a collection of people around the state.

Former Rep. Steve Cookson only raised $100, but he did loan his campaign $50,000 which he hopes will inspire other contributions. He also filed as Carrol Steve Cookson. That could become important as his father is a coaching legend in Stoddard County. Justice is still in second place in the money chase but will have to improve quickly to stay ahead of Bean.

(R) Rep. Jeff Shawan Contributions this quarter: $15,612 Cash on hand: $272,876 PAC: Conservative Future Fund Cash on hand: $13,528 (R) Eddy Justice Contributions this quarter: $3,665 Cash on hand: $133,298 PAC: Justice for All Cash on hand: $9,790 (R) Former Rep. Steve Cookson Contributions this quarter: $50,100 Cash on hand: $70,600 (R) Jason Bean Contributions this quarter: $92,909 Cash on hand: $91,957

#6 SD 5 (D+39.9) Sen. Jamilah Nasheed is term-limited.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — SAFE DEMOCRAT PRIMARY: TOSS UP This race, more than any other, has been frozen with the coronavirus outbreak. Voters

in the City of St. Louis seem to take the stay at home orders perhaps more seriously than any other in the state so the door-to-door campaigning would be counterproductive. You would assume that environment that would favor Rep. Steven Roberts as he has the fundraising advantage, but these are unchartered waters.

As of now, this race seems a bit frozen in time and is likely to be frozen more than any other in the state into even early June. Because of those variables look for the always unpredictable 5th to be even more unpredictable in 2020.

(D) Rep. Steven Roberts Contributions this quarter: $28,244 Cash on hand: $95,310 (D) Alderwoman Megan Green Contributions this quarter: $16,093 Cash on hand: $27,227 (D) Michelle Sherod Contributions this election: $21,963 Cash on hand: $39,632

#7 SD 3 (R+4.1) Sen. Gary Romine was term-limited prior to receiving an appointment.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — GENERAL: SAFE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY: LEAN SCISM

This race was turned on its head the last day of filing when Rep. Elaine Gannon filed. She has a lengthy narrative that could make the race competitive. She is from Bismarck in north St. Francois County, her brother is a leading vote-getter on the Farmington City Council, her husband is the County Executive of Jefferson County, and her last name is very well known in Ste. Genevieve.

However, that gets to why Kent Scism is still the favorite. The Scism name ID is worth millions, and he has put together an impressive war chest. Also, many groups have committed to his campaign before Gannon got in the race.

He may also have an advantage in not having a record where Gannon has a voting record that could be attacked in a Republican primary.

Gannon’s entry into the race really complicates things for veteran Josh Barrett who, being from St. Francois County, could siphon off some Scism votes in that county but is going to have to have an immense uptick in fundraising to compete.

(R) Kent Scism Contributions this quarter: $166,540 Cash on hand: $245,970 PAC: Keep Missouri Great Cash on hand: $5,425 (R) Rep. Elaine Gannon Contributions this quarter: $2,000 Cash on hand: $4,130 (R) Josh Barrett Contributions this quarter: $30,386 Cash on hand: $26,685

#8 SD 13 (D+27.5) Sen. Gina Walsh is term-limited.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — SAFE DEMOCRAT PRIMARY: LEAN PIERSON JR. Rep. Tommie Pierson Jr. has done all he can do to solidify his front-runner status on the fundraising end. The two things to keep an eye on are: In recent St. Louis County elections there has been a large gender advantage for women candidates, and Rep. Alan Green is a very seasoned political professional. Don’t count him out yet.

(D) Rep. Tommie Pierson Jr. Contributions this quarter: $3,874 Cash on hand: $54,152 (D) Rep. Alan Green Contributions this quarter: $175 Cash on hand: $11,909

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(D) Angela Mosley Contributions this quarter: $550 Cash on hand: $3,069

#9 SD 23 (R+3.3) Sen. Bill Eigel is running for re-election.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — SAFE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY: LIKELY EIGEL

There were rumors of Senator Eigel having a primary for along the past two years, but it took right up to the end of filing for St. Charles attorney Eric Wulff to file. Wulff is well known enough that he could potentially put together some of the old St. Charles families behind him and make the race competitive. However, the conventional wisdom is that Eigel will be easily re-elected. The practical impact is more probable that some of the money from the CL PAC that could have gone to Rep. Moon and former Rep. Brattin is spent on the 23rd.

(R) Senator Bill Eigel Contributions this quarter: $15,291 Cash on hand: $159,278 PAC: Believe in Life and Liberty (BILL) Cash on hand: $408,216 (R) Eric Wulff Contributions this quarter: $0 Cash on hand: $0 (D) Richard Orr Contributions this quarter: $2,925 Cash on hand: $5,541

#10 SD 9 (D+33.9) Sen. Kiki Curls was term-limited prior to receiving an appointment.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — SAFE DEMOCRAT PRIMARY: LIKELY WASHINGTON

It took a while, but it appears that Freedom Inc. has settled on a candidate in Rep. Barbara Washington. While her fundraising isn’t top-notch yet, she really wasn’t committed to the race for very long before the coronavirus hit. There is potential for a real primary from Raytown Alderman Ryan Myers, but as of now, she is the front runner.

(D) Rep. Barbara Washington Contributions this quarter: $8,952 Cash on hand: $14,143 (D) Raytown Alderman Ryan Myers Contributions this quarter: $250 Cash on hand: $1,253 (R) David Martin Contributions this quarter: $1,135 Cash on hand: $558

#11 SD 7 (D+20.8) Sen. Jason Holsman was term-limited before being appointed to the PSC. TIP SHEET PREDICTION — SAFE DEMOCRAT PRIMARY: SAFE RAZER In what was a bit of a surprise, Rep. Michael Brown threw his hat in the ring against heavy favorite Rep. Greg Razer, who has been running for this seat practically since he was elected to the House. Currently, we are putting this race as a safe win for Razer; Brown will have to find a way to raise money and do it quickly as Razer is set for a post-session fundraising haul.

(D) Rep. Greg Razer Contributions this quarter: $13,779 Cash on hand: $91,869 PAC: KC Neighbors for Progress Cash on hand: $10,936 (D) Rep. Michael Brown Contributions this quarter: $0 Cash on hand: $0

The Missouri Times

This race will shoot up to No. 1 on our list when the polls close on primary day. As of now, it appears to be on track to become the most expensive state Senate race in Missouri history. Between Senate Republicans and the CL PAC, Koenig will likely have plenty of time to campaign as the fundraising will be there.

However, it’s telling that Rep. Deb Lavender posted an $86,000 quarter and Koenig didn’t bring in $10,000.

(R) Sen. Andrew Koenig Contributions this quarter: $8,275 Cash on hand: $169,810 Pac: Freedom’s Promise Cash on hand: $120,977 (D) Rep. Deb Lavender Contributions this quarter: $86,872 Cash on hand: $337,365 Purple PAC None reported for April.

#13 SD 19 (R+0.3) Senator Caleb Rowden is running for re-election.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — LEAN REPUBLICAN

This is a general election race, but it will likely be No. 2 on our list after the primary. In a race where both candidates will have all the money they need, these reports are as expected.

The only thing that could change is that Sen. Caleb Rowden can get far enough ahead that Democrats don’t go all-in on Judy Baker, and wait to fund a Kip Kendrick Senate race in 2024 or have to move money to help Rep. Doug Beck in SD 1. However, it appears both parties will have enough to fully fund SD 19.

(R) Senator Caleb Rowden Contributions this quarter: $6,900 Cash on hand: $190,398 PAC: Majority Forward: Cash on hand: $233,458 (D) Judy Baker Contributions this quarter: $49,394 Cash on hand: $79,801

#14 SD 1 (D+2.3) Sen. Scott Sifton is term-limited.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — LEAN DEMOCRAT

The starkest contrast in any race will be Rep. Doug Beck, a pipefitter, against David Lenihan, the president and CEO of Ponce Health Sciences University, a medical research firm. We will get more into this race as after the primary, but as of now, Beck seems to be doing all he needs to do on fundraising while we have been told that Lenihan can self-fund — so we will see.

(D) Rep. Doug Beck Contributions this quarter: $32,248 Cash on hand: $233,343 PAC: DougPac Cash on hand: $191,000 (R) David Lenihan Contributions this quarter: $50,220 Cash on hand: $30,686

#15 SD 17 (R+0.8) Sen. Lauren Arthur is running for re-election.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — LEAN DEMOCRAT

A pretty clear testament to the work Sen. Lauren Arthur has done is that a race she won in

a special election two years ago isn’t going to be contested by Republicans. When Arthur dodged Bernie Sanders at the top of the ticket, she was home free.

(D) Senator Lauren Arthur Contributions this quarter: $8,507 Cash on hand: $366,930 PAC: True North Cash on hand: $78,159 (R) Mickey Younghanz Contributions this quarter: N/A Cash on hand: N/A

#16 SD 21 (R+4.9) Sen. Denny Hoskins is running for re-election.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — SAFE REPUBLICAN Sen. Denny Hoskins was finally bumped out of the top, or bottom depending on how you look at it, spot on our Senate race list more because of the fact that Sen. John Rizzo is unopposed than because of the libertarian opponent that he drew.

(R) Senator Denny Hoskins Contributions this quarter: $3,775 Cash on hand: $131,435 PAC: Old Drum Conservative Cash on hand: $73,986 (R) Rep. Dan Houx Contributions this election: $3,600 Cash on hand: $26,937

#17 SD 11 (D+8.9) Sen. John Rizzo is running for re-election.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — LIKELY DEMOCRAT

Who would have thought that after winning a close primary, then also winning the general by a small margin, that Sen. John Rizzo would be running unopposed? It’s likely a reflection that Rizzo has done as tremendous a job of earning the respect of his constituents back home as he has in the Senate.

(D) Senator John Rizzo Contributions this quarter: $23,100 Cash on hand: $173,049 PAC: Truth in Campaigns Cash on hand: $79,791

Open Senate seats in 2022: 6

SD 2 (R+9.9) SAFE REPUBLICAN Senator Bob Onder will be term-limited.

(R) Senator Bob Onder Contributions this quarter: $2,775 Cash on hand: $199,857 (R) Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann Contributions this quarter: $3,000 Cash on hand: $41,741 (R) Rep. Justin Hill Contributions this quarter: $3,950 Cash on hand: $20,136

SD 10 (R+6.7) SAFE REPUBLICAN Senator Jeannie Riddle will be termlimited.

(R) Senator Jeannie Riddle Contributions this quarter: $4,524 Cash on hand: $85,859 (R) Rep. Travis Fitzwater Contributions this quarter: $3,300 Cash on hand: $21,767

SD 12 (R+11.2) SAFE REPUBLICAN Senator Dan Hegeman is term-limited.

(R) Senator Dan Hegeman Contributions this quarter: $3,000 Cash on hand: $104,972

PAC: North Missouri Leadership PAC Cash on hand: $10,672 (R) Rep. Allen Andrews Contributions this quarter: N/A Cash on hand: $18,443 (R) Rep. J. Eggleston Contributions this quarter: $2,775 Cash on hand: $43,500

SD 22 (R+4.2) SAFE REPUBLICAN Senator Paul Wieland is term-limited.

(R) Senator Paul Wieland Contributions this quarter: $8,792 Cash on hand: $55,543 PAC: Jeffco Now Cash on hand: $35,184 (R) Rep. Dan Shaul Contributions this quarter: $1,000 Cash on hand: $10,881 PAC: Jeffco Vision PAC Cash on hand: N/A (R) House Floor Leader Rob Vescovo Contributions this quarter: $15,863 Cash on hand: $138,789 PAC: Mighty Missouri PAC Cash on hand: $159,078 (R) Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman Contributions this quarter: $1,720 Cash on hand: $25,429 PAC: Conservative Solutions for Missouri Cash on hand: $1,858 (R) Rep. Becky Ruth Contributions this quarter: $2,500 Cash on hand: $4,704

SD 24 (D+4.5) LEAN DEMOCRAT Senator Jill Schupp is term-limited.

(D) Senator Jill Schupp Contributions this quarter: $654,184 Cash on hand: $944,716 (D) Rep. Tracy McCreery Contributions this quarter: $468 Cash on hand: $124,049

SD 26 (R+9.8) SAFE REPUBLICAN Senator Dave Schatz is term-limited.

(R) Senator Dave Schatz Contributions this quarter: $12,000 Cash on hand: $154,107 (R) Rep. Aaron Griesheimer Contributions this quarter: $550 Cash on hand: $14,098 PAC: Four Rivers PAC No contributions reported.

(R) Rep. Nate Tate Contributions this quarter: N/A Cash on hand: $22,118 (R) Former Rep. Dave Hinson Contributions this quarter: $750 Cash on hand: $5,800

Senators seeking re-election in 2022: 11 SD 4 (D+24.5) SAFE DEMOCRAT Senator Karla May will be seeking reelection.

(D) Senator Karla May Contributions this quarter: N/A Cash on hand: N/A

SD 6 (R+12.5) SAFE REPUBLICAN Senator Mike Bernskoetter will be seeking re-election.

(R) Senator Mike Bernskoetter Contributions this quarter: $750 Cash on hand: $163,112

SD 8 (R+2.1) LEAN REPUBLICAN

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Senator Mike Cierpiot will be seeking re-election.

(R) Senator Mike Cierpiot Contributions this quarter: $4,650 Cash on hand: $59,102

SD 14 (D+18.9) SAFE DEMOCRAT Senator Brian Williams will be seeking reelection.

(D) Senator Brian Williams Contributions this quarter: $3,860 Cash on hand: $147,303

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APRIL 2020 TIPSHEET

#12 SD 15 (R+9.3) Sen. Andrew Koenig is running for re-election.

TIP SHEET PREDICTION — GENERAL: LEAN REPUBLICAN

SD 16 (R+11.2) SAFE REPUBLICAN Senator Justin Brown will be seeking reelection.

(R) Senator Justin Brown Contributions this quarter: $12,000 Cash on hand: $50,532

SD 18 (R+8.1) SAFE REPUBLICAN Senator Cindy O’Laughlin will be seeking re-election.

(R) Senator Cindy O’Laughlin Contributions this quarter: $6,300 Cash on hand: $65,451 PAC: North Missouri Leadership Cash on hand: $10,672

SD 20 (R+16.1) SAFE REPUBLICAN Senator Eric Burlison will be seeking reelection.

(R) Senator Eric Burlison Contributions this quarter: $7,998 Cash on hand: $443,866

SD 28 (R+11.8) SAFE REPUBLICAN Senator Sandy Crawford will be seeking re-election.

(R) Senator Sandy Crawford Contributions this quarter: $1,750 Cash on hand: $247,183

SD 30 (R+4.6) LEAN REPUBLICAN Senator Lincoln Hough will be seeking re-election.

(R) Senator Lincoln Hough Contributions this quarter: $6,100 Cash on hand: $165,557 PAC: Lincoln PAC Cash on hand: $44,225

SD 32 (R+19.5) SAFE REPUBLICAN Senator Bill White will be seeking reelection.

(R) Senator Bill White Contributions this quarter: $4,900 Cash on hand: $33,479

SD 34 (R+1.3) LEAN REPUBLICAN Senator Tony Luetkemeyer will be seeking re-election.

(R) Senator Tony Luetkemeyer Contributions this quarter: $26,600 Cash on hand: $309,877 PAC: Tony PAC Cash on hand: $25,142

8

The Missouri Times

COVID-19

Missouri takes on China over COVID-19 fallout Cameron Gerber

Schmitt files suit against Chinese gov’t, Missouri first state to do so

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt leveled a lawsuit against the Chinese government over the COVID-19 epidemic.

The suit is aimed specifically at the People’s Republic of China and various agencies, including the Chinese Communist Party. The suit named allegations of suppressing important information, arresting whistleblowers, and the denial of the disease being contagious, and all the fallout of these actions.

“COVID-19 has done irreparable damage to countries across the globe, causing sickness, death, economic disruption, and human suffering,” Schmitt said in a statement. “In Missouri, the impact of the virus is very real — thousands have been infected and many have died, families have been separated from dying loved ones, small businesses are shuttering their doors, and those living paycheck to paycheck are struggling to put food on their table. The Chinese government lied to the world about the danger and contagious nature of COVID-19, silenced whistleblowers, and did little to stop the spread of the disease. They must be held accountable for their actions.”

Missouri is the first state to make this move. The suit was filed April 20 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

The lawsuit alleged that during the initial outbreak, the Chinese government “deceived the public, suppressed

crucial information, arrested whistleblowers, denied human-to-human transmission in the face of mounting evidence, destroyed critical medical research, permitted millions of people to be exposed to the virus, and even hoarded personal protective equipment (“PPE”)—thus causing a global pandemic that was unnecessary and preventable.”

The suit further alleged the government had knowledge of the disease and its person-to-person transmission before reporting anything to the CDC and omitted that information when it was reported. It also said officials in China did little to mitigate the virus’s spread, continuing on with traditional celebrations involving large gatherings despite the infection. Also alleged is a coverup involving detainment of whistleblowers, including doctors who issued warnings about the new disease.

The suit cited the unemployment rate, economic toll, and impact on the state budget that Missouri is facing due to this alleged misconduct. The suit seeks civil penalties, restitution, punitive damages, and other civil remedies.

Charges include one count of abnormally dangerous activities, one count of public nuisance, and two counts of breach of duty.

Officials said the claim skirts restrictions from the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) which disallows Americans from suing foreign governments. There have been at least seven other suits filed against China by private groups recently.

State rep pushes resolution to hold China accountable for ‘lies’

State Rep. Jeff Shawan is joining the effort to hold the Chinese government accountable for the fallout of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Shawan filed a House resolution on April 24 which supports the lawsuit filed

by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and furthers the effort in the state government to hold various Chinese agencies responsible for multiple allegations related to the current health crisis. HR 5503 declared the Missouri House of Representatives’ support for these allegedly illegal actions.

“Missourians have suffered immensely from this outbreak that could have been minimized in its impact if the Chinese government had acted in good faith,” Shawan said. “Instead, their lies and efforts to cover up the severity of COVID-19 have caused a catastrophic loss of life around the globe and massive financial hardships for citizens and businesses. As a state and as a nation we need to hold the Chinese government accountable for its recklessly dangerous actions.”

Shawan’s document also suggested the

reduction of the U.S. debt to China as a form of restitution for alleged negligence. The U.S. owes more than a trillion dollars in debt to China.

Schmitt’s suit is aimed specifically at the People’s Republic of China and various agencies, including the Chinese Communist Party.

The suit named allegations of suppressing important information, arresting whistleblowers, and the denial of the disease being contagious, and all the fallout of these actions. Missouri is the first state to level a lawsuit at China over the coronavirus pandemic.

Shawan’s resolution also supported U.S. Senator Josh Hawley’s Justice for Victims of COVID-19 Act, which would remove China’s sovereign immunity and allow for legal action by citizens against the Chinese government. The act would also create the Justice for Victims of COVID-19 Taskforce, which would further investigate allegations of cover-ups and seek damages.

Protesters rally against Misouri’s stay at home order

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Hundreds of people assembled in the capital city, waving Trump 2020 flags and singing the national anthem, to protest Missouri’s stay at home order.

The “Reopen Missouri” protesters gathered to demonstrate against Missouri’s stay at home order in place during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Mike Parson had extended it until May 4.

Protesters compared the stay at home order to Nazi Germany and accused him of taking away Missouri’s freedoms. Others railed against vaccinations or Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder who has found himself at the center of conspiracy

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theories regarding the pandemic.

Many demonstrators seemed eager to get back to work.

Adrian Vesper, owner of St. Louis Installation, drove to Jefferson City with a friend to participate in the event. He said his office furniture distribution company is paying rent on furniture he doesn’t own but is stuck in a warehouse because workers are unable to install the pieces.

“My hope is that we lift this ban on businesses and open doors again,” Vesper said.

No arrests were made during the Jefferson City demonstration.

9

COVID-19

The Missouri Times

FEDERAL GOV’T APPROVES MO TO ALLOW SNAP BENEFITS FOR ONLINE GROCERY PURCHASES

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Missouri will soon be able to allow online grocery purchases with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits after receiving approval from the federal government.

The state had sought a waiver to be included in a small federal pilot program during the ongoing global pandemic. Missouri is under a stay at home order until early May, and individuals are asked to practice social distancing and find alternative ways to buy groceries, such as through pick-up or delivery services.

However, SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase groceries online without a waiver from the federal government.

The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) applied for the waiver on April 17, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the approval on April 21. Kentucky and Texas were also greenlighted to join the program.

The target date for Missouri’s official inclusion in the program will be announced at a later time, USDA said.

“This announcement further demonstrates President Trump’s whole of America approach to fighting the coronavirus pandemic by ensuring those affected are fed,” the USDA said in a news release.

Amazon and Walmart have agreed to be retailers for the program in Missouri, although the state’s waiver did ask that additional grocery retailers be included.

Nearly 650,000 Missourians — which includes about 300,000 households — are included in the SNAP program.

USDA launched a pilot program in April 2019 allowing online purchasing with SNAP benefits in New York. Washington joined the program in January 2020; Alabama, Iowa, and Oregon were included in March; and Nebraska was added in April.

Additionally, Arizona, California, Idaho, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C., have been approved to implement online purchasing in April or May. Both Amazon and Walmart are retailers for all of the states with the program up and running.

Alabama and New York have additional retailers as well.

Under the program, only eligible food can be bought using SNAP benefits. Delivery fees and other related charges are not covered by SNAP benefits, the USDA said.

State Rep. Kip Kendrick, who has been a vocal proponent of this change, said he was “very pleased” by the news.

“While it will take some time for the program to become operational in Missouri, I know that the Department of Social Services will prioritize it,” Kendrick said. “I appreciate how responsive DSS was in submitting the waiver and moving this program forward.”

Sen. Caleb Rowden echoed those sentiments on social media: “Good news here! Let’s work to get this up and running ASAP!”

Luetkemeyer calls for temporary staff increase at Labor amid unemployment surge

Cameron Gerber

www.missouritimes.com

Initial unemployment claims: Dept. of Labor

State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer is calling on Missouri’s Department of Labor to increase staffing as more people are filing for unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic.

Applicants have experienced difficulties with their filings and with receiving updates on their claims, Luetkemeyer said in a letter to Labor Director Anna Hui. Specifically, Luetkemeyer called for more temporary employees to aid in processing claims.

“As you know, the Department of Labor is receiving an unprecedented number of unemployment claims as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Luetkemeyer, a Republican who represents Platte and Buchanan counties, said.

“My office is receiving a high volume of inquiries from constituents attempting to navigate the unemployment process for the first time in their lives. Unfortunately, these constituents are unable to contact the department directly due to the number of Missourians calling to file claims.

Additionally, website functionality issues have plagued those attempting to apply for benefits online.”

“In this unprecedented time, people are looking for leadership from their government.

In no area is this more true than in making sure people timely receive their unemployment income to support their families in the midst of a government-mandated shutdown of the economy. For these reasons, I implore you to temporarily increase the department’s staff, particularly in the customer service and IT areas, to help ease the burden on Missourians seeking unemployment benefits.”

Unemployment filings in Missouri have skyrocketed in the past month as businesses shutter due to quarantine and social distancing mandates, leaving many workers unemployed or furloughed.

In an email to The Missouri Times, a Department of Labor spokesperson said the Division of Employment Security (DES) has pulled staff from across “all program areas within the department” to assist with the volume of callers and claims.

“Additionally we are utilizing staff from other state agencies and have hired and will continue to hire temporary workers,” the spokesperson said.

10

The Missouri Times

EXECUTIVE

RECALLED: 48K MASKS FROM CHINA GIVEN TO FIRST RESPONDERS MISSOURI WILL STILL DO BUSINESS WITH COMPANIES

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

After discussions held over the weekend, Missouri finally received a refund from a vendor that provided faulty masks given to first responders earlier this month, Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Sandy Karsten said.

The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) recalled about 48,000 KN95 masks on April 13.

While those masks came from one vendor, the state canceled orders from three total vendors out of concern, Karsten said.

Details of the orders were: —The state ordered 360,000 KN95 masks for $1.1 million. Missouri received 88,630 of those masks, and the vendor agreed to refund the full amount and pick up the unused masks from a warehouse Friday.

—The state ordered 5 million KN95 masks for more than $16.5 million. Missouri paid 50 percent of that bill in advance. The vendor did not deliver those masks and agreed to cancel the order and return the full advance payment on Wednesday.

—The state ordered more than 3.9 million

KN95 masks for more than $16.5 million. As in the previous case, the state paid 50 percent of that total in advance and received about 101,000 masks. A refund was eventually made..

The recalled masks came from the first vendor, and the problem was discovered before all of those masks were shipped out, DPS spokesman Mike O’Connell told The Missouri Times.

But it was the third order that caused a bit of a kerfuffle. Karsten initially said the vendor had declined to refund the payment, and the state was prepared to “do everything in our power to recoup the money.”

However, Karsten later said the vendor had issued a “refund for the KN95 masks” after conversations held over the weekend.

“During those talks, it became clear the vendor was not opposed to and never was opposed to refunding the state the deposit paid for the order. The vendor delivered a product … that did not fit the way we expected,” Karsten said.

“The vendor remains committed to assisting the state in obtaining more PPE [personal protective equipment].”

The state will continue to conduct business with all three vendors but will not purchase KN95 masks

State, medicial marijuana facilities settle after appeals

Cameron Gerber, Kaitlyn Schallhorn

The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has settled two appeals from facilities originally denied medical marijuana licenses.

The state health department approved one new testing license and one new dispensary facility license through the settlements. In both cases, DHSS said the settlement was the best course of action under the implementation of the voter-approved Amendment 2, which established the medical marijuana program, the department said.

A new testing facility license has been awarded to Green Precision Analytics, Inc., (GPA) making it the only testing facility in the Kansas City area. It was the No. 5 ranked testing facility applicant.

In a complaint filed on Dec. 30, 2019, GPA admitted it made a clerical error in reporting its shareholders’ voting interests in the company.

But it argued DHSS should reverse the denial because the department failed to “fulfill its obligation” to disclose what information was missing or wrong in GPA’s initial application so it could fix it and resubmit in a timely manner.

GPA noted it received a higher score than three other testing applicants approved by DHSS in the complaint. None of those are in the Kansas City area.

DHSS settled with GPA on April 14, attorney

Christopher McHugh with Joseph, Hollander & Craft LLC, said.

“Kansas City should be happy, and GPA is very happy,” McHugh said.

DHSS also settled with BeLeaf Medical LLC., giving a new dispensary facility license for a place on Manchester Avenue in St. Louis. The company is giving up its existing dispensary license for a Lafayette Avenue location as part of the settlement.

Both location applications from BeLeaf Medical are in Congressional District 1 and received the same score.

But in a complaint filed Feb. 21, BeLeaf Medical said DHSS arbitrarily awarded bonus points to one facility over another since a tiebreaker system wasn’t in place. The company argued it should have been able to choose which dispensary facility license application received the HD 79 bonus points and was ultimately approved.

Additionally, the company argued it presented the exact same answer to one question, and while some facilities received points, the denied application in question received zero points. It asked for the department to rescind the license given to one facility in HD 79 and instead award it to the other.

DHSS said both settlements allow for the two high-scoring applicants to expand

again, Karsten said.

The mask recall was first announced during Gov. Mike Parson’s daily coronavirus briefing on April 13, an event that did not allow reporters to ask questions in real-time. Throughout the past week, state officials have divulged more information about the quality of the masks and where they came from.

The KN95 masks were purchased from three

vendors in China and given to first responders on April 2 and April 8.

Officials said the masks were recalled after they failed to pass a test from the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). Director Randall Williams said the masks need to be able to “seal” so the “virus cannot enter through.” However, with these masks, “that was not felt to be the case,” he said.

Parson has also lamented Missouri’s need to rely on foreign countries and other states. He vowed Missouri would be more prepared to tackle the next crisis so the state would “never again” be dependent on outside aid.

A firefighter in the Kansas City area told The Missouri Times his unit received a shipment of the now-recalled masks. They were expired and coming apart at the seams, he said.

“Luckily, Kansas City was pretty proactive and had a decent supply and had not used them,” the firefighter said, noting rural departments might not be so lucky.

Karsten also said a shipment of 200,000 N95 masks manufactured by 3M in the U.S. were shipped to Missouri. Those masks were to be doled out among first responders, she said.

Galloway sends letter to DPS questioning masks Dear Director Karsten: During the Governor’s April 13 COVID-19 briefing, you announced that SEMA is recalling approximately 48,000 KN95 masks your agency sent earlier this month to local law enforcement and fire service personnel across Missouri.

As my office is currently reviewing the accounting of the costs associated with the state’s response to COVID-19, we are requesting additional information on the process with which this equipment was procured and purchased. I trust your agency has a complete accounting of which specific law enforcement and fire service agencies received these masks, and in what quantity, in order to aid the recall. As there are obvious concerns for the safety of first responders and the public as a result of the distribution of this faulty personal protective equipment, I am asking that you provide information responsive to the following questions: —What vendor or vendors provided the recalled masks, and which Missouri state agency was responsible for their procurement and purchase?

—What was the fundingmechanism used for the purchase of the masks?

—When were the recalled masks purchased, and when were they received by SEMA? —If there were distributions of KN95 masks by SEMA in addition to the April 2 and April 8 distributions, is there a potential that those masks, too, did not meet safety standards?

—What was the quality control process for the initial acceptance of the KN95 masks before they were distributed from April 2 -April 8?

—Was the process to evaluate safety masks modified, and how did the state discover the recalled masks did not meet standards?

—Because these masks did not meet standards, what recourse is SEMA pursuing with the vendor or vendors in order to make Missouri taxpayers whole for their cost?

Please send your responses to these questions to my office by Wednesday, April 22.

Sincerely, Nicole Galloway, CPAState Auditor accessibility without adding more product to the marketplace.

“We remain committed to upholding our system of awarding licenses and will continue to defend the remaining appeals filed with the Administrative Hearing Commission,” DHSS Director Dr. Randall Williams said in a statement. “These particular appeals were unrelated to scoring process concerns, and we are thankful these applicants will now be able to move forward with their business preparations so they can help us serve Missourians.”

Earlier this year, Lyndall Fraker, director of the health department’s medical marijuana

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regulation section, disputed claims of “scoring irregularities” made by an industry association.

The Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association had alleged inconsistencies among scores of a question regarding marketing plans after DHSS issued cultivation licenses to 60 facilities.

But Fraker maintained scoring was done “in a way that is both highly professionally competent and legally valid.”

Denied applicants had a 30-day window to appeal with a petition for licensing to the Administrative Hearing Commission (AHC), the state’s four-person tribunal.

The Missouri Times

11

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12

The Missouri Times

OPINION

Licensing reciprocity should be a priority for Missouri Legislature

Adam Kazda, manager of government affairs at the St. Louis Regional Chamber

On April 27, the Missouri General Assembly will make its way back to Jefferson City. Leadership in both houses have signaled the legislature will prioritize the fiscal year 2021 budget and a short-list of bills that will help Missourians now and after the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when more than 22 million Americans and over 300,000 Missourians have filed for unemployment in the last four weeks, increasing access to jobs and reducing red tape should be one of those shortlist priorities. People need jobs, and companies will need employees to make our economy work again — quickly. That is why the St. Louis Regional Chamber is urging MoLeg to pass HB 2046 and support occupational licensing reciprocity for Missouri.

Certain professions like health care, education, transportation, and legal fields require state occupational licensing. That means, for example, a teacher licensed in Missouri may not be able to teach in Illinois schools. But licensing requirements have expanded dramatically over the last half-century and are now creeping into professions that have no

real need for additional layers of government.

According to a 2015 report, among the entire list of licensed occupations, “fewer than half are in health care, education, and law — large shares of licensed workers today are in sales, management, and even craft sectors like construction and repair.”

While there are benefits to licenses in some fields including quality and safeguarding public health and safety, occupational licenses have also been used as a way to limit competition.

Currently, new Missouri residents and people living in another state must apply to be relicensed to practice their profession in Missouri. Re-licensing can require professionals to take additional tests, attain more training, or wait months for approval from licensing boards before they can begin to work. These burdensome requirements are potentially stopping qualified workers from entering the Missouri workforce sooner, or at all.

A bill sponsored by Missouri state Rep. Derek Grier (R-Chesterfield) aims to tackle this issue. HB 2046 would streamline the process for re-licensing individuals who have moved to Missouri or want to work in Missouri by enabling professionals, who have been licensed for at least one year in another state, to continue working in their professions without delay.

Arizona passed a similar law last year, allowing those who were licensed in another state to practice in Arizona without delay. The Missouri General Assembly and Gov. Mike Parson have made steps this session to reduce reciprocity barriers by prioritizing a military spouse occupational licensing bill that would grant military members and their families licensing reciprocity, and an executive order that allows health care workers reciprocity to help Missourians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

HB 2046 received a passing bipartisan vote in the House without one group or citizen testifying against it. The bill had similar success in the Senate Professional Registration Committee, where the bill sits now, with no one testifying against.

Although there have been no objections in hearings conducted in both chambers, there have been questions about whether licensing reciprocity will take away jobs from Missourians. Lawmakers are right to think about the citizens of Missouri first, but before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, our state is going to need more workers, not less, to get our economy roaring back. Further, before the crisis, the Missouri Chamber’s 2030 workforce report polled CEOs throughout the state and found that “only 44 percent of business leaders are satisfied with the state’s availability of skilled workers.” One CEO summed up Missouri’s challenges recently:

“We cannot find enough workers with the right skills. There is a mismatch, and unless somebody does something soon, we won’t be able to grow in Missouri.”

Passing licensing reciprocity is also important for Missouri because its two largest metropolitan areas, St. Louis and Kansas City, which make up more than 66 percent of the state’s GDP, are located near the state’s borders. In addition, Missouri is bordered by eight states, and the residents that live near our state borders often seek employment in Missouri. Streamlining the process to get relicensed in Missouri will grow the state’s economy in every corner of Missouri and benefit businesses all over the Show-Me State.

Gov. Parson and the General Assembly have already made headway this year on licensing reciprocity. HB 2046 would simply make reciprocity available to all licensed professionals and all licensed occupations. Preparing for the road to recovery and the next disaster begins now. Licensing reciprocity can help Missouri fill our health care ranks for the next crisis and can help fill jobs when business resumes. If the legislature is serious about addressing Missouri’s economy and getting the state back on the road to recovery, licensing reciprocity should be one of the priorities they address this spring.

a concern for the students and families who rely on and purposely chose those schools, but the short- and long-term financial wellbeing of the state, including the perpupil funding currently allocated to each child in public school.

Contrary to public perception, many private school families survive on a moderate to modest income. Many families work multiple jobs and make tremendous sacrifices to keep their kids in a school of their choice even in good times.

While PPP loans may help some private schools keep staff employed in the short term, the longterm financial impact on the private school sector could be devastating. To maintain affordability for families, most private schools in Missouri subsidize tuition, relying on direct donations, fundraisers, and Sunday collections. COVID-19 has rocked 401(k) s, 529s, and other investment accounts, events have been canceled, and churches have been closed, disrupting these funding sources. Add to this that many families cannot prioritize tuition when school doors remain shut. For schools where the majority of students receive significant financial aid, the

consequences could be dire.

All parents, whether they send their children to public or private schools, have been forced to adjust to a life where children remain home during what used to be the school day. The one thing publicschool parents do not need to worry about is whether their child’s school will survive this pandemic. Every child in Missouri deserves that same reassurance.

The nationwide, mandatory shutdown of all schools was unprecedented and unpredictable.

Unlike public policy, the crisis does not discriminate between public or private school students and families. America’s reaction should not either.

In addition to public schools receiving the majority of the education-specific federal relief in the CARES Act, teachers’ unions and public-school administrators are now seeking an additional $200 billion. Any new federal funding as a result of the COVID-19 crisis should not discriminate against the children enrolled in private schools. This is a moral imperative, as well as a fiscal one. Future federal relief, and action by governors and state leaders, should protect every family to ensure all children can access a quality education.

Protect the education system for all students

Laura Slay, executive director of the Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri Joe Ojile, practicing physician and CEAM board member On March 27, President Trump signed the CARES Act into law, which includes Educational Stabilization funds of more than $30 billion.

According to the initial figures released by the Congressional Research Office, ­­Missouri is eligible to receive nearly $479 million of those funds. Most of the money will be split between local school districts and institutes of higher education, meaning local school districts in Missouri can expect as much as $208 million for relief measures. Some permissible uses for the funds include professional development, summer learning programs, mental health services, and purchasing technology. A portion of these funds, roughly $54.6 million, can be spent at the discretion of the governor.

Some private schools, like other nonprofit organizations, were able to secure Small Business Administration loans from the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program in order to keep staff on payroll, but it is likely that private schools will largely be left out of the funding specifically designed to support Missouri’s education system. Private schools should

receive a small percentage of Title-I “equitable services” from the school districts, but the bulk of federal relief specifically designed to help schools deal with the new costs of distance education and ensure continued learning during this crisis will go solely to public schools, leaving behind close to 10 percent of Missouri school-aged children.

The result is that many private schools could be forced to close, which would be a catastrophic loss for participating lower- and middle-income families and could have long-lasting negative impacts on the public school system as well. At a time of such economic uncertainty, it’s important to understand the effect of private schools on state budgets: According to the National Council for Education Statistics, during the 2016-17 school year, Missouri spent just over $11,527 per year per student in K-12 public schools. With nearly 90,000 students enrolled in private schools in Missouri, the savings to taxpayers comes to over $1 billion annually.

Unlike public schools, private schools lack the guaranteed security to remain open. That’s not only

Research on veteran suicides by firearm must continue Mason Duchatscheck, U.S. Army veteran

President Trump recently activated the military to help flatten the curve of coronavirus cases in America.

Service members on the naval hospital ship USNS Comfort are docked in New York, treating patients and helping to relieve the state’s overwhelmed and stressed healthcare system. This new enemy that we all now know as COVID-19, that both members of the military and civilians on the front lines are fighting, has already taken lives in Missouri.

As a veteran, I know that this isn’t the only public health crisis that members of the military are facing right now. Far too many service members have had friends who they served alongside with take their own lives after leaving the military. Instead of this problem getting better, unfortunately, the veteran suicide rate

has only increased over the years.

But there is good news in that the number of lost lives may soon be lowered thanks to our leaders in Washington who heard the concerns of service members and their families. Recently, the White House and Congress authorized $25 million to fund research into the leading method of veteran suicides — firearms.

Veteran suicide by firearm is a growing problem and has certainly hit home. Here in Missouri, in 2017 alone, which is when data was last released, 111 veterans lost their lives to suicide by firearm.

While suicides by firearm account for a majority of veteran suicide deaths, they have been largely understudied until now. Prior to this funding, Capitol Hill struggled for years to come up with ways to help

lower the rising veteran suicide rate, which has led to over 60,000 lost veteran lives in our country. But now, we may soon be able to pinpoint the problematic sources behind veteran suicides by firearm and have the necessary information to create data-focused solutions.

As a veteran, I am excited about the opportunity and prospect of having new data that could help save the lives of brave former service members who were willing to sacrifice everything to protect us and our freedoms. Our country has a duty and commitment to help them.

While the initial $25 million that was passed out of Washington to fund research into this important issue was an important start, funding for research into veteran suicides by firearm must continue in order to

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create evidence-based data that will help policymakers reach complete conclusions on how to best solve this pressing crisis that has hurt veteran communities in every state. I know that this is how Congress can help provide real relief to veterans and their families.

With additional research funds secured, our nation will continue on the right path towards ending a national suicide epidemic that has taken the lives of thousands of honorable veterans and torn apart families nationwide. With leaders in Washington, like our own Senator Roy Blunt, our nation can continue funding research into this important issue and help lawmakers and those on the front lines who are conducting this research gain the necessary information to address and solve veteran suicides by firearm.

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DISSENTING VIEWPOINTS

OPINION

The Missouri Times

Stop pitting nurses against hospitals during ‘Nurses are absolutely right to protest conditions’ the pandemic

State Rep. John Wiemann

Nurses are the backbone of medical care, especially in a time of crisis.

If you think about it, no American can say that they have not been helped by nurses, who are there in times of need from the beginning of life. Many of my family members are nurses, and I know personally the selflessness and sacrifices they make while confronting the joys and grim realities of life in a single day. They are the heroes serving on the frontlines as Americans grapple with this pandemic, and their service should be revered.

In every crisis, there are some who seek to take advantage of the moment when they think nobody is looking.

Unfortunately, this time it’s Big Labor.

National Nurses United (NNU), a fairly young labor union founded in 2009, is using the coronavirus outbreak and the effect it is having on the medical community as an attempt to unionize hospitals and grow their membership — plain and simple.

While nurses on the ground are

treating patients, the NNU is staging protests at hospitals in Missouri, raising issue with the supply levels of personal protective equipment (PPE), working hours during the crisis, and hazard pay.

While all of these are valid concerns for nurses, protesting local hospitals is concerning. Hospitals and their advocacy groups are working overtime to get supplies, which is held up everywhere due to supply issues everywhere.

Protesting your local hospital system for a global supply issue is misdirected.

The reason they are protesting these hospitals has less to do with PPE and funding, and a whole lot more to do with attempting to strong-arm systems into unionization.

Demonstrations like these at local hospitals do more harm than good when it comes to procuring equipment and financial resources because it breaks apart the unified voice that successful advocacy requires. Local hospitals are on the phone with leaders in Jefferson City and Washington D.C., constantly, pushing for needed supplies.

In a game of true global shortages, that advocacy is a very precious resource.

Nurses should freely exercise their First Amendment rights, but a large national labor union pushing for employee unrest at the peak of the most crushing global pandemic is just plain wrong.

There is a time and place for these discussions, but this is simply not it.

I know first-hand that doctors, nurses, emergency care workers, and hospital employees are dealing with a horrific situation with grace. That is what is so troubling about anyone pushing a narrative that pits employees against their employers at a time like this.

We need to be encouraging the government at all levels to step up and get the production of these resources kicked into high gear. Protesting your local hospital won’t get that done and dividing the medical community and pitting nurses against hospitals is just wrong. As we face the toughest days, we must remain united, and resist polarizing the pandemic.

Michael Louis, Missouri AFL-CIO President In response to state Rep. John Wiemann’s recent column, I would like to point out Wiemann’s twisted logic on nurses’ demands for safe staffing levels, personal protective equipment (PPE), and other workplace protections and concerns, including concerns for patients.

The fact is that too many of our health care professionals are getting exposed to the virus, getting sick, and, sadly, some are succumbing to the illness that they acquired while on duty at the work. Nurses are absolutely right to protest the conditions that are too often directly lending toward further exposure for these frontline workers.

While Wiemann would like for us to believe that these workers are protesting or striking instead of working, nothing could be further from the truth. Health care professionals continue to report for their shifts, every hour of every day of every week during the pandemic.

From V.A. hospitals to acute care facilities to nursing homes, this country has lost hundreds of nurses and other health care professionals, and thousands more have tested positive for this terrible virus. These are lives that could have been saved had the institutes that employed these health care workers taken the necessary actions for a safer workplace. How is the effort by nurses, their families, and their co-workers to educate the public on the facts somehow selfish or wrong? IT ISN’T! Wiemann’s argument is twisted and baseless. Instead of trying to silence the voices of the very people who are saving lives all across Missouri and across the country, perhaps Wiemann should remain silent until he actually is ready to be a constructive legislator instead of just criticizing the heroes.

Opening state government now raises First Amendment Constitutional concerns Sarah Baker, ACLU of Missouri policy director Jeremy Cady, AFP - Missouri state director Open government is a cornerstone of the American system. Without it, “government by the people” becomes a hollow ring. Coronavirus challenges our system of government on all fronts — including the Constitution. Today, Americans for Prosperity and the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri write together, representing the political spectrum that stands firmly behind the First Amendment and the right of the people to petition their government.

When the Missouri Legislature returns next week, it will do so while actively discouraging Missourians from coming to the Capitol. It likely will place restrictions on where the press can be and how the people are to submit testimony. It

will likely move to limit the interactions of legislators on the floor and in their offices. It is understandable why some restrictions may be necessary to protect public health. We strongly encourage all government officials to avoid the overreach of their powers and keep those restrictions narrow, evidence-based, and time-limited. You must govern with the full awareness that both our physical health and our health as a government, grounded in the Constitution, are at stake.

Working in the shadows, even in a time of crisis, sets the precedent that closed government is acceptable. It is not.

Closed government stifles speech, including the speech of the elected representatives sent to Jefferson City to serve and, most importantly, including the speech of Missouri constituents whose lives and

Legislature should wait to pass budget Amy Blouin, president & CEO of Missouri Budget Project

livelihoods depend on the laws the legislature creates.

There is another way forward. If the government cannot come back in a way that protects public health while allowing meaningful public input and discussion, it shouldn’t come back to governing as usual with an open agenda.

After Sept. 11, the U.S. saw considerable challenges to our values of privacy and openness. We still struggle today to make sure that abuses done in the name of national security do not go unchallenged. After Pearl Harbor, our country shamefully detained Japanese individuals, eviscerating their Constitutional rights. We continue to struggle under the legacy of Korematsu. As our nation responds to crisis, we must be mindful of the heritage we create.

Missouri legislators will soon face a critical choice, the consequences of which could be felt for a generation to come. While legislators returning to Jefferson City plan to debate the state’s budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, critical information about both revenue projections and federal fiscal relief to states is lacking. By waiting until June to pass the state’s spending plan, lawmakers can avoid potentially unnecessary, painful decisions that could make the recession longer and more devastating. Laying off workers, making cuts to education, health care, and other important services before we have the full picture is a dangerous path forward.

While the coming months may bring economic ups and downs, it’s too early to project state revenue for the fiscal year with any confidence —

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Should the legislature return, the eyes of Missourians who cherish their First Amendment rights will be on Jefferson City. We will push, even from a distance, to keep our government accountable.

We urge the legislature to consider their impact on Constitutional freedoms when they enter those chambers. We strongly encourage them to narrowly tailor their purpose to pass the budget, which they face a constitutional deadline to finalize, and narrow legislation needed to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

We cannot return to governing as usual if we cannot return to our normal lifestyles. Right now, we must uphold the fundamentals. We must let the welfare of the people be supreme and ensure that we do all in our power to keep the freedom of speech unabridged.

that’s why, at this time, the Governor and the legislature haven’t been able to agree on a consensus revenue estimate on which to base their new spending plan.

Meanwhile, President Trump and Congressional leaders have indicated that additional state fiscal relief will be considered in another federal coronavirus relief package soon — and that this relief will come with the flexibility to use it in place of lost revenue. This type of aid is critical and has been provided many times before. Missouri received more than $3.6 billion in fiscal relief from the federal government during the last recession. In 2010 and 2011, federal aid added more than $1.5 billion and $1.2 billion respectively to Missouri’s state budget. This type of critical aid can help keep teachers in the classroom, make sure kids

are insured, and uphold our safety net when Missourians are most struggling.

It is expected that a federal package will be considered by May or early June. Waiting until June to approve the state’s budget would bring greater certainty, both by allowing additional federal resources to be considered and improving state projections.

Instead of spending cuts that will further dampen the economy and hurt families, state policymakers should engage with their federal counterparts to ensure a robust package of flexible state fiscal relief that continues until the economy fully recovers. Then, when we have a clearer picture of the resources available to the state, lawmakers should return to Jefferson City to craft a state budget that reflects our current reality.

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The Missouri Times

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

his 15-year-old son with him to the Governor’s Office, and as Parson signed his name onto the document adorned with the golden seal of Missouri, Woods was overwhelmed with emotion.

“I’m extremely humbled and thankful for the support, confidence, and trust,” Woods told The Missouri Times from his auto service shop, his sanguine personality and the cacophony of the garage in contrast with the dreary afternoon. “We as people can do anything together.”

‘A real success story about somebody given a second chance’

After years of fighting, Dimetrious Woods woke up to his dream coming true: Gov. Mike Parson partially commuted his prison sentence.

Woods’ story started 41 years ago when he was born.

But this story, the one of how he took an 8th-grade education and navigated Missouri’s complex legal system began in 2007 when he was convicted of trafficking drugs. Deemed a repeat offender, Woods was sentenced to 25 years without the possibility of parole.

Once the Missouri legislature revised the criminal code, eliminating language prohibiting probation or parole for prior and persistent drug offenders, Woods fought for the changes to be retroactive — because if anyone was going to save Woods’ life, it was going to have to be him. He paid for extra time in the prison library, studying and learning how to write a motion. He “went through hell,” Woods said, and developed insomnia and anxiety.

But he won. A circuit court sided with Woods’ argument, and he was granted a parole hearing. On March 23, 2018, Woods was released from prison.

The celebration was transient, however. After an appeal from the Department of Corrections (DOC), Missouri’s Supreme Court decided earlier this year the release was in error, throwing the father of five’s future into tumult — until April 22, that is.

Taking into account Woods’ “behavior during the period of his erroneous release,” Parson granted him a limited commutation, converting his term to house arrest — imposed by the Parole Board — until October 2029.

This was an act of mercy for a man that had changed his life,” Parson said. “Placing him on house arrest was the right choice under these unusual circumstances.”

When Woods got the call summoning him to Jefferson City, he said he was cautiously optimistic. He brought

Woods was born and raised in St. Louis, but he grew up in Columbia, too. CoMo has become his home base.

It’s where he opened Woods Auto Spa in June 2019 and Munchi’s Fish & Chicc’n food truck earlier this year.

Woods has given back to Columbia, his home, especially after incarceration. He’s mentored atrisk youth and sponsored a dance team. He’s paid his employees for a full day’s work while encouraging them to take off early to participate in charity work. And he doesn’t turn away those seeking help — no matter how busy he is.

On any given day, Woods can expect half a dozen people to reach out or show up at his auto detailing shop.

They’ve heard his story, and it’s similar enough to their own. They want advice, inspiration, or even just an ear to listen.

“I’m accountable, and that’s what keeps me standing tall,” Woods said. “And there’s humanity in me.”

Woods’ story — how he fought for change and freedom and refuses to turn his back on his community — has earned him bipartisan support. Kent Gibson, one of Woods’ attorneys, referred to it as: “A real success story about somebody given a second chance.”

It was about a month ago when Senate Majority Floor Leader Caleb Rowden met with Woods and heard his story “from start to finish, details good, bad, and ugly.”

“I think if you talk to him, you recognize there’s something different about him,” the Republican from Columbia said. “He’s turned his life around him;

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PEOPLE

WITH PARSON’S SIGNATURE, DIMETRIOUS WOODS’ STORY OUTSIDE PRISON CONTINUES

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he’s helping kids around him; he’s helping colleagues and peers make better decisions.

The circumstances around him, for him to potentially have to go back to prison, were unfortunate … and a situation we needed to rectify. I’m glad the governor took action, and I think it will make a big difference in his life and the lives around him.”

“I’m pleased with the governor’s decision,” state Rep. Kip Kendrick, a Democrat who represents part of Columbia, said. “Dimetrious Woods paid his debt to society. He has done everything we’d ask of anyone on parole. He owns a successful business. He mentors people throughout the community. This was the right thing to do.”

“Since his parole release in 2018, Dimetrious Woods has done more than we would hope of someone seeking a second chance,” Jeremy Cady, the Americans for Prosperity – Missouri state director, said. “Woods has mentored troubled youth and started his own business, creating value while integrating back into society. We praise Gov. Parson’s decision to grant clemency, keeping Woods with his family and community.”

Commutation amid COVID-19

In an interview with The Missouri Times, Gibson praised Parson’s decision, especially during the persisting coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s clearly the right thing to do because he’s demonstrated that he’s been a model parolee for the two years he’s been out and sort of underscores the lunacy of incarcerating nonviolent offenders more than a lot of murderers and rapists,” Gibson said. “These laws are counterproductive in times when you have limited prison space that ought to be reserved for violent criminals.”

Woods’ sentence was commuted on April 22 — Earth Day. A day dedicated to promoting environmental protection, Woods was granted the chance to continue to grow and thrive in his ecosystem, to make his world a better place.

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The Missouri Times

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