The Missouri Times | February 17, 2020 by Missouri Times

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FRESHMEN TO WATCH SERIES | PG. 15

FEBRUARY 17, 2020

SENATE DIVIDES OVER TORT REFORM STATESMAN OF THE YEAR PHOTOS | PG. 6

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SATER CHAMPIONS EFFORT TO CUT ‘MIDDLEMEN’ IN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY Cameron Gerber Flanked by industry representatives, Sen. David Sater touted legislation aimed at providing greater transparency between the pharmaceutical industry and customers. SB 971, introduced by the Republican senator earlier this month, would rein in the role of what is known as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs operate as a “middleman” between manufacturers, pharmacies, and insurance companies and have been known to engage in spread pricing — the practice of charging insurance holders a higher amount than a pharmacy to make a profit. This practice has led to increasing drug prices as they hold rebates back from consumers as well, opponents say. “PBM profit-driving practices block pharmacists across the state from delivering certain medications and result in exorbitant prices for others,” Ron Fitzwater, the CEO of the Missouri Pharmacy Association who led a press conference last week, said. Fitzwater continued to explain: “PBMs are not licensed in the state of Missouri. They are the only piece of the drug supply chain that is not meticulously licensed and watched by the state of Missouri, so there’s language in the bill that would require that they become licensed by the state.” Sater, a pharmacist by trade, further acknowledged the unregulated impact that PBMs have on drug costs in Missouri. “For far too long PBMs have gone unnoticed and quietly became a contributor to the rising cost of prescription drugs that are burdening patients across Missouri,“ he said. “This bill will balance the scales on behalf of Missouri consumers, resulting in better outcomes and lower costs.” Sater also contended that PBMs can redirect patients to other pharmacies, limiting choice and hurting independent pharmacies. “In my district we had one pharmacy that was reliant on a particular poultry industry for most of its business,” he said. “It’s not there anymore because the PBM directed the employees to have to go 20 miles away to get

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their prescriptions filled.” Also present at the event was Erica Crane, a pharmacist with MU, who testified about her experiences with these problems from behind the counter. “It pains me to witness, firsthand, the harmful effects that PBMs have on patients across our state. No one should have to pinch pennies to pay for their prescription drugs,” Crane said. Loretta Boesing, founder of the pharmaceutical reform group Unite for Safe Medications and a parent who has dealt with the effects of PBMs herself, also participated in the conference. She shared her story of dealing with her son’s health issues while struggling under a PBM’s business practices. She recounted having critical medication mailed to her that was not refrigerated properly by the company, risking her son’s well being. Similar legislation is being seen in various states across the country. Virginia legislators are debating a similar bill, while Alabama, Arkansas, and several other states have passed new PBM regulations in the last few years.

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HOT LIST

AROUND THE CAPITOL — AND BEYOND

BRUCE FRANKS

Lights, camera, activism! “St. Louis Superman,” the documentary chronicling the story of former Rep. Bruce Franks Jr., was nominated for an Academy Award. While it ultimately did not win the Oscar, Franks did get to travel to Los Angeles for the awards ceremony — and he’s still a winner in our book!

MISSOURI SOYBEANS

The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and Missouri Soybean Association are celebrating the grand opening of its new Center for Soy Innovation. The grand opening for the center, located at 734 S. Country Club Drive in Jefferson City, will March 5 at 9 a.m.

House Chaplain meets Pope Francis: ‘Here is somebody who gets to be history’ Kaitlyn Schallhorn Every morning during session, Rev. Monsignor Robert A. Kurwicki stands at the dais and says a prayer over those gathered in the House chambers. But on Jan. 16, he was at the Vatican receiving a blessing from Pope Francis. As bishops from the U.S. traveled to Italy to report on their dioceses, Kurwicki was selected to attend alongside Bishop Shawn

McKnight of the Jefferson City diocese. The pontiff and Kurwicki exchanged greetings before the latter was presented with a special rosary. “Most of us like to think we pass through history, but here is somebody who gets to be history,” Kurwicki, vicar general of the Jefferson City diocese, told The Missouri Times. “Here is somebody

as busy as he is, and he has time to meet with us.” “How many people have been through those halls in the Vatican over history, and now here I am walking through, and there will be a lot of people after I’m gone.” Kurwicki was first ordained as a priest in Jefferson City in 1985 and has served both urban and rural parishes throughout Mis-

State Rep. Dottie Bailey had a special guest with her last week as she worked around the state Capitol: daughter Gracie Bailey. The 10-yearold went on a variety of adventures around the statehouse, from becoming an honorary page for the day in the Senate to taking over the dais in the House to exploring every nook and cranny of the Capitol. Dubbed her mom’s attaché for the week,

JILL SCHUPP

From the DCCC recognition to an endorsement from EMILY’s List, state Sen. Jill Schupp’s campaign for Missouri’s 2nd congressional district has gained steam of late.

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souri. He’s served as the Missouri House chaplain since 2011 — a job where he is most excited to begin each day with prayer and meet with lawmakers. Sometimes legislators need “a pat on the back,” Kurwicki said, and other times “they have a blessing to share with me.”

Gracie even got to make a Missouri seal with Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. “Within a few hours, she had the place mapped out, made many acquaintances, had a blast exploring, riding the elevators, reminding me of meetings and hearings, and learned really cool things about our State Capitol that I even didn’t know,” Bailey (R-110) said. “In true independent Gracie fash-

ion, she brightened up my day several times and I believe many others as well. She told me it was one of the best weeks she has had!” Gracie was even on hand to watch her mom file HB 2462, a bill that would establish the Women’s Economic Task Force.

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

MEET PATTIE PARRIS

MISSOURI’S FIRST FEMALE DOORKEEPER IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY Kaitlyn Schallhorn

As the Missouri Senate debated a controversial redistricting bill late into the night, Pattie Parris sat in the top row of the gallery near a set of heavy brown doors, intently peering down at the floor. Parris, a Senate doorkeeper, has had a front row to Missouri history for quite some time. Having spent nearly four decades working in the state Capitol, Parris has served under former Auditor Margaret Kelly, the first woman to hold a statewide office in Missouri, and former House Speaker Catherine Hanaway, the only woman elected to that position. She has also worked for Ron Richard, the first Missouri lawmaker to serve as both House Speaker and Pro Tem of the Senate. But Parris has a “first” of her own. One year ago, she solidified her spot in the annals of Missouri history as the only woman to have served as a doorkeeper in the General Assembly. “Pattie is an outstanding professional with an unquestionable work ethic,” state Sen. Gina Walsh said at the time. One year later, Walsh told The Missouri Times: “I had the pleasure of working with Pattie when she worked in the Pro Tem office. Always professional. She is a good person, and I am happy to see she is not finished with public service.”

Parris got her start in state government working with the Auditor’s Office in the Truman Building, eventually working for former Gov. Matt Blunt. But — like many in Jefferson City can attest — politics “got to be in [her] blood,” and she was hooked, too ingrained in the goings on of the Capitol building to fully retire. So she became a Senate doorkeeper. “It’s very exciting, I like to listen to the legislation [being debated] and go to committees and hear the bills being introduced,” Parris told The Missouri Times. As the doorkeepers — often quietly — take care of the upper chamber and their staff, it can mean long days and nights during the legislative session. In fact, Parris said she was at the Capitol until 6 a.m. on what was just her second day on the job. “It gets long, but it’s interesting, and I like the process,” she said. Parris has nothing but praise for those who work in the Capitol — and the actual building as well. “We just take it for granted that we come into this building, and it’s absolutely gorgeous, and there’s so much history here,” Parris said. “And of course, the people are great to work for, too. I’ve really enjoyed getting to work with everybody.” “Many elected officials, staffers, and visitors have walked through those doors,” Parris said. “I would usually take the time to chat with them. Sometimes we talked about the weather. Other times, it was about the important piece of legislation set to hit the floor that evening. No matter the topic, I always learned something from every person who came through the door.”

MIKE SUTHERLAND NAMED MISSOURI STATE PARKS DIRECTOR Kaitlyn Schallhorn For the past two and a half months, Mike Sutherland has served as the acting Missouri State Parks director. But on Friday, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officially named him to the role. “Mike brings a great deal of leadership and experience to his new role,” DNR Director Carol Comer said. “His knowledge and familiarity with both state government and the outdoors made him an excellent candidate for this role. We’re looking forward to Mike helping us continue to build relationships as we move into the future.” An avid mountain biker and former state representative, Sutherland said he’s most looking forward to continuing to work with the people at Missouri State Parks. Before taking over as acting director in November 2019, Sutherland served as

the deputy division director since June 2017. “One of the things that excites me the most is the team I get to work with and the mission in terms of interpreting and working with some of the most special places, natural areas, cultural resources, historical places, and to get to tell the story of Missouri,” Sutherland told The Missouri Times in an interview. “I’m a sixth generation Missourian so getting to tell the story of Missouri is something that is a great honor to get to do.” Sutherland said he hopes to build a strong culture of teamwork at Missouri State Parks while he’s at the helm. Before DNR, Sutherland worked for a budget and tax policy nonprofit and served as the executive director for the Boonslick Regional Planning Commission. He is the former War-

ren County assessor and has served on the Missouri Parks Association and Missouri State Parks Foundation boards. Aside from mountain biking, Sutherland enjoys hiking and kayaking. He said he’s proud of how accessible the state’s parks are for Missourians. “Just being outdoors makes me — and everybody else — feel better,” he said. “We also have our cultural resource mission [at Missouri State Parks] with some of the most significant cultural sites that tells the story of Missouri … and really explain what being a Missourian is all about.” “I’m a history buff and really enjoy learning not only about our country’s history, but Missouri’s history as well — and we have a lot to tell.” Missouri has 91 state parks and historic sites which fall under the Missouri State Parks umbrella, according to DNR. Its mission is to preserve and interpret the state’s natural landscapes and cultural landmarks while providing recreational opportunities.

MISSOURI DEMOCRATIC PARTY STAFFERS TAKE INITIAL STEPS TOWARD UNIONIZING Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Having partnered with the Campaign Workers Guild, staffers for the Missouri Democratic Party (MDP) have begun the process of unionizing. MDP employees officially submitted a demand for union recognition on Feb. 5 with a bargaining unit made up of senior, junior, and fellowship-level staffers. Shortly after the announcement, MDP Executive Director Lauren Gepford announced party officers would sign the recognition agreement and enter into negotiations. “Our Party enthusiastically supports workers and organized labor,” Ben Conover, a senior staffer for MDP, said. “We know Missourians support workers and organized labor, too. Voters rejected the socalled ‘right-to-work’ measure in August 2018, and Missouri has been one of the few states in the nation to see an increase in union membership. We believe that unionizing as staff of MDP helps strengthen our party and build a brighter fu-

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ture for Missouri Democrats.” “We’ve always upheld the spirit of the Labor movement in our workforce and believe this process is a formal recognition of that long standing relationship,” Gepford said. Conover told The Missouri Times employees had been considering unionizing for a “couple of months” with the goal of seeing more continuity among staff in future years. In Missouri, the party elects its officers every two years, and a new chair can bring turnover within the MDP, Conover said. “We feel that for the strength of the party, it’s not too good to turn over staff every two years, and we hope to approach that in bargaining,” Conover said. He also pointed to the different levels of staff who make up the collective bargaining team, from senior officials to those at the fellowship level. (A fellowship position tends to be a 20-hour a week job for college students who pick an area of focus, such as commu-

nications or fundraising.) “It’s really important to us to include junior and fellowship staff,” Conover said. “Those are often younger workers, and it’s important they get more protections like the senior staff tend to.” The move comes on the heels of other state-level party offices unionizing across the country. The Democratic Party of Oregon voted to unionize with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 1094. The Campaign Workers Guild (CWG) also represents three other state parties: Minnesota, North Carolina, and Ohio. “We’re excited to welcome Missouri Democratic Party workers to CWG,” CWG secretary Caleb-Michael Files said in a statement. MDP officers include Chairwoman Jean Peters Baker, Vice-Chair Clem Smith, Treasurer Cydney Mayfield, and Secretary Rev. Darryl Gray.

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L E G I S L AT U R E

Senate grapples with tort reform legislation Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Punitive Damages

Asbestos Claims

Changes to how asbestos claims are handled isn’t a new topic for the General Assembly, but it’s one that hit the floor early this year. A month into the 2020 legislative session, senators have been debating and tweaking SB 575, already on its eighth version. And if previous bills that were similar in nature are any indication, it will be a long road for this effort to change civil action procedures for asbestos exposure as well. “I am committed to creating a process that leads to compensation getting to victims sooner rather than later,” Sen. Bill Eigel, the bill’s sponsor, saids. “I’m committed to ensuring that nothing in the bill will extend the tort process, and finally, I’m committed to ensuring that as a result of requiring the trust claims up front, we’re going to have the transparency for juries that has been lacking in the past. All those combined will eliminate the need for all the games that have to be played.” Those on both sides of the debate say they want a faster process for victims to be compensated — albeit, they’re at loggerheads over how to achieve that. Here’s a look at the legislation and the argument within the General Assembly. Among other things, SB 575 would require a victim to file claims with all available trusts, providing proof within 45 days of filing for civil action. He or she would also need to provide the status of those claims. In turn, defendants would be able to file a motion requesting a claimant file additional trust claims. Additionally, it would make all trust claim materials and governance documents admissible as evidence. A court could impose sanctions if a claimant or counsel failed to comply with the law as laid out in the bill. Proponents of the bill say “at the end of the day,” it comes down to transparency and disclosure. “Right now, plaintiffs and defendants have to play a legal game of maneuvering to ensure that the defendant’s

rights to transparency are protected, and from a victim’s perspective, they [shouldn’t] have to surrender long term aid and benefits for their families in exchange for the realization of compensation earlier in the process,” Eigel said. “We’ve been very careful about making sure that every item in the bill specifically does not create a longer process. Part of the reason the process to get compensation was so long before is that claims made against asbestos trusts were typically coming at the end of the process, after tort action, because of a problem with the offsets,” Eigel continued. “We eliminated that type of offset imbalance in the bill.” Minority Floor Leader Gina Walsh has been a tenacious barricade to similar legislation in the past. And for Walsh, a transformational leader in Missour’s labor movement, it’s personal. In her industry, Walsh has known several people who have gotten ill or died from asbestos exposure. She also tells the story of a friend who spent just one summer helping tear shingles from a roof. He was exposed to asbestos and died at 43 years old from mesothelioma. “It’s an emotional issue for me. When you work with people and you see them die … You spend a lot of time at work. You spend more time at work, often times, than you do with your own family,” Walsh said. “You form relationships with these people.” One of Walsh’s biggest complaints with the bill is that it “puts a lot of the burden of proof ” on victims — especially when time is of the essence, she said. And relying on trusts is problematic for victims, especially given the propensity for them to run out of money. “It’s hard now under current law. … They have to jump through hoops now. This isn’t a slam dunk or an easy process, and it’s not a pile of gold at the end of the rainbow,” Walsh said. “They’re just making it a lot harder on victims.” This is Walsh’s final year in the state Senate, but she’s hopeful someone will carry on her torch to block this type of legislation when she’s gone. As for the time she has left in the Senate, Walsh said: “I’m not sitting down on this.”

A massive bill that would “fundamentally change” how punitive damages are assessed in Missouri stalled in the Senate after a nearly fourhour debate. Aside from dissenting opinions over how punitive damages should be handled, it was the sheer magnitude of Republican Sen. Bill White’s SB 591 that gave lawmakers pause. Dubbed the “Son of Franken-tort” by one legislator, the bill started Tuesday at nine pages but grew to nearly 50 by the time it hit senators’ floor desks that afternoon. The omnibus bill tackled a myriad of provisions related to punitive damages, from adding steps to the filing process to codifying in state statute that a plaintiff must prove a case by “clear and convincing evidence.” It changed provisions related to insurance agreements and malpractice cases as well as reformed the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA). White argued the line between punitive and compensatory damages has blurred over the years, and the threshold for pursuing such claims has been lowered “to the point where the filing seems to be almost standard with some attorneys.” “Punitive damages were a very special, and until recently, a very rare subset of damages in civil cases and is not intended to compensate the aggrieved person,” White, a lawyer from Joplin, said. “Mere negligence, even gross negligence, is not grounds for punitive damages. Those are compensatory damages. This focus on punitives is not the recovery of the injured person, it is the punishment of the person that is doing the perpetration of the issue,” White continued. Sen. Scott Sifton, a lawyer from the St. Louis area, held court on the Senate floor for the majority of the debate as he went through the bill line-by-line. “It is already harder to get punitive damages than compensatory damages in Missouri’s courts,”

the Democratic senator said. “The question becomes: How much harder do we want to make it?” Punitive damages are awarded by a court when a defendant’s conduct is determined to be especially egregious or intentional. They are awarded as a deterrent or punishment for the defendant. Sifton also argued the changes could result in cases taking longer to settle. “Early settlement is good policy in my opinion because we want to compensate victims. We want to hold perpetrators accountable,” Sifton said. “We’re doing it for the parties, not for the lawyers.” From its time in committee, the bill received pushback from the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA). “There has been so much tort reform over the last 20 years that they have been slowly but surely chipping away at our rights under the Seventh Amendment that when you look at this bill and other bills that have been brought up in committees already, there are no small tort bills left,” MATA President Brett Emison told The Missouri Times. “From the beginning, our position — and my position — is why is the state of Missouri and our legislature changing this public policy in order to protect the very worst of the worst corporations? We aren’t talking about negligence here; we’re talking about malicious conduct tantamount to intentional wrongdoing.” Before debate ended, Majority Floor Leader Caleb Rowden said he hoped Tuesday’s floor activity could “lay the groundwork for future discussions” so the Senate “can have a really robust but very sincere conversation as to how we can collectively work together” on the issue. “I’m excited to watch this thing develop as we move forward,” Rowden said. Similar GOP-backed measures tackling punitive damages failed to make it through the General Assembly last year.

Nasheed drives her ‘legislative legacy’ to restore voting rights Kaitlyn Schallhorn

It’s Sen. Jamilah Nasheed’s final year in the General Assembly, but she isn’t slowing down. Instead, she’s whipping votes to get a bill she’s dubbed her “legacy legislation” out of a committee and through the General Assembly. SB 542 would restore voting rights to most Missourians who are on probation or parole — an undertaking that would impact more than 60,000 individuals, according to the bill’s fiscal note. “We’re talking about individuals who wake up every morning, who go to work, who pay their taxes, who still and yet have no say when it comes to representation,” Nasheed said. “In my opinion, that is taxation without representation. Enough is enough.” The bill has the backing of the ACLU of Missouri, EX-Incarcerated People Organizing (EXPO), and the Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU). It has been referred to the Senate Judiciary and Civil and

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Criminal Jurisprudence Committee; Nasheed said she believes she needs just one more before it can move out of committee and onto the Senate floor. “These men and women, they have paid their debt to society, but when it’s time to go and let their voices be heard, their voices are silenced,” she said. “This is one of the most important democracy processes that we currently have,” said state Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, who sponsored similar legislation in the House. For Giles Chapman, the issue of voting is personal. The 58-year-old said he’s “been in the system” from a young age and has spent “a lot of time in prison.” But being able to participate in the political process — make a change and difference in his community — was something he looked forward to while incarcerated. “It really knocks you down when you don’t really feel like you’re a whole

citizen. You don’t feel like you’re a whole citizen when you can’t vote,” Chapman, who is still on probation and cannot vote, said. “Voting makes you really feel like you’re included. When you don’t have that, it’s like you don’t really exist; you’re shoved to the curb. It gives you self-confidence, a sense of pride.” Nasheed’s bill does include “safeguards to protect the integrity of our elections,” she said. SB 542 does not allow anyone convicted of a voting-related felony to have his or her rights restored. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), two states (Maine and Vermont) allow everyone to vote. Additionally, 16 states plus Washington, D.C., automatically restore voting rights to individuals following incarceration. Some states have caveats for those convicted of voting-related crimes.

Clean Missouri tweaks pass out of Senate Changes to Missouri primary elections floated in Senate despite lone Republican dissenting Kaitlyn Schallhorn

GOP-backed legislation aimed at changing Clean Missouri passed out of the Senate, despite a lone Republican voting against the resolution. The Senate voted 22-9 to third read and pass SJR 38 from Sen. Dan Hegeman, with all eight Democrats and Republican state Sen. Lincoln Hough voting against the measure. “I am pleased the Senate passed SJR 38 tonight and took one step closer to giving the people of Missouri the opportunity to weigh in on fixing the short-comings of Clean Missouri,” Sen. Dan Hegeman told The Missouri Times. The resolution, which requires voter approval, bans lobbyist gifts to lawmakers altogether and lowers campaign contribution limits for the office of state senator. But the more controversial provision of the resolution changes how the state’s redistricting process works — again. Approved by voters in November 2018, Amendment 1 — dubbed “Clean Missouri” — changed the state’s redistricting process to require a new nonpartisan state demographer draw legislative maps for the General Assembly following the 2020 U.S. Census. SJR 38, however, would place the duties in the hands of independent, bipartisan House and Senate commissions, similar to what was done in the past. It requires the commissions to draw districts so as not to disenfranchise any particular community from participating in the electoral process. Additionally, districts would need to be drawn based on population and the idea of “one person, one vote;” in concordance with federal law and the Voting Rights Act of 1965; as contiguous and

compact as possible; and in keeping communities together as much as possible, Hegeman said. Hough said he voted against the resolution because he “didn’t see this boogeyman coming down to necessitate turning over something that was voted on pretty recently.” About 62 percent of voters approved the amendment in 2018. Originally, the resolution eliminated the requirement that “partisan fairness” and “competitiveness” be taken into account, a point of contention for Democrats. However, it was added back in during floor debate. Democrats have decried SJR 38, saying it “overturns the will of the voters” who greenlighted the amendment. But Republicans argued Clean Missouri was too broad and voters weren’t quite familiar with everything included in it. “I do think compactness and districts of likesize are important when we’re talking about redistricting,” Hough told The Missouri Times in an interview after his vote. “I just don’t see the emergency of some hypothetical situation where a map gets drawn and something terrible happens. The changes that we made elsewhere in this SJR, like lowering lobbyist limits from $5 to $0, that just doesn’t seem to me like it does that much.” Hough praised the Senate for affording him the “autonomy” to be able to vote how he felt. “I’ve always had kind of an independent streak in me,” he said. Debate over the measure resulted in a nearly 12hour filibuster just three weeks after the legislative session began. SJR 38 now moves to the House. Proponents of the measure have dubbed it “Cleaner Missouri;” but for opponents, it’s been called “Dirty Missouri.”

Bill calls foul on designated hitter in National League

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Missouri is one of 15 states with an open primary system, but one Republican state senator hopes to change that this year. Sen. Andrew Koenig has filed legislation that would require Missourians to select a political party when registering to vote. Then, voters would only be able to participate in their party’s primary elections. “Political parties are private institutions, and if you’re not part of the institution, it just doesn’t make sense that you’d be able to pick the leadership or who’s running for that party,” Koenig said. “Right now, we have a system in Missouri where people are literally going in and voting for candidates who they personally don’t like and who they think may be a weaker opponent for the other party, easier to beat, and I don’t think that’s a good system.” As it stands now, SB 571 seeks to fully close Missouri’s primaries at all levels. Beginning in 2021, voters would need to register with a political party to participate in primary elections. Missourians would be able to choose to be designated as “unaffiliated” but would not be able to vote in primary elections. However, following a recent committee hearing, Koenig said he will most likely change his bill to partially close Missouri’s primary elections. With the change, unaffiliated voters would be able to vote in any primary election unless the party chose to close it to members only. (Voters would still only be able to participate in one primary election.) “Other legislators are more open to a semiclosed than a completely closed [primary],” Koenig said. Aside from Missouri, 14 other states have open primaries, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia,

A Missouri state representative has pitched legislation decrying the potential addition of a designated hitter rule in the National League. Rep. Jim Murphy, who represents a part of St. Louis County, filed a resolution Tuesday to “take a stand against Major League Baseball allowing the designated hitter in the National League.” “In [Missouri] we stand for tradition,” Murphy said. The resolution includes a highlight reel of Missouri’s various baseball teams, from the St. Louis Browns to the Kansas City Monarchs. It

Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Illinois has partially open primaries; Kansas allows unaffiliated voters to participate in any party’s primary. “If you look at the states that have it closed or semi-closed, it’s all over the place,” Koenig said. “It’s not like red states or blue states go a certain way. It’s scattered throughout all the United States.” “I think the party should be able to pick the candidate they think is best without interference from people who are not part of that organization,” he continued. “You can point to several different instances where that influence has been negative, and the party cannot pick the candidate they feel is best.” Koenig filed similar legislation last year but didn’t push it. This year, the bill has already been heard in a Senate committee. Koenig also said he’s kept the Secretary of State’s Office informed of his bill. Koenig’s bill would allow voters to modify his or her party affiliation at any time, but changes made less than 23 weeks before a primary election would not go into effect until after the election has taken place. Those who are already registered to vote would be considered “unaffiliated” unless he or she participates in a primary election after Aug. 28 or files to change party affiliation.

boasts of the 13 World Series championships Missouri teams have won. But coupled with that success is a stalwart fandom of tradition, according to the resolution. While the American League has had a designated hitter rule since the early 1970s, the National League “continues to play with pitchers batting for themselves,” the resolution said. “[T]he designated hitter rule allows pitchers to hide weak batting ability and allows the designated hitter to hide poor fielding performance and … having a pitcher

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bat for himself requires managers to decide how best to use players on their rosters and adds another layer of strategy to the game,” HCR 84 said. “[B]aseball fans of Missouri and especially St. Louis would like to remain committed to baseball in its traditional form.” The concurrent resolution also calls for a “properly inscribed copy” to be given to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. Head to themissouritimes.com to take our poll: Does this resolution hit it out of the park or is it a strike?

MEC SLAPS GREITENS WITH FINE The Missouri Times

EXECUTIVE

FORMER GOV SAYS HE’S ‘EXONERATED’

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Former Gov. Eric Greitens has agreed to pay $38,000 as part of a settlement with the Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC), his lawyers said Thursday. Regulators had initially levied a more than $178,000 fine for two campaign finance reporting violations. The MEC’s order followed a July 2018 complaint that included a litany of allegations, from concealing donors to accepting contributions in excess of allowable limits. The complaint included 235 pages along with an additional 8,500 documents and up to 10,000 pages of information gathered from subpoenas, the MEC said. Of everything detailed in the complaint, the MEC highlighted two reporting violations. It said it “found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of ” Greitens specifically and did not conclude that he was aware of the violations. The two violations were failure to report inkind contributions by the Greitens for Missouri committee. One stemmed from the LG PAC’s media buy; the other pertained to polling data paid for by A New Missouri. Despite the reporting violations, Greitens and his legal team insisted the former governor — who resigned as Missouri’s chief executive

in June 2018 as he faced sexual misconduct allegations and threats of impeachment — insisted he had been “exonerated.” “It’s good to have been exonerated, and I’m glad to have been vindicated,” Greitens, a Republican, said in a statement. “I’m grateful that the truth has won out, but this was never really about me — they launched this attack because we were fighting for the people of Missouri.” Charlie Spies, an attorney for Greitens with the Detroit-based Dickinson Wright PLLC, said the former governor “personally had no knowledge” of the issues during a call with reporters. He also said “the campaign does not believe it did anything wrong in the first place, but it makes more sense to settle” given the cost of litigating in court. The former governor’s lawyers said Greitens has agreed to pay the $38,000 laid out in the MEC’s consent order. It has not been paid yet, but will be done so in a “timely” manner, lawyers said. Greitens has 45 days to pay the settlement fee and cannot commit any additional campaign finance wrongdoing. The consent order also stipulates Greitens For Missouri cannot transfer funds to any other candidate committee for two years. Check out themissouritimes.com for more information about the order.

DNR commission’s plan for hazardous waste generator fee increases could hit snag Kaitlyn Schallhorn A plan to increase certain hazardous waste generator fees from a commission under the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) may hit a roadblock in the General Assembly. Republican state Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin is pushing a concurrent resolution through the Senate disapproving of the Hazardous Waste Management Commission’s recommendation to raise the fees of generators of hazardous waste for 2021 and 2022. SCR 38 — which called the fee increase “beyond the level which the General Assembly considers to be fair and reasonable” — passed through the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee this week. “I feel this is a backdoor tax increase and should go through the Appropriations Committee,” O’Laughlin said, noting the move would impact small business in Missouri. The commission’s plan is to raise registration fees to be capped at $1,150 for large quantity generators, $360 for small quantity generators, and $175 for those considered to be “conditionally exempt small quantity generators.” The rules also stipulate that an owner must pay the difference if a generator changes status to one with a higher registration fee. As it stands now, large quantity generators have a registration fee of $500. Small

Grain Belt will include ‘first of its kind’ broadband infrastructure, impacting 1M rural Missourians

Kaitlyn Schallhorn quantity generators as well as conditionally exempt small quantity generators both have a registration fee of $150. Small quantity and conditionally exempt small quantity generators that upgrade to a large quantity size must pay a $350 fee. Missouri has more than 2,600 units that fall under the hazardous waste generator umbrella, including: 443 large quantity generators, 1,422 small quantity generators, and 536 conditionally exempt small quantity generators. There are also 189 hazardous waste transporters and 13 treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, according to DNR. The commission has said the fee increase in 2021 and 2022 is meant to offset “a shortfall in funding” beginning in 2022 and allow oversight of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permitting, inspection, and enforcement to to remain under DNR instead of the federal government. The fee increase was approved by the Hazardous Waste Management Commission in November. The General Assembly has the authority to disapprove of the proposal but must do so within 60 days of the legislative session. If the General Assembly does not block the proposal, it will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021 with businesses required to pay the new fees by the end of that year.

The company behind the proposed Grain Belt Express project announced a new initiative with the wind energy transmission line: rural broadband expansion. Invenergy said it would include broadband infrastructure along the transmission line that will run through eight counties across Missouri. The addition of the infrastructure — a “first of its kind” project for Invenergy, a representative told The Missouri Times — would expand broadband service to about 1 million rural Missourians, the company said.

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The addition comes at no additional cost to taxpayers, Invenergy said. An internet service provider has not yet been chosen for the project. Approximately 250,000 rural Missouri households, schools, and hospitals within 50 miles of the Grain Belt route do not have broadband access and would benefit from this inclusion, according to Invenergy. “We are very invested in the communities where we develop and build projects and where Invenergy employees live and work,” Invenergy spokeswoman Beth Conley said. “Broadband is a natural fit for this project and, working with local internet service providers, we are pleased to add it to the list of benefits Grain Belt Express will deliver to Missouri.” Invenergy said it would seek

permission from landowners to consolidate the broadband infrastructure in project easements along the route already approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC). About 20 percent of Missourians do not have access to highspeed internet, Tim Arbeiter, director of Missouri’s Broadband Development, told The Missouri Times last year. The transmission line is expected to deliver about 4,000 megawatts of renewable power and clean energy to about 1.6 million homes per year from Kansas and create new jobs in Missouri — both permanent and temporary. The project has caused controversy among landowners that has spilled into the General Assembly. One main opposition to the Grain Belt hinges on eminent domain, and the Missouri House has already passed legislation that would deny the use of eminent domain for the construction of the Grain Belt.

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Missouri for Mike Bloomberg? How the former New York City mayor is tackling the Show-Me State Senior advisor Ryan Hawkins charts the former mayor’s path forward in Missouri

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s game plan for the Democratic presidential nomination is unconventional. He’s forgone the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire, focusing his time and an exorbitant amount of money on other places — including Missouri. It’s a unique strategy for sure, but it’s one Ryan Hawkins, a senior advisor for the campaign in Missouri, is confident could work for Bloomberg and leave a lasting impact on Democratic politics for years

to come. In a long-ranging interview about Bloomberg’s path forward in Missouri — and his investment into the Democratic campaign infrastructure within the state — Hawkins touted the former mayor as “that middle ground of practical realism” for voters. Former Vice President Joe Biden has gotten off to a rough start, and Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren’s progressive policies “are not in line” with Missouri values, Hawkins said. Ahead of the state’s March 10 primary, Bloomberg’s campaign has funneled more than $4 million into Missouri, crowding the airwaves with ads promising he will “fight for our future.” A Remington Research Group poll conducted earlier this year — and before the debacle of the Iowa caucuses — put Bloomberg in second place, just behind Biden. And Bloomberg has a robust team in place in Missouri, employing more operatives throughout the state than Biden or Warren, according to data from the Missouri Democratic Party. Bloomberg, a 78-year-old billionaire, served three terms as New York City’s mayor — first as a Republican and then as an independent. He championed efforts to strengthen the city’s public education system and alleviate poverty. But it’s Bloomberg’s positions on the environment and gun violence, specifically, that will resonate with

Missourians, Hawkins contends. Hawkins, a partner at the Winding Creek Strategies consulting firm, has been involved with a bevy of political campaigns nationwide, from polling for then-President Barack Obama in 2012 to aiding U.S. Senate races in North Dakota. But he didn’t have plans to join a presidential campaign until he got a call from a friend about Bloomberg’s peculiar strategy. “This is the first time in modern history that somebody is actually running for the nomination, not to be governor of Iowa, and understands delegates in California and Texas and Missouri and Michigan, these are all important places that we should be running,” Hawkins said. And just as Bloomberg is committed to winning the nomination and defeating Republican President Donald Trump in November, he is focused on making investments in the Democratic Party as well, Hawkins said. “There’s just not a lot of skilled operatives and staff that have the latest training, that understand how to merge the worlds of digital organizing with traditional voter contact,” Hawkins said. “It’s been great to see: We have almost 40 people on staff across the state, and I’m watching them take their skills to the next level. They’re going to be here for 2022, 2024. This is important for state politics, but it’s also really important for us to be competitive.” Bloomberg hasn’t visited Missouri yet, but Hawkins said he expects him to as the Show-Me State “is definitely a focus.” But in the meantime, surrogates are coming to Missouri, and the campaign has planned a whole host of “intimate-type setting” events for potential voters, from a “Kansas City barbecue caucus” to pairing hockey matches with health care discussions. But can another wealthy New Yorker win a presidential nomination — especially in the Democratic

“This is the first time in modern history that somebody is running for the nomination and not to be governor of Iowa ...”

Brian Seitz to run for state rep in Taney Co. Brian Seitz, a former army paratrooper and local pastor, has announced his candidacy for State Representative of House District 156. Incumbent Jeffery Justus is term-limited. The district is located within Taney County and includes the cities of Branson and Hollister. “I want to thank Rep. Justus for his years of service to our district and congratulate him on a job well done. We are blessed to have had strong Republican leadership representing our county, and I pledge to continue this trend. Promoting the conservative values of our community will be my chief priority as the next state representative.” Brian Seitz currently serves as pastor of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Branson and is a local business manager at Splash Car Wash. He was also the owner and editor of Music County News, a local entertainment magazine, for 14 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science

in Communication and Public Relations from Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) in Springfield. Seitz believes his various career experiences will equip him well as a state representative. “As a pastor, two of my responsibilities are leadership and listening. I think having years of practice in these areas is exactly what we need to see more of in Jefferson City. There’s a lot of talking that goes on, but not always a lot of listening. I also plan on using my business knowledge to ensure the government uses taxpayer funds wisely and efficiently, so we can keep taxes low.” A list of legislative priorities for Seitz includes workforce development, keeping Missouri pro-life, enhancing educational opportunities for all students, defending religious liberty, and upholding the right to bear arms.

Additionally, he proudly supports law enforcement and emphasizes his high respect for firefighters, first responders, and military families. “Our freedoms are under attack in this country. I believe the Bill of Rights is not just a suggestion of the Founding Fathers — it’s an inheritance for all Americans. We must fight to protect what is rightfully ours. I will do this every single day that I serve as state representative.” Seitz is headed toward his 32nd wedding anniversary and is a proud father of three. His main goal is to leave a bright future for his children and future generations. In his spare time, he enjoys reading books and collecting classic comics, following sports, and exploring the wonders of God’s creation. Seitz has retained Axiom Strategies to serve as consultants on his campaign.

Party — so soon after Trump’s victory in 2016? And will Missouri voters trust a candidate from the nation’s largest city? “We’re past the labels of where you’re from, what party. The country is kind of in crisis, and I think voters have two choices. They have the chaos that is coming from the White House and the ‘me, me, me’ mentality, or they have somebody who says, ‘We’re going to tackle healthcare,’” Hawkins said. Bloomberg has five total campaign offices in Missouri so far: Bridgeton, Clayton, Kansas City, and St. Louis. Missouri’s presidential preference primary election is March 10, a week after Super Tuesday.

Joshua Barrett announces Senate bid for Romine’s seat

Cameron Gerber

Republican Joshua Barrett announced his campaign for state senator earlier this week. A former Combat Engineer with the Marine Corps who served more than eight years — including three combat tours overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan —he has had extensive experience with cyber security, management, and public policy that he believes has given him an appreciation for his country and has given him experience to lead with. Barrett is running for the open seat in SD 3. The seat was most recently held by Sen. Gary Romine, a Republican who was appointed to the State Tax Commission earlier this year. “After much encouragement from members of the community and prayerful consideration, I’ve decided to run for state Senate to stand up for our shared

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conservative values,” Barrett said in a statement. “I am a lifelong conservative and combat veteran who will support our president and fight like a Marine to protect our rights here in Missouri.” Barrett’s goals include reduction of government influence, cutting back on overreaching regulations on small businesses and working families, and providing opportunities to rural areas. He said he intends to promote economic development and focus on expanding small businesses in his district while dialing back governmental influence. Much of his focus is on conservative ideals, such as limited government and small business. He is also pro-life and pro-gun, he said. Barrett served in Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11, gaining a new appreciation for the

freedoms allotted in the U.S. In addition to serving with the Marines, he worked as an offshore logistics coordinator and in global security operations with MasterCard; he later worked as an implementation engineer. “Rural America, and America in general, needs a people’s champion,” Barrett told The Missouri Times. “I fought for my country, and this will be a kind of continuation of that service, on a legislative level.” “I will be a warrior in the Senate for all citizens of this district, just as I will battle for my kids and all of our children’s future in this district,” said Barrett. “I believe my proven leadership experiences will help me push for meaningful reforms that defend our way of life for the next generation.” Read more at themissouritimes.com

LOOSELY REGULATED MINI-CASINOS Congress passes landmark funding for veteran suicide research ARE NOT GOOD FOR OUR STATE Dave Myers II

Jack Bondon

As a Representative, my first priority is to look out for the best interests of my constituents and communities. We need to work together to find new avenues for industry and revenue. However, in pursuit of these goals, we should not be sacrificing responsibility, accountability, and common decency. After all, not every business venture is worthwhile. The proposed legalization of video lottery terminals across the state is a prime example of placing revenues before our values. Let me be clear: This is not a “gray area” in the law, as some have said. These are black market machines which are recognized as illegal by Missouri law enforcement agencies such as the Highway Patrol and the Attorney General’s Office. Yet, vendors of these video lottery terminals don’t care about our laws and continue to spread their machines throughout the state without consequence. Now, these vendors have the gall to try to lobby their way into legalization. I, for one, do not think that past illegal behavior should be rewarded with a free pass.

I also do not want to see these video lottery terminals populating the state. By legalizing VLTs, Missourians can expect to see gas stations, rest stops, and family restaurants hosting these flashy machines and running full blown minicasinos. Furthermore, video lottery terminals do not have the same accountability as the Missouri Lottery or our state’s regulated casinos. Gas station clerks cannot be expected to police these back rooms for minors or ensure that games are providing fair play. I agree with my friends, Senator Dave Schatz and Senator Mike Cunningham, and together we are drawing a line in the sand: No expansion of gaming will be considered until we confront those operating illegally in our state. This week I plan to file legislation to punish those who have intentionally broken our clear gaming laws. The Trojan horse of VLTs must be rejected before it is too late.

Impeachment hearings overshadowed an important bipartisan victory last year that could help save lives. Congress approved $25 million towards researching veteran suicides by firearm, which I wrote about in The Missouri Times last September. This is driving a majority of the deaths in the veteran suicide epidemic, which has taken a large number of lives here in our own state. Sadly, Missouri has a veteran suicide rate that is higher than the national average. The main cause behind a majority of those deaths were fatal self-inflicted gun wounds. An unfortunate example of this can be seen not too long ago when Phillip Crews, an honorable Marine Corps veteran, tragically took his own life in St. Louis. He was alone in his car when he shot himself. It was heartbreaking for his family and the veteran community, which has seen a long line of their brothers and sisters taking their own lives with a gun. The latest figures are alarming. They reveal that 71 percent of Missouri veterans who committed suicide in 2017 used a firearm as their method, exceeding slightly the national rate of firearm-related veteran suicides. Nationally, in the past six years, 17 veterans committed suicide daily — and almost 70 percent of those deaths were due to a firearm. As a veteran, this data is devastating, and I know firsthand that behind every statistic was a patriot who made a sacrifice to serve their country and a grieving family whose lives will never be the same. But the data only highlights the problem, leaving the veteran community without evidence-based ways to help stop veteran suicides by firearm.

DISSENTING VIEWPOINTS

OPINION

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In fact, for 20 years, we ceded ground to the veteran suicide epidemic, as we didn’t have the necessary scientific data to address the problem at its source. Policymakers lacked federal data to confront this crisis and were making premature assumptions, pointing to a variety of potential causes without evidence. We desperately spun our wheels with the hope that we could land on a solution that would save lives. But guesswork on this issue simply has not been enough. Congress’s recent landmark funding for research into the issue of veteran suicides is a big win. This research allows us to learn more about the reasons why firearmrelated suicides disproportionately impacts the veteran community and could get us closer to preventing more tragedies like Phillip Crews. It was a crucial step in the right direction, and we need to continue down the path of finding answers. The $25 million allocated for research is a solid start, but long-term funding is needed to properly research veteran suicides by firearm. I applaud Senator Roy Blunt for standing with veterans in helping to pass the first round of research funds. With his continued support for our veterans and backing from other leaders in Washington, we can continue to move closer to finally addressing one of the worst epidemics facing our country and help save the lives of those who made sacrifices to protect our freedoms at home.

GOP state Rep. Mike Moon filed HB 2285 on Jan. 28. The bill, in part, redefines abortion as murder and would make women “accountable” for the wellbeing of an unborn baby, Moon said. David Cole

Moon wrong on legislation

Some may have read about a recent bill filed by Representative Mike Moon (R-Ash Grove) that would direct law enforcement to arrest and prosecute women for murder that carry out an abortion — no matter the circumstances. It’s beyond question that abortion is a moral evil. There’s a hole in our hearts and in our world where the more than 60 million aborted children should be. We should never cease in our message of the value of life, and we should do everything in our power to protect these children and end abortion in our state and country. Over my many decades of pro-life advocacy, I’ve seen a lot. The pro-life movement is and should be many things; passionately committed to our goal, bold in ideas and action, and working continually to inform and educate others. There’s something else the pro-life moment should be — and that Mr. Moon’s bill is not — compassionate. At times we look at this issue as an “us-versus-them” fight when the reality is not always that simple. Some women in this situation are just

scared. Scared of someone who may be trying to coerce them into aborting their baby. Scared of falling into poverty or scared of the responsibility of caring for a child when they are barely keeping it together themselves. This doesn’t change what abortion is — the taking of a human life — but it should guide us in how we approach and counsel women who come to our churches and pregnancy care centers seeking help and answers. As Christians we are called to love one another and show empathy and understanding towards those hurting. If we start with that attitude, we will help more women care for their children and, most importantly, we will save more lives. That’s heart of being pro-life. And that’s ultimately the goal, isn’t it? To save lives. Not how many views your Facebook video gets or how many times your name is in the news. Mr. Moon’s bill is like so many other stunts and antics he’s pulled. It’s grandstanding. Mr. Moon has stated publicly that the Stand for the Unborn Act passed by the Missouri Legislature, and signed by Governor Parson, wasn’t really a pro-life

I stand for life — without compromise Mike Moon

success. He’s opposed many, if not most, pro-life bills for not fitting his definition of the perfect bill. While he hasn’t been a team player in his 7+ years in the House of Representatives, serious legislators have been passing laws that are saving lives. Laws like the 72-hour waiting period or the Stand for the Unborn Act that bans abortion after eight weeks and will immediately outlaw abortion when Roe v. Wade is overturned. The effects of these laws are real. Abortion clinics have been shut down. The number of abortions performed in Missouri is plummeting. More children are alive today because most lawmakers could park their pride and work together to pass laws that make a difference. At the end of the day, that’s the real measure of success — how many lives we are saving and changing. Rather than perpetuate the myth the pro-life movement is uncaring and unsympathetic; we need to be doing more to help women — not punish them. Maybe if Mr. Moon had been more concerned with making a difference, he might have been more successful in his legislative career.

My opponent — who never served a day in the Missouri General Assembly, wrote an op-ed giving instructions on how I could be more successful in a legislative career. That’s like taking advice on how to be a more effective fighter pilot from a legal assistant at Planned Parenthood. At the end of his driveling opinion piece he espouses, “Maybe if Mr. Moon had been more concerned with making a difference, he might have been more successful in his legislative career.” For me, Mike Moon, “making a difference” is standing for truth, against all odds. I never considered backdoor deal making, dinners with lobbyists, or living the “go-along-to-get-along” credo as the definition of success. Then my opponent goes on to claim that I need to be “compassionate,” as though he were the high priest of moral rectitude. He pontificates, “There’s something else the pro-life movement should be — and that Mr. Moon’s bill is not — compassionate.” Well, he doubles down on his self-declared virtuosity by bringing his relationship with God in to validate his opinion when he proclaims: “As Christians we are called to love one another and show empathy and understanding towards those hurting.” But where my opponent absolutely

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and utterly fails in his pusillanimous political pomposity is his failure to defend, at all costs, the life of the unborn. Compromising life is not a definition of compassion. Allowing the killing of the innocent is not a definition of compassion. We can all recall the familiar words of Jesus when He said,”Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” But the aborted children are not to be found (at least not on this earth). Jesus continues by proclaiming about those who would hurt (or allow to be hurt) “these little ones” and “…it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Mike Moon stands unequivocally, unambiguously, and indisputably with life. Mike Moon is not engaged in the legislature of the Missouri General Assembly to be a “successful” politician. Mike Moon stands for the most defenseless, harmless, and weakest — he stands with the future generation of Missourians, yet to be born. For Mike Moon, it is always principle over politics. For Mike Moon, integrity matters!

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

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Capitol Calendar

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

February 25 | Missouri Chiropractic Physicians Association Legislative Day — 10 a.m. 26 | NFIB – Small Business Day at the Capitol March C

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2 | Women Legislators of Missouri Scholarship Benefit Night – The Millbottom – 5:30– 7:30 p.m.

12 | Urban School Choice Day Rally — Capitol Rotunda — 12-1 p.m. 18 | Fire Fighter’s Day — Capitol Rotunda — 10 a.m.-1 p.m. April 1 | Conservation Federation of Missouri’s Conservation Day at the Capitol — 3rd floor rotunda — 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

3 | Missouri Health Care Association Lobby Day

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

5-6 | 2020 Oral Health Policy Conference — Capitol Plaza Hotel, Jefferson City

8 | Association of Missouri Nurse Practitioners Lobby Day — 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

6 | Courts and the Media: Can We All Get Along? — St. Louis County Circuit Court, 105 S. Central Ave. — 2-4 p.m.

15 | Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Legislative Day

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

20 | MAC Legislative Conference — Capitol Plaza

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FRESHMEN TO WATCH

A SERIES BY CAMERON GERBER

Rasheen Aldridge

State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge has been involved in social justice and activism in St. Louis for years, and now he’s taking that same effort to the Capitol. “I lived in the city, but I went to a county school so I had these special lenses of seeing how in one part of the city, that part of the community had so many opportunities, parks, things for people to do after school. But I didn’t see that in my neighborhood. I wanted to have a community center. I wanted to be able to go to the park and play basketball. As I continued to get older, I wanted to make a difference in my neighborhood, and I found myself doing that through activism.” Prior to being elected as the representative for HD 78, Aldridge was involved in a number of social movements in the St. Louis area. He was involved in the “Fight for Fifteen” campaign advocating for a higher minimum wage, as well as the Ferguson movement, during which he served on the Ferguson Commission. “It made me think during the time of Ferguson that we had elected officials that really didn’t understand the young people’s message of the pain we felt over what happened to Mike Brown, so I decided to run for committeeman in my own community in 2016,” Aldridge said. He won that race, making him the youngest committeeman in St. Louis history, he said. Then when former Rep. Bruce Franks stepped down from the General Assembly, Aldridge saw an opportunity to continue to serve his community. “With that being the neighborhood I had lived in my whole life, where I wanted to see something better, I took it upon myself to say, ‘I want to continue the marathon that Bruce laid

out and also take it to the next level,’” Aldridge, a Democrat, said. Among his proposed legislation for his first session is a tax credit for new businesses in distressed areas as well as a bill requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms. The latter bill, HB 2231, establishes a progressive system of penalties for the failure to do so in an effort to encourage a level of cooperation and understanding with gun owners while also reducing the number of illegal firearms on the streets, he said. Another, HB 2268, would allow those in jail but not yet convicted of a crime to vote via absentee ballots. But his most personal effort, HB 2352, would designate April as Limb Loss Awareness Month in Missouri. Aldridge was born with one leg shorter than the other and uses a full prosthetic. “Individuals like myself who have prosthetics or have had amputations from war or diabetes, it’s not really talked about,” Aldridge said. “Now more than ever, there are more young people due to diabetes that are having to have a prosthetic, so being able to share my story and the stories of so many other people who have prosthetics that feel less normal than other people is important. It may take longer to get ready every morning, but we do it every day.” Aldridge says his priorities going forward in the state legislature coincide with the working people of his community and Missouri as a whole. “That’s very broad, and it stretches from health care to economics to making sure that people’s human rights are being abided by. Whatever I can do to help distressed communities and working families is my main focus while I’m in the capital.”

Trish Gunby

Freshman Rep. Trish Gunby is taking years’ worth of activism experience with her to the Missouri state capitol. Gunby defeated her Republican opponent in a special election for HD 99 in November. “I had gotten active in my church and various social justice ministries and was doing work with a community group around voting rights. And so when [Rep.] Jean Evans resigned, folks reached out to me and said they thought that I should run,” Gunby told The Missouri Times. “It had not been on my radar up to that point, but I did my homework and started talking to folks and decided that this was my next chapter.” Gunby, a Democrat, worked in the advertising industry before focusing on raising her two children, during which time she became active in her community. Her areas of activism included gun violence, hunger, voting rights, and the LGBTQ+ community. “Throughout the campaign and even here in Jefferson City, folks have said ‘you must be exhausted with all the meetings and knocking on doors and long hours.’ But for me, I majored in political science, so I’ve always had an interest in politics. Being able to visit with constituents or with different groups, it’s provided an opportunity for me to make a more official change,” Gunby said. “I was doing things as a citizen, so this changes it to a legislative authority, but it doesn’t change the passion that I have for those issues.” “It’s an exciting way to make a difference in a more official capacity, although I will say, as a citizen, I feel you can do just as much,” she said. “I would encourage people, even if you

PEOPLE

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don’t run for office, to engage in something, whatever your passion might be.” Gunby said she finds herself in a position where many of her colleagues in the Democratic Party have already sponsored bills that she supports, so she has taken a different approach. “I have intentionally started sponsoring bills that I believe are more bipartisan in nature,” she said. “There continues to be discussion about the divisiveness that’s present and ways that we can work together.” Among those bipartisan efforts is HB 1929, which would grant a tax credit to anyone who purchases a gun safety device, such as a safe, to promote safety. Another, HB 1944, would prevent individuals with PTSD from being evicted from their homes so long as the cause for eviction was a direct result of their diagnosis. Her priorities for her time in the legislature are tied to her community. “I feel that because this seat was vacant for almost a year, the 99th district really did not have a voice,” Gunby said. “I want to spend the next few months really hearing from them, what issues and concerns they have. I’m trying to engage the district because they really haven’t had that opportunity. They heard from me for five months, knocking on their doors and on their social media, and now I’m here to listen to them.”

SEMA DIRECTOR RON WALKER RETIRING AFTER 41 YEARS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

After more than 40 years of service with the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Director Ron Walker will retire on April 1. “At both SEMA and the Highway Patrol, Ron Walker has provided strong leadership as Missouri has faced emergencies and critical events for four decades,” Gov. Mike Parson said. Walker has worked for the state of Missouri for about 42 years, following in his father’s footsteps by getting his start with the State Highway Patrol. For 35 years, Walker rose through the ranks of the state patrol — from working assignments near Truman Lake to eventually becoming the assistant commander for the Field Operations Bureau in Jefferson City.

Walker technically retired in 2013 but missed being a part of a team. A year later, he was appointed to lead SEMA for the first time under the Nixon administration. Leadership changes meant Walker became the deputy director of SEMA for a brief time in 2017 before DPS Director Sandy Karsten again moved him to the helm in 2018. “Ron Walker represents the highest ideals of public service and has dedicated his career to making the citizens of Missouri safer and our communities more resilient,” Karsten said. SEMA, housed under DPS, is tasked with preparing for, responding to, and recovering from all emergencies — from natural disasters to potential cybersecurity events to other potential catastrophes. But Walker

says the job is about supporting and ensuring local communities are equipped to handle those emergencies. “I wasn’t really sure about it because I was not an emergency management practitioner, but in reality, emergency management is about problem solving,” Walker previously told The Missouri Times. “It’s problem solving at real high intensity times. You can work on scenarios in advance that would help you, but it’s really hard to create every challenge you’re going to get in a real life event — whether it’s a major flood event, tornado, ice storm.” SEMA Deputy Director James Remillard has been named acting director as Walker prepares to leave the department.

www.missouritimes.com

The Missouri Times