The Missouri Times | January 11, 2021

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The Missouri Times

JANUARY 11, 2021

LEGISLATURE BACK IN SESSION Senate, House leadership outline priorities, new rules Cameron Gerber

Lawmakers returned to Jefferson City for the start of the 2021 legislative session last week, with new leaders taking the dais and guiding priorities for the year.

New Speaker of the House Rob Vescovo pledged to prioritize education, foster care, COVID liability, and the economy in his speech before the body on opening day, hoping for collaboration across the aisle to address them.

“As we tackle these issues and many others, we will have disagreements, we will need to work together to find a compromise, and there may be times that we

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cannot find the common ground we need to satisfy everyone,” he said. “I can assure you we will not fail to have the conversation simply because the road to success is a difficult one.”

Rule changes proposed by Majority Floor Leader Dean Plocher were approved by a committee Friday.

While the resolution mainly consisted of technical changes, it also included the return of the Emerging Issues Committee and another provision allowing committee chairs to set schedules for virtual testimony.

Continued on Page 6.

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Scott Faughn, Publisher | scott@themissouritimes.com | @ScottFaughn Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Editor | kaitlyn@themissouritimes.com | @K_Schallhorn Cameron Gerber, Reporter | cameron@themissouritimes.com | @CamGWrites Conner Kerrigan, Business Manager | conner@themissouritimes.com | @ConnerKerrigan Madison Rudman, Digital Producer | madison@themissouritimes.com

Missourians receive $4.8B in unemployment aid Kaitlyn Schallhorn

More than 500,000 Missourians received about $3.8 billion in unemployment benefits from federal funds during the coronavirus pandemic so far, according to Auditor Nicole Galloway.

The recent report said the federal assistance was received through October. Additionally, about 1,600 nonprofits and government organizations collected about $22.8 million in emergency unemployment relief, Galloway’s report said.

“Thousands of Missouri families lost their jobs during the health crisis through no fault of their own, and these programs have provided a lifeline to them,” Galloway said. “This report shows the impact of the pandemic and the extent of assistance needed.

Missourians continue to need support because the economic effects of this crisis are not over.”

The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation accounted for the most benefits awarded to Missourians, totaling more than $2.9 million and impacting 541,400 people.

The program ran from the end of March until

July 31.

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program awarded more than $290 million to aid about 121,500 people; the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program impacted more than 81,000 people with about $145 million.

On the state level, unemployment benefits have totaled nearly $1.15 billion from January to November, according to figures provided by a Department of Labor spokeswoman.

The state paid about $1.06 billion of those unemployment benefits from March to October — the same time frame detailed in Galloway’s report.

Missouri saw the largest spike of initial unemployment claims in March and April as the pandemic began to take effect in the state: • Week of March 21: 42,207 claims • Week of March 28: 104,230 claims • Week of April 4: 91,049 claims • Week of April 11: 101,722 claims • Week of April 18: 59,271 claims Missouri’s unemployment rate hovered at 4.4 percent with 37,053 initial unemployment claims filed in the month of November, according to the Department of Labor.

NEW RULE ALLOWS PHARMACY TECHS TO ADMINISTER COVID VACCINE

Cameron Gerber

Missouri has approved an emergency rule change allowing pharmacy technicians to administer COVID-19 vaccinations.

Previously, pharmacists could only delegate the administration of the vaccine to qualified interns.

The amended rule allows certified technicians to help meet the demand under pharmacist supervision as Missouri enters the first phase of distribution.

“Absent an emergency amendment, Missouri pharmacies would be prohibited from delegating medication administration to pharmacy technicians under the rule, which will detrimentally impact the public safety, health, and welfare of Missouri citizens,” the rule change, published by the Secretary of State’s Office, said. “As a result, the Missouri State Board of Pharmacy finds there is an immediate danger to the public health, safety, and/or welfare and a compelling governmental interest that requires this emergency action.”

The same rule was authorized on the federal level by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The amended rule would also require patients to be informed of their entry into the state’s ShowMeVax

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database within two weeks of vaccination.

Missouri received its first 50,000 dose shipment of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine in December.

Moderna’s vaccine began arriving a week later, with 100,000 doses expected in the initial batch.

CVS and Walgreens are working with the federal government to administer vaccinations in long term care facilities, with CVS expected to initially administer the vaccine in more than 600 Missouri facilities. The rule change allows the companies to reach a wider spread of patients when they gear up for vaccinations.

According to Gov. Mike Parson, 285 facilities across the state were approved in mid-December to administer the vaccines.

Missouri is in the first phase of its vaccine distribution plan. The first round is going to health care facilities, starting with long term care facility staff and other health care workers. As availability increases, the state intends to spread its focus to the elderly and those at higher risk of serious complications due to preexisting health conditions.

The vaccine will be distributed to schools and “critical businesses” at the same time, with the final phase of distribution opening access to the general public.

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

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EXECUTIVE BRANCH

SHEILA SOLON NAMED ACTING DIRECTOR OF DIVISION OF PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION

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ALS IMPACTS FAMILIES.

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

Cameron Gerber After leaving her legislative career behind, Sheila Solon was appointed acting director of the Division of Professional Registration by Gov. Mike Parson.

“A new chapter begins in my public service as acting director of Professional Registration,” Solon said. “I appreciate this opportunity and for the confidence that Gov. Mike Parson has placed in me to lead the division that supports 41 professional boards and commissions responsible for licensing and regulating 460,000 Missourians.”

Solon told The Missouri Times she was grateful for the opportunity to serve in her new position after her tenure in the statehouse and that she felt honored to be appointed by Parson.

In her new position, Solon will oversee licensing for various professions in Missouri, from medical professionals and medicinal marijuana distributors to social workers and realtors. The division, a section of the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration, is tasked with processing

eventually breathe. There is no cure.

Because of it’s debalitating and relentless nature, ALS exacts an enormous toll on families.

The ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter helps families manage the emotional and physical strain brought on by an ALS diagnosis, with free programs and services for patients, caregivers and children.

Learn more at

www.alsa-stl.org.

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applications, conducting investigations into professional misconduct and fraud, administering examinations, and providing accessible information on standards and regulations. The division employs more than 200 Missourians, according to Solon.

Solon represented HD 31 for three terms and won her bid to represent the HD 9 after a two-year break.

During her time in the statehouse, the St. Joseph Republican served on the Rules-Administrative Oversight, Local Government, and Veterans committees and chaired the Children and Families Committee last session. She sponsored various bills on childcare and the foster system during her tenure in the legislature. She left the House after last session due to term limits.

Prior to her time in the statehouse, Solon served as mayor pro tem of the Blue Springs City Council and chaired the City of Blue Springs Planning Commission.

Outside of elected office, Solon has worked as an account coordinator.

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SHOW-ME GOVERNMENT

BILL OWEN RETURNS TO CAPITOL

Rep. Bill Owen meets President Ronald Reagan during his first tenure in the statehouse.

Cameron Gerber

Rep. Bill Owen served in the 81st General Assembly in the early 80s before beginning a career in banking. Now, 40 years after his first term, Owen is returning to the statehouse for the 2021 legislative session.

“As my banking career was winding down, I felt that I was not at the point where I was ready to just stop being involved in the community,” Owen said.

“I thought of different options, but I kept coming back to the state legislature.

The previous representative was terming out just as I was retiring, so I went around the district and talked to constituents, and after getting a strong response, I decided this would be the next phase of my life.”

The Springfield Republican said he first entered the House during a particularly volatile time for his district.

“It was a district that switched parties four consecutive elections, and each time somebody was defeating an incumbent: I defeated an incumbent and then was defeated by future Gov.

DAVID CHAYER NEW MISSOURI KIDSFIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Cameron Gerber

Bob Holden,” he said. “At that point, I was into my banking career so I focused on that for a while until my retirement. Now I’m looking back at my time in the House and what I accomplished while I was there and thought I would try it again.”

One of the biggest changes Owen said he has seen so far was in party lines since his exit in 1982. While Republicans have maintained a majority in the state over the past few elections, Owen said that supermajority was a surprise compared to the state’s makeup during Gov. Kit Bond’s second term.

“When I served in the 80s, there were as many Democratic state representatives as there were Republicans,” he said. “Jefferson County was all Democrat, the Lead Belt was all Democrat, southeast Missouri was all Democrat — so many places that are all red now, it’s another factor that’s dramatically different now. Even the leaders of the legislature were rural Democrats. There was After more than 21 years of leadership for nonprofits around the country, David Chayer is stepping in as the new executive director of Missouri KidsFirst.

“I think all the experience I’ve had gives me a really good perspective on non-profit leadership and being a part of large operations like that,” Chayer said. “From my background, both with the American Red Cross and the ALS Association, I’ve spent the better part of my career in organizations that are helping children respond to emergencies but also working to prevent them. Having that background in response and prevention as well as government relations and policy, those are the things that have appealed to me in terms of this position.”

Rep. Bill Owen with Gov. Kit Bond during a bill signing during his first term. a dominance of out-state moderate Democrats that just doesn’t exist anymore; I was stunned all the Democratic legislators are in the cities now.”

Owen said the appropriation process had also changed over the years. When he was first involved in the legislature, the speaker implemented five appropriations committees to handle different sides of the process. The budget the legislature deals with also ballooned over the years — Owen said the legislature appropriated a mere $4.1 billion for the 1982 fiscal year.

Technology was another big change over the years, Owen said. While the voting process and the LED board remained much the same as they had been 40 years ago, the computers on every desk were a sign of transformation.

“Personal computers were just coming out when I was here last,” he said. “One of my freshman colleagues got one back then, and we were Chayer worked with the American Red Cross for more than 14 years, serving in leadership positions in four states and Washington, D.C. “I think the impact of Missouri KidsFirst goes throughout the entire state,” he said. “There are thousands of kids every year that go through substantiated cases of child abuse, and so we want to make sure we’re providing that support to direct service providers so they are able to offer consistent and quality services across the state of Missouri.”

Chayer was selected after a nationwide search.

He said he was honored to be chosen and looked forward to leading the organization in its work as the legislative session begins.

“I have a really deep passion for this mission.

I’m a father of two young children, so it’s a very

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all watching him unpack it trying to figure out how he could possibly use it. We had no conceptual idea at the time so technology had not reached the legislature then.”

Owen said he served with family members of at least two current legislators his first term: Mark Sharp’s father and Hannah Kelly’s grandfather served alongside him in the 81st General Assembly.

Financial laws are still his focus in the legislature: The incoming HD 131 representative pre-filed two bills ahead of session, one to authorize the city of Springfield to create a land bank, and another to clarify the statutes on consumer loans.

Owen said he ultimately hoped to bring a different perspective to the ever-evolving General Assembly.

“One of the things I thought about is how things have changed and the perspective I can bring with me,” he said. “I hope I can bring some historical perspective with some of this.

Some people say because of term limits we lose that, but I thought this was a way I could contribute from the perspective of having been around back in those days.” personal mission for me,” he said. “I wouldn’t want my daughter or any other child to be one of the statistics. I also believe the scope of work Missouri KidsFirst does and the impact it has across the state and the relationships it makes. There is tremendous trust with folks around the state, and that’s exciting to get to work with.”

Chayer praised the staff and leadership at Missouri KidsFirst, touting their work in fostering relationships and spreading awareness of the issues that impact Missouri’s youth. He also thanked outgoing Executive Director Joy Oesterly for her leadership in the position.

Read more about Chayer and Missouri KidsFirst at www.themissouritimes.com.

The Missouri Times

Cameron Gerber

STEVEN ROBERTS MAKES SENATE HISTORY

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

As Steven Roberts crossed the Capitol building last week, he made history as the youngest Black senator to serve in the Missouri Senate, and the responsibility that comes with that distinction isn’t lost on him.

In fact, it’s personal responsibility that drives Roberts in much of what he does.

Roberts, 32, served three years in the House before his election to the upper chamber. And during that time, as one of more than 160 state representatives scattered across Missouri, Roberts focused on the needs of his community — from school supply drives to COVID-19 testing. To date, Roberts estimates his efforts have led to thousands of people in the St. Louis area being tested for COVID-19.

“Someone much wiser than me said the measure of a society is how it treats its weakest and most vulnerable people. That’s how I see my role as a Democrat: being an advocate for the folks who need a voice, who are doing everything right but are still struggling to succeed,” Roberts said.

While he’s always had an interest in politics, Roberts first focused on the legal system. A graduate of the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, Roberts served as a law clerk in the District Attorney’s Office in Compton, California, helping people seeking asylum in the U.S. He’s also worked for the Counsel to Secure Justice, aiding sexual assault victims in India.

But St. Louis is Roberts’ home, the place that propels his dedication to service, and he eventually returned to serve as a prosecutor in the city — a job that would become the catalyst for his involvement in government. And just last month, Roberts opened his own personal injury firm as a way to continue his advocacy work.

“As a public official, I have advocated for our most vulnerable citizens,” Roberts said at the time.

“However, I have also seen the opportunity to help in other ways. I will continue to fight in Jefferson City and in our communities, but now, by starting my own firm, I will be able to reach even more people in need and advocate on a more personal basis.”

The senator said he places an emphasis on “looking out for our city’s and state’s most vulnerable people” — something that culminated while he worked as a prosecutor. Then, he met a young man who had been arrested on weapons and drug charges who needed help.

“He said, ‘Look, I’m 26 years old. I don’t know how to read, I can’t fill out a job application. What else can I do?’” Roberts recalled. “At the time, I didn’t have an answer for him. It was certainly an opportunity I had taken for granted, the ability to read. I can’t imagine where I would be if I didn’t have that skill.

Unfortunately, there’s far too large of a segment of our population that just doesn’t have those basic abilities, and we have to make sure people have the tools to succeed.”

Aside from collecting school supplies for children and procuring COVID-19 tests for those in his district, Roberts has also focused on criminal justice reform — an effort he plans to carry over with him into the Senate. Specifically, he hopes to change certain possession offenses, particularly for minor possessions, from felony to misdemeanor charges.

“Whether it’s real or perceived, when someone has a felony conviction … just having that burden on you hurts,” Roberts said. “Unfortunately, it’s not necessarily about the time [served]. I’ve spoken with people who have convictions on their record who say the hardest thing wasn’t going away for that time but the debt paid to society while still can’t managing to get back on their feet. You’ve allegedly paid your debt, but then there are all these new obstacles in the way still knocking you down. If there’s anything I can do to help and empower those folks who deserve a second chance, I consider that a success.”

“Sen. Roberts has dedicated his time, talents, and career to helping his community,” Minority Floor Leader John Rizzo said. “From his service as an Air National Guardsman to his career as a successful attorney and prosecutor to his service in the Missouri House — Sen. Roberts has always put his community first. His intellect and insights will add great value to the Missouri Senate and the Democratic Caucus.”

After a tough primary, Roberts handedly won election to represent SD 5 in November. Roberts defeated Republican Michael Hebron with 87 percent of the vote to succeed longtime lawmaker Jamilah Nasheed in the St. Louis district.

Roberts joins the Senate as the youngest Black member in Missouri history — a distinction last held by the late Raymond Howard who was 34 when he took office in 1969. He is also contributing to another record set by the Missouri Senate this year: The largest number of Black senators to serve simultaneously (five).

Read more online at www.themissouritimes.com.

After more than 30 years in law enforcement and months battling the coronavirus pandemic as acting director, James Remillard was officially named director of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

As Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Sandy Karsten announced the official promotion, she commended his leadership through what has been a volatile year.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, Jim Remillard has been providing critically important leadership on everything from acquiring and distributing PPE and vastly expanding the Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team (MO DMAT-1) to working directly with vulnerable populations to support their needs,” Karsten said. “Jim has done a tremendous job dealing with a disaster unlike anything we’ve faced before, and capably pulled our SEMA team and others together to get the job done.”

Remillard began serving as acting director after the retirement of Director Ron Walker last year. The agency conducted its COVID-19 response activities under his guidance, purchasing and distributing more than $62 million in personal protective equipment (PPE) and cloth masks for first responders, health care workers, and schools. MO DMAT-1 expanded under his leadership as well: Membership jumped from 163 to more than 440, according to

SHOW-ME GOVERNMENT

JAMES REMILLARD OFFICIALLY TAPPED TO LEAD SEMA

DPS. SEMA was also involved in preparing to distribute COVID-19 vaccines through the state over the past few months, hosting “tabletop” distribution drills with state and federal departments at its Operations Center.

Gov. Mike Parson praised Remillard’s appointment and the work SEMA had done over the course of the pandemic.

“As Missouri has faced an unprecedented public health and emergency management crisis in 2020, Jim Remillard’s vast experience, strong leadership, and calm demeanor have been essential to both SEMA’s outstanding responsiveness and the work we’ve done across state government,” Parson said.

“His work on the coronavirus response builds upon his previous experience with disaster response, supporting Missouri communities, and strengthening coordination with our response partners.”

Remillard began his career with the Missouri State Highway Patrol in 1990, serving as captain of Troop 1 beginning in 2014. He retired from the patrol in 2019 to join SEMA.

Jean Evans leaves MO GOP

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Jean Evans has finished her tenure as executive director of the Missouri Republican Party.

After less than two years in the leadership role, Evans announced her departure on Dec. 31. She noted it’s “not only the last day of 2020” but her final day as the executive director.

Evans, a former state representative, said she has a “couple of things [she’s] working on” but for now is focused on business consulting, a job that allows her to work with younger companies on bringing products to market, she said.

Evans pointed to the passage of Amendment 3 as one of her most rewarding moments as executive director of the party. She said she personally worked on getting the ballot measure across the finish line through all stages of the process — from convincing lawmakers to bring it to the floor to overseeing grassroots efforts contacting voters. And the party did it all with a very small budget, she said.

When all was said and done, more than

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1.3 million Missourians voted in favor of the ballot measure changing the state’s redistricting process again.

“When we won Amendment 3, we understood the lasting impact that it has and will continue to have long after we’ve moved on to other jobs,” Evans said. “I think it really speaks to the power of the grassroots, and we also ran this campaign on such a tight budget.”

Evans was first elected to the House in 2016 where she served until joining the party as the executive director in February 2019, working alongside chairwoman Kay Hoflander. In the House, she focused on prohibiting the shackling of pregnante inmates during labor and setting the minimum age of marriage.

She is a former real estate agent, investor, and volleyball coach and officiant.

The Missouri GOP will hold its elections for the next chairman at the end of January. It will be up to the new chair to determine who will serve as the next executive director of the party.

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L E G I S L AT U R E Legislature kicks off with new rules, members Cameron Gerber

Continued from front cover.

New Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz spearheaded a resolution to alter a selection of rules in the upper chamber, including altering the sizes of various committees and creating the condensed Committee on Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight. In addition, the resolution allows members to receive new bills and amendments digitally rather than on paper if they so choose.

“The only thing that we’re changing — and it’s not a monumental change — is the fact that when a document goes to your desk, it’s scanned in and distributed through the system and sent to every senator’s desk at that point,” Schatz said on the f loor. “That’s not a huge change to the Senate — it doesn’t speed up the process to the point where we’re moving at lightning speed because we can still seek recognition to have a conversation about what’s going on.”

The changes led to more than four hours of debate on the f loor before

ultimately being adopted with an amendment excluding laptops from the list of allowable devices.

Senate leadership identified pandemic response, school choice, and infrastructure as priorities going into the new session.

Missouri lawmakers also took time to address the violent rioting in Washington D.C., last week, where a group of protestors stormed the nation’s Capitol in objection to Congress’ count of the presidential vote.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Caleb

Rowden condemned the day’s events as “domestic terrorism” during a press conference following adjournment on the first day, a sentiment echoed in a statement from Senate Democrats.

Several dozen protestors gathered outside the statehouse in support of President Donald Trump on the first day of session, but public safety officials reported the gathering was peaceful and no arrests were made. The crowd largely dissipated as the situation in the nation’s capital worsened.

seen no problem with the idea. You can go

by Hy-Vee or something like that for a flu shot, so why wouldn’t a medical office be able to do the same thing? It’s just as safe — if not more so.”

Under the bill, participating dentists would be required to undergo training before administering the vaccine to patients with which they have a preexisting doctorpatient relationship. Busick said the bill would prohibit dentists from soliciting new patients for vaccination.

The Republican sophomore said he was prompted to file the bill by medical professionals in his district, which houses Truman University and other institutions.

“My district has quality schools of higher education with medical and

dental programs, and they along with the University of Missouri-Kansas City dental school came to me with this idea to help with this ongoing situation,” he said. “Flu shots and things like that are given out at places other than doctors’ offices, and dentists are very well trained in applying injections and things like that.”

Busick said the bill would allow more Missourians to receive the vaccine in a safe environment, and that the dentists he had consulted with in his district approved of the idea.

“We have very fine dentists and medical professionals here in Missouri,” he said. “I think they’ve given a lot of consideration to whether this is something they can do, and I haven’t heard of any situation where this

would cause any trouble.”

California enacted the same policy this week, approving an emergency waiver from its Department of Consumers Affairs after its governor reported low vaccination numbers amid rising case numbers for the state.

Missouri recently passed a new rule allowing pharmacy technicians to administer the vaccine, increasing immunization capacity beyond pharmacists and interns. Walgreens and CVS are contracting with the federal government to administer the vaccines to long-term care facilities.

Missouri received its first shipments of the vaccines last month.

LAWMAKERS CONSIDER ALLOWING DENTISTS TO ADMINISTER CORONAVIRUS VACCINE Cameron Gerber

As Missouri continues the first phase of its COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, one legislator hopes to allow dentists to administer the vaccine to patients.

HB 628, sponsored by Rep. Danny Busick, would allow dentists to vaccinate patients for the virus. Busick said the bill would expedite the vaccination process and provide Missourians with a new option to get vaccinated.

“One thing I considered is the fact that you don’t go to a dentist with a communicable disease, while you might in a hospital or clinic,” he said. “It may really be a safer place to get vaccinated. The higher education institutions in my district have

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VESCOVO ELECTED HOUSE SPEAKER

Cameron Gerber

The Missouri House convened for the beginning of the 2021 legislative session on Jan. 6, officially electing Rep. Rob Vescovo as Speaker of the House for the 101st General Assembly.

Vescovo discussed in-person education, the state’s response to the pandemic, COVID liability, and the economy during his speech before the body, expressing hope that the parties could work together to address these issues.

“As we tackle these issues and many others, we will have disagreements, we will need to work together to find a compromise, and there may be times that we cannot find the common ground we need to satisfy everyone,” he said. “I can

assure you we will not fail to have the conversation simply because the road to success is a difficult one.”

House Democrats nominated Minority Floor Leader Rep. Crystal Quade to vie for the position but she declined, referencing the day’s events in Washington D.C. “If Missouri House Democrats were to assert that we actually won a majority of House seats in the last election, you would call us delusional, and you would be right,” she said. “Yet there are those who claim – without a shred of evidence to support their claims and overwhelming evidence to disprove them – that the departing incumbent president won an election he actually lost by wide margins in both the electoral and popular vote. This claim isn’t

just a delusion; it is something far more dangerous.”

Incumbent Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann was re-elected to a second term in his position, holding his seat by a nearunanimous vote.

The day’s events lasted nearly three hours, as representatives were sworn in by class and their families were rotated in and out of the upper galleries to accommodate social distancing recommendations.

In the upper chamber, Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz was unanimously reelected to serve in that leadership position.

Following adjournment, Vescovo — alongside Wiemann and new Majority Floor Leader Rep. Dean Plocher — released a statement on the day’s events in the

Thank you to the best boss I have had Dan Kleinsorge

Having just sat down to my last day in state service, I finally have a moment to ref lect on the last six years. When Dave Schatz, then a state representative with a reputation for a temper, hired me in December 2014, I had no idea what to expect. I was just coming off a tough year fighting for “Right to Farm,” and I knew Senator-elect Schatz was pro-ag and conservative so I thought we’d be a good fit.

What I did not know is that Dave would be the best boss I have had. I have worked for boards, consultants, fundraisers, and staffers. I have worked in warehouses and on farms and had bosses from good to awful — but Dave Schatz is the best boss I have had in this crazy business. I want to say thank you to Dave for teaching me more about policy, leadership, perseverance, and deal-making than I knew I could learn.

I wish more of us would see legislators as people and not just as politicians all the time. They are not the 30-second soundbite from that one time they were in a heated debate about libraries (yes, this happened). They are not a caricature from a glossy mail piece. They are people who largely have the same goals as you and I — they want a better future for their children and grandchildren and they generally follow the “Golden Rule.” That’s the kind of person I got to know over the last six years — a person, not a politician.

It makes me feel a little better about Missouri that a person like that can ascend to leadership in our state legislature.

Sen. Dave Schatz was recently unanimously re-elected by the Majority Caucus to serve as the President Pro Tem of the Missouri Senate, and I hope readers understand the office of President Pro Tem isn’t just occupied by a politician — it is led by a good person.

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L E G I S L AT U R E

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nation’s capital.

“The violence and destruction that occurred today in our nation’s capital is unacceptable,” the statement read.

“Peaceful protests are an important part of free speech, but violence can never be tolerated.”

Vescovo was first elected to represent HD 112 in 2014 and is beginning his final term in the House. He served as Majority Floor Leader in the lower chamber over his third term. Republicans initially named him Speaker-elect in 2019.

Wiemann has served in the House since his first election in 2014. He assumed the Speaker Pro Tem seat in 2019.

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Meet your new senators

As the legislative session kicks off, the Missouri Senate welcomes 11 new members. We asked the new senators a couple of questions ahead of their start in the upper chamber.

Get to know them better below.

Doug Beck, SD 1

TMT: What was the first thing you put in your new office?

DB: A picture of myself and my granddaughter that was on my desk on the House floor when I got sworn in in 2016.

TMT: What do you hope to be known for in the Senate?

DB: A person that can be respected, a person that will keep their word and will always keep an open ear and an open mind.

TMT: Who is your biggest role model?

DB: My wife, Marilyn. She is the most honest person I know. She is a good person at heart, and I strive to be that every day. She always steps out to help other folks. I admire her a lot.

Elaine Gannon, SD 3

TMT: Who is one senator you hope to get to know during your time in the upper chamber?

EG: I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with many of my fellow senators during my time in the House, and I look forward to continuing to work with them when the 2021 session convenes.

Since I have not had the chance to serve with him, I hope to get to know newly-elected Sen. Jason Bean during the coming year. I am sure we will probably see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues.

TMT: What’s the first piece of legislation you have filed?

EG: I know that for many people, their pets are an integral part of their family. To recognize this, I have filed SB 71 allowing individuals to request a protection order preventing an individual from either committing or threatening to commit abuse against a pet.

TMT: What is a fun fact about you people might

not know?

EG: I am the youngest of 11 children!

Steven Roberts, SD 5

TMT: What is your favorite book?

SR: “The Sense of an Ending” by Julian Barnes TMT: Who is one senator you hope to get to know during your time in the upper chamber?

SR: John Rizzo TMT: What is your favorite restaurant in your district?

SR: Bait

Greg Razer, SD 7

TMT: What do you hope to be known for in the upper chamber?

GR: Being a senator focused on the importance of governing our state, not politics. On improving the lives of our citizens and reinvesting in the infrastructure of our state TMT: What is your favorite book?

GR: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee TMT: What was the first thing you put in your new office?

GR: A Kansas City Monarchs scarf, hung by the window.

Barbara Washington, SD 9

TMT: What’s the first piece of legislation have you filed?

BW: I have pre-filed 10 bills, among them are tax credits to improve blighted areas and tax credits which I hope will increase urban farming and sustainability.

TMT: What is your favorite restaurant in your district?

BW: Gates BBQ TMT: What is a fun fact people might not know about you?

BW: In high school, I made many of my own clothes.

Angela Mosley, SD 13

TMT: What is a fun fact people might not know about you?

AM: A fun fact people may not know about me is that I was named after activist Angela Davis.

TMT: What is the first thing you put in your new

office?

AM: The first thing I put in my new office was a couch cover and pillows. Had to fix the eyesore!

TMT: Who do you hope to get to know in the Senate?

AM: Being that there are only 34 of us, I hope I will get to know every senator on a personal level. I always feel I can learn from others and tend to be a sponge.

Jason Bean, SD 25

TMT: What is your favorite restaurant in your district?

JB: Las Brisas TMT: What do you hope to be known for in the upper chamber?

JB: Providing a voice to my constituents and moving our state forward through the consistent application of conservative values and realistic perspective. I want to stand on the shoulders of the men and women who came before me and leave a legacy future senators can build on.

TMT: Who is your role model?

JB: My father, former state Rep. Otto Bean Jr. He taught me to listen, stand up for what you believe, stand up for the people you represent, be kind, and treat others how you want to be treated.

Holly Rehder, SD 27

TMT: What is the first thing you put in your new office?

HR: My Greyhound Bus sign and my SEMO cotton field paintings. My sisters, mother, and I moved often when I was growing up — traveling the U.S. via Greyhound Bus, and the cotton fields remind me of home. I think it’s important to always remember where you come from — especially when you’re in Jefferson City making decisions that affect people’s lives.

TMT: Who is your role model?

HR: Jesus. He is who I want to be like, act like, and please through my actions and with my heart. I want to always show wisdom, kindness, and compassion as he did. Certainly, we think of that when helping those in need — but other lessons as well like with the parable of the talents, Jesus balanced compassion

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with potential. I’ve watched that play out many times growing up. So to me, there’s a lot more to it than saying “WWJD.” I pray to have his wisdom in this position and to be more like him every day.

TMT: What is a fun fact people might not already know about you?

HR: My family is big on nicknames — they are used more than your birth name. Right after I learned to walk, my mama tied little bells to my shoestrings so she would know where I was. “Holly Bells” or just “Bells” has been my family name and old school friends’ name for me since then.

Mike Moon, SD 29

TMT: What is your favorite restaurant in your district?

MM: Flat Creek TMT: Who is one senator you hope to get to know while in the upper chamber?

MM: Caleb Rowden TMT: What is the first thing you put in your new office?

MM: My feet

Rick Brattin, SD 31

TMT: What is the first piece of legislation you filed?

RB: SB 66, a bill dealing with law enforcement protections and provisions to prevent the “defunding the police” and stiffer penalties for rioting and looting and blocking traffic.

TMT: Who is someone you want to meet while in the Senate?

RB: I thoroughly enjoy having people from the district up to the Capitol, especially school groups to take to the top of the dome.

TMT: What is your favorite book?

RB: The Bible first and foremost, but I really cannot think of a single favorite book. My favorite book genres are nonfiction historical, biographies of historical figures/events, and political.

Dogan files legislation to legalize marijuana

Cameron Gerber

GOP state Rep. Shamed Dogan filed a constitutional amendment to legalize the use of marijuana in the state of Missouri before the start of session.

“I think the war on drugs has been a failure — and the most glaring failure of it has been the fight against marijuana,” Dogan said.

“We’ve spent billions of dollars fighting against a drug which is, in the grand scheme of things, the least harmful on the list of what is currently illegal. We spend the most resources and time on it, and it’s time that ends. The public has come to that conclusion, but our laws have been pretty slow in catching up with that.”

Dogan’s proposed amendment would establish the “Smarter and Safer Missouri Act,” allowing Missourians over the age of 21 to use marijuanna and removing it from the state’s

list of controlled substances. Use would be regulated similarly to alcohol and would retain the current 4 percent tax on medicinal use and implement a 12 percent tax on recreational marijuana — among the lowest tax rates in the country. The collected funds would go toward infrastructure, veterans, and drug treatment programs, Dogan said.

The amendment would also offer automatic expungements for people who have only been convicted for marijuana offenses and release for those serving time.

Dogan said he was the first GOP representative to file to legalize marijuana.

A similar bill was proposed by Democratic Rep. Peter Merideth last year, but failed to make it to a committee hearing.

If approved by both chambers, the measure would come to a vote of the people in 2022. The

state’s medical marijuana program took the same route to get to the 2018 ballot, winning on Election Day with 65 percent of the vote.

“That passed in a broad cross-partisan way,” Dogan said. “It was popular all over Missouri in all different areas of the state. People sent the message they wanted to legalize it for medicinal purposes, and with that program, you’re enabling law enforcement to look the other way when some people use it, but send other people to prison for using it. I don’t think that’s a tenable situation for very long.”

Dogan said the amendment was short

by House standards, with the new language running around six pages.

“One of the things a lot of Republicans have been critical of in terms of the ballot initiative process is that a lot of people put things in there that are more appropriate for a bill,” he

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said. “This is simple to understand and lets state and local regulation do their parts.”

The move received support on social media, with Zuri Davis of the Reason Foundation, Democratic advocate Elad Gross, and fellow House Republican Rep. Tony Lovasco applauding the amendment.

Chris Vas, executive director of conservative group Liberty Alliance, simply replied with: “No thank you.”

Sixteen states have legalized marijuana so far, with Arizona, New Jersey, Montana, and South Dakota joining the ranks in November.

Other red states, including Texas, are set to consider the issue in the new year.

The state’s first legal medical marijuana sales took place in October.

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OPINION

It’s time for real school choice in Missouri

Rick Brattin

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s Missouri needs more — and better — education options for students. We cannot allow this pandemic to crush education growth in our state even more than it has.

As a conservative and strong believer in education freedom, I will be leading an effort this year to enact a true education savings account (ESA) program where education funding follows students, not school buildings.

The status quo for education in Missouri is not working, and anyone who claims otherwise is not being completely honest. We know that traditional public schools are failing the needs of some students. School choice reform would allow parents to select the best education options for their child’s specific needs. An education savings account would give parents the greatest flexibility to customize their child’s education to fit their specific learning needs.

In the past there have been unsuccessful efforts to pass ESA-style programs that relied on private donations and new tax credit programs. My legislation is different and will provide families with funds directly from the state to use for a variety of education options.

Here is how the program would work: Upon application by a family for an eligible student, the state would place an allotted portion of education dollars in a flexible savings account to be used for state-approved education expenses. Missouri families could use the funds to pay for tuition at a qualified private school or private virtual school, tutoring, education pods, education therapy, certain exam fees, or fees for summer or after-

school education programs. With the severe detrimental effect the current pandemic has had on so many students, there could not be a better time for Missouri to get serious about education reform.

Last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a victory for school choice reform in “Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue.” The Court ruled Montana’s prohibition on using tax credit scholarship funds at a religious school is unconstitutional. This ruling is important for many states with Blaine amendments, including Missouri, as states can no longer use the amendments to prevent students from attending religious schools under a state school choice program.

Supporters of the status quo in Missouri will make false arguments that school choice options like ESAs hurt public schools. This is simply not the case.

School choice reforms like my ESA legislation does not take money away from students enrolled in public schools. Missouri’s public schools will still get funding for the students they teach.

My goal in the next year is to deliver meaningful school choice reform to Missouri students. My ESA legislation would put Missouri on the leading edge of reforms to expand educational freedom for our children.

While many states offer some type of tax credit scholarship program, only a handful of states offer a true ESA program that gives parents a significant degree of freedom to best utilize education funds for their child. I am ready to take on the entrenched interests who have kept Missouri from advancing true education reform. This is a fight we cannot afford to lose. Our children’s success depends on us delivering on this effort.

Medicaid reforms are necessary to protect Missouri’s budget priorities Hannah Kelly

As a representative of the people and a member of the House Budget Committee, my priority is making sure taxpayer dollars go to the state programs we most desperately need funded. That is why this upcoming legislative session is going to be one of the most important in the history of Missouri. In short, it will take a herculean effort to save our state’s budget.

Hospitals and their allies spent nearly $10 million to convince voters in August to approve Medicaid expansion. As a result, we can expect another 100,000 Missourians to join our state’s Medicaid program, known as MO HealthNet. While the federal government may cover 90 percent of the costs of the newly-added Medicaid recipients, it is anticipated that expansion will cost our state $200 million. It’s important to note that this won’t be a one-time cost, and the ballot measure didn’t provide a funding mechanism to cover any increased state spending associated with Medicaid expansion.

In already tough economic times, where general revenue is down, Medicaid expansion will only steal away more resources from an already tight budget. What’s more, our state simply cannot borrow its way out of this hole.

In Missouri, we are constitutionally required to have a balanced budget every year. That means when costs exceed projected revenue, programs are going to have to get cut.

The bottom line is that if no changes or reforms are made to our state’s Medicaid program, that $200 million is going to have to come out of programs like our schools, childhood education, infrastructure, public safety, or other vital programs. It is unrealistic to think that Missouri can add 100,000 new individuals to Missouri HealthNet without a funding mechanism to support them.

State Sen. Rick Brattin is a newly-elected First and foremost, tax increases on Republican lawmaker who represents SD 31. income, property, sales or anything else, are

out of the question. During a deep pandemiccaused economic recession, it would be both irresponsible and cruel for our state to impose new taxes on Missourians.

Therefore, our state’s best bet is to embark on the task of reducing costs by reforming our state’s Medicaid program if we are to make good on the will of Missouri voters and deliver expansion while sustaining funding for other public services.

Hospitals and medical care providers sold Medicaid expansion to voters on the promise that it will save our state billions of dollars.

It’s appropriate that they join with lawmakers to implement reforms to ensure expansion is sustainable.

Fortunately, there are several potential solutions immediately available for us to implement. One idea is to cap the reimbursement rates to hospitals for services they provide, which will help mitigate costs. Hospitals in urban areas are currently reimbursed at three times the rate of rural hospitals, so this decision will lead to more equitable treatment of our state’s hospital systems. We should also consider pro-market reforms that will increase competition among providers, increase consumer choices and keep costs low.

It is clear that steps need to be taken to reform Medicaid. This absolutely should be a bipartisan effort with the full input of all concerned parties.

There are moderate, commonsense solutions that can be implemented to help deliver healthcare services while saving our state’s budget. That is why this upcoming session, Medicaid reform needs to be at the top of everyone’s legislative agenda.

Hannah Kelly is a Republican state representative who represents HD 141.

Coronavirus pandemic brings defining moment for Missouri pharmacists

Ron Fitzwater

A year ago, the Missouri Pharmacy Association was looking forward to an exciting year in the Missouri Capitol. We were actively working with our Board of Directors and legislative leaders to implement our Vision 2020 legislative proposals for the upcoming session. Then came March, and it seems like the world ground to a halt.

We quickly went from a busy schedule of planning, travel, and endless meetings to a world of remote work, Zoom meetings, and panic as the country tried to come to grips with the new pandemic that was beginning to spread in communities across the country — COVID-19.

As we saw hospitals beginning to limit access and cancel/redirect elective surgeries, and physician’s offices close or restrict access as well, pharmacists became critical health care professionals in communities across Missouri.

There was a growing panic in our state and scared patients had questions and concerns. Oftentimes the only health care professional that patients were able to immediately access and talk to was their community pharmacist.

Pharmacies became critical health care facilities in many places because of their accessibility. Even though some

pharmacies were forced to close the front end of their store, they still continued drive-through and curbside delivery, always with access to the pharmacist or staff if the patient had questions. This lasted through much of the spring, summer, and in some areas into the fall as the country awaited the development of a vaccine to help combat this disruptive and oftentimes deadly virus.

Coordinating a system to vaccinate up to 6+ million Missourians is an arduous and complicated process.

One thing is clear — it will take participation from a broad group of health care providers. Pharmacists are a key participant in the process because of their training/ education and the fact that they are in communities all across the state of Missouri. The Missouri Pharmacy Association has been working with a group of partner organizations over the past nine months to help create the legal and professional framework for pharmacists to participate in administering the COVID vaccines as they become available. As the Trump administration loosened regulations, we worked with Gov. Mike Parson, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), and the Missouri Board of Pharmacy (MBOP) to make

sure that the roll-back of regulations were implemented in Missouri as well. We have also been working with MO HealthNet (MHD) and DHSS to finalize the procedures for pharmacists to be able to have access to vaccines once they are available and to develop a process for pharmacists to be able to bill for the administration of the vaccines. We have worked with McKesson, a Fortune 4 company, and a drug wholesaler, on their “Operation Warp Speed” Task Force to help develop a strategy for distribution of the vaccines within the state.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued some guidelines as to the priority for distribution and administration of the first shipments of the vaccines. We have participated in workgroups with DHHS and other health care provider groups in Missouri to help prepare for the implementation. The first vaccines are going to “forward-facing” health care providers (those who are doing the COVID testing, administering the vaccines, etc.) as well as residents of long-term facilities.

Two large pharmacy chains were awarded the contract to administer the vaccines in long term care facilities.

However, Missouri has both large urban areas and many

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rural communities. We have worked with pharmacists in smaller communities that may not have large pharmacy chains to ensure they have the resources to support their community at this time.

This has been a defining moment in time for Missouri pharmacists. The training they receive in pharmacy school has changed considerably — especially over the past two decades. We have been working in the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City and in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to help create a practice environment where they can fully utilize their skills as a pharmacist. The COVID pandemic has provided that opportunity. We appreciate the opportunity to work with all of the health care providers who have operated as a team during this crisis. Pharmacists are consistently ranked as number one or two on the “Most Trusted Health Care Professional” surveys. They will be a key partner as we strive over the next 4-6 months to make the COVID vaccine available to any resident of Missouri who wants to be vaccinated.

Ron Fitzwater is the CEO of the Missouri Pharmacy Association.

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