MOScout Daily Update: COVID Delays Special Session - 2022 Clarity - What Kind of Inaugural? - Next Budget Ranking Member and more...

COVID Outbreak Delays Special Session

The Senate was scheduled to go into session this morning.  Instead they’ll wait.  Floor Leader Caleb Rowden tweeted: “Due to a number of positive COVID-19 cases among members and staff, the Missouri Senate will postpone action related to the special session until after the Thanksgiving holiday. This decision was not made lightly and, although disruptive, is in the best interest of protecting members, staff, and the public.”

Social media quickly “traced” this outbreak to the Senate Republican Caucus’ retreat last week, with several observers pointing to pictures of the governor (maskless) and senators (maskless, except for Sen. Jeanie Riddle) in an indoor setting (no windows apparently open).

Talk among building denizens was that the real “spreader” event was the caucus’ “sponsors dinner.”  Approximately 150 people were in attendance.  I’m told there was some mask wearing at the event, but the majority of folks were maskless.  Late last week, a couple lobbyists reported symptoms and tested positive, as well as a senator and two staffers.

And

The House postponed its freshman orientation bus tour, with Rep. Rudy Veit telling the Post-Dispatch that the House side of the building has also experienced an outbreak.

Statement from House Speaker Designee Rob Vescovo: “Out of an abundance of caution and in an effort to protect the health and well-being of members, staff and the general public, we have decided to postpone the two-week statewide bus tour for newly-elected House members.”

Vescovo said the Missouri House is considering tour dates for next summer, but won’t make a final decision until the health and well-being of tour participants and the general public can be adequately protected.

What It Means

In last weekend’s Hallway Index, a number of respondents told me that the biggest threat to a productive legislative session would be COVID.  This mini-outbreak appears to confirm that fear. 

Like last year, it appears next session will be subject to potential starts and stops. That uncertainty will add pressure on legislators (and lobbyists) to keep their bills moving.  The calendar could be truncated without warning if there’s an outbreak. 

What Kind of Inaugural?

Governor Mike Parson’s inaugural will be the second Monday of January (the 11th).  But, in light of the raging COVID virus: what kind of inaugural will it be? 

One would guess the governor would like to have a relatively traditional inaugural with a packed stage, a big speech and a party afterwards.  Parson has been reluctant to abandon other social gatherings like his Fall Fest, for example. 

However, if he hews too close to the traditional choreography and setting, his critics will once again point out a troubling pattern: while he repeats over and over the importance of wearing masks and acting responsibly, he has trouble sticking to that script in real life.

2022 Watch: Kander No, Blunt Yes, Greitens ?

KCStar looks at the uphill 2022 that Dems face, and few nuggets come tumbling out…

·         [Roy] Blunt’s spokeswoman confirmed the senator plans to seek a third term in 2022.

·         [Jason] Kander won’t be seeking a rematch with Blunt in 2022, Rakov confirmed. He will support the party’s eventual nominee.

And

Over on MOIndy, Jeff Smith looks at 2022 and says “a recent private poll showed a tight Blunt-Greitens race in a hypothetical 2022 primary.”

Kenderick to Razer Talk

Reader #1: The House is a lost cause for Dems. Leaving Kendrick there is a disservice to our state. Razer taking him to the Senate will allow much of his full policy potential to be realized. This is a big win for Dems.

Reader #2: Let’s stipulate up front that Kip Kendrick is a nice guy, a good guy, well-liked and well-respected. He’s smart, doesn’t play as much partisan politics as Democratic colleagues, is attentive and courteous… But let’s be realistic, as Kip should be. [In his announcement he says] “Undoubtedly, we will have policy disagreements from time to time, but rest assured that I will do my best to advise him in continuing to make decisions that are in the best interest of Missouri.” Kip won’t be a lawmaker. He’ll be staff, an at-will employee. You do what the boss says… They are not co-senators.

And

Who will take Kendrick’s position as ranking member on Budget?  There’s not a lot of options as some of the more experienced members – Reps. Deb Lavender, Tommie Pierson, and Barbara Washington – won’t be back in January.  

Reps. Ingrid Burnett and Peter Merideth will both be entering their third term in January. Merideth has been very vocal on that committee, and is probably the favorite to take Kendrick’s spot.

eMailbag on Gov and COVID

It's not a good sign when your Governor is more dug in against mandates than the GOP governors in Alabama, Arkansas, North Dakota, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Texas, Ohio, Utah, etc. Seems like Parson is being guided by stubbornness at this point, not by the facts on the ground or health care experts. Then there's the covid liability-even-for-negligent-businesses bill, which was already gonna be a heavy lift for a special session. It bears no trace of Trump/Hawley working class populism, and the timing is atrocious.

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