MOScout Daily Update: Parson Reiterates May 4 Plan - Rural Hot Spots - CLEAN Gets $500K - Senate Posts Hearings and more...
Parson Presser
At yesterday’s daily COVID briefing, Governor Mike Parson reiterated his plan to begin reopening the Missouri economy on May 4. He said details would be coming later this week and next week.
· This comes as more localities are lifting their specific lockdowns. Cass County and Franklin County announced plans yesterday.
Also
DHSS Director Randall Williams warned that the administration is watching rural Missouri closely. They’re seeing an uptick in numbers emanating from work-related sites where rural residents congregate.
· Rudi Keller reports on this phenomenon here. Three meatpacking plants are closed in two central Missouri counties as health officials chase COVID-19 infections tied to those workplaces. Conagra and Cargill plants in Saline County are shut down, as is the Burgers’ Smokehouse in California. The largest outbreak is in Saline County, where the county health department is now reporting 106 infections and trying to track who has the disease.
And
Springfield News-Leader reports on Parson’s attack on the Post-Dispatch at the end of his presser. See it here. Apparently, a staffer must have read a snarky headline from the peerless John Combest, and uses that to write an attack speech for Parson. The actual editorial is non-controversial and inoffensive. Read it here.
· One Republican found it infuriating: no one on the staff of gov bothered to read the editorial... these are the idiots we have running the state?..
Kleinsorge Offers Thoughts for Lobbyists on Mini-Session
From Dan Kleinsorge, chief of staff to Pro Tem Dave Schatz.
Obviously this is a pretty unique time to be having session. Here are some of my thoughts for lobbyists and public affairs people:
· The senate will work on policy and budget but I expect the work to be fairly slow with limited staff available. Maybe like session in slow motion. Chairs are being encouraged to develop non-controversial committee substitutes and work out problems before getting floor time.
· Lobbyists are HIGHLY encouraged to wear masks. Senate nonpartisan staff MUST wear masks to work. I have encouraged partisan staff to do the same. Non-essential staff will not be present. Ask yourself if your presence is essential before coming. It may very well be essential to you or your client and that is fine. But don't come for social hour.
· Some senators will be OK with face to face meetings. Others will not. It is up to the individual senator. Personally, I would prefer a call or text to a visit. I am way less concerned with getting sunshined than I am with getting corona.
· The national guard will conduct health screenings at the public entrance.
· I am told Chez Monet will be selling boxed lunches… Senate coffee will not be open.
· Wash your hands a lot.
Senate Starts Posting Hearings
The Senate has started to post next week’s hearing schedule. Find them here.
Posted so far: Judiciary on Monday at 1PM in the Senate Chamber, and Government Reform at 8AM Tuesday in the Joint Committee Room.
They note that:
· Public seating in committees will be socially distanced and therefore very limited. No overflow space will be available.
· Public seating for committee hearings held in the Senate chamber will be in the 4th floor gallery.
· Committee hearings will be streamed. Links may be found at www.senate.mo.gov for each committee room.
· The public is encouraged to submit written testimony in lieu of in person oral testimony due to the limited public seating available.
The House hasn’t posted any hearings yet.
eMailbag: Without Defined Agenda, Lobbyists Will Be There
I think it is naive to believe the building will not be at least as full of lobbyists as it is during evening Senate sessions. Especially now that the Senate is sending signals they will be conducting business as usual rather than a limited covid-focused session.
CLEAN Gets $500K
In the large contributions (below), labor organizations are sending big checks to defend the CLEAN constitutional amendment passed in 2018.
With the legislature set to reconvene and CLEANer already in the House where passage will be easier – if slower than normal – allies of the yet-to-be-implemented redistricting plan are gathering ammo for fight at the ballot box.
MEDA’s COVID Response
MEDA’s letter to legislators…
MEDA and its members (Ameren Missouri, Evergy, and Spire) want to assure you that we take the health and well-being of our communities very seriously as our 10,000 employees work to provide critical electric and natural gas services to over 3.1 million customers around the state….
I wanted to share a few important updates with you as to how Missouri's largest electric and natural gas investor-owned utilities are addressing the current situation with respect to our customers…
· Suspended disconnects
· Waiving late fee payments
· Adopting protocols for utility service related entrance into customer properties that may be under quarantine or have an infected person on site
· Regular updates on utility assistance programs, payment plans, and potential scams…
Quashing Claire for Veep Talk
Former U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill writes “You can state emphatically that I am not interested in ANY public office, including VP. I am busy encouraging Biden to select one of the extremely qualified women who are interested. (No, not sharing which one)
I’m extremely happy as a private citizen and have no interest in going back into public life.”
New Committees
Scott E Cazadd formed a candidate committee (Friends of Scott Cazadd) to run for House 69 as a Republican.
Lobbyists Registrations
Steve Tilley and Thomas Robbins added Hippos LLC.
Travis Brown and Tracy King deleted Invenergy.
$5K+ Contributions
CLEAN Missouri - $250,000 from Unite. Inspire. Lead.
CLEAN Missouri - $250,000 from CHIPP Political Account.
Anderson For Missouri - $10,000 from Charles Anderson.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sen. Gina Walsh, and Rep. Jeff Pogue.