MOScout Daily Update: Parson: The Buck Stops There - MedEx to August - Budget Pain Ahead - Special in September? and more....

Parson: The Buck Stops There

Governor Mike Parson waved off suggestions that he should do anything to enforce his April 27 order about how businesses must conduct themselves during the reopening.  Instead he said repeatedly that it was at the discretion of the local health departments.  Parson bristled at the repeated questioning. 

One reporter specifically noted that the order (see it here) has the state sharing enforcement duties with the local departments.  “[T]his Order shall be observed throughout the state and enforced by all local and state health authorities…” But Parson wasn’t interested.

The order is set to expire on Sunday.  Perhaps it won’t be extended, and we’re moving into the “whatevs” phase of reopening.

MedEx to August

Governor Mike Parson announced he was moving the Medicaid expansion question to the August ballot, citing the need for additional time to plan for the budget consequences of expansion.  Reaction broke entirely along partisan lines.  For example….

House Budget Chair Cody Smith: “I applaud Governor Mike Parson for bringing this issue to a vote as soon as possible.  The COVID-19 crisis will require changes to our state budget.  We already face a difficult budget year and the budget difficulties would grow exponentially if the fiscally-irresponsible Medicaid Expansion passes.  We need a quick answer on the expansion issue so budget officials can get a better handle on the changes that must be made to keep the state’s budget balanced.”

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade: “The governor knows Republicans will pay a political price for their failed health care policies and hopes to minimize it by playing games with the election date. It won’t work. Medicaid expansion has always enjoyed widespread support among Missourians, and right now it is more important than ever. The only thing the governor’s crassly partisan move changes is Medicaid expansion will be enshrined in the Missouri Constitution three months earlier than expected.”

Parson on Budget

Governor Mike Parson spoke to a local Fox affiliate.  See it here.  He indicated tough budget times ahead: “We’ll deal with it. People are just going to have to take a bite of the apple and that doesn’t leave anybody out; the governor’s office included…”

This jives with one rumor I heard: that every department was told to look at how they could implement 20% cuts.  Not that everyone will ultimately face that kind of cut, but everyone will be cut – and they need to create a menu of options.

And

Parson also said that he expected a special session.  One lobbyist I spoke to yesterday told me not to expect one until after the summer – maybe along with Veto session.  He said that the second floor is focused on COVID and rejuvenating the economy, and special session will come later.

MO Unemployment at 9.7%

Last week, Missouri announced its April unemployment rate stood at 9.7%... “more than doubling the previous month, and tripling over the year.”

Still, 9.7% is significantly lower than the nation’s 14.7% rate.  Although amid the current economic volatility, one would not expect these rates to stabilize anytime soon.

·         The St. Louis Fed’s James Bullard believes the nation will be “under double digits by the end of the year.”

Gross Scores Win

Dem AG candidate Elad Gross celebrated a win in court yesterday.  Press release: Today, the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals published an opinion on the case Elad Gross v. Michael Parson, et al., allowing my Sunshine Law claim against Missouri's Governor to continue. [See the decision here]

In 2018, I asked for records from the Governor regarding corruption in our government, specifically communications between the Governor's Office and multiple people involved in a dark money corruption scheme using a fake charity to buy our state. There were many records available, but the Governor refused to release the records to me unless I paid over $3,600 and waited about half a year… I was unravelling a web of corruption that sold Missouri to the highest bidder. Our government fought back. And We the People won.

We have a lot more to do. There could be an appeal, and, when we go back to the trial court, we'll have to start up the discovery process and subpoenas again… I'm proud to be in this fight. This is another example of why Missouri needs an anti-corruption Attorney General who works for us…

Mantovani Gets Police

The St. Louis County Police Association endorsed Mark Mantovani for St. Louis Counyy Executive.

County Executive Sam Page had been endorsed by the firefighters’ union.

During this coronavirus time, union endorsements which traditionally bring manpower to canvassing operations or GOTV efforts are less potent.  But the police and firefighter endorsements can bolster the effectiveness of a mail piece.

Martin Calls for SB 691 Veto

From the press release: Phyllis Schlafly’s successor Ed Martin issued the following statement:

 "Fundamental safeguards for voting and election integrity were removed from Senate Bill 631 before its final passage last week, and the results could be disastrous. An earlier version of this bill contained necessary safeguards against expanded early, absentee, and mail-in voting, but their removal has opened Missouri to a host of frightening problems… This measure must be vetoed — it's a strike against the civil liberties of all Missourians."

New Committees

Doug For Freedom PAC was formed.  Its treasurer is Amber Watson.

Lobbyist Registrations

Christian Morgan deleted STL Aviation Group LLC.

$5K+ Contributions

HealthPAC - $220,000 from MSC MHA Management Services Corporation.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Becky Lohmann, Bob Dixon, Scott Leiendecker, and Debbie Monterrey.