MOScout Daily Update: DHSS Explains Slow Vac Roll-Out - Luetky to Approps - Pay Disapproval in Rules - Pabst, Carnahan, Pierson Hired and more...

Jan 26

Parson SOTS To Return to Basic Themes

The House adopted a resolution from Floor Leader Dean Plocher to convene a joint session for the State of the State address. So it’s on for Wednesday 3PM, even though there are some who are a little wary of the idea in the midst of COVID outbreaks.

Post-Dispatch reports that Governor Mike Parson’s State of the State address “is again expected to call on lawmakers to put more money into workforce development, including additional funds for certificate programs at community colleges for hard-to-fill jobs. He will again stress the need to build and maintain roads and, as a former county sheriff, is likely to discuss ways to keep those same highways safe…”

But

The slow vaccine roll-out is the top issue that needs to be addressed in the state. And that will draw attention from any other priorities.

Yesterday – after the damning report that Missouri was last among the states in vaccinations – the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services put out a statement to explain the situation. (Not sure how widely distributed the state was as I could not find it on their website or on their Twitter, and it didn’t come to my in-box.)

“As we have seen in many nationwide rankings throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect rankings by state of vaccine administration to continue to ebb and flow as the difference in rates among many states is marginal… As of today, a total of 661,400 vaccines have been shipped to Missouri and of those 304,434 (46%) have not been reported or administered. To date, over 351,000 doses have been administered, and 4.4% of the eligible population have received at least their first dose of the vaccine.

State-enrolled vaccinators in Missouri have administered over 60% of the doses shipped into the state for their use. The limited allotments that our state receives continues to limit the rate at which people are vaccinated, but we have also become aware that some of Missouri’s vaccinators have not been administering vaccinations as efficiently as we have been asking, but we are working with these providers to increase the speed at which they get vaccines into arms.

A large amount of the distributed amount sits with the federal pharmacy partnership which was activated to serve long-term care staff and residents. To date, unfortunately, the federal partnership has administered only 17% of those shots. 332,000 doses have been allocated to this program with CVS and Walgreens. Of those 211,400 doses have been ordered by the participating pharmacies, and 56,498 doses have been administered in 920 clinics throughout the state, based on their reporting.

The State of Missouri Interagency Vaccination Planning Team is responsible for determining where vaccines go throughout the state based on the limited amount of vaccine allotted each week to Missouri. The State places vaccine orders through federal partners on behalf of providers throughout Missouri who make vaccine requests through us, and then vaccines are shipped in the days following directly to the providers who vaccinate Missourians.

The State of Missouri does NOT store or distribute the vaccines and ancillary supplies.”

Bottomline: Team Parson has got to figure this out. Fast. Get Missouri out of last place.

Add Another Seat At the Appros Table

Everyone wants a seat at the Senate Appropriations table. It’s your chance to help shape the budget – or protect an important priority. Yesterday Pro Tem Dave Schatz announced a tweak to the Senate rules to bump the number of members on the Appropriations Committee up to 14 from 13. Yes, that’s right now over 40% of the Senate body will sit on Approps.

So who gets the lucky ticket? Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer.

Pay Raise Issue Rises Again

Today in Chair Phil Christofanelli’s Rules - Legislative Oversight, Rep. Andrew McDaniel’s HCR 7 will have a hearing. This would disapprove the proposed 5% pay raise for state legislators.

Post-Dispatch had previously reported on the issue last week. “With a Jan. 31 deadline to act, there appears to be no movement in the Legislature to reject the recommendation of a special committee that called for the first salary increases in 14 years.” Well, now there appears to be movement.

Obviously, it’s time for a pay raise for legislators. The way things are going the only folks who will be able to be serve are the independently wealthy or retirees. It’s making our representative democracy less representative.

But… it’s a tough vote. It’s an easy target for a political opponent to use… “voted to raise their own pay.” And that’s why salaries have been stuck for 14 years.

Catalyst Adds Beleaguered STL Bar

In the lobbyists registrations (below), Catalyst has added Wheelhouse. They’ve been under fire from the City of St. Louis Health Department for not following CVOID protocols.

On their website they posted: A government official has taken away our ability to operate and provide for our staff and families with his unilateral power. He’s closed our businesses for ONE YEAR without any actual due diligence, communication, transparency, or effort to work with us, despite countless attempts on our part… We are looking for support in the suspension of arbitrary business restrictions of occupancy limits and operating hours to be lifted. Businesses can not be responsible for individuals’ choices, including, but not limited to, wearing a mask and social distancing…

The situation caught the attention of Rep. Nick Schroer. He requested that St. Louis City Department of Health Director Fredrick Echols appear at today’s Special Committee on Small Business to explain the order. Schroer is the chair of the committee; Rep. Steve Butz (St. Louis City) is ranking minority member.

Hoskins Gaming Bill Gets Hearing

Sen. Denny Hoskins will have his gaming bill heard in Appropriations this morning (8:30AM). He’s been working on this issue for years now.

Hoskin’s SB 98 covers two topics that some would prefer to pursue separately: video gaming machines, and sports betting. It’s in Approps because it would raise lotsa $$$. The video gaming portion would be operated by the state Lottery, and the sports betting would have a 9% tax on wagers deposited into a “Gaming Proceeds for Education Fund.”

HBS Hires Pabst

Press release: Husch Blackwell Strategies (HBS) announced today the addition of Jessica Pabst to the firm’s Missouri government practice. Jessica is a long-time healthcare executive and advocate in Missouri and Illinois serving nearly a decade for SSM Healthcare and recently Director of Health Programs for Home State Health.

“Having a public health policy expert like Jessica on board is essential to our efforts to broaden our healthcare reach across the Midwest and provide our clients a level of service that’s hard to match,” said HBS COO Andy Blunt…

Jessica noted her excitement for her new position as Principal in the HBS Jefferson City office, “I have worked with the HBS team in my earlier roles and I’m thrilled to now join them. It will be a real privilege to be a part of a team that has widespread respect across the region.”

BioRankings Hires Pierson

BioRankings announced that it hired former Rep. Tommie Pierson, Jr. “Tommie brings a background in statistics, leadership, and project management to the team, where he will actively build on BioRankings’ extensive client list in medicine, animal science, plant science, and a variety of other industries.”

Bryan Cave Hires Carnahan

Press release: The international law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner announced that Russ Carnahan, a former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, has joined the firm’s Public Policy & Government Affairs Group as a senior policy advisor.

Carnahan most recently served as an early and prominent leader for the 2020 Biden campaign. From 2005-2013, Carnahan represented Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District that included urban and rural areas in the St. Louis region. He served in a number of leadership roles, including as Senior Whip from 2009-13, Co-Chair of several bipartisan caucuses and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations. “Russ will be an invaluable resource for our clients,” said Jack Oliver, leader of BCLP’s Public Policy & Government Affairs Group….

Lobbyists Registrations

Catalyst added Wheelhouse 20 LLC.

Gamble & Schlemeier added Teladoc Health.

Steven Tilley and Thomas Robbins added GF Saint Mary.

John Bryan added Missouri Poultry Federation.

Sherry Doctorian added National Fire Sprinkler Association.

Jeff Stack added Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation.

Dean Robert Johnson added Dead Johnson.

$5K+ Contributions

Together KC - $15,000 from McCownGordon Construction.

Together KC - $20,000 from Husch Blackwell LLP.

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