MOScout Daily Update: Roeber Expelled - MedEx Fails in Senate Approps - Parson-Steelman Rift - Vaccine Urgency Needed and more...

Roeber Expelled

The House voted unanimously 153-0 to expelled Rep. Rick Roeber from the body.  Lawmakers agreed with the Ethics Committee report that the allegations of child abuse and sexual assault were credible.

The sole member there who didn’t vote for expulsion was Rep. Bruce DeGroot. He voted present instead.

Speaker Rob Vescovo spoke on the issue before the vote.  See his speech here.

“This isn’t one disgruntled ex-wife, this isn’t one disgruntled child, where people would have pause… these are four children, four different children with multiple experiences, experiences at different times with their father of this nature.  Some of the testimony this committee got was that the gentleman from the 34th was an alcoholic.  I hate to tell you this, but being an alcoholic doesn’t excuse you… that is not an excuse to sexually assault your children.”

MedEx Insertion Fails in Senate Approps

Medicaid expansion failed to win insertion into the budget last night.  The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 7-7 on the question, preventing the measure from being included.

Republican Sens. Lincoln Hough, Mike Cierpiot, and Justin Brown joined Dems on the committee to vote in favor.

The Post-Dispatch quoted Brown as arguing that it’d be better for the legislature to retain control of the spending by adding the funding itself, rather than cede control to a judge down the road.  This reasoning acknowledges one obvious truth: the issue is not dead.

What’s Next

At this point re-inserting the funding on the Senate floor would be an extreme long-shot.  But that doesn’t mean Dems won’t try next week.  And that there won’t be consequences when they do.

My guess is we’ll see a protracted filibuster over the issue. Democrats believe that Medicaid expansion is constitutionally mandated by the voters.  I doubt they’ll go quietly.  Will they simply burn several hours before sitting, or are we headed for a PQ?  If the latter occurs, it could be train wreck for the final two weeks of session.

Regardless, some think Medicaid expansion will ultimately occur in Missouri due to November’s vote. 

·         One MOScouter thought the governor might unilaterally implement it.

·         Others see a lawsuit and a court battle bringing the issue to resolution.

We’ll see….

Parson Steelman Rift

Missouri Independent reports on Governor Mike Parson’s request for David Steelman to resign from the UM Board of Curators.  See it here.

This follows news of Steelman raising red flags about a conflict of interest with lobbyist Steve Tilley, and there’s a feeling among Todd Graves allies that Steelman was among those trying to scuttle that nomination.

This has folks thinking that Sarah Steelman’s time as head of OA will be ending soon.

Knodell’s Top Task

Rob Knodell, now acting director of DHSS, has many things on his plate.  But of utmost importance is finishing the job with COVID vaccinations.

While the peak of the COVID crisis has passed, the state needs to inject some urgency into a campaign for Missourians to get their vaccinations. 

Statewide hospitalizations have remained stubbornly in the 700 range. And vaccination distribution is showing signs of tapering.  

·         High rates of vaccinations across all age groups are critical for the Missouri economy to reach its full potential.

Gov Works Senate Side

Governor Mike Parson was sighted on the 4th floor visiting senators.  He spent time in Sen. Brian Williams’ office and Sen. Elaine Gannon’s office yesterday morning.

Help Wanted

MOCann Trade Association (Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association) seeks Associate Executive Director. “The Associate Director is responsible for the satisfaction of MoCannTrade’s individual members as well as supporting the Executive Director who is responsible for the membership at large. The ideal candidate would be as comfortable rubbing elbows as they are rolling up their sleeves. Both administrative and people skills are a must, as well as the desire to help others grow and succeed. The Missouri medical cannabis industry is as exciting as it is evolving, the desire to learn and evolve with it is paramount to this position… base salary of $72,000 – $75,000…”  See the ad here.

eMailbag

Voters have no reason to support this proposal which would result in more people serving longer. Most House members never come close to 16 years because they don’t make it to the Senate. A better plan would be 12 years combined. That would allow people to serve in one house or both, but voters would see a reduction in the length of the career politician.

Lobbyists Registrations

Scott Swain added Ygrene Energy Fund.

Roxsen Koch added NextEra Energy Resources LLC, Sky Real Estate LLC, Lux Living LLC, Flint Development LLC, and The Pinnacle Hotel Group; and deleted Archview Properties LLC, Kansas City Pet Project, KWB LLC, and VC Associates LLC.

Cara Alexander, Rodney Gray, Susan Henderson Moore, and Roxsen Koch deleted BlueScope Steel North America.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Dana Rademan Miller and Gary Romine.