MOScout Daily Update: COVID ICU New High - Fitz Rolls Out Endorsements - Census Data Day - Onder Wants Anti-MedEx Special - Buntin Gets DNR and more...
MO COVID ICU Hits Record High
According to the state’s dashboard (see it here), there are now more Missourians in Intensive Care Units because of COVID than at any time previously.
This morning the number hit 689, breaking the old record set on December 23.
This comes despite months of safe, effective vaccines being widely available for free. It demonstrates the strength of the delta variant, but also of the strength of vaccine hesitancy across the state.
Meanwhile cases in Greene County have begun to decline from their record heights. There’s hope that this could be a turning point. However, there are still troublesome trends in southeast Missouri and northwest Missouri where COVID hospitalizations and ICU occupancy is still on a sharp upward trajectory.
And
Press release: Governor Mike Parson announced $30 million to support Missouri’s health care professionals and system. Governor Parson has directed the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS) to create and execute the contractual framework that will help mitigate current COVID-19 hospital strain. The effort will be funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Driving the Day: Census Data
Today, the Census Bureau will publish the new district-level data which will be the basis of the redistricting process.
· In a matter of days — if history is any guide — as soon as state officials can crunch census data files into their more modern formats, an intense process of mapmaking, political contention, legal wrangling, well-financed opinion-shaping and ornery public feedback will unfold in statehouses, courthouses, on the air and even on the streets in regions of special contention.
· Despite the pressure to hurry, it could be September before mapmakers are able to give much indication of how new districts are shaping up, further ratcheting up the pressure on states with constitutional mandates to finish redistricting this calendar year…
Fitz Rolls Out Endorsements
Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick will roll out endorsements from former Republican State Party chairs this morning.
The new endorsements for his auditor bid will include former chairs Susie Eckelkamp, Todd Graves, and Kay Hoflander, as well as RNC National Committeeman Gordon Kinne.
Onder Reiterates MedEx Opposition
Sen. Bob Onder, on Twitter, says that Governor Mike Parson should call the legislature back into special session to amend budget bills to explicitly say that there’s no appropriation for the expanded Medicaid. “MO Supreme Ct was crystal clear that the Legislature retains the power of the purse, and that the only problem was #moleg budget was not explicit that no $ would be used for #Obamacare…”
Meanwhile Parson announced in a press release that “in accordance with the Cole County Circuit Court's August 10 ruling, the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) will begin allowing individuals to apply for the MO HealthNet program under Article IV, Section 36(c) of the Missouri Constitution.”
What It Means
In conservative circles, the MedEx fight may not be over yet. While it would seem politically difficult to remove Missourians from the program after they’ve signed up, the Onder position could catch fire and we may see this as part of next session’s budget debate. We’ll see…
On Next Session’s Agenda?
Reps. Bruce DeGroot and Curtis Trent write in a MOTimes op/ed about keeping incarcerated mothers and newborns from being separated.
· Imagine the horror of after 40 weeks of pregnancy giving birth to your child and having your baby ripped from your arms hours later. There is no breastfeeding, no bonding, and no physical contact between mother and child. Sometimes a mother will never see her child again…
· Fortunately, there is a way to intervene immediately to help prevent the trauma experienced by incarcerated mothers and babies alike when separated at birth: Missouri can build a prison nursery like nine other states — including South Dakota, West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, and Nebraska — have done.
· Prison nurseries are dedicated units within women’s prisons that allow women who give birth while incarcerated to care for their infant children and participate in programmings, such as evidence-based parenting classes and substance abuse treatment.
· According to several studies, significant and lasting benefits also accrue to incarcerated mothers who are able to care for their infants in prison nurseries. For example, mothers participating in prison nurseries have low rates of recidivism, suggesting an enhanced sense of purpose and responsibility.
Buntin Takes Helm of DNR
Press release: Governor Mike Parson announced that he has named Dru Buntin as the new Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, effective immediately…. Mr. Buntin has served as the Deputy Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for more than four years. He first joined DNR in 2000 as the Director of Government Affairs and advanced to Deputy Director for Policy and Chief of Water Resources. In 2013, Mr. Buntin became the Executive Director of the Upper Missouri River Basin Association before rejoining DNR in 2017. He has more than 15 years experience with DNR and more than 20 years experience in Missouri state government.
eMailbag on Redistricting
The Senate Commission had missing democrat commissioners. No tie on the votes meant the Republicans controlled the process. I wouldn't depend on yesterday's meeting to predict how the Senate Commission will get along.
eMailbag on SAPA
If only someone would have been in position with the ability to stop faulty legislation [like] SAPA…
$5K+ Contributions
Committee for Liberty (Pro-Ashcroft) - $25,000 from Mark Lanier.
Invest in St. Louis Community College - $10,000 from Hunter Engineering Company.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays Sen. Barbara Washington, Rep. Mike Haffner, Sharon Jones, and Vicki Schneider.
MOScout Schedule
Heading to a cabin in the woods, so no Weekender or Sunday6 this weekend.