MOScout Daily Update: Alexander Announces in CD-7 - New COVID ICU High - MedEx Tussle - Office of Childhood Launches and more...

Flags to Half-Staff

From OA: By order of the President, U.S. and Missouri flags at all government buildings statewide will be flown at half-staff effective immediately and should remain lowered until sunset on August 30, 2021 in honor and to pay our respects to the U.S. service members and other victims killed in the terrorist attack on August 26, 2021, in Kabul, Afghanistan.

MO COVID ICUs Hits New High

Missouri Intensive Care Units with COVID patients hit a new record, 690, according to the state’s dashboard.  410 Missourians are on ventilators.

And

Missouri State Medical Association declared it favors allowing schools to require masks.  “We believe that by allowing local school districts to follow CDC mask guidelines as they respond to local COVID data, communities will be better able to protect children as school begins.”

Alexander in CD-7

I’d missed this a few days ago, Dr. Sam Alexander has in fact already announced for CD-7.

KY3 reports…  “I am entering this race because the health of our country is in critical condition. We have been spending trillions while causing inflation and worker shortages, we have a crisis at the border, our healthcare system was designed by partisans, not doctors, and some Americans have even lost faith in our elections. That’s why I am running for Congress and that’s what I will be working to correct, in a bipartisan manner, if elected,” said Alexander.

And

I have made a few updates to my 2022 spreadsheet.  Find it here.

MedEx’s Last Mile

Post-Dispatch reports on the continuing tussle to get the Medicaid expansion implemented.

·         The state’s decision to sit on applications for expanded Medicaid until Oct. 1 violates federal law, attorneys who sued this year to kick-start the voter-approved program said in a letter to officials on Thursday.

·         The attorneys said in addition to breaking federal law mandating the processing of applications within 45 days, the delay also “flies in the face” of a court order Circuit Judge Jon Beetem issued on Aug. 10 directing the state not to block enrollment for individuals in the expansion population.

·         The letter highlights frustration among Medicaid expansion proponents, who accuse Republican Gov. Mike Parson’s administration of dragging its feet on implementation even as the state has promised to abide by court rulings affirming the new program.

·         Jefferson City attorneys Chuck Hatfield and Lowell Pearson, as well as Joel Ferber of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, sent the letter after the Post-Dispatch reported Monday that a state official said applications “will sit there” while the state makes software updates.

MOChamber Hosting Vax Webinar

Missouri Chamber of Commerce is hosting a webinar next week to help Missouri companies sort through the issues with workplace vaccination policies.  See it here.

With the recent FDA approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, more Missouri employers are considering whether to require their staff members to get vaccinated. Join Missouri employment law experts Rosalee McNamara and Brian Woolley, both partners with Lathrop GPM, for this webinar exploring the pros and cons of requiring vaccination in a tight labor market, the legal implications of vaccine mandates, and any questions you have.

Office of Childhood Launching

The state’s new Office of Childhood officially launches on Monday.  This is one of Governor Mike Parson’s legacy initiatives.

·         Advocate: “This is a super big deal for early childhood in Missouri.”

·         Children’s Trust Fund made a video with several of their partners to celebrate the new office.  See it here.

Gubby Appts

Governor Mike Parson announced appointments…

·         Mark J. Bredemeier, of Lee’s Summit, was appointed to the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.

·         Dawn Cramer, of Kansas City, was appointed to the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners.

Ms. Cramer will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former commissioner Nathan Garrett. Commissioner Don Wagner, whose term expired in March 2021, will continue to serve on the board.

eMailbag on School COVID Testing

Missouri has a completely different type of testing in place for the 2021 school year. This is a much more effective program via self-administered, pooled tests. This is not just a nurse testing everyone. This is also not reactionary post-symptom/exposure. We wish it had been finalized earlier to get it off the ground before school started, but there is still time for this type of pooled testing to prevent kids, teachers and their families from getting sick.  Take a look at the video… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27a5hISvvYY

$5K+ Contributions

Missouri United - $10,000 from Xcaliber International Ltd LLC.

MBA River Heritage Region PAC - $10,000 from First State Bancshares, Inc.

United We Stand PAC - $30,000 from Operating Engineers Local 101 PAC.

Invest in St. Louis Community College - $25,000 from Ameren.

Page PAC - $10,000 from Daniel Ludeman.

Lobbyist Registrations

John Bardgett, Jacqueline Bardgett, Erika Leonard, and Chris Roepe added Gateway Studios LLC, and Toyota Motor North America, and deleted Team Select Home Care.

Mark Habbas added Gateway Studios LLC, and Toyota Motor North America.

Michael Grote added CPC of MO Holdco LLC, and WANRack LLC.

Jacqueline Bardgett deleted City of St. Louis.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Scott Swain, Kit Crancer, and Tom Flanigan.