Parson Orders Statewide Stay-At-Home

Reversing course, Governor Mike Parson signed off on a statewide stay-at-home order. See it here.

The move was greeted with relief in most corners.

Legislature Eyes Return Next Week

The Senate will return to the capitol on Tuesday, and they plan to pass both the FRA tax and the supplemental budget on Wednesday.

The House will return Wednesday to pass the supplemental.

The Senate will stream both the Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday and the floor proceedings on Wednesday.

Presumably legislators will minimize unnecessary speechifying, and the roll call votes will be lengthened to allow for social distancing.

The public will be discouraged from attending. 

Reacting to data means you’re behind the curve. By the time you see cases, you’re playing catch-up. New York Times reports on this phenomenon here. It means if you think the virus isn’t in rural areas because there aren’t reported cases, you’re not thinking about this crisis correctly.

Withholds Coming?

It looks like the governor’s office is preparing to announce withholds for the current fiscal year. As I’ve written about previously, this isn’t unexpected. The unprecedented situation is putting enormous pressure on the state budget.

· The sudden decline in economic activity which will certainly result in lower state tax receipts going forward.

· The decision to move Tax Day into July, which pushes it into the next fiscal year.