Hemphill: COVID Emergency Was No Test Run for Virtual Ed

This is in response to today’s comments pulled from a WSJ article calling the coronavirus remote classes a “forced test-run to the long-promised notion of virtual schools.”

Virtual learning is a great tool and absolutely has a place within the education system… To expect teachers to completely change their lesson plans with almost no notice does not qualify this experience as a “test run” of virtual learning.

The No Campaign

No on 2 August was formed to oppose Medicaid expansion. See its paperwork here. Its treasurer is Debra McClelland. 

1. Lifetime risk of being killed by police.

2. Mainstream police reforms.

3. Geography of police killings.

4. Urban-rural divide.

5. Attitudes on coronavirus.

6. MO’s stagnate population.

7. State tax receipts.

MOScout’s Hallway Index: Costs of MedEx

There’s skepticism in the lobbying corps that Medicaid expansion would actually save the state money. I asked: “In your opinion, would the proposal to expand Medicaid…?”  

Governor Mike Parson signed SB 631 which among other things allows absentee voting for folks at high risk of the coronavirus.

May Revenues Down 22%

Although I haven’t seen an official release from Budget and Planning yet, according to the daily revenue sheets, May’s state revenue totals were 22.48% lower than May 2019.

That brings the fiscal year-to-date number at the end of May to negative 7.38%, $642 million below 2019.

Election Results

· Victory Enterprise was a consultant on Randy Feenstra’s win over right-wing lightning rod, 9-term congressman Steve King.

· Axiom’s Aaron Baker was elected to the Atlanta school board, leading the field with 135 votes.

Senate 25: Pro-Bean PAC

In Senate 25, Jason Bean has followed the practices of his primary rivals and started an independent expenditure PAC.  Conservative Leadership for Southeast Missouri was formed.

Parson Declares Emergency

The press release: Governor Mike Parson today signed Executive Order 20-11 to declare that a State of Emergency exists in Missouri due to civil unrest. The Missouri National Guard and the Missouri Highway Patrol stand ready to support local authorities.

1. Partisan View of COVID
2. Business Uncertainty
3. Business Reopening Concerns
4. COVID Liability Coming?
5. Missouri Initial Unemployment Claims
6. State Budget Shortfall

$5K+ Contributions

Missourians for Healthcare - $750,000 from Health Forward Foundation.

Keep Government Accountable - $250,000 from United Auto Workers V Cap.

KC Relaxing Beyond State Standard

After teasing a Phase Two, Governor Mike Parson instead announced an extension of Phase One for another two weeks. Of course, Parson has made it clear recently that the state will take no action to enforce it.

KC Mayor Quinton Lucas seized the opening to release new guidelines which are actually less stringent than the statewide order.

Driving the Day: Reopening Phase Two

With the “Phase one” reopening order expiring on Sunday, Governor Mike Parson promised to outline what “Phase two” will look like at today’s press briefing. With his recent shoulder shrug at businesses flouting the last order, it’s unclear whether the new rules really matter.

Parson: The Buck Stops There

Governor Mike Parson waved off suggestions that he should do anything to enforce his April 27 order about how businesses must conduct themselves during the reopening.  Instead he said repeatedly that it was at the discretion of the local health departments. 

How will Parson deal with a business thumbing its nose at the order underlying his Show Me Strong Recovery Plan? Restaurants may offer dining-in services, provided that the limitations on social distancing and other precautionary public health measures, including proper spacing of at least six feet (6’) between tables, lack of communal seating areas to parties that are not connected, and having no more than ten (10) people at a single table, are properly adhered to.

· Does he just say they’re not exercising personal responsibility and shrug his shoulders?

Sain Withdraws

Rep. Matt Sain withdrew his filing for House 14. 

COVID Dashboard

The governor’s office unveiled a new COVID dashboard. See it here. This has been reported for weeks, but the one inescapable fact in the data is that the virus has hit African Americans in disproportionally hard. Black Missourians account for 33% of all COVID cases, and 38% of the deaths.

Senate 29: CL PAC Responds

One day after Peter Herschend sent $10K to a pro-David Cole PAC, the Conservative Caucus’ CL PAC responded by sending $10K to the Table Rock Conservative PAC, a pro-Mike Moon PAC.

Cleaner Lawsuit

Just like that, CLEANER is in court. The defenders of CLEAN put a copy of the lawsuit up on their website. The suit attacks the summary language. See it here.

MDC Seeks Relevancy Chief

The Missouri Department of Conservation seeks “Relevancy Chief.”  Lead the development and implementation of a new Department program focused on the engagement and service to broader constituencies…