1. MO COVID map

2. Americans eyeing the end of COVID crisis. One place where there’s no partisan divide.

3. KC leads in reopening.

4. Crystal Ball starts MO Senate 2022 race with “Safe Republican” rating.

5. There’s some good reason for that…

6. WSJ reports on immigration policy leaving jobs unfilled.

7. Free market solution to expand the labor pool.

8. Credit card debt curing COVID.

9. Crazy Texas temps

10. Most hated business buzzwords.

Overloaded Pub Defs

Post-Dispatch reports: A judge on Thursday said it was unconstitutional for Missouri to fail to provide lawyers for criminal defendants who can't afford them, leaving them on waiting lists for months or years. The waiting lists started in 2017, when overloaded public defenders couldn't take on any more clients. By November 2019, there were more than 5,800 felony defendants on the lists with cases pending in 29 counties

R Rate Below 1

The COVID crisis is waning.Among the many great indicators that the worst is behind us, Dr. Randall Williams mentioned briefing that the statewide rate of transmission (the R rate) is now below 1.

Casas and Jackson Repping Sinquefield

Nexus Group’s Kate Casas and Gamble and Schlemeier’s David Jackson have been tapped to lobby for Rex Sinquefield in the capitol.

Hinkle Says 51’s OK

Don Hinkle, influential religious conservative, wrote on Facebook that he will not oppose the bill.

Another Snow Day

The snow storm hits the legislature’s calendar. The House is off again today, but might try to salvage their week with Wednesday and Thursday sessions. We’ll see. The Senate has thrown in the towel for the week.

Good morning. It’s Presidents’ Day. State offices are closed. And although the legislature usually works this day, the prospect of a big snowfall with sub-zero windchills has both the House and Senate calling it a snow day. Committee hearings will be rescheduled for later in the week.

Carpenters Back Reed

In the large contributions, the Carpenters’ union PAC (CHIPP) sends $100K to the pro-Lewis Reed committee One St. Louis PAC.

Onder Rolls Out Emergency Limits Bill

The Senate started debate on SB 12 yesterday.This bill includes portions of seven different Senate bills heard in the Sen. Bob Onder’s Health and Pensions Committee. They’re all aimed at limiting the ability of local jurisdictions to use emergency powers to shut down various activities

Framework for New Economy

Sen. Lincoln Hough and Rep. Travis Fitzwater had hearings for their bills to create a regulatory framework for “tiny delivery machines.”

Testifying in favor of the bill were two lobbyists representing companies that are interested in using the robotic delivery in the future…

Declining COVID Deaths

Missouri’s death rate from COVID is declining. Because of the reporting lag between deaths and when they show up on the state’s dashboard, it’s impossible to quantify the rate of decline. However, by following the numbers each day, it’s clear that fewer Missourians are now dying from COVID. Hopefully, as more high-risk Missourians are vaccinated, this trend will continue.

Evans Registers to Lobby

Jean Evans, former executive director for Missouri Republican Party, registered over the weekend as a lobbyist. Before her role with the MRP, Evans was a state representative from St. Louis County in a swing district.

1. MO’s slow growth.

2. Rents have held up in Missouri.

3. Death of trust?

4. Educational attainment across the country.

5. Educational attainment in MO.

6. MO’s incarceration rate.

7. EV ranking.

8. Cost of Superbowl ad.

9. Superb Owl.

Sifton Starts Federal Committee

Former Sen. Scott Sifton filed paperwork with the FEC to form a campaign committee to run for US Senate in 2022 as a Democrat.

Ruth Files Gas Tax – With Rebate

Rep. Becky Ruth, chair of the House Transportation Committee, filed a bill to increase Missouri’s gas tax by ten cents. Her proposal – like Sen Dave Schatz’ bill – would have a five-year phase-in.

But Ruth also included a rebate in her bill.

Vescovo Tells Derges To Resign

House Speaker Rob Vescovo said in a statement yesterday that he’d spoken with Rep. Tricia Derges and asked her to resign. So far, she’s hasn’t done anything.

Senate Filibuster

Just minutes before hitting “send” the Senate – which worked throughout the night – was coming to a conclusion on the COVID liability. The bill was perfected around 5:10AM. The debate started around 2PM yesterday.

Derges Indicted

Rep. Tricia Derges was indicted on 20 counts yesterday. US Attorney Tim Garrison unveiled the allegations at a press conference. She’s accused of lying to patients, telling them they were receiving stem cell treatment when they weren’t, as well as illegally prescribing medicine, and lying to the FBI.

CMC to Europe?

Axios reports on possible ambassadorships under President Joe Biden… “Biden is most likely to reward loyal politicians and former aides, with talk about former senators like Claire McCaskill headed for a gilded post in Europe…”

Parson Vents

In sign of great tension between the governor and House leadership, Governor Mike Parson has apparently sent a letter to Republican legislators venting about his State of the State speech being shunted over to the Senate.