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Missouri governor announces $210 million in additional budget restrictions

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Citing the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of 300,000 jobs between March and April, Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) has announced an additional $210 million in budget withholds, including $131 million for the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Missouri Governor Mike Parson announces $210 million in additional budget restrictions during a Statehouse media briefing on June 1, 2020 (photo courtesy of Governor Parson’s Flickr page)

The governor made the announcement during a media briefing on Monday afternoon at the Statehouse in Jefferson City.

Governor Parson says Missouri’s unemployment rate increased from 3.9 to 9.7 percent in April. He notes that the loss of 300,000 jobs is a decrease of more than ten percent.

“It goes without saying that COVID-19 has had severe impacts on our anticipated economic growth,” Parson says. “This is truly unlike anything we have ever experienced before, and we are now expecting significant revenue declines.”

The $131 million in budget withholds for DESE include $123 million for the school foundation formula and $7 million for school transportation.

“I have always been a strong supporter of education. These were extremely difficult decisions I never thought I would have to make in just a few months,” Parson tells Capitol reporters.

The budget restrictions announced on Monday are in addition to the two rounds announced by the governor in April, of $180 million and $47 million, respectively. In addition to DESE, the restrictions will impact the Office of Administration (OA), the state Department of Corrections, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), the Department of Social Services (DSS) and other agencies.

Governor Parson was joined at the press conference by DESE Commissioner Margie Vandeven and other Cabinet members.

“It’s important to make these decisions now, so school districts can adjust before next school year. Our intent is to withhold now and avoid withholds once school begins,” says Parson.

The top Democrat in the Missouri House is blaming tax cuts approved by the GOP-controlled Legislature, for the education cuts.

“The governor’s devastating cuts to public education are as much a product of failed Republican tax policy as they are of the coronavirus pandemic,” House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, says in a written statement. “Every time Republicans chipped away at Missouri’s revenue base, Democrats warned these short-sighted decisions would pay a terrible dividend when the next economic downturn hit, and there always is a next one.”

The Missouri Legislature approved a $35.2 billion state operating budget in early May. The new fiscal year begins on July 1.

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Kansas City mayor loosens business restrictions, promises enforcement of social distancing violations

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Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is relaxing COVID-19 – prompted restrictions in his city this weekend, with new rules for bars, restaurants and businesses lasting through July 5.  READ RULE FAQ

“The rule this weekend will change from your 10 percent capacity limit and threshold t a 50 percent capacity threshold. We’ll ask everyone to follow social distancing guidelines. We’ll ask everyone when they are going into a public institution, some business, the grocery store, to wear a mask,” the mayor said in a press conference Thursday.

In this rule, businesses can still refuse service to customers who won’t wear a mask.

Lucas says workers do have some legal protections in the new rules. During this new order, employees can be excused from work who have underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk of death, who are caregivers for family members with COVID-19, or who must stay home with their kids because of the closure of a childcare facility due to COVID-19.

Kansas Citians can now call 3-1-1 locally to find out where to get tested, even if they have no symptoms.

According to the mayor’s office, “the order will be primarily enforced by the Health Department, with support from other city regulatory agencies such as the Kansas City Police and Fire Departments and the City’s Regulated Industries Division.”

Mayor Lucas says his news rules are prompted in part because areas around Kansas City have many different guidelines. He says it is a tough choice:

“There are people that are on one side that say, ‘You should have everything open and we should all be free and you’re terrible and a tyrant.’ And then there are people on the other side who say, “Bloof will be on your hands, you’re terrible and not doing enough.’ Both have their points.

I think what we’re trying to do is say, ‘How do we come to a balance?’ But part of that balance also requires everybody out in the world to be part of that,” Lucas said.

He thanked city residents for helping to keep numbers down and listed statistics showing Kansas City Missouri is doing better than some other midwestern metro areas of similar size or smaller.

Kansas City has had 1086 reported cases since March.

 

Crowded pool parties at Lake of the Ozarks lead to quarantine advisories for St. Louis County

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After videos of crowded pool parties at Lake of the Ozarks went viral nationwide, St. Louis County health officials issued a request that “any person who has traveled and engaged in this behavior should self-quarantine for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result for COVID-19. As all current DPH guidance recommends that employers screen employees for health risks, employers should also consider adding a question related to recent travels and social distancing behaviors.” (The full advisory is at the end of this article.)

County Executive Dr. Sam Page said, “This reckless behavior endangers countless people and risks setting us back substantially from the progress we have made in slowing the spread of COVID-19. I encourage everyone to follow the Department of Public Health advisory to determine a safe path forward in the workplace.”

As well as advising employers to screen employees for health risks, county DPH now recommends employers should consider adding a question related to recent travels and social distancing behaviors.

St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson tells MSNBC the complete disregard for social distancing guidelines is serious.

“This kind of very risky behavior really – I’m sure it was fun at the time – but very risky behavior and then that’s going to go back not only to St. Louis, which of course we’re very concerned about, but probably to locations around the Midwest,” she says.

The state health director, Dr. Randall Williams issued a stern warning on Memorial Day:

“This Memorial Day, we caution that COVID-19 is still here, and social distancing needs to continue to prevent further spread of infections. Close contact with others even if you are in the outdoors is still considered close contact and can lead to more infections as we still have new cases of COVID-19 being detected each day in Missouri. The virus can be transmitted even among those young and healthy who aren’t experiencing symptoms. When they then carry the virus and transmit it to a more vulnerable person, this is when we tend to see the long-lasting and tragic impact of these decisions that are being made.”

It’s up to county health departments to enforce any state health guidelines, usually based on local complaints or reports.

Parson’s daily COVID-19 briefing, May 13, 2020 : Testing ramps up statewide

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Gov. Mike Parson with Jim Dumbauld, Senior Director for Logistics, Environmental Health and Safety, Facilities and Fleet, Quest Diagnostics and DHSS Director Randall Williams. Williams provides updated testing capability numbers and outlines the 4-part approach to COVID-19 testing in Missouri.

Total cases confirmed in Missouri: 10,142
Deaths: 542

Watch full briefing:

Gov. Parson COVID-19 briefing May 11, 2020 : “Good to be around everyday people”

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Cases in Missouri: 9,918

Total Deaths: 488

View full Missouri COVID-19 interactive map for today.

In Monday’s briefing, Gov. Parson says it was good to go home over the weekend and go out to eat at a restaurant and talk to the staff. He spoke of the “unintended consequences” of COVID-19, including domestic violence cases and people putting off their normal health care needs.

Missouri DHSS Director Randall Williams announces the state is getting about 600 rounds of Remdesivir to help treat patients with severe COVID-19 complications in order to reduce their chances of dying.

WATCH full briefing:

 

Today’s schedule for B-2 Stealth Bomber flyover to honor essential workers in Missouri

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B-2A Spirit, Aircraft, Photo by: MSgt. Rose Reynolds.
Primary Function: Multirole strategic bomber. Contractors: Northrop B-2 Division (prime contractor), Boeing Military Airplane Co., LTV Aircraft Products Group and General Electric Aircraft Engine Group. Speed: High subsonic. Dimensions: Wingspan 172 ft. length 69 ft., height 17 ft. Range: Intercontinental, unrefueled. Armament: Nuclear (short-range attack missiles, gravity weapons) and conventional. Crew: two, with space for a third.

The Missouri Air National Guard’s 131st Bomb Wing will conduct B-2 flyovers throughout Missouri, to honor health care professionals and essential workers this afternoon.   A B-2 Stealth Bomber will leave out of Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster.

Camdenton  @ 4:14 pm

Cape Girardeau @ 4:50 pm

St. Louis @ 5:12 pm

Columbia @ 5:43 pm

Jefferson City  @ 6:00 pm

Springfield @ 6:22 pm

The times are subject to change.

All residents are encouraged to follow strict social distancing guidelines and refrain from gathering in large viewing groups.

Gov. Parson COVID-19 briefing May 7: Pfizer in Missouri details role in vaccine production (VIDEO)

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9,341 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Missouri
418 deaths

On the podium today with the governor: Vice President Christine Smith, Pfizer BioTherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences. She announced the Pfizer Chesterfield plant’s critical role in helping develop a possible COVID-19 vaccine.

Gov. Parson has been on a business and health care facility tour in regions of the state and today revealed that he has not been tested for COVID-19 since he says he feels healthy.

WATCH ENTIRE BRIEFING:

Green: COVID-19 outbreak in Missouri is disproportionately impacting African-American communities (AUDIO)

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The top Democrat on the Missouri House Special Committee on Small Business is calling on the Parson administration to utilize more minority-owned businesses to manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

State Rep. Alan Green, D-Florissant, represents north St. Louis County, which has been hit hard by the outbreak.

State Rep. Alan Green, D-Florissant, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on February 19, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

“I’ve received phone calls from those that again have provided, they can provide masks and also even testing, some of them have their companies up and running, been established for many, many, many years,” Green says.

Green, a former Legislative Black Caucus Chairman, is asking Governor Mike Parson (R) to use the spending authority and discretion granted to him under the $6 billion supplemental budget to utilize more minority, female and disadvantaged business enterprise companies to make PPE. That includes masks, gloves and gowns.

The Legislature voted last week to approve the largest supplemental budget in state history, a $6.2 billion emergency relief package aimed at battling the pandemic, which has cost thousands of jobs around the state.

Representative Green also says the COVID-19 outbreak is disproportionately impacting African-American communities, especially in pockets of north St. Louis County. He says black residents are feeling a disproportionate impact of the disease, especially in north county.

“I look at other areas, of course when we look at all of St. Louis County and also St. Louis City, I’m not trying to just say zero in, but I am saying we are the hardest hit,” says Green.

In nearby St. Louis City, news reports this week say that 19 of the 24 people who have died were African-Americans.

State health officials say there are now 5,111 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Missouri, along with 152 deaths. The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced the latest numbers Thursday afternoon.

Governor Parson recently announced that the state is proceeding with its first alternate care site to assist hospitals in the St. Louis region, treating an increased number of COVID-19 patients.

The governor says a hotel in Florissant is currently being converted into the care facility. That’s near Green’s district.

If necessary, the Florissant site could accommodate more than 100 people and be used to house those who test positive for COVID-19 with mild or no symptoms, as well as those exposed to it and referred by health care professionals as requiring treatment but not hospitalization.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and State Rep. Alan Green, D-Florissant, which was recorded on April 14, 2020:

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Easterseals Midwest: there’s a workforce crisis in Missouri for direct support professionals (AUDIO)

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An organization that provides support to more than 5,000 Missouri children and adults with disabilities continues to provide essential needs and programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is Christian (left) with his Easterseals Midwest respite provider Kyra. Kyra goes to the home on most days, and works 40 minutes with Christian on his schoolwork (photo provided by Easterseals Midwest spokeswoman Rachel McGlasson)

Easterseals Midwest executive vice president Jeanne Marshall says they provide services in hundreds of homes.

“We have individuals who live independently in their home and we provide staff, generally 24 hours a day to help them be as independent and supportive as they can,” Marshall says.

About 103,000 Missourians have an intellectual or developmental disability, according to Easterseals Midwest.

Marshall says Easterseals is in need of personal protective equipment (PPE), including gowns for disposable lab coats, masks, gloves and alcohol wipes. She says the PPE is key to protecting staff and those they serve.

Missourinet asked Governor Mike Parson about the Easterseals’ needs during a recent press conference, specifically PPE. The governor thanks the Easterseals and others who continue to go into homes to assist those with disabilities. He notes there is a shortage of PPE, but adds that many Missouri companies are stepping up to make additional personal protective equipment.

Easterseals Midwest provides services, education and outreach to Missourians with disabilities, and they’re still hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s especially the case in Columbia, Springfield and St. Louis.

Marshall says more than 15,000 Missourians work as direct support professionals.

“With that, we’ve been experiencing a workforce crisis for a couple of years now in this industry,” says Marshall. “Turnover is very high in most cases, that could be over 50 percent for turnover.”

Marshall says vacancy rates for positions range from 20 to 30 percent.

Easterseals Midwest has more than 1,000 staff members. Marshall choked-up, when speaking to Missourinet about the work her staff members do.

“Our staff go above and beyond. But we can’t thank them enough for the work they’re doing, and the impact they’re having,” Marshall says.

The organization is also providing respite care to Missouri first responders, doctors and nurses. Respite care is temporary care provided to caregivers of a child or adult.

Easterseals Midwest is also e-mailing families daily with autism strategies, especially with children home from school.

Easterseals has wait lists for most of their autism services in Springfield and southwest Missouri.

Anyone interesting in donating PPE or assisting Easterseals Midwest can check their website. You can also call them toll-free at 1-800-200-2119.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full six-minute interview with Easterseals Midwest executive vice president Jeanne Marshall, which was recorded on April 1, 2020:

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

DHSS: Missouri now has 110 COVID-19 deaths

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State health officials say there are now 4,160 confirmed coronavirus cases in Missouri, along with 110 deaths.

The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced the latest numbers on Easter Sunday afternoon. The numbers have increased from Friday’s total of 3,799 cases and 96 deaths.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson signs the $6.2 billion supplemental budget to fight COVID-19 on April 10, 2020 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Governor Parson’s Flickr page)

Governor Mike Parson (R) signed the historic $6.2 billion supplemental budget on Friday, the largest supplemental budget in Missouri history. It’s aimed at battling the COVID-19 pandemic, which has cost thousands of jobs across the state.

The governor said Friday that the supplemental provides access to federal funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed by President Donald Trump in late March.

The CARES Act includes $150 billion in relief to states to help them mitigate coronavirus-related costs in the calendar year 2020.

Some of the funding will also be used to assist local governments with expenses incurred from COVID-19. State Rep. Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia, has been urging the Parson administration to send additional money to local health departments, saying they are critical to containing the coronavirus.

Kendrick is the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee.

Governor Parson has created an informal working group to make recommendations on best use of those federal dollars. State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick (R) is the leader of the working group.

The governor will deliver his next media briefing Monday afternoon at 3 in Jefferson City.

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet