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Despite earlier plans, GM has been able to keep third shift at eastern Missouri plant

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Missouri’s top economic development official says despite earlier plans, General Motors (GM) has been able to keep the third shift open at its massive plant in eastern Missouri’s Wentzville.

State Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Rob Dixon briefs Missouri Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on July 14, 2020 (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

In July, the company said it planned to temporarily eliminate its third shift, due to COVID-19. The “St. Louis Post-Dispatch” reported in July that the United Auto Workers (UAW) said 23 plant employees had the coronavirus.

State Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Rob Dixon told Missourinet on Monday that GM’s Wentzville plant has been able to keep its third shift, despite earlier plans to the contrary.

Dixon says the issue was related to concerns about absenteeism, due to the pandemic. He says General Motors is able to keep the shift open with workers from other plants.

“This is obviously good news, but it certainly highlights the challenges we continue to face as a result of COVID-19,” Dixon says.

He also reiterates what he told Capitol reporters in mid-July: that the company still plans to invest about $1.5 billion into the plant, which produces the GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado.

Director Dixon says GM’s Wentzville plant supports about 12,000 jobs across Missouri. DED says out of Missouri’s 227 automotive suppliers, 178 supply GM.

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Sen. Blunt is optimistic a compromise can be reached this week on stimulus package

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The Senate is scheduled to leave Washington, D.C. after Friday for its annual August recess.

-BRENT MARTIN, KFEQ

United States Senator Roy Blunt is optimistic a compromise can be reached this week on another economic stimulus package in the battle against COVID-19 and its impact on the economy.

Blunt, a Republican involved in the negotiations, insists Senate Republicans and House Democrats are not that far off, even if the Senate approved a $1 trillion package to counter the House $3 trillion measure.

“We’re never going to outspend Democrats in the House,” Blunt told reporters during a weekend stop in St. Joseph. “They put $7 ½ billion for child care subsidies, I put $15 (billion), they say, maybe we need $40 (billion). Now, this is the number they thought should be $7 ½ billion 90 days ago. So, part of this is just politics. It’s election-year politics. We’re 90 days from a presidential election.”

After a visit to Mosaic Life Care, a medical center in St. Joseph, Blunt told reporters there are three sticking points: how much federal unemployment assistance should be allocated, whether state and local governments should be provided assistance, and whether COVID-19 liability protection should be extended for businesses and groups.

An additional $600 weekly federal payment to unemployed workers ended at the end of July. House Democrats included nearly $1 billion of aid to state and local governments; the Senate did not. Senate Republicans included liability protections to businesses and groups which reopened during this coronavirus pandemic; the House did not.

Both and Senate and House include another round of $1,200 stimulus checks.

Some deadline pressure is growing for negotiators. The Senate is scheduled to leave Washington, D.C. after Friday for its annual August
recess.  Blunt doesn’t see that as a problem though, saying negotiations over such proposals normally come together in a 72-hour period.

“You just need to decide when that 72 hours is, so you can do whatever’s necessary to finally bring these bills together,” Blunt said. “They’re different
in money, but they’re not different in much else.”

Blunt said many of his fellow Senate Republicans question the need for the bill and he says if one is to pass, it will need bipartisan support.

“So, this will be done by some number of Republicans and enough Democrats to get to 60 in the Senate,” according to Blunt.

Though Senate Republicans backed the last $1trillion-plus package, Blunt expects some to vote against this latest round of
relief.

“Well, I think Senate Republicans are probably reverting back to a normal pattern where some of my Republican colleagues never vote for
anything that spends money,” Blunt said, “That’s actually a workable strategy as long as somebody else will vote for what spends money.”

Missouri elevates to federal “red zone” for coronavirus cases

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Missouri has been added to the 21 states considered in the federal “red zone” for new COVID-19 cases. A report this week by the White House coronavirus task force is urging leaders to consider more restrictions in virus hot spots, including closing gyms and bars and restricting gatherings to no more than 10 people.

Missouri elevates to federal “red zone” for coronavirus cases

The report, released Wednesday by The New York Times, shows Missouri’s problem spots include the Branson area and Joplin in southwest Missouri, the Lake of the Ozarks region in central Missouri, northeast Missouri’s Hannibal, Pemiscot and Dunklin counties in the bootheel, and the home of the State Fair in west-central Missouri’s Sedalia.

As for St. Louis and Kansas City, the task force considers them to be in the yellow zone because their positivity rates were below 10% last week. Their metro areas make up most of the state’s coronavirus cases.

Missouri has set another record today for the daily increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The state reports more than 2,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the overall count to nearly 49,000 confirmed cases since March. Thirteen new deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, amounting to at least 1,233 people dying in Missouri from the virus.

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Blunt discusses U.S. Senate GOP’s $1 trillion HEALS Act

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U.S. Senate Republicans have unveiled a $1 trillion coronavirus aid package. The HEALS Act includes $200 per week in unemployment benefits, more than $100 billion for schools, more funding for the small business Paycheck Protection Program and a liability shield to protect businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits.

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri

The plan would also give another $1,200 stimulus payment with similar eligibility requirements as the last one. Qualifying individuals earning a gross adjusted income up to $75,000 per year in 2019, and couples earning $150,000, would get the full $1,200 or $2,400. Individuals would also receive $500 for each dependent, just like under the CARES Act.

During a press conference in Washington, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, says the plan would provide $16 billion to help states cover COVID-19 testing.

“Our priority to help with testing through the states is to put a priority on elementary and secondary education, on higher education, on nursing homes and childcare facilities,” says Blunt.

Blunt says the package would give $15 billion to the nation’s childcare providers.

“As people get back to work, some people don’t want to send their kids. There will be some childcare expenses of distancing and other things that have to be done, but you can’t get back to work if you can’t get back to childcare for most families. And if you’re a working parent, particularly if you’re a working single parent, your biggest single problem is being sure that that childcare situation works,” says Blunt.

Congressional Democratic leaders say the bill should include hazard pay for essential workers, provide additional funding for food stamps and address the eviction crisis, among other things. Kansas City Democratic Congressman Emanuel Cleaver hopped on Twitter to criticize the bill.

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Missouri protesters call for virtual K-12 learning in COVID-19 hot spots

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A group of protesters rallied Monday at the state Capitol in Jefferson City to demand that Missouri K-12 schools in coronavirus hot spots begin the academic year with remote learning. Kimberly Hanan-West, who has been a teacher in the Parkway School District in St. Louis County for nearly 20 years, organized today’s event.

Missouri protesters call for virtual K-12 learning in COVID-19 hot spots

“If you look at the data and you make data-driven decisions, you should see that cases rates are four times higher than they were in March and April,” Hanan-West says. “And therefore, we need a virtual start to the school year until cases see at least a 14-day dramatic decline.”

Some Missouri schools are starting fall classes online, while others are doing in-person schooling, starting classes after Labor Day, doing a mix of in-person and online learning, or a combination.

“This is not just a St. Louis County or St. Louis City problem. This could decimate educators, staff, students and their families across Missouri,” she says. “And I was telling someone else, if you look at Joplin and if you look at St. Louis, that should illustrate to you the way in which cases can rise rapidly and really, really hurt a community.”

The protesters also want teachers to have “the best PPE and infrastructure to safely return” to in-person classes. She says schools are not going to be “an island” that is safe from the coronavirus.

“Our leaders that decide that they’re not going to mask because somehow it’s part of their freedom to be unmasked, but I ask them where is my freedom and that of my students and staff members to be healthy and safe,” she asks.

Hanan-West says despite some teachers unable to do in-person classes, she does not think her school is running into a teacher shortage. She points to online classes allowing higher class sizes, which she says increases teacher workloads exponentially and provides less individual attention to struggling students.

About 40 people showed up to the event. She says the protest is one of many planned in Missouri.

The state is letting local school districts decide how to handle their reopening and whether to require staff and students to wear masks. Gov. Mike Parson is meeting Tuesday with some mid Missouri school officials in Jefferson City to discuss reopening measures. During a press conference today, Parson says most Missouri schools want to have classes in-person. He goes on to say that he worries about kids with disabilities and students from low-income families who don’t have as many options as other students.

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Abortion is a key issue in Missouri Senate GOP primary to replace Sater (AUDIO)

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Two well-known Republicans are running in the August GOP primary to replace term-limited State Sen. David Sater in southwest Missouri. No Democrats have filed, which means the GOP primary winner will be the next senator from that district.

State Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, stands on the Missouri Senate floor on January 9, 2020 in Jefferson City (file photo courtesy of Jonathan Lorenz at Missouri Senate Communications)

State Rep. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, is facing former Missouri Republican Party chairman David Cole of Cassville.

Moon, who was elected to the Missouri House in a special election in April 2013, says he’s focused on ending abortions in Missouri.

“I believe that at the point of conception that is a result of a unique human individual with separate unique DNA, and they should be protected by law,” Moon says.

Moon says the government’s primary purpose is to protect the liberty of the people and to protect their property. His priorities also include eliminating the corporate tax, and ending what he calls burdensome regulations on farmers, businesses and residents.

Moon’s opponent is Cole, who served as the Missouri Republican Party chairman from 2009-2013. His priorities include education and workforce development.

“And being able to put together an environment where businesses can thrive and people can have good jobs, support their families,” Cole says.

Cole says the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact across the state. He’s focused on the economy and getting Missourians back to work.

Abortion is a major issue in the August Senate primary. During an interview with Missourinet, Representative Moon accuses the Cole campaign of “stretching the truth” in campaign mailers, including on abortion.

“I am the most conservative, most constitutional and most pro-life legislator in Missouri, and I’m the most of those three in this particular Senate race too,” says Moon.

Moon filed a proposed constitutional amendment in January 2019, regarding the right to life. He said at that time that passage of House Joint Resolution 28 “will begin the process of ensuring that all unborn children will be afforded the opportunity to live and prosper in Missouri.”

That bill did not receive a House committee hearing in 2019. He also filed legislation this year abolishing abortion in the state.

Moon says he’s running on his record, and Cole tells Missourinet that he’s running on Moon’s record as well.

“When we (the Cole campaign) make statements that Missouri Right to Life rated him (Moon) the lowest-ranked Republican in the House last year, that is not stretching the truth. Those are facts,” says Cole.

Cole also says Representative Moon is the only Republican who voted “no” on abortion legislation during a 2017 special session called by then-Governor Eric Greitens (R).

Republicans gained legislative seats while Cole served as the party chairman, including the election of Moon to the House in 2013. Moon unseated then State Rep. Charlie Dake (D). Republicans also unseated State Sens. Wes Shoemyer, D-Clarence, and Frank Barnitz, D-Lake Spring, in 2010.

The GOP primary winner will replace Sater, who was elected to the Missouri Senate in 2012 and was re-elected in 2016. Sater also served in the Missouri House from 2005 to 2012. He’ll leave office at the end of December.

The district includes five counties: Barry, Lawrence, McDonald, Stone and Taney.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with State Rep. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, which was recorded on July 24, 2020:

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with former Missouri Republican Party chairman David Cole, which was recorded on July 24, 2020:

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Missouri’s state treasurer is warning against Medicaid expansion; both sides cite different numbers

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Missouri’s state treasurer and the House Budget Committee chairman will travel across the state on Monday, urging Missourians to vote against Medicaid expansion on the August ballot.

Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick speaks at a CARES Act funding working group on May 21, 2020 in Jefferson City (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Medicaid, which is formally known as MO HealthNet, is a federal and state program that assists with medical costs for residents with limited incomes.

House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, tells Missourinet that Medicaid’s current budget is almost $12 billion for fiscal year 2021. The state’s current operating budget is about $35.2 billion.

Smith and State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick (R) will visit Joplin, Springfield, Kansas City, Creve Coeur, Cape Girardeau and Jefferson City on Monday. They’ll brief Capitol reporters immediately following the governor’s 3 pm press conference at the Statehouse.

Missourians will cast ballots on Amendment Two, the Medicaid expansion proposal, on August 4. If approved by voters, Medicaid would be expanded for residents between the ages of 19 and 64 with an income level at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level, as set forth in the Affordable Care Act.

Medicaid expansion supporters say the measure would provide healthcare to Missourians who earn less than $18,000 annually.

Chairman Smith says the August Medicaid expansion ballot measure is projected to cost $200 million in state general revenue, and $1.8 billion in federal funding each year. He also says it will raise Missouri’s Medicaid rolls from 950,000 to more than 1.2 million participants.

Smith also says COVID-19 has had a major impact on Missouri’s economy.

“More than $1 billion has been cut from the state’s general revenue budget in recent months,” Smith says, in a statement. “Just this month, services requiring state support have been drastically reduced, including elementary school funding, college scholarships, and support services for those in need. Amendment Two will be a knockout blow to the state budget as more services will be cut or eliminated to pay for the healthcare of able-bodied adults.”

Supporters of Medicaid expansion disagree, saying the measure will create thousands of new jobs, many of them in rural communities.

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and many unions have endorsed Amendment Two. The Chamber has quoted a study from the Missouri Foundation for Health, which says Medicaid expansion will create more than 16,000 new jobs annually during its first five years, while increasing personal income by $1.1 billion annually.

The Foundation for Health says most of the new positions would be outside of St. Louis and Kansas City, and that 90 percent of those jobs will pay more than $15 an hour.

Medicaid expansion supporters also say that Amendment Two will help keep rural hospitals open.

The Missouri Hospital Association (MHA) says ten rural Missouri hospitals have closed since 2014. Five of the ten ten closings happened in the southeast Missouri district of U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem.

The Missouri Farm Bureau, the state’s largest general farm organization, is opposed to Amendment Two. Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst says it could cripple the state budget by imposing massive new healthcare costs on Missouri taxpayers.

37 states have expanded Medicaid.

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Some Missouri election authorities expand for August primary election

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Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says 21 of the state’s 116 election jurisdictions are increasing the number of polling places for the August primary election, compared to the 2016 primary. A press release from Ashcroft’s office says some polling places are being consolidated into larger venues, creating an efficient flow of voters and more room to allow physical distancing during the ongoing pandemic.

In early May, Ashcroft began distributing $4.5 million to local election authorities to help them meet their jurisdiction’s individual needs.

“I’m grateful that Missouri’s local election authorities have so genuinely considered how to best prepare for the August 4 primary, and how logistically to keep in-person voting safe and smooth,” Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said. “It is up to each county clerk or election board to make those decisions, and I appreciate the forethought and problem-solving strategies they are employing to put voters and poll workers at ease. Voting in person on August 4 will be safe and secure. Thank you, also, to the veteran and first-time poll workers who understand the importance of voting on Election Day, and who are making it possible for Missouri voters to vote safely and securely on August 4.”

He says Wisconsin’s presidential primary election fell into chaos this year because Milwaukee election officials reduced the number of polling places from 180 to five.

In May, Ashcroft visited all 116 election jurisdictions to deliver face masks, face shields, sanitizer, floor strips for physical distancing and 16,000 posters that encouraged six feet of distance between voters.

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Missouri continues to have spike in crisis calls and requests for services during COVID-19

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State Department of Mental Health Director Mark Stringer says mental health providers in rural and urban Missouri are experiencing significant increases in crisis calls and requests for services. During a Capitol press conference, he says state officials recognize the COVID-19 crisis will contribute to increases in depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and other challenges. Gov. Mike Parson has authorized $10 million in federal coronavirus funding to help Missouri’s community behavioral healthcare providers.

Missouri Department of Mental Health Director Mark Stringer

“Many of those providers have seen significant losses, along with increased costs. These funds will be essential to preserving access to care during a time when the need has never been greater,” says Stringer.

He says the funds can help with staffing levels, improve technology and boost abilities to reach and serve people through means other than traditional in-person care.

Missouri is also putting $620,000 of CARES Act funding toward continuing a public awareness campaign about suicide prevention.

“We hope to reach all Missourians who are in suicidal crisis as well as their friends and loved ones who can help intervene,” says Stringer. “And we will have a special focus on middle-aged men in rural areas. That group has the highest suicide rate of all.”

The department is once again partnering with the National Crisis Text Line to encourage Missourians to text a counselor when experiencing a crisis. The agency’s information about suicide prevention can be found by clicking here.

Parson has also authorized $20 million in federal aid for Missouri’s behavioral health and developmental disability services. Stringer says the funding is available for qualifying group homes, supported living, adult daycare and employment providers.

“Our contracted community providers, who as a result of the pandemic, have also lost revenue due to disruptions in service while incurring additional costs for things like testing, PPE and overtime,” says Stringer.

Department spokesperson Debra Walker tells Missourinet the information to apply is being sent directly to providers.

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Missouri’s governor is opposed to statewide face mask order

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The city council in southwest Missouri’s Springfield is considering a resolution that asks Governor Mike Parson (R) to enact a statewide face mask order.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson briefs Capitol reporters on July 22, 2020 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Missouri has seen an increase of about 1,600 coronavirus cases, in the past 24 hours.

Our Springfield affiliate KSGF Radio quotes City Councilman Craig Hosmer, a former Democratic state lawmaker, as saying the order would benefit hospitals in the region.

Missourinet asked Parson about the Springfield City Council, during Wednesday’s media briefing at the Capitol in Jefferson City.

“I am not anti-mask and I’ll say that clearly again. I wear a mask from time-to-time when I feel that need is there. I am not anti-mask, what I am is anti-mandates,” Parson says.

Councilman Hosmer was first elected to the Missouri House in 1990. He served 12 years as a state representative, before leaving the Legislature in 2002. Hosmer is also a former chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party.

“I don’t think it’s the state’s place to mandate for everybody in the state of Missouri to wear a mask,” says Parson.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams also opposes a statewide mask order, telling Capitol reporters that there are 85 counties with one COVID-19 death or less.

“That’s very different than the experience unfortunately they’ve had in St. Louis County, where they’ve had more than half of our deaths,” Dr. Williams says.

He says there are about 50 counties that have had less with 30 cases.

KSGF reports Greene County saw 32 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday.

Dr. Williams also says COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the state are trending up. DHSS announced on Thursday that Missouri now has had 37,700 confirmed cases, an increase of about 1,600 since Wednesday. That’s also up by four 4,000 from Monday.

Dr. Williams is urging young people who congregate in places like pools and lakes to wear a mask and to wash their hands frequently.

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