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Gov. Parson on first trade mission to Europe

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Governor Parson is on a European trip to promote more international trade and investment in Missouri industries. The governor will make several stops along the way, visiting Germany, Switzerland, then to France.

He will attend a memorial ceremony at the World War II D-Day invasion site in Normandy, where he and Missouri First Lady Teresa Parson will visit the Normandy American Cemetery and honor Missouri’s fallen through a flag exchange and wreath-placing ceremony with Superintendent Scott Desjardins.

While in France, Parson will meet with the Canadian and U.S. Ambassadors to France, key executives of the U.S. and Canadian Industry Associations, fellow U.S. Governors, and other national and military officials.

Parson then attends to Le Bourget air show, the world’s largest, to meet with officials from Boeing and other aerospace companies.

Details about the second half of the trip will be released next week. The trip is funded by Missouri’s Hawthorn foundation, an economic development non-profit.

 

 

 

Gov. Parson to Hannibal officials: we’re doing everything we can with the situation we’re in (Video-WGEM)

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Gov. Parson, Mayor and County EMD John Hark, State Rep. Louis Riggs

Gov. Parson met with local leaders in Hannibal as he toured efforts to stave off Mississippi River flooding. Mayor John Hark said the city is in good shape “thanks to city employees and citizens” who have been sandbagging during all daylight hours.

The governor also recognized the Department of Corrections inmates who have been helping across the state.

“Those men and women have been out there helping every day just like everyone else; they’ve out their backs into it,” Parson said.  “Sometimes take just a second to appreciate people like that that are out there working.”

“Unfortunately, the rain’s not going to let up,” Parson said.

Missourinet’s TV and radio partner in Quincy, WGEM, covered the press conference Monday.

Read their story- watch presser here

 

Gov. Parson press conference on Planned Parenthood lawsuit, license deadline is Friday (VIDEOS)

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Gov. Mike Parson says the state is not treating Planned Parenthood in St. Louis differently than any other health care facility. He says health violations and deficiences were cited by DHSS months ago.
According to DHSS, “These concerns are not limited to, but include: 1) violations of Missouri law; 2) violations of applicable Missouri regulations; 3) standard care for patient safety as evidenced by, but not limited to, at least one incident in which patient safety was gravely compromised; 4) failed surgical abortions in which patients remained pregnant; 5) concerns about quality control and communication with a contracted pathology lab; and 6) failure to obtain informed consent.”

Parson took questions from the press:

Governor Parson activates National Guard in storm recovery and preparation

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From the Governor’s Office

Governor Mike Parson today activated the Missouri National Guard as the state continues to respond to damage from flooding, tornadoes, and severe storms — while still under the threat of additional flooding and severe storms this week.

Governor Parson said in a press release, “Missouri has been battling historic flooding since March, which is depleting local resources, and now flooding conditions in many parts of the state are only getting worse. In addition, communities from Carl Junction to Jefferson City are facing the challenge of recovering from tornadoes and severe storms, further challenging civilian resources. The Guard has demonstrated its capabilities in response to natural disasters across Missouri, and I know they’ll make a difference at this critical time.”

Guard units will be deployed to support Chariton County, by sandbagging to reinforce a stressed levee near Brunswick. The Guard will also be staging and utilizing high-water vehicles to support flood response operations in Jefferson City.

Governor Parson says additional severe storms are possible for parts of Missouri on Memorial Day, and there is an elevated risk of potentially damaging severe storms for much of the state on Tuesday, May 28.

 

Gov. Parson’s update on storm recovery, damage assessments: Missouri is making strong progress

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Hawthorne Apartments took a direct hit Wednesday night.

Governor Parson urges Missourians to be prepared to take protective actions over the Memorial Day holiday weekend in which severe weather and flooding are being forecast.

The National Weather Service Kansas City Office expects up to three inches of rain in northwest Missouri by early Saturday morning, resulting in a Flash Flood Watch. The Kansas City NWS office is calling for a total of 4 to 6 inches of rainfall for parts of Missouri over the next seven days. This is now expected to push flooded rivers to higher levels than previously forecast

In Jefferson City, a team of volunteer engineers, architects, building inspectors, and other trained professionals Friday began assessing the exteriors of about 500 homes and buildings believed to have sustained damage to determine which are safe and which should be evacuated.

On Saturday, SEMA’s Structural Assessment and Visual Evaluation (S.A.V.E.) Coalition is expected to evaluate about 200 additional structures in Cole County that are reported to have been damaged.

Of the first 321 structures reviewed Friday, the S.A.V.E. Coalition reported the following:

  • 78 Unsafe (Severely damaged and cannot be occupied – Red placard.)
  • 60 Restricted Use (A portion of the building is unsafe – Yellow placard.)
  • 183 Safe for Reentry (Structurally safe to occupy – Green placard.)

Inspectors look for external structural damage, such as partially collapsed buildings, buildings moved off their foundations, leaning buildings, damage to supports, falling hazards from chimneys or walls, or other hazards like gas leaks or downed power lines.

“As I traveled the state yesterday and observed the devastation from Wednesday night storms, I saw people hard at work and lending a hand everywhere I went. Missouri utilities and businesses have brought on extra workers and are working extended shifts; public service workers are doing yeoman’s work, and volunteers are making a difference. The results are clear. Missouri is making strong progress in our recovery from this challenge, ” Parson said.

More updates from Governor’s Office

  • State Facilities Restoration: The Missouri Office of Administration (OA) has taken the following actions so that all state employees can return to work on Tuesday: begun cleanup efforts, worked with contractors to repair damaged buildings and roofs, worked with Ameren Missouri to restore power to several buildings, recovered IT equipment from damaged buildings, and identified temporary work spaces for employees in damaged buildings. At the Division of Employment Security building on Dunklin Street, OA has assisted in moving employees to temporary work spaces and worked to repair the HVAC system, as well as cleaning debris and helping Ameren Missouri restore power to the building.

 

  • Power Restoration: Efforts by Ameren Missouri and Three Rivers Electric Cooperative, bolstered by additional crews, have greatly reduced outages. Friday morning, in the Jefferson City area, Ameren Missouri was reporting about 3,000 outages. Three Rivers Electric was reporting about 900 outages in Cole County and about 250 in Miller County. Power is expected to be completely restored Saturday. There were more than 14,000 total outages on Thursday.

 

  • Communications Restoration: Verizon, which sustained damage that affected 19 sites in the Jefferson City area has deployed three mobile cellular sites and a mobile community center at City Hall to support first responders and affected community members with wireless communications. The company is also providing a recharging station, laptops with internet connectivity, and an air-conditioned mobile facility to support survivors and volunteers. It’s also offering unlimited calling, text, and data for customers impacted by the Missouri tornadoes.

 

  • Communications Restoration: U.S. Cellular, whose service was affected by the storms in Miller, Barton, and Jasper counties, deployed generators and partnered with another carrier to raise call capacity.

 

  • Law Enforcement: In addition to assisting local public safety agencies responding to calls for service, search and rescue, and security details in Jefferson City, Golden City and Carl Junction, the Missouri State Highway Patrol provided 21 of its law enforcement academy recruits to direct traffic in damaged areas of Jefferson City on Thursday. Also, nine Patrol troopers assisted by handling regular police calls for service in the Jefferson City area on Thursday. Patrol aircraft have been assisting with aerial damage assessments.

 

Gov. Parson presser: This plan benefits all Missouri, not just GM (AUDIO)

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Gov. Mike Parson called a press conference as senators filibustered his workforce training and tax incentive package.  The package is tied to current negotiations with GM over a potential $1 billion expansion of its plant in Wentzville.

Parson and his Economic Development Director Rob Dixon answered media questions:

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Gov. Parson makes official federal disaster request, congressional delegation urges prompt action

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Governor Mike Parson wants President Donald Trump to approve a major disaster declaration for Missouri for federal assistance for 13 counties after historic flood levels caused an estimated $25 million in damage to infrastructure and emergency response costs eligible for federal assistance.

Some areas cannot be assessed until flood waters recede, so the governor says he expects the request to be expanded to include additional counties.

Parson is requesting Public Assistance for Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Carroll, Chariton, Holt, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Platte, Ray, and Ste. Genevieve. If approved, local governments and qualifying nonprofit agencies may seek federal assistance for reimbursement of emergency response and recovery costs, including repair and replacement costs for damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure.

Parson is also requesting federal individual assistance for five Missouri counties for temporary housing, housing repairs, replacement of damaged belongings and vehicles and other qualifying flood-related expenses. Those counties are Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Holt, and Platte.

The governor is also requesting that the U.S. Small Business Administration assist businesses, homeowners, and renters in these counties with low-interest loans. Those affected by the flooding are encouraged to continue documenting and photographing the damage and keeping all receipts.

The governor says he is “confident federal assistance will be forthcoming,” but the state’s bipartisan congressional delegation sent a joint letter to President Trump asking for his prompt action in granting federal aid.

“The severity and magnitude of the flooding has [sic] caused several communities to be evacuated and has resulted in the destruction of homes, farms, and businesses,” the delegation wrote. “We respectfully request your prompt action to ensure that these communities receive the immediate support needed to respond to the disaster. Along with our fellow Missourians, we appreciate your attention to this request and stand ready to assist in any way possible.”

 

Governors of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska meet with Army Corps officials to discuss flood-prevention

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Three governors feeling the pain of major flooding recently are calling on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to change its management of the Missouri River. The governors of Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa met Wednesday in Iowa with Corps and Federal Emergency Management officials to talk about growing flooding problems. At a press conference Wednesday afternoon in Council Bluffs, Governor Mike Parson says something needs to change.

Three governors at meeting with Army Corps and FEMA officials (photo from @GovParsonMO twitter account)

“For far too long, we’ve had these incidents occur and we’ve had meeting after meeting, but it seems to be the same results all the time. I think it’s time that we need some straight up answers from the Corps of Engineers of how they’re managing the river,” says Parson.

Northwest and southeast Missouri have especially been hit hard by recent flooding. Parson has made a couple of trips to northwest Missouri to view the damage. About half of Nebraska has been devastated by flood waters.

“First of all, we’ve got to find out just kind of what happened. I think we are still looking for those answers,” says Parson. “But more importantly, what can we do in the short-term and what can we do in the long-term. We’re still not out of the woods yet. We still have got water coming out, snow melt and ice coming out, plus spring rains that could really affect us.”

Parson, a Republican, says the management of the river is key to the citizens of each state.

“When you look at the states that are involved here of the Missouri River, it has a huge impact on the United States of what it is we do,” Parson says. “We are totally dependent on the management of those rivers for a lot of reasons. When you talk about that livelihood, that economic development side of it, it is really centered around the management of the rivers. That affects every one of us and the people of our states and the economy of our states. That’s really how important this is.”

From left to right, Governors Parson of Missouri, Ricketts of Nebraska & Reynolds of Iowa (Photo from @GovRicketts Twitter account)

He says there need to be other solutions to prevent further flooding issues.

“You look at the reservoir situation. Can we have more reservoir space to be able to handle this water that we know is going to be coming here every year? Can we build maybe more levees,” asks Parson. “But I think more importantly, does the state take more of an active role in these decisions instead of just leaving it up to one agency? I think the states will have to take more of a role in the management of the river and the Corps is going to have to work with us from a different perspective of what we’ve done than in the past.”

Last Friday, Parson signed an executive order giving the Missouri Department of Natural Resources some flexibility in easing requirements during and after recent Missouri flooding.

He says river management needs to get back to the basics by prioritizing flooding and safety.

Travel problems prevented the governor of Kansas from attending the gathering, but she plans to be part of the next meeting in three weeks.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

State auditor: Another slip by Missouri Revenue Department – this time an illegal one

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State Auditor Nicole Galloway says the Missouri Revenue Department illegally changed tax withholdings in January. She released the findings Tuesday of an audit conducted by her office. During a press conference at the state Capitol in Jefferson City, Galloway says the agency should have informed a legislative rules committee of the change.

State Auditor Nicole Galloway

“This would’ve allowed for review by the Joint Committee on Rules – giving elected officials notice of the changes and an opportunity for input,” she says. “More importantly, the process would’ve allowed for notice and comment from the public – the very taxpayers affected by the change. Instead, the department failed to follow the law. It’s yet another example of Governor Parson’s department making decisions that directly impact the daily lives of Missourians without clearly communicating to citizens.”

Galloway says the department’s move was made to over-withhold taxes from many Missouri taxpayers.

“An additional $63 million is expected to come out of the paychecks of Missourians,” she says. “It will affect over half of Missourians – middle income and lower income Missouri families.”

After five hearings by a bipartisan House committee on the department’s failure to communicate to the public about another tax withholding issue, Joel Walters resigned last month as Revenue Department director. Galloway, a Democrat, says Gov. Mike Parson’s administration should take responsibility for the recent tax problems.

“They left individual taxpayers in the dark. This January change never came up. It was never talked about. The administration never disclosed this to the bipartisan review committee. The decision to take more money out of paychecks without following the law shows a clear pattern of mismanagement. The resignation of one unelected bureaucrat does not equate to accountability,” says Galloway. “This is leading to confusion for individual taxpayers and distrust in this process.”

Gov. Mike Parson

In a statement from Governor Parson, a Republican, he says his administration’s focus “has consistently been on reforming and reducing taxes for hardworking Missouri families and small businesses”.

“We’re not interested in engaging with someone that prioritizes partisan politics and scare tactics over the long-term benefits of federal and state income tax cuts,” Parson says. But, to the Auditor’s office credit, they have been consistent – consistent in fighting the implementation of common sense tax cuts every step of the way. Further, the auditor’s office press release was clearly meant to politically pander because it ignores the positive progress the department has made in processing tax refunds. While we are aware that bureaucratic challenges exist, we are committed to working with new leadership within the Department of Revenue to ensure Missourians receive the full benefits of the historic federal and state income tax cuts that were signed into law last year.”

To view the auditor’s report, click here.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet