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Governor announces new effort to train 500 Missouri manufacturing technicians

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To leverage the need for workforce development and cultivate talent in Missouri’s existing workforce, Governor Mike Parson announced today an initiative to train 500 people across the state as manufacturing technicians. Parson announced the plans at Ozarks Technical College during its Advanced Manufacturing Job Fair in Springfield.

Gov. Parson announces new manufacturing technician training initiative (Photo courtesy of Bailey Strohl)

He said about 25% of all Missouri jobs are centered around manufacturing.

“I want the people of Missouri to stay in Missouri,” said Parson. “I don’t want these young men and women going somewhere else to look for jobs. I want them to stay here.”

Under the initiative, participants will be able to earn a Certified Production Technician (CPT) certificate. Parson said the certifications will be added at all public two-year institutions that already have manufacturing facilities.

“When you look at the infrastructure of the state of Missouri – where we’re going to be competitive – we’re in the middle of the United States of America,” said Parson. “The crossroads of this country goes through Missouri.”

Ozarks Technical College will be among the two-year public schools that will add the certification to their list of educational opportunities for students.

By Bailey Strohl of Missourinet affiliate KSGF in Springfield

Parson says soldiers will not fight St. Louis crime: “We can’t take over the law enforcement jobs”

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Gov. Mike Parson

St. Louis alderman Brandon Bosley wants Governor Mike Parson to send Missouri National Guard soldiers to his city to fight crime. Parson tells Missourinet affiliate KSSZ in Columbia that’s not going to happen.

“I’ve had the pleasure of serving in the military as a military policeman in my career and also on the law enforcement side for 22 years. Those are two totally different functions of government,” he says. “I get the frustration, but that’s not the function of the (National) Guard.”

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Bosley says his strategy is partially motivated because of a large shortage of St. Louis police officers. Bosley goes on to say we are not in Afghanistan and the level of violent crime there is not normal.

St. Louis Alderman Brandon Bosley

“At the end of the day, they’ve got to figure out some solutions up there in their own neighborhoods. We’re here to assist wherever we can but we can’t take over the law enforcement jobs in St. Louis,” says Parson.

During a press conference this week in St. Louis about violent crime, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said Bosley rightly points out that something must be done but Schmitt says the decision is up to the governor. In January, Schmitt launched a collaboration between his office and Missouri’s U.S. Attorney’s Offices to prosecute more violent crime cases. On Thursday, five Assistant U.S. Attorneys were sworn into office to help with the heavy caseload in the St. Louis region.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Missouri Senate GOP’s division on governor’s bridge plan sparks lengthy filibuster

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State Senator Bob Onder

The Missouri Senate Conservative Caucus blocked action into this morning on fellow Republican Governor Mike Parson’s $350 million proposed bridge repair plan. The governor’s blueprint would fix 250 bridges over three years. The bill, sponsored by Senate President Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, was tweaked to gain more support. The latest version would issue seven-year bonds at roughly $25 million in interest, instead of 15-year bonds at $100 million in interest.

During the filibuster lasting at least seven hours, Lake St. Louis Republican Bob Onder described the plan as putting the infrastructure costs on a credit card.

“The idea that ‘Well gosh, as long as we could borrow 2% money, why don’t we borrow all we can.’ Well then why don’t we borrow our whole budget this year at 2%,” Onder asked Majority Floor Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia.

State Sen. Caleb Rowden (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

“Well, because there’s obviously a point in which borrowing becomes unhealthy as it relates to your ability to pay it back,” replied Rowden, who backs the governor’s proposal.

“The idea that we have to deficit spend and borrow in good economic times, what happens in bad,” Onder questioned.

Onder supports the House’s version to put $100 million in the state budget for road and bridge improvements. He said the state owes $1.8 billion in current infrastructure debt and asked Rowden if owing another $350 million for Parson’s plan is offensive.

“The idea that we would capitalize on the fact that our debt is historically low in our state to fix a transportation infrastructure problem is not offensive to me in the least,” said Rowden.

Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, said Republicans “need to get it together”.

“Right now, you all hold a supermajority. You have the House, the Senate, the Governor’s Mansion and you have veto power. You can’t seem to get nothing done when it comes to infrastructure. That is a problem for me,” she said. “If I was in control, I would have a problem with all this infighting. However, we don’t have time to implode. We have a problem with infrastructure.”

She said GOP priorities don’t make sense.

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed speaks at the Missouri Capitol on January 23, 2018 (file photo courtesy of Missouri Senate photographer Harrison Sweazea]

“How can we continue to cut taxes and then have to go borrow money? That’s like an oxymoron. You go cut taxes – Republicans cutting the taxes – and then you have to turn around and borrow? I’m done talking,” said Nasheed.

The Senate did not vote on the measure.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Parson signs executive order to ease requirements during, after Missouri flooding

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This is the aerial view of flooding in northwest Missouri taken on March 21, 2019 (photo courtesy of Governor Mike Parson Twitter page)

Governor Mike Parson has signed an executive order today giving the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director some flexibility in easing requirements during the flood emergency underway. A press release today from the governor’s office says Director Carol Comer will have the discretionary authority to temporarily or suspend environmental rules or regulations currently under her purview during the emergency and following recovery period.

Northwest and southeast Missouri have especially been hit hard by recent flooding.

Parson says the move will best serve the interests of public health and safety.

The governor and some Missouri state and federal officials have criticized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers river management.