House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith Archives

Haahr and Quade view Missouri’s 2020 session differently; both predict special session

May 19, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s House Speaker describes the historic 2020 session as “incredibly successful,” noting lawmakers lost about six weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic. His Democratic counterpart disagrees.

Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, presides over the chamber on May 15, 2020 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, tells Missourinet that he’s most proud that lawmakers approved a state budget, before their constitutional deadline.

“The work that the Budget Chair (State Rep. Cody Smith) did in having to take six weeks off, try to come up with the best calculated estimate of what we believe the revenues would look like,” Haahr says.

The $35.2 billion state operating budget approved earlier this month includes $20 million for Missouri meat processing facilities, impacted by COVID-19. House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, says it’s for plants with less than two hundred employees, for support, workforce assistance and capital improvements.

The budget also contains $12 million for broadband expansion, relating to the pandemic. Both parties say that is critical.

In addition to the six weeks the Legislature lost because of the coronavirus, they also lost several days in January and February because of snow and ice in Jefferson City.

“If I look back at the beginning of the session, and I look at the things that I most wanted to accomplish and that our caucus listed as their priorities to get done, I think it’s an incredibly successful session for having lost six weeks in the middle of it,” says Haahr.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, disagrees, telling Capitol reporters that the GOP-controlled Legislature should have focused more on protecting Missourians from the coronavirus.

“In fact, the House spent far more time discussing feral hogs than it did talking about COVID-19,” Quade says.

The $35.2 billion state budget approved by the Legislature contains language that prohibits the state Department of Conservation from funding a federal employee at the Mark Twain National Forest in southern Missouri.

The feral hog issue was discussed in-detail during that May debate, and also came up on the House floor and during budget hearings this session.

Leader Quade says House Republicans “largely ignored” COVID-19 during the 2020 session, an issue she describes as the single-biggest crisis that Missouri has faced in at least a century.

During a floor speech just before Friday’s adjournment, Quade praised grocery employees across the state.

“To our grocery workers truly keeping us alive, I’m sorry the Legislature chose not to give you the protection of essential workers that you truly deserve,” Quade said on the floor.

One area Speaker Haahr and Leader Quade agree on is that there will be a special session this summer. Haahr believes it will involve the budget, and Leader Quade tells Missourinet she is hearing that it could happen in three to four weeks.

Haahr also told colleagues from the dais on Friday that he and Quade both share a love for Springfield. She nodded her head in approval, from her desk.

Republicans control the House 114-48.

Missouri House approves $34.9 billion budget, following heated debate on Medicaid expansion

April 29, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri House voted Wednesday afternoon to give final approval to a $34.9 billion state operating budget. GOP leaders say it’s a budget that’s about $146 million less than the current budget.

Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, (left) talks with House Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, on the House floor in Jefferson City on April 27, 2020 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Most House members wore masks during the debate, which got heated during a discussion about Medicaid expansion. Due to COVID-19 concerns, there were just three people watching debate in the Capitol’s public fourth-floor galleries.

State Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, spoke several times on the House floor, criticizing legislative Republicans for approving $450 million in tax cuts in recent years. She says that money should have been used for education and other essential services.

House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, tells the House that the growing Medicaid budget has impacted higher education and other essential programs. He says Medicaid continues to grow.

Chairman Smith says the budget also includes $11 million for institutional staff stipends for corrections officers at the Missouri Department of Corrections, as well as $10 million for county jail reimbursements. Smith had hoped for $15 million, but notes COVID-19 impacted that.

COVID-19 has impacted the budget, and it’s impacted pay for state employees as well. Smith tells Missourinet the budget does not include money for pay raises for state employees.

More than 14,000 state employees work in Jefferson City, making state government the town’s largest employer.

Today’s debate also featured a heated discussion on the Missouri House floor, about the issue of Medicaid expansion.

Representative Lavender tells the House that states that have expanded Medicaid receive $500 more per person, than states like Missouri. But State Rep. Doug Richey, R-Excelsior Springs, argued against it, warning about the federal debt and the federal deficit.

Richey blasted House Democrats on the floor, for arguing for Medicaid expansion. He says it’s immoral and that Democrats want to deficit-spend.

The conversation got more heated when State Rep. Gina Mitten, D-St. Louis, and Rep. Richey spoke over each other during a heated floor debate.

“I dare you to go back to your constituents and say we don’t need no stinking federal dollars,” Mitten told Richey.

Chairman Smith also spoke against Medicaid expansion.

The budget now heads to the Missouri Senate, and Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, tells Missourinet he expects the Senate Appropriations Committee to work through the weekend on the budget.

Missouri House expected to approve $5.8 billion supplemental on Wednesday; masks ready for members

April 7, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri House will return to Jefferson City Wednesday afternoon, to debate and vote on the unprecedented proposed $5.8 billion supplemental budget, to battle the COVID-19 outbreak.

Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, strikes the gavel in Jefferson City on March 18, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Missouri House Budget Director Dan Haug testified Tuesday before the Senate Appropriations Committee, while wearing a mask to protect himself. Many of the senators and staff members also wore masks.

Director Haug testifies that the overwhelming majority of the proposed $5.8 billion supplemental is federal money. According to Haug, the breakdown is as follows: $5.1 billion in federal funds, $247 million in state dollars and $379 million in other funding.

The Senate will convene again on Wednesday morning, and the Missouri House will gavel-in Wednesday at 1 p.m. Both chambers are expected to approve the supplemental budget on Wednesday, sending it to the governor’s desk.

House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, tells Missourinet that every House member has masks that have been placed in their Capitol mailbox in Jefferson City. The House has 163 members, and most of them will stay in their offices during Wednesday’s debate, until they have to vote.

House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, tells Missourinet that the House will maintain social distancing on Wednesday.

State Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, wore a mask during the April 7, 2020 Senate Appropriations Committee hearing (photo courtesy of Senator Hoskins’ Twitter page)

Governor Mike Parson says the Capitol received a deep cleaning in the two weeks that it was closed to the general public. That deep cleaning included the Senate and House chambers. The Capitol had been closed to the public, until Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, has been urging the general public to stay at home and view the proceedings on the legislative websites.

There will be nurses stationed again at the Capitol entrance on Wednesday, and any visitor will have their temperature taken. Leader Rowden says visitors will also be questioned about their health, travel and known COVID-19 exposure.

State health officials have announced that Missouri now has 3,037 confirmed COVID-19 cases, along with 53 deaths. The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced the updated numbers this afternoon. The numbers have increased from Monday’s total of 2,722 cases and 39 deaths.

Missouri lawmakers to tackle multi-billion dollar supplemental; senators to be given masks on Tuesday

April 6, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri Senate will return to Jefferson City on Tuesday morning to tackle the proposed supplemental budget, which includes billions of dollars to battle the coronavirus outbreak.

Missouri Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia

House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, tells Missourinet that the supplemental has increased to a proposed $5.8 billion.

The Senate will gavel-in Tuesday morning at 11, and the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a noon hearing. The proceedings will be unprecedented, due to the pandemic.

Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, tells Missourinet that every state senator and their staff will be given a mask on Tuesday. Because of the governor’s statewide stay-at-home order and health concerns, Rowden is urging the general public to stay at home and to view the proceedings on the Missouri Senate website.

“The goal is to protect the public, staff and members of the General Assembly present in the Capitol building,” Rowden says.

Rowden and House Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, have been working with MU Health Care to ensure the safety of state lawmakers to get back inside the Capitol to vote.

The Capitol has been closed to the public since March 24, to help stop the spread of COVID-19. It closed after longtime State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, tested positive for COVID-19. Runions has since been released from the hospital.

Governor Mike Parson says the Capitol has been receiving a deep-cleaning everyday, since it’s been closed.

Leader Rowden says anyone visiting the Capitol this week will have their temperature taken, and will be questioned about their health, travel and known COVID-19 exposure. Visitors will only have access to the joint committee hearing room and the Capitol’s fourth floor visitor galleries.

Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, (left) talks to House Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, in Jefferson City on February 12, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The public will not have access to legislators’ offices or the surrounding hallways, according to Rowden.

Rowden also says the roll call will be much slower this week.

“And people for the most part will probably be in their offices,” Rowden told Missourinet recently. “Their name will be called and we’ll give them plenty of time to come from their office into the chamber, cast their vote and then leave again. I think the House is going to do something fairly similar.”

The 163-member Missouri House is set to convene Wednesday afternoon at 1 at the Capitol.

“I am very skeptical because, at the end of the day, we don’t know who is coming in and out of that building (the Missouri Capitol) with the virus,” State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, tells the “St. Louis Post-Dispatch”. Hopefully everybody takes this thing serious and covers their mouths and their hands and tries to stay at a distance.”

State health officials say the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Missouri has increased from 2,367 on Sunday to 2,722 on Monday. The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) also says Missouri now has 39 deaths, compared to Sunday’s number of 34.

The “Stay Home Missouri” order signed by Governor Mike Parson on Friday is now in effect. The order took effect at 12:01 this morning, and says Missourians shall avoid leaving their homes or apartments unless necessary. You can still go to work at certain jobs and can access essential services such as grocery stores, gas stations, the pharmacy and banks.

You also also still go outdoors to exercise, but must practice social distancing.

Missouri Medicaid Director Richardson to present budget this week (AUDIO)

February 9, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The state’s Medicaid director will present his budget to the Missouri House Budget Committee Tuesday morning in Jefferson City.

Former Missouri House Speaker Todd Richardson opens a special session on June 11, 2018. Richardson is now the state’s Medicaid director (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The hearing is set for 8:15.

During his January State of the State Address, Governor Mike Parson (R) credited former House Speaker and current Medicaid director Todd Richardson for finding $84 million in savings, in the Medicaid system.

“While some in the press are eager to criticize this improved efficiency – or outright misrepresent it – the truth is that this system has been broken for many years and unproductively serving every Missourian who is paying for it,” Governor Parson told a joint session of the Legislature on January 15, in Jefferson City.

Richardson says that savings is important.

“Across the program, you know with both big chunks and small chunks we’ve been working to identify those efficiencies that allow us to deliver a better program,” Richardson says.

Medicaid is a federal and state program that assists with medical costs for residents with limited incomes. Missouri’s Medicaid budget is about $10 billion, accounting for more than one-third of the state’s $30 billion operating budget.

Governor Mike Parson criticized Medicaid expansion during his State of the State Address on January 15, 2020 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Governor Parson and Richardson say that savings is important to protect citizens who need Medicaid services the most. Director Richardson says there’s more work to do.

“We’ve got to work together to build a best-in-class Medicaid program that provides for the needs of Missouri’s most vulnerable, but does so in a way that’s financially sustainable,” says Richardson.

Richardson was appointed to his post by Governor Parson, and has been in the position since November 2018.

Statistics provided by the state Department of Social Services (DSS) show the number of Missourians on Medicaid has decreased from 953,000 in August 2018 to 846,000 now. Richardson will likely face some questions on Tuesday from lawmakers about thousands of children who have recently been removed from Medicaid.

The “Springfield News-Leader” reported this weekend that State Rep. David Wood, R-Versailles, says thousands of children removed from the Medicaid rolls were likely still eligible for coverage. The newspaper quotes Wood as saying that paperwork for the parents is horrendous, and that the state could do a better job of helping people through the process.

Wood is the House Budget Committee’s vice chairman.

Another issue that could come up during the hearing is Medicaid expansion. Governor Parson opposes it, as does Richardson. Director Richardson tells Missourinet he’s focused on reforming Medicaid, not expanding it.

“There will be a tremendous cost to Medicaid expansion and costs that frankly the state doesn’t have,” Richardson says.

Richardson’s focus is on operating a better program that produces better outcomes, in a financially sustainable way.

House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, and House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, also oppose Medicaid expansion. They say it would take dollars out of the classroom, noting it requires a ten percent match for the 90 percent draw down.

Speaker Haahr has warned that it would blow a hole in the general revenue budget.

But Democrats like House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, and State Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, support Medicaid expansion. They have said 100,000 children have lost their Medicaid coverage and that it’s an emergency.

The organization “Healthcare for Missouri” also backs Medicaid expansion, citing a recent report from the Missouri Hospital Association and nine other healthcare organizations.

“This new research (the new report) only adds to the growing body of fact-based evidence that Medicaid expansion will not just save lives but could also save taxpayers money. The recent examples of Arkansas, Indiana, and Ohio show three states that have used Medicaid-derived savings to cut income taxes, increase government efficiency and improve worker productivity,” Healthcare for Missouri campaign spokesman Jack Cardetti’s statement reads, in part.

Medicaid expansion supporters also note that eight rural Missouri hospitals have closed in recent years.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and State Medicaid Director Todd Richardson, which was recorded on January 15, 2020 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City:

Maple Leaf Festival organizers expect 70,000 to 80,000 on Saturday in southwest Missouri town (AUDIO)

October 17, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

More than 70,000 people are expected to travel to the small southwest Missouri town of Carthage for Saturday’s 53rd annual Maple Leaf Festival, which celebrates the town’s glorious fall colors.

The popular Maple Leaf Festival parade in Carthage is southwest Missouri’s largest parade (2017 photo courtesy of the Carthage Chamber of Commerce)

Carthage is known as the Maple Leaf City. While the festival is a month-long event, Saturday is the biggest day. Carthage Chamber of Commerce President Mark Elliff says the festival, which began in 1966 as a marching band competition, keeps growing.

“Back in the late 80’s I was involved in it and it was a big event then, but not nearly as big as what it is today,” Elliff says.

Saturday’s festivities begin bright and early with a 6 a.m. pancake breakfast, followed by the parade, the largest parade in southwest Missouri.

“It starts at 9 o’clock. Our goal is to have the parade over within two hours because you get beyond that people, I mean they love a parade, but they don’t love it more than two hours worth,” says Elliff.

The parade route is about two miles. There will be more than 150 entries in the parade, including floats and political figures. House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, will join Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe (R) in the parade. Elliff says Kehoe will be bringing a stagecoach on Saturday.

Chairman Smith tells Missourinet the Maple Leaf Festival is essentially a local holiday in Carthage. The town of 14,000 is northeast of Joplin.

Elliff says volunteers are key to the festival’s success. Carthage firefighters make the pancakes, while the Rotary Club cooks brats on the town square, for scholarships.

“We actually start in February of each year beginning the planning,” Elliff says.

Saturday’s events also include food vendors, funnel cakes, a lobster boil, 5K run and a car show. The marching band festival begins at noon.

Click here to view the entire schedule of events for the Maple Leaf Festival.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Carthage Chamber of Commerce President Mark Elliff, which was recorded on October 17, 2019:

Missouri lawmakers to tackle Medicaid expansion issue on Tuesday

October 7, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A Missouri House subcommittee will hear testimony on the issue of Medicaid expansion Tuesday at the Statehouse in Jefferson City.

State Rep. Steve Helms, R-Springfield

The House Subcommittee on Health Care Reform will hold Tuesday’s hearing at 12:30.

Subcommittee chairman Steve Helms, R-Springfield, tells Missourinet his committee aim is to improve access to health care and make it more affordable for Missourians. Helms says the subcommittee is looking at ways to reduce costs for individuals.

Helms also tells Missourinet the subcommittee will issue a report to the full committee.

Medicaid expansion has primarily been a party-line issue in the Legislature, and Republicans currently control the House 113-43.

House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, opposes Medicaid expansion, saying it would take dollars out of the classroom. He notes it would require a ten percent match for the 90 percent draw down.

Speaker Haahr says Medicaid expansion “would blow a sizable hole in our general revenue budget,” because of the match.

Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, briefs Capitol reporters on September 11, 2019, along with Assistant Minority Leader Tommie Pierson, D-St. Louis, and Minority Whip Keri Ingle, D-Lee’s Summit (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, shares Speaker Haahr’s position, because of the impact on the state budget.

House Democratic Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, supports Medicaid expansion, saying 100,000 children have lost their Medicaid health care coverage. She says it’s an emergency.

Statistics provided by the state Department of Social Services (DSS) show the number of Missourians on Medicaid has decreased from 953,000 in August 2018 to 850,000 now.

State Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, predicts state revenue will increase, if Medicaid expansion happens. Lavender is the ranking Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Appropriations for Health, Mental Health and Social Services.

Lavender notes eight rural Missouri hospitals have closed in recent years.

Missouri’s Medicaid budget is now about one-third of the state’s approximately $29 billion operating budget.

Haahr and Quade have different perspectives on Missouri Medicaid expansion

September 26, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri House Speaker and House Democrats view the issue of Medicaid expansion differently.

Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, briefs Capitol reporters on September 11, 2019 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, says Medicaid expansion would hurt education, by taking dollars out of the classroom.

“To do Medicaid expansion in Missouri would require a ten percent match for the 90 percent draw down,” Haahr tells Capitol reporters. “That would blow a sizable hole in our general revenue budget.”

An initiative petition effort for Medicaid expansion is being criticized by Speaker Haahr, primarily because of that ten percent match.

“One of the things that we’ve done since I’ve been in the Legislature (since 2013) is we’ve fully funded the k-12 (education foundation) formula, we’ve made a big attempt to try to bring our higher education funding up,” says Haahr. “Those two areas would have an incredible hit if we were to have to cut several hundred million dollars out of the budget and fund that.”

House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, tells Missourinet he shares the Speaker’s position, because of the impact on the state budget.

Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, briefs the Capitol Press Corps on September 11, 2019 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Meantime, the Democratic leader in the Missouri House supports Medicaid expansion. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, tells Capitol reporters about 100,000 Missouri children have lost their Medicaid health care coverage.

“This is something that we (lawmakers) should be talking about. We have Missourians all over the state, not just rural Missouri, urban Missouri, who are losing access to health care,” Quade says. “And that is a true emergency and not tax breaks.”

Leader Quade has called for a formal House committee investigation of the Medicaid enrollment decline. The state Department of Social Services (DSS) has provided statistics to Missourinet, which show the number of Missourians on Medicaid has dropped from about 953,000 in August 2018 to about 850,000 now.

During the recent veto session, Lavender spoke on the House floor in Jefferson City, noting that eight rural Missouri hospitals have closed.

“I believe our number is up to eight rural hospitals that we’ve lost in our state. So yes, this would be one of the ways that we would be able to at least provide some type of health care,” Lavender said that day. She was referring to a health care bill from State Rep. Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport.

Missouri’s Medicaid budget is now about one-third of the state’s $29 billion operating budget.

Republicans currently control the Missouri House 113-43.