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Southeast Missouri congressman considering U.S. Senate run in 2022; pledges to fight for working families (AUDIO)

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A southern Missouri congressman who serves as the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee says he’s considering a run for the U.S. Senate in 2022. U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Salem) spoke to Missourinet Monday evening outside the Statehouse in Jefferson City, after he met with the governor about the issue of feral hogs.

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Salem) is outside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on March 29, 2021 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

“I will just say that I would put my record fighting for working-class families, farmers, small business owners and my conservative credentials amongst any names that’s been out there or suggested for the United States Senate,” Smith says.

Former Governor Eric Greitens and Attorney General Eric Schmitt, both Republicans, have announced they’re running for the Senate. Former State Sen. Scott Sifton (D-Affton) and Jefferson City native Lucas Kunce are two Democrats who have announced. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has also been mentioned as a possible Senate candidate.

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R) is retiring. He’s finishing his second six-year Senate term on Capitol Hill.

Smith, who represents 30 counties in southern and southeast Missouri, emphasizes that he hasn’t made a decision yet.

“I was elected by the good people of southeast Missouri to do a job in Washington D.C. as the Republican leader of the (House) Budget Committee. I’m fighting everyday for our rural way of life to make sure that (President Joe) Biden doesn’t take away our freedoms and liberties, and that is my focus right now,” says Smith.

The Budget Committee is chaired by U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Kentucky), and Smith is the committee’s top Republican.

Smith, who’s served in Congress since 2013, was re-elected in November with 77 percent of the vote against Festus social worker Kathy Ellis. The sprawling Eighth Congressional District includes Cape Girardeau, Farmington, Poplar Bluff, Portageville, Kennett, West Plains and Rolla.

Meantime, Congressman Smith and 70 other congressional Republicans have signed a letter, calling for an investigation into the suspension of the southern border wall construction. Smith says President Biden’s decision has fueled a crisis at the border.

“What the president did on his first three hours in office, by a declaration, was to halt funding that was appropriated by Congress in a bipartisan way. You’re talking about billions of dollars that was appropriated in a bipartisan way, and he halted the construction of the southern border,” Smith says.

President Biden issued a January 20 proclamation, saying that building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border “is not a serious policy solution.” President Biden described it as a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security. President Biden says his administration is committed to ensuring that the United States has a comprehensive and humane immigration system that operates consistently with our nation’s values.

As for the feral hog issue, Governor Mike Parson says State Sen. Jason Bean (R-Holcomb) also participated in Monday’s meeting with Congressman Smith, as well as Missouri Department of Conservation Director Sara Parker-Pauley and representatives from the USDA and U.S. Forest Service.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview with U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Salem), which was recorded outside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on March 29, 2021:

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USDA currently in “big hiring phase” in Kansas City (AUDIO)

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A top official at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says the agency is making progress in relocating two major facilities to Kansas City: the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agricultural Policy.

USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach, U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, and USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Richard Fordyce spoke to reporters on August 21, 2020 at the food bank in Columbia (photo courtesy of Brownfield’s Julie Harker)

USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach tells Missourinet the agency continues to transfer employees from Washington to Kansas City, those who chose to move.

“We’re also in a big hiring phase trying to get people on board and establish that in Kansas City,” Ibach says.

USDA’s relocation is expected to bring about 550 jobs to Kansas City, with average wages between $80,000 and $100,000. Mr. Ibach says the agency has established a “beautiful office” in Kansas City.

Ibach says it’s beneficial to have USDA employees who have roots in agriculture, adding that the move to Kansas City will benefit farmers and ranchers.

“It’s really exciting to be able to have the people that are analyzing the economics of agriculture be right here in the heartland of America, where agriculture is,” says Ibach.

Under Secretary Ibach spoke to Missourinet at a recent USDA event in mid-Missouri’s Columbia, to promote a federal program that’s addressing hunger needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event took place at the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, where Ibach was joined by USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Richard Fordyce and U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville.

The USDA relocation to Kansas City has been praised by members of Missouri’s congressional delegation in both parties, and well as by Governor Mike Parson (R) and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas (D).

U.S. Reps. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, and Hartzler praise the move, saying it gets USDA closer to the farmers they serve.

Missouri’s largest general farm organization is also pleased with the relocation. Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurt says it will improve USDA’s customer service.

“You know within a day’s drive of their new headquarters (in Kansas City) will be most of the corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, cotton, I mean you think about the crops, pork, beef,” Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst said, in a 2019 interview with Missourinet.

The Kansas City area is also home to what is called the animal science corridor. The Kansas City Area Development Council says the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor is home to more than 300 animal health companies.

Click here to listen to USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Greg Ibach, who spoke to Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth on August 21, 2020 outside of the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri in Columbia:

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Three Missouri mayors ask Trump to send federal COVID-19 aid directly to their cities

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The mayors of Kansas City, neighboring Independence and St. Louis are among 290 U.S. mayors who have signed a letter to President Donald Trump asking for $250 billion in direct aid to cover COVID-19 expenses. In the letter, they say only 38 U.S. cities have been given direct funding from Washington and those that qualified are unable to use the money to offset pandemic-driven budget shortfalls.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas

On Sunday, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas joined Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation and said without more federal aid, layoffs of some city workers and budget cuts are expected in his city.

“You’re seeing a lot of deficit spending from cities,” says Lucas. “Mine has already put out millions of dollars in COVID-19 response. And the impact is actually go to be to American workers – those who work for state, local, county governments – are going to deal with the brunt of it.”

Jackson County received about $123 million in federal coronavirus relief. Kansas City, the state’s largest city, is only expected to get about $19 million of that funding.

Meanwhile, a spike in coronavirus cases has led to Kansas Citians sometimes waiting for 14 days to get their COVID-19 test results. Lucas said the federal assistance could help to clear up the backlog.

“We need more resources to get more testing to get faster testing through,” says Lucas. “That’s the biggest challenge and we’re going to continue to see this spread unless we get more testing. So I think money, a solution out of Washington, is key for not just mine, but all American cities.”

The mayors who signed the letter are from American cities big and small. Some are Republicans, while others are Democrats and Independents.

A previous letter was sent to Congressional leaders in Washington on March 18.

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Kansas City getting 225 federal agents to help solve murders

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In a matter of days, 225 federal agents will be on the ground in Kansas City ramping up investigations into unsolved murders – not to patrol the streets. The city has reached at least 101 homicides so far this year and it is on track to be the most violent year in Kansas City’s history. The figure is about a 35% increase over last year’s murder rate.

U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison discusses Operation LeGend w/ Mayor Lucas, Charron Powell, mother of LeGend Taliferro, Rosilyn Temple of KC Mothers in Charge, and Jaymes Evans, LeGend’s grandfather

During a press conference Wednesday, Tim Garrison, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, says the goal is to identify the most prolific violent offenders and get them off the streets.

“An unprecedented spike in violent crime deserves an unprecedented response from government authorities,” says Garrison.

The new federal operation, called Operation Legend, was announced last week by White House Press Secretary Kayleigh Mcenany and a press release followed from U.S. Attorney General William Barr’s office. The operation is named after a four-year-old Kansas City boy killed last month while he was sleeping. Legend’s family joined Garrison and Mayor Quinton Lucas while the details of the work were laid out in Wednesday’s press conference.

Lucas says the operation is about finding justice for victims of violent crime.

“This operation is not tanks in the streets,” he says. “This operation is not a substitute patrol force. This operation is not overenforcement from federal law enforcement. This is not an operation where anyone is coming to take over the work that either our police department does here locally or other authorities and agencies do.”

The federal agents are from the FBI, U.S. Marshal Service, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Wednesday’s press conference came the same day as Gov. Mike Parson announcing that he is calling state lawmakers back to Jefferson City later this month to address Missouri’s surge in violent crime.

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Missouri’s governor expected to outline special session call about violent crime on Wednesday

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Law enforcement officers from around Missouri will join Governor Mike Parson (R) at the Capitol in Jefferson City on Wednesday afternoon, for a press conference about violent crime.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on July 14, 2020 (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

During a Tuesday Capitol media briefing, the governor told Missourinet that his biggest concern is violent crime and homicides. He indicates he’ll be calling a special session about violent crime.

“Three and four-year-old kids getting shot and killed, shot in their homes, two people losing their lives last night. And just continuing on, we have to give the law enforcement officers the tools they need to fight violent crime,” Parson says.

The double homicide the governor referenced happened Monday night, near St. Louis University. The “St. Louis Post-Dispatch” reports 20-year-old Arie Bagsby and 21-year-old Omar Harris died, after being shot multiple times. The newspaper reports the two victims had been inside an SUV that police found riddled by bullets.

Governor Parson says the sooner that state lawmakers can return to Jefferson City, the better. He says he will talk more about it on Wednesday.

He also says it’s important to stand up for law enforcement officers, saying they are “maxed out” from protests and other events. He says officers need to focus on violent crime.

There have been 125 homicides this year in St. Louis, and 101 in Kansas City.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas (D) requested that the governor call a special session about crime earlier this month, saying his city was at a “crisis point.”

The “Kansas City Star” has reported that 2020 is on pace to be the city’s deadliest year on record. Mayor Lucas has called for increased funding for witness protection, and also wants more tools for law enforcement to be able to interrupt conspiracies to commit murder.

A key proposal in the governor’s January State of the State Address was about $1 million in funding for witness protection, in an effort to battle increasing violence in urban cities.

Despite bipartisan support in both the Missouri Senate and House, the measure did not pass this year.

Governor Parson will brief Capitol reporters Wednesday afternoon at 1:30. He’ll be joined by state Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Sandy Karsten, Missouri State Highway Patrol Colonel Eric Olson and Missouri law enforcement officers.

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Missouri’s governor to call special legislative session about violent crime (AUDIO)

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Missouri’s governor confirms he plans to call a special session later this year, to address violent crime in the state. Governor Mike Parson (R) made his comments Monday at the Statehouse in Jefferson City, in response to a question from Missourinet.

Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe (right) applauds as Governor Mike Parson delivers his State of the State Address on January 15, 2020 in Jefferson City (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The governor says it’s a critical issue.

“I think I’ve talked to most of the mayors for weeks now, about the issue of crime,” Parson says.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is asking the governor to call a special session about crime, saying his city is at a “crisis point”. There have been at least 101 homicides in Kansas City this year, and the “Kansas City Star” reports 2020 is on pace to be the city’s deadliest year on record.

Across the state in St. Louis City, Missourinet contributor Jill Enders reports 24 people were shot over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, seven of them fatally. One of them was a four-year-old boy.

The governor says he had a good phone conversation this weekend with Kansas City’s mayor.

“We talked about some of the officer shootings they’ve had, more on the violent crime side,” says Parson. “I emphasized to him I thought through the legislative process last year we should have got some key elements done. He agreed that that should have been done.”

Mayor Lucas notes two Kansas City Police officers were shot last week. He also says criminals shot into an apartment building last week, killing a four-year-old sleeping inside.

Mayor Lucas wants to see funding increased for witness protection, and wants more tools for law enforcement to be able to interrupt conspiracies to commit murder.

It’s unclear when the special session will start.

One of the key proposals in Governor Parson’s January State of the State Address was about $1 million in funding for witness protection, in an effort to battle increasing violence in urban cities.

Despite bipartisan support in both chambers, the measure did not pass.

State Rep. Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport, is a strong supporter of witness protection, telling Missourinet at the January State of the State that witnesses fear retribution.

“I hear law enforcement say that very thing that there are people that they know that know who these individuals are that are committing these crimes but they’re scared to death to come forward because they don’t want to be the next victim,” Basye said that day.

Mayor Lucas, Kansas City Police Chief Richard Smith, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, St. Louis Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards, Springfield Mayor Ken McClure, Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams, Columbia Mayor Brian Treece and Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones were special guests at the January State of the State Address.

There were 194 homicides in St. Louis and 148 in Kansas City in 2019.

Click here to listen to Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s response to Brian Hauswirth’s question about a special session on violent crime, and about the governor’s phone conversation this weekend with Kansas City’s Mayor:

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Missouri protests continue over the death of Minnesota’s George Floyd

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Hundreds of protesters have lined streets in Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, and the St. Louis area this weekend chanting phrases like “Hands up, don’t shoot” and “No justice, no peace”. They have been calling attention to this week’s death of George Floyd, an African-American man in Minneapolis. A white police officer is accused of third-degree murder after pinning Floyd to the ground by pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck for about eight minutes.

Photo courtesy of KMBC-TV

The casualty is stirring up the pain felt when 18-year-old Michael Brown, Jr. was shot to death in 2014 by a Ferguson police officer. Brown, an unarmed African-American man, was killed by Darren Wilson, who is white.

Brown’s death led to protests for days on the streets of Ferguson, looting, and vandalism – some of the same acts happening in Minneapolis, Atlanta, and elsewhere during protests. His death also sparked a movement driven to stop unarmed African-Americans from getting killed by law enforcement.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas tells KMBC-TV he wants this weekend’s protesters to work for change in the community between African-Americans and police.

“What we are not out here to do is act a fool, is to have generalized hooliganism, is to do something that will, I think, tarnish not just the life of George Floyd but also to tarnish, I think, what is a wonderful peaceful rally,” he says.

Lucas, who is African-American, spoke with passion about bringing people together – not driving them apart.

“We’re not here to just try to start something that is tangential to what the goal of us is – is to make sure that people can live equally, to make sure that people can walk around feeling safe, to make sure that every black mother in this city has the chance to say ‘I know my son’s going to come back and he’s not going to get shot by somebody on the street, he’s not going to get shot by the police, he’s not going to get messed by somebody in those different areas.’ That’s all I’m asking,” says Lucas. “And that’s all we want today.”

Taylar Johnson Coody spoke with heavy emotion.

“I’m tired of having to wake up and go to social media to see every, I’m sorry, of having to see another black person on the floor. I’m tired of people dying and I’m tired of having to come out here and protest for the people I love and care about,” she tells KMBC.

In Kansas City, some protesters have been arrested and police have used pepper spray on some individuals. On Twitter, the Kansas City Police Department confirmed officers are using tear gas to keep people off of streets.

In the St. Louis region today, protesters lined the streets in Clayton, University City, and in Ferguson. Some demonstrators blocked traffic on Interstate 70.

State Representative Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, spoke during today’s rally.

“This is our moment. Let’s make it right. This is our moment to show the world that we ain’t f***ing around no more,” he says. “Just because we’re mad don’t make us violent. Just because we’re pissed don’t make us terrorists.”

Before an Urban League donation drive today, Missouri Congressman Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, said there should be justice for George Floyd.

“If George Floyd would have been white, would he have died on the street like an animal begging for mercy while he struggled to breathe,” asks Clay. “The three officers who stood by and did absolutely nothing to save his life must be charged as accessories to murder.”

After Brown’s death, Clay helped to create a consent decree between the City of Ferguson and the U.S. Department of Justice to help change policing practices.

Here are scenes from earlier today in southwest Missouri’s Springfield:

In response to the protests, Gov. Mike Parson has declared a state of emergency. He has signed an executive order giving the Missouri Adjutant General or his designee the power to activate National Guard soldiers if necessary. In a press release, Parson says the Missouri National Guard and the Missouri Highway Patrol stand ready to support local authorities.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of George Floyd. We are also saddened by the acts of violence that have transpired across our nation and state in response to this event. At this time, we are taking a proactive approach to protect Missouri and its people,” the governor says. “Citizens have the right to peacefully assemble and protest, and the State of Missouri is committed to protecting the lawful exercise of these rights.”

Parson says despite the many peaceful assemblies, other events have created conditions of distress and hazards to the safety, welfare, and property of residents and visitors that are beyond the capacities of local authorities.

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Kansas City restaurants, gyms can reopen Friday – with some rules

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Beginning Friday, Kansas City restaurants can reopen to in-person dining but must follow some restrictions. At a press conference today, Mayor Quinton Lucas says employees will be required to wear masks and dining room tables must be 10 feet apart. Disposable menus are encouraged and frequently touched areas must also be cleaned often. All dining surfaces, including tables, non-disposable menus, chairs and highchairs must be cleaned and sanitized between customers.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas

Bar seating, buffets and self-service food operations are still banned.

“We will continue to balance the public health and economic needs of our community as we continue our road to recovery. The guidelines we’ve announced today seek to protect restaurant patrons and employees as our region continues to grapple with the effects of COVID-19.”

Lucas says non-essential Kansas City businesses can reopen on Friday under the 10/10/10 Rule, unless otherwise specified and subject to guidelines issued by the Director of Public Health, Sites must limit the number of customers to no more than 10% building occupancy or 10 people – whichever is greater. They must record the contact information of customers who are on site for more than 10 minutes.

Playgrounds, dog parks and gyms will also be allowed to reopen Friday. Gyms and fitness centers may be subject to additional rules to be issued by the director of public health.

Youth sports can resume Friday but must follow the mayor’s 10/10/10 Rule.

Lucas says gathering limits of 10 people or 10% inside and 50 people outside will continue.

“We want to avoid crowds. We want to avoid crowded activities. We want to make sure we are being smart with reopening. As we all know, it is hard to close Pandora’s box,” says Lucas. “What does this does not mean is that because the stay-at-home, as we knew it, will have expired, that everybody should just go out and have the biggest party and have the greatest time ever and just hang out with 200 of their best friends.”

The guidelines are in effect through at least May 31.

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Missouri’s largest city prepares for soft reopening – with strong restrictions for “nonessential” businesses

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Kansas City is having a soft reopening next Wednesday – with strong restrictions for some “nonessential” businesses including retail stores and salons. They must limit the number of customers to no more than 10% building occupancy or 10 people – whichever is greater. At a press conference, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says the businesses must record the contact information of customers who are on site for more than 10 minutes.

“Our goal isn’t actually to see what everybody is doing or to be Big Brother,” says Lucas. “More of our goal and our emphasis on that is to make sure that if there is an outbreak – at a beauty shop, at a barber shop at a church – that our trackers can actually track down everyone, that we can know where an outbreak is, we can address it quickly.”

Religious gatherings, including weddings and funerals, are limited to 10 people for inside events and 50 people outside. People are still supposed to stay at least 6 feet apart and attendees’ contact information must be tracked.

Restaurants, bars, gyms, government buildings and other businesses that draw large crowds must wait to until at least May 15 to reopen. Food service workers and bartenders will be required to wear masks and gloves.

Lucas says Kansas City has added worker protections preventing non-essential businesses reopening next week from firing employees who do not feel safe to return.

“We still encourage everyone to stay at home as much as possible,” he says. “We still encourage everyone who can telework to do so – at least through the period of May 15.”

State data shows that since Missouri’s peak hospital case count on April 7, the Kansas City area has had a 41% decline in the number of people who have been treated at a hospital for the coronavirus.

“All of the important steps that we have taken over the last six weeks have led to fewer infections, have led to fewer hospitalizations and have saved lives,” says Lucas.

To view the updated order, click here.

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Parson extends Missouri stay-at-home order through May 3 with reopening planned in phases

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Missouri’s stay-at-home order will continue through May 3. Gov. Mike Parson says the date has been extended to get Missourians ready to go back to work on May 4. During today’s COVID-19 briefing, Parson says the extension would give the state more time to do additional testing and recovery from the coronavirus.

Gov. Mike Parson (Photo courtesy of Governor’s Flickr page)

“We think by that time we’re going to have a lot more data to be able to go out there and justify what we’re doing and to make sure we’re protecting people every day,” says Parson. “The whole idea is to make sure we’ve got enough time to get people ready to go back into the workforce and allow people that opportunity.”

Parson’s original order was scheduled to continue through April 24.

He says his plan to reopen the state will happen in phases.

“Missouri is incredibly diverse and our reopening efforts will be careful. They will be deliberate and done in phases,” says Parson. “The timing may not look the same in every community. Our hardest hit areas like St. Louis and Kansas City may take longer to fully recover.”

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says his stay-at-home order is scheduled to continue until May 15. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson have also extended their orders and say they will revisit their restrictions around mid-May.

Today, Missouri reports at least 152 people have died from COVID-19 and 5,111 others have tested positive for the respiratory disease.

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