Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City Archives

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 now has 34 COVID-19 deaths; Governor Parson’s “Stay Home Missouri” order takes effect Monday

April 5, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

State health officials announced Sunday that Missouri now has 2,367 confirmed COVID-19 cases, along with 34 deaths.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced the updated numbers Sunday afternoon. The numbers have increased from Saturday’s number of 2,291 cases and 24 deaths.

Governor Mike Parson speaks at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on April 4, 2020 (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flicker page)

Governor Mike Parson (R) notes about 27,173 people have been tested, and that the state’s total population is about six million.

During Friday’s announcement, the governor said about 8.5 percent of those tested have been positive and that of those 8.5 percent, about 22 percent have required hospitalization. Governor Parson said Friday that means the remaining 78 percent are recovering at home or have already recovered.

The governor announced Friday evening that he has issued a statewide “Stay Home Missouri” order, which will take effect at 12:01 am Monday and go until April 24.

The governor emphasizes that his order states that Missourians shall avoid leaving their homes unless necessary. He also notes the order still allows you to access essential services such as grocery stores, gas stations and banks. You can also go to work in certain jobs and can recreate outdoors, as long as you maintain appropriate social distancing.

“First and foremost, I want everyone to know that I love this state and the people of this state,” Parson says. “The people of this great state clearly define who were are in Missouri, and as Governor, I have no greater responsibility than to protect the health, well-being, and safety of all Missourians.”

The governor says his order will be observed throughout the state and will be enforced by all local and state health authorities. Governor Parson says all Missourians must make sacrifices, saying “this is about our families, friends, neighbors and the entire state of Missouri.”

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, issued a statement on Saturday, saying the governor’s order “does far less than advertised.”

“The order is not at all what was advertised and what health care professionals and Missouri residents had been demanding for weeks. It is so riddled with exemptions that it differs little from the weak and ineffective social distancing directive the administration previously issued, and it formally punts responsibility for imposing stricter measures to local officials,” Quade’s statement reads, in part.

Leader Quade is warning that COVID-19 will continue to spread in Missouri “until the Parson administration takes the strong action the situation requires.”

Meantime, Missouri lawmakers will return to Jefferson City later this week to vote on a key supplemental budget, which includes federal money to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Senate returns on Tuesday morning, and the Missouri House will gavel-in Wednesday at 1 p.m. Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, 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.

Governor Parson’s “Stay Home Missouri” order closes all state office buildings to the public, but the order does not apply to the Missouri Capitol “during meetings or proceedings of the General Assembly.”

The Capitol has been closed to the public, since March 24.

Legislators to return to Missouri Capitol to vote on supplemental for COVID-19 funding (AUDIO)

April 2, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri lawmakers will return to Jefferson City next week to vote on a key supplemental budget, which includes millions of dollars in federal funds to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Missouri Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, (left) talks to House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, in the House chamber on May 9, 2019 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, says senators will come back on Tuesday.

“We will get it done. I don’t envision it becoming a hyper-partisan thing by any means,” Rowden says.

Rowden and House Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, have been working with MU Health Care to make sure it’s safe for 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 the coronavirus. The Capitol closed after veteran State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, tested positive for COVID-19. Runions has since been released from the hospital, and continues to recover.

Leader Rowden tells Missourinet that those entering the Capitol next week will have their temperature taken. They’ll also receive health questions.

“Taking temperature, asking questions making sure they’ve not been in any of the hot spots, that they don’t have any symptoms, etc.,” says Rowden.

He says they’re taking steps to mitigate risks for senators, staff and the public. The roll call will be much slower next week.

“And people for the most part will probably be in their offices,” Rowden says. “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 Senate is expected to return Tuesday morning. The 34-member chamber now has 31 senators, with three vacancies.

The 163-member Missouri House will gavel-in Wednesday afternoon at 1. House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, and Floor Leader Vescovo say it’s imperative that “the Legislature move without delay to keep Missouri’s government operating during this crisis and provide the needed resources to those on the front lines of the pandemic.”

The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says there are now 1,834 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Missouri, along with 19 deaths.

Governor Mike Parson announced this week that he’s withholding $180 million in state spending, to ensure a balanced state budget during the pandemic. The governor is warning that the state could see a $500 million budget shortfall between now and the end of June.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, which was recorded on April 2, 2020:

Parson: Missouri Capitol is receiving a deep-cleaning, due to COVID-19

March 26, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor says the State Capitol in Jefferson City is being cleaned extensively daily, to protect employees and to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The Capitol has been closed to the general public since Tuesday.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson delivers the State of the State Address on January 15, 2020 in Jefferson City (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Governor Mike Parson says cleaning crews are working hard.

“We still have a full staff here in the governor’s office, we still have people (employees) in the Capitol every day,” Parson says. “We’re doing a deep-cleaning every day it takes to make sure this building is safe as we possibly can make it.”

The governor was responding to a question from Missourinet. He says special precautions are being taken each day.

About 300 leased office buildings and another 36 state-owned office buildings are also closed to the general public at this time, and at least 15,000 state employees are working remotely.

The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says there are now 502 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Missouri, up from 356 on Wednesday. One of the cases involves veteran State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview.

A spokesman for Missouri House Democrats, Marc Powers, tells Missourinet that Representative Runions went home from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kansas City a few days ago.

“Still recovering, but home,” Powers says.

While the governor says cleaning crews are preparing for lawmakers to return to the Capitol, it’s unclear when that will happen.

Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City closes to public due to COVID-19; 15,000 state employees working remotely

March 23, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor has announced that the State Capitol in Jefferson City and state office buildings across the state are closed to the general public effective Tuesday morning, to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Governor Mike Parson made the announcement during his daily media briefing on Monday afternoon in Jefferson City, where he was joined by Office of Administration (OA) Commissioner Sarah Steelman. She says only essential personnel will be allowed inside the Capitol and other state offices.

“And of course we have a lot of those people (essential employees) already in corrections (state prisons) and mental health institutions and veterans homes who cannot go home, or cannot work remotely,” Steelman says.

The Capitol will be closed to the public for at least two weeks.

Commissioner Steelman says there are 300 leased office buildings in Missouri, along with 36 state-owned office buildings, with a combined total of about 10,000 state employees.

She says all state departments have identified key personnel, and that about 15,000 state employees have started working remotely. Steelman also says IT personnel have established an additional call center, to take more calls from the public.

The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says Missouri now has 183 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview. He remains hospitalized in Kansas City’s St. Joseph Hospital.

The governor has also announced that he’s signed an executive order that suspends any prohibition on the sale of unprepared food by restaurants to the general public. Governor Parson says the COVID-19 outbreak has forced many Missouri restaurants to limit or stop their normal business operations.

“We hope this will not only assist restaurants financially during this time and avoid unnecessary waste, but also help meet the increased demand for food across the state,” says Parson.

The governor notes many Missourians are seeing bare grocery store shelves, and is emphasizing that this is a demand issue and not a supply one.

Parson says Missouri’s food supply remains strong, adding that the state’s farmers, ranchers and grocers are working hard to restock shelves quickly. He also says the U.S. Homeland Security Department has identified food and agriculture as essential critical infrastructure workers during the COVID-19 response.

State Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Sandy Karsten also spoke at Monday’s press conference, saying her top priority is obtaining personal protective equipment (PPE) for hospitals, EMS, law enforcement and fire services.

Director Karsten says her office is pursuing gown, masks, goggles, shields and gloves from all available sources, and has announced that the first shipment from the National Strategic Stockpile has been sent to 148 Missouri hospitals and EMS.

She also says 200 sets of protective goggles arrived Monday and that more equipment will be arriving and will be shipped to fire and police statewide.

You can watch the full briefing below, from Missouri Governor Parson and Cabinet members:

Missouri Governor Parson’s Monday COVID-19 briefing (VIDEO)

Missouri lawmaker battling coronavirus urges governor for assistance on hospital supplies

March 22, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A veteran Missouri lawmaker who has tested positive for the coronavirus is worried that hospitals could run out of vital supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE).

This is a photo of State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, taken at Kansas City’s St. Joseph Hospital on March 19, 2020. He’s tested positive for coronavirus, and requested that the photo be shared with Capitol reporters in Jefferson City

State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, is one of Missouri’s at least 90 confirmed COVID-19 cases. We’ll get an updated number of confirmed cases from the state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) tonight.

Runions has asked that a photo of him at Kansas City’s St. Joseph’s Hospital be shared with Capitol reporters. The photo was taken on March 19. While Runions remains hospitalized, he’s no longer on the ventilator and is breathing normally.

The 79-year-old Runions spoke to Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) on the phone today, from the hospital. Runions says he spoke with the governor about his experiences and observations as a COVID-19 patient.

“I also urged him to do all in his power to send the necessary supplies directly to our hospitals as quickly as possible. I believe the governor understands the challenges our hospitals are facing and will take the necessary actions,” Runions says, in a news release.

Runions also sent a letter to Governor Parson, after their phone conversation. In the letter, Representative Runions urges the governor to do everything in his power to prevent Missouri hospitals from becoming overwhelmed during the pandemic.

Runions says his doctors at St. Joseph Hospital asked him to seek the governor’s assistance on PPE, because they’re worried they will run out of vital supplies.

“Since I am in isolation, every time a doctor or nurse comes in to check on me, they must put on all manner of gear to protect themselves,” Runions writes. “However, stocks of that equipment are rapidly running low, and doctors are deeply concerned about whether those stocks will be replenished fast enough to keep us with demand. Our hospitals need these supplies.”

There are some supplies coming in, and more are expected.

State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, has tested positive for coronavirus. He is seen here speaking on the Missouri House floor on February 18, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

During Saturday’s press conference at the State Capitol in Jefferson City, Governor Parson and state Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Sandy Karsten announced that personal protective equipment orders have been delivered to 101 hospitals and to 22 EMS providers from the National Strategic Stockpile.

And during a Wednesday Capitol news briefing, Director Karsten announced that DPS and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) were working to get hundreds of thousands of pieces of PPE to local law enforcement officers and other first responders. She emphasizes the importance of equipment like masks and gowns.

“We expect the first orders of that to arrive March 24, and we’re already making plans to distribute those pieces to our partners,” Karsten said on Wednesday.

But Representative Runions worries about demand.

“I have witnessed first-hand how much of these supplies are being used up treating COVID-19, and I am just one patient. I’d say they are using 20 sets of supplies on me every day. The process of getting these supplies directly to hospitals must be greatly speeded up,” Runions writes.

Runions also says his doctors tell him are still aren’t enough testing kits, and is asking the governor to do anything he can to expedite the availability of the kits.

Governor Parson has said the state is working with the University of Missouri to expand COVID-19 testing, which should increase testing capabilities by thousands across the state.

The governor also notes the Mercy Hospital recently set up a drive-through testing site in Chestefield, and notes Quest Diagnostic and LabCorp are now testing. Governor Parson also notes that Lee’s Summit private lab Viracor will have the ability to do more than 1,000 tests each day.

As for Runions, he says he’s getting better but that it will be a long recovery. His focus now is on helping Missouri hospitals and medical staff.

Missouri House leaders in both parties have requested that all House employees stay out of the Missouri Capitol for at least the next ten days.

Parson describes coronavirus as “a public health emergency”; Missouri now has 73 confirmed cases

March 20, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

State health officials say the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Missouri increased from 46 to 73 on Friday. There are also three deaths: in Jackson, St. Louis and Boone counties.

The death in Jackson County was announced by Governor Mike Parson on Friday afternoon, and the St. Louis County death was announced by St. Louis County Executive Sam Page on Friday evening.

Governor Parson briefed Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on Friday afternoon, outside his Statehouse office. The governor says this is a public health emergency, and he predicts the number of confirmed cases will continue to rise as more testing is done.

“The good news to that is we are identifying the people that are testing positive and trying to get them in quarantine and out of the public, so we can help combat the coronavirus,” Parson says.

Parson tells reporters that he is ordering state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams to require social distancing.

“It will be targeted to gathering of more than ten people that will be prohibited,” says Parson. “This order will make statewide restrictions on gathering of people.”

The governor emphasizes this is not about shutting places down, and is designed to promote the health and safety of Missourians.

Parson says this order will not apply to religious services, hospitals, grocery stores, pharmacies and state government. He’ll announce the details of the order on Saturday afternoon.

Meantime, Missouri House leaders in both parties announced Friday evening that a House member has tested positive for the coronavirus. Missourinet has confirmed that the lawmaker is veteran State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, who is 79 years old.

House leaders in both parties are requesting that all House employees stay out of the Missouri Capitol, for at least the next ten days.

Haahr rules out Missouri House remote sessions (AUDIO)

March 16, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s House Speaker says “remote” floor sessions are not a possibility for the 163-member chamber.

Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, views the chamber on March 12, 2020 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, was asked about the issue by a Capitol reporter on Thursday, due to concerns about coronavirus.

“There would be no way to verify the ability of people to vote remotely, not just in viewing them but understanding if they’re voting under duress or anything like that,” Haahr says.

Mr. Haahr continues to urge schoolchildren and other guests who are not directly involved in legislative business to avoid the Statehouse in Jefferson City, due to coronavirus concerns. He says the more people who visit the Capitol, the more chances that House members and staff will be at risk for coronavirus.

“We (the House) will have to meet in-person to do voting. The question is how do we do that, protect the members of the Legislature and continue to have state government operate,” says Haahr.

The Speaker notes the 163 House members and thousands of guests travel to the Missouri Capitol from every corner of the state each week. House leaders have closed the House chamber’s floor to the public, for the time being.

The House held “technical” sessions on Sunday and again on Monday. That means one lawmaker literally gavels the chamber in and out. It allows committee hearings to take place on those days. The House Budget Committee met for almost 12 hours on Sunday, before wrapping up at about 1:30 on Monday morning.

Speaker Haahr’s plan is for the full House to return to Jefferson City on Wednesday, with an expected House vote on a proposed $30 billion state operating budget. The House is expected to vote for final budget approval on Thursday.

The House would then begin its regularly-scheduled spring break and would return on March 30. The Senate is not in session this week. Once the House leaves, the Capitol is expected to receive a thorough cleaning.

Click here to listen to the audio from Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr’s press conference on March 12, 2020 in Jefferson City. KMIZ Channel 17’s Joe McLean asks the Speaker about the issue of remote sessions: