Sen. Josh Hawley Archives

Missouri U.S. Senators vote to clear Trump

February 13, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

Senator Roy Blunt addresses the Missouri House in Jefferson City on April 17, 2019 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The U.S. Senate has wrapped up today the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump by voting 57-43 to acquit him. The trial required 67 guilty votes to convict Trump. Missouri U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley, both Republicans, voted to clear Trump.

An article of impeachment accused Trump of provoking a violent mob of supporters that struck the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Five people died in the attack.

Blunt released the following statement after today’s vote:

“I said before this trial started that I believe the constitutional purpose for presidential impeachment is to remove a president from office, not to punish a person after they have left office. None of the arguments presented changed my view that this was an unconstitutional proceeding. Impeachment is not a tool that should be used to settle political scores against a private citizen,” says Blunt.

His vote comes after his comments on the CBS news show “Face the Nation” last month:

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R) speaks to Missourinet during an interview on March 25, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Senator Hawley’s office)

“I think the president’s decisions and his actions that day and leading up to that day on this topic were clearly reckless. I said that very early in the evening on Wednesday, that this was a tragic day for the country and the president had some, had involvement in that,” he said. “My view would be what the president should do is now finish the last 10 days of his presidency. Now, my personal view is that the president touched the hot stove on Wednesday and is unlikely to touch it again.”

This week, Hawley said Democrats are trying to silence half of America.

“This kangaroo court is about trying to delegitimize half the American electorate while Americans are suffering,” said. “In the depths of a pandemic, Democrats are pursuing an unconstitutional, political vendetta.”

Hawley has been heavily criticized for leading an attempt to challenge President Joe Biden’s election victory, citing voter fraud allegations that several courts have struck down. Some people blamed him for fueling the Trump mob that took over the Capitol.

Seven Republicans voted today to convict Trump – Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Veterans Commission says homes need transformation: “We have to assume we’ll be hit like this again

December 16, 2020 By Ashley Byrd

The chairman of the Missouri Veterans Commission has met and held town halls with the staff of its seven homes and headquarters in the aftermath of a report critical of leadership’s lack of planning and policy. According to the commission website, Chairman Tim Noonan reviewed the root cause and corrective actions from the report and received candid and constructive feedback. Noonan also said they discussed plans on how to move forward as an organization to provide the best care for veterans.

MVC Chairman Tim Noonan addressed commissioners and investigators via video conference

The volunteer members of the Missouri Veterans Commission last week heard in person (virtually) the details of a 53-page investigation into the handling of a COVID-19 outbreak in its long-term care facilities. The report by national law firm Armstrong Teasdale was ordered by Governor Mike Parson in October after a September spike in virus-related deaths at some of its veterans homes. At least 145 veterans have died in the homes since September.

In the December 11 video conference, Armstrong Teasdale’s principal investigators presented their recommendations, as outlined in their report.

“The key to those recommendations is that MVC focus on planning,” summarized attorney Ida Shafaie. “And make sure the staff is trained to a standard and they understand what needs to be done. We see this as very important, not just as MVC approaches COVID and how they handle the rest of this pandemic, but it’s important because none of us knows what the next pandemic going to look like and we don’t know what COVID’s going to look like in the future, so it’s important that MVC use the time and knowledge they have now to develop these protocols so that the next time an infectious disease, unfortunately, rears its ugly head MVC and their staff are prepared on what they need to do.”

Noonan was the only commissioner to speak at the video conference. Executive Director Col. Paul Kirchhoff did not speak.

Noonan said the report “is tough but it’s fair.”

“We’ve already started implementing a number of these recommendations,” he said. “We’ve started our COVID reset.”

United States Senator Josh Hawley, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, has called for changes at the commission since the report’s release.

Noonan responded, “Yes, we need change but more importantly we need transformation. We need to realize we need to take care of our front line in a new and different way.”

Noonan says every long-term care facility is facing a shortage of CNA’s and the commission must be competitive in pay. “We’ve got to think and be innovative about how we run our homes and realize that the competition is all around us for talent and for serving our veterans,” he said.

The commission gets revenue from various unrelated programs around the state, including riverboat casinos and the new state medical marijuana program. Noonan said, “”We also have to ensure that the monies that are due to the Veterans Commission, old sources and new sources, are put to their highest and best use.”

I’m hopeful that this wasn’t a dress rehearsal but we have to view it as one, because we have to assume we’re going to be hit like this again.” Noonan concluded.