Amid signs that COVID-19 is loosening its grip on Missouri, the state Senate this week will hold hearings on coronavirus liability protections while the state House is home as leaders attempt to control a Capitol Building outbreak.
     The Department of Health and Senior Services on Tuesday reported 1,357 new COVID-19 infections and it marked the third consecutive day of reporting fewer than 1,500 cases since the first week of October. And the 7-day positive rate on tests, 12.7 percent, is down 4.7 percentage points over the past week.
     Republican leadership in the House didn’t detail how many lawmakers are sick or in quarantine from exposure when they canceled this week’s session. There were 11 members absent last week during a roll call vote that defeated a proposed rule change to require masks in the House chamber.
     The leadership has not stated whether regular sessions will resume next week.
     On the Senate side of the building, the Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee will hold hearings Tuesday on two bills shielding employers and business owners from lawsuits alleging they allowed exposure to COVID-19. That will be followed Wednesday with hearings in the Senate Health and Pensions Committee on bills limiting the scope and duration of local health orders.
     One bill, sponsored by Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, scheduled for a hearing Wednesday would exempt religious worship services from health restrictions and barring lawsuits from people who contract COVID-19 during services.
     Senate hearings will have audio streaming but no online video.
     The indicators that the pandemic is easing in Missouri as it rages elsewhere have been visible in several indicators in recent weeks. The lower daily counts are driving down the 7-day average of reported cases, which fell below 2,000 per day for the first time since late October.
     There are also fewer local health jurisdictions reporting new cases. Of 117 local jurisdictions listed on state reports, there were new cases in 89 on Tuesday, the second day with new cases in fewer than 100 health departments since early October.
     Missouri’s rate of new cases has been below the national average for eight consecutive weeks. The result is that the overall per capita infection rate in the state, which rose above the national average on Oct. 10, fell below the national average on Saturday.
     As of Monday, Missouri had an overall infection rate of 7,150 cases per 100,000 residents. The national infection rate was 7,244 per 100,000 people.
     The vaccines being administered are already having a positive effect for the health care workers who were first in line, Springfield’s CoxHealth CEO Steve Edwards wrote in a Monday tweet.
     He reported that 6,658 of the company’s 12,500 health care workers had received a first dose and those employees would start receiving their booster shots on Tuesday. 
     “Total daily employee infections are already down 50%!” Cox wrote.
     According to data from the CDC, Missouri has administered about one-third of the 528,000 doses received so far, with about 153,000 people receiving a first dose.
     Hospitalizations, which health experts consider a lagging indicator, are also showing some improvement. The total number of inpatients stood at 2,392 on Saturday, the first time the tally has been below 2,400 since Nov. 10.
 
     Rudi Keller covers the state budget, energy and the legislature. He’s spent 22 of his 30 years in journalism covering Missouri government and politics, most recently as the news editor of the Columbia Daily Tribune. Keller has won awards for spot news and investigative reporting.
www.missouriindependent.com

     Voters will be asked to reconsider how state legislative districts are determined through Amendment 3 on the November ballot, after voting to approve Amendment 1 in 2018. Voters approved Amendment 1 with 62% of the vote.
     Amendment 3 would return the state to the use of bipartisan commissions appointed by the governor for legislative redistricting and eliminate the nonpartisan state demographer, created by the approval of Amendment 1 in 2018. 
     The bipartisan commissions would be renamed the House Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission and the Senate Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission and consist of 20 members each. The amendment would also change the criteria used to draw district maps. 
     Included in the amendment are slight changes to the threshold of lobbyist gifts and campaign contribution limits for state senate campaigns. It would  change the threshold of lobbyists' gifts from $5 to $0 and lower the campaign contribution limit for state senate campaigns from $2,500 to $2,400.
    Opponents of Amendment 3 contend it is an effort to undo the will of the people, using the issues of reducing lobbyist gifts and campaign contribution limits to detract from an effort to allow lobbyists and politicians to rig district maps.
     A bipartisan group of leaders have come out in opposition to Amendment 3, including former Republican Senator Jack Danforth, former Democratic Senator Jean Carnahan, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, as well as AARP Missouri, AFL-CIO Missouri, NAACP Missouri Conference, and Missouri NEA.
     State Senator Mike Cierpiot (R – 30th District) and State Representative Jeff Coleman (R – 32nd District) both support Amendment 3.
     “There are detractors who say that we are just trying to change to a method that would allow us to maintain our super majority. That is not the whole process here. We are trying to keep things the same so that we can continue to try to represent everyone instead of having districts carved up that are not representative of those communities,” Coleman said.
     “Everything they (Amendment 3 opponents) say we are doing now is what they were trying to do with Amendment 1. They reduced lobbyist gifts down to $5. Why didn’t they reduce it down to zero? We are going back and trying to fix these things that should have been fixed the first time around.”
     “Our caucus hired a demographer to draw district lines based on the priorities of the new law. The demographer said there’s no way to draw lines that way and create a district in the way in which the law states, which says the most important thing is to create a district that is competitive and as close to a 50/50 split as possible,” Coleman said.
    Cierpiot also points to the weaknesses he sees in Amendment 1 as his reasoning for supporting Amendment 3.
     “I support Amendment 3 to correct the weaknesses that passed in 2018.  The old, original redistricting plans only moved forward if a bipartisan majority of a redistricting committee (14 of 20, 70% of 10 Democrats & 10 Republicans) voted for it, stopping partisan tampering. The new way turns that on its head and now it takes 14 of 20 to stop it.  That means if the Democrats are happy and the Republicans are being hurt it goes into effect, or vice versa.  If anyone questions the intent of those pushing this plan in 2018, ask yourself why they chose the auditor’s office to control it when other election responsibilities rest with the Secretary of State. I’m confident it was because they were quite certain the Auditor would be a Democrat,” Cierpiot said.
     “There are many other parts of the 2018 amendment that are problematic. I haven’t found anyone that can say how it’s going to work with certainty. Compact and contiguous are now low on the list of descriptors for new districts where they were primary. In my view, communities of interest are what politics are all about. They must now be divided to align with the 2018 amendment.”
     “And to satisfy the description of Non Partisan Demographer you have to be out of partisan politics for 4 years, meaning former Governor Nixon or former Senator Ashcroft qualify,” Cierpiot said.
     Clean Missouri, the committee that sponsored Amendment 1 in 2018, is leading the campaign in opposition of the amendment. The committee maintains Amendment 3 is a last ditch effort to set up a process that will affect district maps through 2030. Opponents maintain the amendment is an effort to create unfair, noncompetitive districts to limit voters’ ability to hold leaders accountable, not count children and non-citizens, and create unprecedented restrictions on citizens’ abilities to challenge unfair maps in court.
     The full resolution (Senate Joint Resolution 38) outlining details of the proposed amendment can be found at www.grainvalleynews.com.
 

     State Sen. Mike Cierpiot, R–Lee’s Summit, is urging his constituents to remain calm during the recent state of emergency called by the governor to help combat the spread of the coronavirus in Missouri.
     On March 13, the governor declared a state of emergency through an executive order in response to the spread of the coronavirus. This action will allow the state more flexibility in utilizing resources and deploying them where they are most appropriate. The governor, following recommendations from the Centers of Disease Control, also urged the cancellation or suspension of public gatherings of 50 individuals or more, except for educational institutions, daycare facilities and business operations.
     While in a state of emergency, Sen. Cierpiot stressed calmness, not panic, in dealing with the ongoing situation.
     “We have dedicated medical professionals and officials from the federal, state and local levels working to keep the public healthy and safe,”  Sen. Cierpiot said. “Rather than panic, I strongly urge my constituents to educate themselves about the coronavirus and how they can help mitigate its spread. We are all in this together, and together, we will get through this.”
     The first case of the coronavirus in Missouri was identified on March 7, and since then, several more cases have been confirmed. Coronaviruses are commonly spread from an infected person to others through the air by coughing and sneezing; close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands; or by touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands.
     Symptoms of the coronavirus may appear 2-14 days after exposure and include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Reported illnesses stemming from COVID-19 have ranged from a mild illness to severe pneumonia that requires hospitalization. If you develop symptoms and have been in close contact with a person known to have the coronavirus or if you have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of the coronavirus, call your health care professional. If you have been notified by public health authorities that you might have been exposed, follow instructions provided by your local health department.
     The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is encouraging people to take the following steps to help prevent the spread of the virus:
 
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
Avoid close contact with others, especially those who are sick;
Stay home if you are sick;
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands; and
Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.
 
     Learn more about the coronavirus and what you can do to keep your family safe by visiting DHSS’ website, at health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/novel-coronavirus/. DHSS has also established a 24-hour hotline to help answer your questions about the coronavirus. The hotline can be reached at 877-435-8411.
 

     Missouri Senator Mike Cierpiot has introduced Senate Bill 581 (SB 581) which would establish the “Show-Me a Brighter Future Scholarship Act”. The bill was placed on the Informal Calendar on February 18th. The bill aims to establish a scholarship fund to assist income-eligible families who attend school in unaccredited or provisionally accredited districts to attend private schools.
     Missouri taxpayers would be able to contribute to the scholarship fund in exchange for a tax credit in the year in which they contributed.
     “Since I arrived in Jefferson City in 2011, my efforts in education have focused on helping families with children in poorly performing buildings get into successful buildings. I believe everyone agrees that the best way to solve the problems in our cities is giving the kids growing up there a good education. It's not a quick fix but, is the best fix. SB 581 does exactly that,” Cierpiot said.
     The program is similar to empowerment scholarship accounts established in other states, including the Kansas Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program, which was enacted in 2014.
      Critics of these programs counter that funds should be used to increase funding to struggling school districts rather than incentivize families to leave.
     “Some say we should simply increase funding to these schools.  History shows us that does not improve them.  Kansas City and St. Louis spend enormous sums and failing buildings remain,” Cierpiot said.
     “SB 581 caps the tax credit plan at $25 million to start.  That means $25 million won't come to General Revenue and with 34% of all General Revenue going to K-12 education it will cost K-12 $8.5 million while removing up to 4,000 kids from it, saving K-12 the full $25 million.”
     “I support education reform.  Especially when it can help a parent do what's best for their kids.  SB 581 will have little impact on the school districts in my Senate district but, it might have a giant impact on the lives of 4,000 kids.”

 

     With the year coming to a close, the Missouri General Assembly is gearing up for the 2020 legislative session. There is much work to be done before the start of session, which is set to begin on Jan. 8, 2020. I’ve already started working on my priorities for the upcoming legislative session, and pre-filed several of them. Easing the tax burden, specifically property taxes, on hardworking Missourians and improving government accountability are my main goals for the 2020 legislative session.
      One of the biggest problems facing our community is the recent spike in property tax. I’ve heard from many of you that your property tax assessments and resulting tax bills were inaccurate and far too high. Some have seen their tax bills double, while others are expected to pay hundreds of dollars more than last year. Naturally, these sudden increases have left some Missourians scrambling to pay their bills with the holidays right around the corner. I believe taxpayers should not experience sticker shock when they receive their property tax bills. 
     That is why I’m proposing legislation to limit how much property taxes can increase each year. By capping tax rate increases, I believe we can allow for property taxes to gradually adjust with changes to inflation, market value and other factors, without surprising Missourians with an unexpected and costly tax bill.
     Another legislative proposal I will be working on is a proposed amendment to Missouri’s Constitution to allow voters to elect the Jackson County Assessor. Jackson County is one of only two governments in our state that appoints an assessor, rather than elects one (the other is St. Louis City). I trust the people of Jackson County to select the person best able to serve them in public office, and the assessor’s office should be no different. While empowering voters, I believe this change will have the added benefit of increasing the office’s accountability and responsiveness to the people of Jackson County. If this proposal is approved by the Missouri General Assembly, it will have to be approved by Missouri voters statewide before going into effect. 
     In addition, I am proposing another constitutional amendment that relates to voter turnout and taxes. I am proposing that the state require local taxing jurisdictions to receive at least a 22 percent voter turnout rate in order to enact a tax increase. Too often, taxing jurisdictions propose tax increases, hold a quiet election for the measure and get it approved by a small segment of voters. Meanwhile, the vast majority of voters are now on the hook for the bill. By implementing reasonable, attainable turnout thresholds for enacting tax increases, I believe we can ensure adequate representation regarding taxation. This amendment will also need to be approved by a statewide vote in order to go into effect.
     I am also proposing a constitutional amendment to help end double taxation. Across the state, there are taxing jurisdictions that overlap, but generate revenue for similar services. There have been, and currently are, Missourians who are caught in the middle with double the taxes for the same services. My legislation would allow taxpayers to decide which district they pay into. This legislation empowers citizens by giving them an active role in deciding how their hard-earned money is spent, as well as helping reduce their overall tax burden. 
     Lastly, I’ve pre-filed a bill to help Missourians cover certain medical costs. The Long-Term Dignity Act would allow Missourians to create long-term savings accounts to cover costs associated with Alzheimer’s and other similar diseases. By saving money early on, and with the power of compounding interest, Missourians with a family history of Alzheimer’s and similar diseases can be prepared for whatever life may throw at them.  
     As you can see, I’m already hard at work preparing my priorities for the 2020 legislative session. I’m eager for the start of session and working with my colleagues to pass commonsense and fiscally-responsible legislation.
     Please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about committees or sponsored legislation for the 2019 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot.
 

     The final days of summer are upon us, and it seemed like just yesterday school was letting out and the warmer weather was here to stay. But in the blink of an eye, students are already heading back to class and much of the scorching temperatures are behind us for another year.
     As students gear back up to continue their studies, members of the Missouri General Assembly will be returning to Jefferson City for the annual veto session and an extraordinary session to run concurrently.
     Veto session is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 11. This session allows the General Assembly to reconsider any bills vetoed by the governor from the previous session.
     This summer, the governor vetoed six bills out of the nearly 100 pieces of legislation passed by the General Assembly during the 2019 legislative session. These include:
     Senate Bill 147 which contained a partial repeal of the state’s helmet law for motorcyclists.
     Senate Bill 202 dealing with mining royalties on federal land, which the governor vetoed citing a conflict with federal law.
     Senate Bill 282 and House Bill 447 dealt with the disposition of human remains and coroners respectively. Both were vetoed for containing provisions allowing for outdoor cremations, also known as “Viking funerals.”
     Senate Bill 414 which created a taskforce seeking a waiver to change the Affordable Care Act. Without an emergency clause allowing the taskforce to immediately go to work, the governor did not believe it would have enough time to conduct its work.  
     He has since created the taskforce through an executive order.
House Bill 399 was vetoed due to additional requirements and restrictions to the Department of Health and Senior Services director position. Much of the bill’s other provisions were passed in other bills and signed into law.
      The General Assembly can take up any of these bills and attempt to overturn the governor’s veto. If both chambers agree, the legislation will become law, otherwise it will remained vetoed. I do not anticipate the General Assembly overriding the governor’s actions on any of these bills.
     Additionally, the governor announced on Aug. 21 that he was calling the General Assembly back for an extraordinary session to address a recent Missouri Supreme Court decision regarding vehicle tax credits.
     In June, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled only one vehicle could be sold and used as a credit to offset the sales tax for a new vehicle. Previously, it was thought the existing state statute allowed multiple vehicles to be used to offset the sales tax for a new vehicle. 
     Two differing rulings by the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission (AHC) only added confusion to this matter and spurred the Supreme Court’s ruling. The governor called on the General Assembly to clarify this issue and help save Missourians some of their hard earned money. This will also allow the Missouri Senate to consider appointments to Missouri’s various boards and commissions.
     The extraordinary session is slated to begin on Sept. 9 and run concurrently with the General Assembly’s annual veto session. You can see, there are several important issues for the General Assembly to consider in the coming weeks, and I look forward to getting back to work.
      Lastly, I wanted to make you aware that the Missouri Humanities (MH) has announced its second initiative to expand its African American Heritage partnerships and programmatic reach. MH is inviting organizations across the state to apply for funding assistance for African American Heritage programs during the 2020 calendar year that increases our understanding of the African American experience through public programming in the humanities.
     For funding guidelines and an application, please visit https://www.mohumanities.org/african-american-heritage/. The application deadline is Oct. 15, 2019, with award notification expected by Dec. 14, 2019.
     Please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about committees or sponsored legislation for the 2019 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot.