It’s hard to believe, but the 2022 legislative session is more than halfway over. Lawmakers have managed to make some progress on several important pieces of legislation, while other issues remain to be decided.
     For instance, one of my priority pieces of legislation has made it through the Senate committee process and was recently debated on the Senate floor. Senate Bill 657 establishes procedures for recall elections for school board members. Under my legislation, a recall election can be held if a recall petition is signed by at least 25% of the number of registered voters who voted in the most recent school board election. Recall proceedings would not be allowed against any member during the first 30 or last 180 days of their term or against any member who has had a recall election decided in their favor during the current term.
     Ultimately, this bill is about introducing some accountability into the school board system and ensuring the values of the community are always represented on these important boards. If we held municipal and school board elections during our regular elections in November when turnout is higher and better representative of the community, I believe there would be no need for a recall. Until that change is made, however, I believe allowing for a recall election is the next best thing. Senate Bill 657 has not yet been approved by the Missouri Senate, but I am committed to working on this issue further with my legislative colleagues and seeing it become law this year.
     Another one of my priorities was recently passed by the Senate and will soon start making its way through the Missouri House of Representatives. Senate Joint Resolution 46 is a proposed constitutional amendment, which, if approved by voters, would allow the Jackson County assessor to be elected rather than appointed. Currently, the Jackson County assessor is the only county assessor in the state that is an appointed, rather than elected, position. I hope this change will help promote accountability and consistency across the county. 
     The Senate has also taken steps to crack down on critical race theory (CRT) from being taught in our schools. The Senate’s Education committee, which I’m a member of, recently passed several measures including Senate Bill 638, Senate Bill 645, Senate Bill 694 and Senate Bill 734 that would effectively ban CRT. I was pleased to vote “yes” on all of them. I’m eager to get these bills to the governor’s desk and get these divisive materials out of our schools.
     Meanwhile, the General Assembly continues to be bogged down on the issue of congressional redistricting. Recently, the Senate passed a modified version of House Bill 2117.  After hearing from my constituents on the importance of a 7-1 map, I voted “no” because I believe a 7-1 map is possible, and we should strive to pass such a map. It may cause issues with communities of interest, but I’m hoping we work through that on the final map.
     I do have some concerns about this map surviving a court challenge. No one can predict exactly how the courts may rule, and that uncertainty and unpredictability bothers me – as it should many conservatives. If the map goes to court, it will go to the Western District Federal Court which is largely composed of Obama-era judges. Safe to say, these are not the people we want drawing our congressional districts.
     That said, there’s still work to be done on the map. Despite the Senate passing a version of the congressional redistricting bill, the House has rejected it and asked to go to conference to find a better solution. Unfortunately, that motion was rejected by the Senate, leaving the House in a take-it-or-leave-it situation. The House stood its ground, and requested another conference committee. It remains to be seen how this will ultimately play out. As I said before, I value a map that provides stability over the long-term and can withstand a court challenge. As we continue to work on this issue, that’s exactly what I’ll be pushing for.
 
Capitol Visitors
     Over the past couple weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with several student groups here in the State Capitol. On March 30, I met with Oak Grove’s AP Government and Student Council students, and the Blue Springs School District leadership team during their visit on March 31. It was great meeting these young people and area leaders and seeing them take an interest in their state government.
     I also had the honor of recognizing Dr. Marion Pierson during the Lt. Governor’s Women of Achievement Awards Ceremony on March 24. Dr. Pierson, a Kansas City native, founded the nonprofit MO Hives KC with a goal to place and support urban apiaries in blighted urban areas, to pollinate urban food gardens, and to provide teaching and economic opportunities for the community. The organization maintains four active hives, housing nearly a quarter of a million bees at the apiary, provides hyperlocal honey as well as offers a six-week summer program for high school and college students to learn the apiary process.
     I am honored to continue serving the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District. Please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about committees or sponsored legislation for the 2022 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot.

     On Jan. 19, lawmakers from both the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate gathered together to hear the governor deliver his State of the State address. This annual speech gives the governor the opportunity to discuss our state’s successes over the past year as well as lay out his agenda going forward.
     The governor began his speech expressing confidence in Missouri’s economy. By avoiding costly shutdowns and one-size-fits-all approaches, he said Missouri has remained open for business, all while protecting lives and livelihoods. The governor noted the $5.2 billion dollars in private investment being made by businesses all across our state, which is connecting Missourians with new jobs and new opportunities. The governor pointed to the fact that unemployment currently sits at 3.5%, which is below the national average and has returned to pre-pandemic levels. Given the economic growth we’ve seen, the governor announced that Missouri’s income tax rate would decrease to 5.3% – a new low for our state.
     With this economic success, our state is poised to be able to make some big investments of its own. This year, the governor outlined a number of spending proposals designed to strengthen our state. For instance, he voiced continued support for several workforce development programs. He proposed permanently establishing the Missouri Fast Track program, $31 million for colleges and universities through MoExcels and $20 million for the state's 57 area career centers. These programs are meant to help “skill up” workers and ensure they are ready to meet the demands of today’s workforce. Additionally, the governor called for $400 million to go toward broadband expansion projects statewide, the single largest broadband investment in state history. This proposal would connect 75,000 households, expand access to rural areas and underserved urban areas and update and expand wireless networks across the state.
    As the governor said, it’s clear that “Missouri is strong today and will be even stronger tomorrow.” As the 2022 legislative session gets further underway, I’m looking forward to doing my part in helping move our state forward. I am honored to continue serving the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District. Please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about committees or sponsored legislation for the 2020 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot.

​The 2022 Legislative Session Begins
 
On Jan. 5, Lawmakers returned to the State Capitol in Jefferson City for the start of the 2022 legislative session. The start of session always marks the beginning of a busy four and a half months in the Capitol, but this year seems especially busy as we prepare to take on a packed agenda. 
 
We once again have hundreds of bills to consider, covering a wide range of issues facing our state. As chairman of the Senate’s Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee, I continue to look for ways to improve our state’s energy sector and have filed several bills that I believe will do just that this year. I’ve also sponsored Senate Bill 659, which aims to help prepare our students for the future by expanding computer science coursework throughout high schools, middle schools and elementary schools.
 
Aside from bills I have filed, lawmakers will also be considering bills aiming to strengthen election integrity in this state, through possible photo-ID and paper ballot requirements. I also expect that we will discuss ways to build upon our success in protecting the sanctity of life in our state before session ends in Mid-May. And I’m sure the General Assembly will continue to push back against federal overreach and vaccine mandates coming out of Washington, D.C. In addition, the General Assembly will also need to pass a balanced state operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year before the end of session.
 
Somewhat unique to this session is that lawmakers will also be undertaking congressional redistricting. This is the process of redrawing Missouri’s eight congressional districts to reflect population shifts within our state following the completion of the U.S. Census. The goal of redistricting will be to ensure all eight of Missouri’s congressional districts represent roughly the same amount of people and that Missourians are represented fairly. In the early days of session, the Senate’s Select Committee on Redistricting, which I have the honor of serving on, will handle much of this important work before sending the proposed district map to the full Senate for consideration.
 
As you can see, we have a lot of work to complete over the next four and a half months, but I look forward to helping move our state forward. I am honored to continue serving the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District. Please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about committees or sponsored legislation for the 2020 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot.

​     In 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that roughly 12% of Missouri households faced food insecurity, meaning they did not have adequate food due to a lack of money or other resources at some point throughout the year. Hoping to help address this issue, the Missouri Department of Agriculture recently announced the availability of funding for projects designed to reduce food insecurity within Missouri’s urban areas.
     The Food Insecure Urban Agriculture Matching Grant is a competitive grant program aiming to provide up to $50,000 per approved project. Applicants must provide a minimum 25% match for their project through a combination of cash or in-kind contributions; however, the cash match must be greater than 50% of the total match to remain eligible.
     Funds may be used to increase food production and availability within an urban area; demonstrate growth of local economic communities; increase local economic impact; increase availability of food to local residents; or enhance already established areas within a community and provide assistance to the community. Projects should support farmers’ markets, apiary programs, and other economic development initiatives that work to reduce food insecurity in the state’s urban areas, including Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties. 
     Grant applications are due by Sept. 30, 2021, and projects must be completed and ready for verification by April 1, 2022. For more information regarding grant requirements and a list of eligible expenses, please visit agriculture.mo.gov/abd/financial/food-insecure.php.
     Individuals interested in applying for the grant can also learn more about the application process by attending an informational webinar hosted by the Department of Agriculture. The webinar will be held on September 15th at 5:00 p.m. To register and RSVP for the event, please contact Rachel Heimericks at Rachel.Heimericks@mda.mo.gov.
     I am honored to serve the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District. If there is anything I can do to serve you, please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation for the 2021 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot. In 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that roughly 12% of Missouri households faced food insecurity, meaning they did not have adequate food due to a lack of money or other resources at some point throughout the year. Hoping to help address this issue, the Missouri Department of Agriculture recently announced the availability of funding for projects designed to reduce food insecurity within Missouri’s urban areas.
     The Food Insecure Urban Agriculture Matching Grant is a competitive grant program aiming to provide up to $50,000 per approved project. Applicants must provide a minimum 25% match for their project through a combination of cash or in-kind contributions; however, the cash match must be greater than 50% of the total match to remain eligible. Funds may be used to increase food production and availability within an urban area; demonstrate growth of local economic communities; increase local economic impact; increase availability of food to local residents; or enhance already established areas within a community and provide assistance to the community.
     Projects should support farmers’ markets, apiary programs, and other economic development initiatives that work to reduce food insecurity in the state’s urban areas, including Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties. 
     Grant applications are due by Sept. 30, 2021, and projects must be completed and ready for verification by April 1, 2022. For more information regarding grant requirements and a list of eligible expenses, please visit agriculture.mo.gov/abd/financial/food-insecure.php.
     Individuals interested in applying for the grant can also learn more about the application process by attending an informational webinar hosted by the Department of Agriculture. The webinar will be held on September 15th at 5:00 p.m. To register and RSVP for the event, please contact Rachel Heimericks at Rachel.Heimericks@mda.mo.gov.
 
     I am honored to serve the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District. If there is anything I can do to serve you, please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation for the 2021 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot.
     In 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that roughly 12% of Missouri households faced food insecurity, meaning they did not have adequate food due to a lack of money or other resources at some point throughout the year. Hoping to help address this issue, the Missouri Department of Agriculture recently announced the availability of funding for projects designed to reduce food insecurity within Missouri’s urban areas.
     The Food Insecure Urban Agriculture Matching Grant is a competitive grant program aiming to provide up to $50,000 per approved project. Applicants must provide a minimum 25% match for their project through a combination of cash or in-kind contributions; however, the cash match must be greater than 50% of the total match to remain eligible.
     Funds may be used to increase food production and availability within an urban area; demonstrate growth of local economic communities; increase local economic impact; increase availability of food to local residents; or enhance already established areas within a community and provide assistance to the community. Projects should support farmers’ markets, apiary programs, and other economic development initiatives that work to reduce food insecurity in the state’s urban areas, including Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties. 
     Grant applications are due by Sept. 30, 2021, and projects must be completed and ready for verification by April 1, 2022. For more information regarding grant requirements and a list of eligible expenses, please visit agriculture.mo.gov/abd/financial/food-insecure.php.
     Individuals interested in applying for the grant can also learn more about the application process by attending an informational webinar hosted by the Department of Agriculture. The webinar will be held on September 15th at 5:00 p.m. To register and RSVP for the event, please contact Rachel Heimericks at Rachel.Heimericks@mda.mo.gov.
 
     I am honored to serve the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District. If there is anything I can do to serve you, please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation for the 2021 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot.
 

​     The summer is quickly coming to an end, and the school year is right around the corner. Soon, cold weather will be here, and for many families, so too will a busy school-related schedule. So why not get out and enjoy one last fun and educational event before the summer is over?
     Next week, Missourians all around the state will celebrate the state’s 200th anniversary of statehood with several special events scheduled at the State Capitol in Jefferson City. On Aug. 9, the Bicentennial Bridge will be dedicated at 2 p.m. The bridge is located just outside the Capitol, overlooking the Missouri River, and will connect pedestrians and bicyclists to Adrian’s Island when completed. Visitors can also explore the State Museum, located on the first floor of the State Capitol, which showcases both the natural and social history of the Show-Me State, as well as a Bicentennial Timeline. Tours of the Missouri Supreme Court building, which is across the street from the Capitol, can also be scheduled by calling 573-751-7331.
    On Aug. 10, Missouri Statehood Day formally begins with a ceremony at 9 a.m. on the front steps of the State Capitol. Later in the day, a bicentennial tree will be dedicated, and the famed Central Dairy will be providing free ice cream to the first 200 customers in line at the ice cream parlor’s parking lot trailer. The Missouri State Museum will also be open to visitors. Other exhibits on the first floor that day will feature a Bicentennial Mural painted by Missourians, a time capsule, student artwork and more.
     I look forward to celebrating our state’s bicentennial next week and meeting Missourians from across the state, especially from the 8th Senatorial District. All in all, I know it will be a fun and educational day for the whole family. If you’re interested in learning more about Missouri’s Bicentennial and upcoming celebrations, please visit missouri2021.org. 
 
Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday
     Just as a reminder, Missouri’s annual back-to-school sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 6, and runs through midnight on Sunday, Aug. 8. During this time, certain back-to-school purchases such as school supplies, computers, clothing and other qualifying items as defined by statute are exempt from state sales tax. In addition to the state sales tax, local sales tax will also be waived in the cities, counties and special tax districts that choose to participate. Even if a local jurisdiction is not participating in the sales tax holiday, the state’s portion of the tax rate (4.225%) will remain exempt for qualifying purchases. For a list of cities, counties and districts that are not participating in the sales tax holiday, 2021 tax rate tables, frequently asked questions and more, please visit dor.mo.gov/taxation/business/tax-types/sales-use/holidays/back-to-school/.
     I am honored to serve the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District. If there is anything I can do to serve you, please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation for the 2021 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot.
 

​     Earlier this month, the governor signed legislation into law raising the state’s gas tax for the first time in over two decades. Senate Bill 262 increases the gas tax by 2.5 cents per gallon beginning in October 2021, and continues to increase it annually for five years, until reaching a total increase of 12.5 cents per gallon. This additional revenue will be used to fix and maintain roads and bridges throughout Missouri.
     Now, I voted against this bill, not because it increased the gas tax, but because a similar proposal was voted down by Missourians at the ballot box in 2018. However, when you consider Missouri’s gas tax has not been increased since 1996 and realize the rising price of asphalt, steel, concrete and labor today, I think it is understandable to want to update the state’s gas tax.
     While I understand it’s important to maintain our roads and bridges, I also know the past year has been hard for many Missourians even without an increase in the gas tax. That is why I’m pleased to report that drivers have the opportunity to receive a refund for the additional taxes paid at the pump through a rebate provision contained in SB 262. Individuals interested in receiving a refund need to keep their gas receipts and file for a rebate with the Department of Revenue. The department is working to create the forms needed to apply for the rebate, so until they become available, I simply encourage my constituents to keep their receipts. Please note, vehicles weighing over 26,000 pounds are ineligible for the refund.
     All told, I’m hopeful SB 262 will help provide the resources needed to restore and improve our state’s aging infrastructure system. While no one likes tax increases, this legislation does provide interested Missourians with an avenue to recover the additional taxes paid at the pump.
      I am honored to serve the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District. If there is anything I can do to serve you, please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation for the 2021 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot.
 

​     Let me apologize up front for the length of this post. This past week was important and a bit complicated, and if you’ll read it to the end, you will have a much better understanding of our efforts. It is a bit in the weeds, but facts matter.
     My wife and I were adults the day Roe v. Wade was decided. Connie picketed Planned Parenthood and sidewalk counseled women at 47th & Troost (the Planned Parenthood facility in Kansas City) with my support for years. We were involved with the Light House founding in Kansas City, as well as Mothers Refuge in Independence. I have always done everything in my power to advance the cause of life, both as a citizen and as an elected official.
     Now, the FRA, which stands for federal reimbursement allowance, is a “tax” health care providers willingly pay into an account that then is matched by the federal government at a higher rate. In total, these funds amount to more than $4 billion, which is about 40% of our Medicaid funding. Without it, our Medicaid program could not be sustained.
     Our Medicaid system primarily covers:
     Pregnant women and neonatal care up to 185% of federal poverty level.
     Seniors in nursing homes who have exhausted their personal savings and now rely on Medicaid funding.
     Individuals with developmental disabilities as in home care or day hab, which allows families to get kids and adults with disabilities the therapies and services they need to have a shot at a better life.
     Children Health Insurance Program (CHIPs), which provides premiums based on family income.
     Every part of Medicaid must comply with federal rules from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), and this is where the issue comes in. Myself and many members of my caucus support placing in the FRA a prohibition stating that “no funds shall be expended to any abortion facility as defined in section 188.015 or any affiliate or associate thereof.”
     As I said, I as well as other members of my caucus supported that change. However, I believe the language puts us out of compliance with CMS because there is a rule that states any willing provider that qualifies under federal law must be allowed to participate. Being out of compliance doesn’t mean we won’t prevail with the new rule, but it will need to go through a difficult process. With our current federal administration, I’m concerned there’s a reasonable chance we will be found out of compliance. I fear the administration is looking for a state to make an example of, and while I’d be happy to risk the health insurance of senators, I won’t gamble with insurance for our most vulnerable citizens.
     Being found out of compliance opens us up to enormous possible Medicaid penalties and clawbacks. For this reason, during debate, we also proposed adding language to the FRA bill which said that defunding Planned Parenthood would happen “at the time of either approval by the Centers of Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) or an administrative or judicial action requiring CMS approval.” That Medicaid protection language means our funding would be secure while the process works its way through.
      That is the exact language, amazingly, that some sought to strip from the bill for what they called “support” for Planned Parenthood – it’s not. It’s language that doesn’t threaten funding for neonatal care for pregnant moms on Medicaid; funding for seniors, many suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s or other horrible terminal diseases; funding for families with developmental disabilities who just need a little help. I don’t understand how someone could consider this to be anti-life language – it’s insane. Instead of questioning the sincerity and pro-life credentials of senators who voted to keep the Medicaid protective language in the bill, I’d suggest questioning the judgment of outside groups willing to jeopardize funding for vital Medicaid services.
     While the effort to remove the Medicaid protection language from the bill was defeated, the provision along with the defunding language were ultimately not included in the version of the bill approved by the Senate. That said, we were able to prohibit Medicaid paid family planning services from covering “any abortifacient drug or device” used for an abortion. I believe this is an important step forward in protecting life in Missouri.
     Quickly, let me touch on a couple of other facts. Twenty-five years ago, Missouri averaged 20,000 surgical abortions. There have been zero this year. Zero. If you are pro-life, this is a huge win and shows the dedication of the Legislature on this issue.
     Let me close by summarizing this past week. No member of the Majority Caucus voted against defunding Planned Parenthood. If anyone says otherwise, they are being dishonest. After we saved the Medicaid protective language, the votes were not there to include the defund language with the protective language (I would have voted yes) in the final version of the Senate’s bill. The governor and the Legislature are working on this issue via the rule making process, as Arkansas and Texas have done. It will actually be quicker, but that wasn’t good enough for some looking for a short-term win.
     Missouri is just as pro-life today as it was yesterday. In fact, we have advanced the cause of life. I pray we remain that way until this issue is resolved.
     I am honored to serve the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District. If there is anything I can do to serve you, please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation for the 2021 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot.
 

     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.