Missouri lawmakers convene 2021 session amid pandemic, DC chaos

(The Center Square) — Amid an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has only intensified since it short-circuited the 2020 session last spring, the Missouri state Legislature convened its 2021 legislative session Wednesday in Jefferson City.

The 34-seat Senate swore in 11 new members Wednesday with Republicans controlling the chamber by a 24-10 margin. Sen. Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, was reelected as Senate president for a second, two-year term.

The 163-seat Missouri House swore in 47 new members Wednesday with the GOP holding a dominating 114-49 advantage. Rep. Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, was named as House Speaker

Vescovo said he would take on a bipartisan attitude in his leadership role “with the commitment of earning your trust and the trust of the people of Missouri.”

Ending the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing pressing budget concerns left in its wake will influence the entire session, which is scheduled to adjourn May 30.

According to a Dec. 10 estimate by state economists, Missouri is anticipating a 4.1 percent drop in general revenue collections next fiscal year, from an anticipated $10.2 billion this year to $9.78 billion in the year that begins July 1.

Other issues certain to be discussed during the 2021 session is implementing voter-approved Medicaid expansion, limiting local governments’ emergency powers, expanding school choice, providing businesses with COVID-19 liability exemptions, increasing the state’s gas tax, charting post-Census redistricting and even considering legalizing recreational marijuana.

Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican who opposed Medicaid expansion when voters approved it in 2018, has promised to implement it as adopted. He will explain his plans to do so during his Jan. 27 State of the State address.

According House GOP leaders, many Republicans will continue to oppose funding the expansion, but Democrats and some Republicans, including Parson, say they will battle for adequate funding to finance the expansion.

House Republicans have filed at least 11 bills seeking to limit local governments’ authority over public health orders.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page is among local officials who some state lawmakers say exceeded their authority in November but closing indoor dining.

Parson has ceded to local officials the authority to make public health decisions. If adopted, the bills would restrict the extent of those local rules.

Current law only allows charter schools in St. Louis and Kansas City. Senate Bill 25, sponsored by Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, would allow charters to operate in any city within a charter county or in any city with a population greater than 30,000.

Republican lawmakers are expected to assuage the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and adopt liability protections for businesses to limit COVID-19-related lawsuits. Several such bills have been filed.

Schatz has again filed measures to both raise the state’s gas tax to pay for infrastructure improvements.

Missouri hasn’t raised its gas sales tax since 1996. At 17 cents a gallon, it is the nation’s second lowest state gas surcharge behind only Alaska’s 14 cents per gallon tax.

Schatz’s proposed Senate Bill 262 would increase the state motor fuels tax by 2 cents annually beginning July 1, 2021, for five years until it is 27-cents-per-gallon in 2026.

Schatz’s proposed Senate Joint Resolution 21 would formally place the constitutional amendment enacting the motor fuel tax hike before voters in a required statewide referendum.

Rep. Steve Butz, D-St. Louis, has introduced a similar proposal, House Bill 114, in the House.

As lawmakers were sworn in, outside the Capitol in Jefferson City dozens of President Donald Trump supporters peacefully rallied while in Washington, D.C., they were storming the nation’s Capitol, disrupting the confirmation of President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory.

A news conference planned by Senate Democrats was canceled “in light of domestic terrorists storming the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.”

“Domestic Terrorists are waving Trump flags and storming the U.S. Capitol in an act of modern treason against the United States of America,” said Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, D-Independence.

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