Missouri 2022 Legislative Session: Week 4 Recap of AARP Missouri's Priorities

Missouri 2022 Legislative Session: Week 4 Recap of AARP Missouri's Priorities

Storm Closes Capitol – Delays Maps

The Missouri General Assembly adjourned early this week to avoid legislators and staff traveling on dangerous roadways.  This shortening of the week led to a delay in action on many legislative priorities.

The Senate was expected to approve their amended version of the new Congressional District maps.  Leadership in the House are looking for a plan that can pass with the super majority necessary to pass the emergency clause so that the new maps will be in place for the August Primary.  Senate leaders are looking for a plan that will not face a significant filibuster from either the Minority Caucus or the Conservative Caucus.

Currently, the main disagreement is over two districts in the St. Louis Metro.  St. Louis Democrats want Congressional District 1, currently represented by Congresswoman Cori Bush, to ensure minority representation.  The St. Louis Area Conservative Caucus members have been pushing for a more conservative Congressional District 2, currently represented by Congresswoman Ann Wagner, since demographic shifts could lead to more of a “swing” district in the next decade.  Still others in the Conservative Caucus have been pushing for a map that would likely result in only one Democratic member of our Congressional Delegation.

While the Senate has yet to release their proposed Congressional map, action is expected on it next week.

Workplace Retirement Savings Headed to House Floor

The House Rules Committee has noticed a hearing on House Bill 1732, sponsored by Rep. Michael O’Donnell (R-St. Louis County), the Workplace Retirement Savings bill.  Rules is the last step before the House Floor, where the bill could be passed as early as next week. 

On the Senate side of the Capitol, Senator Lauren Arthur (D-Kansas City) filed Senate Bill 1125, as a companion bill to HB 1732.  If Senator Arthur’s bill is able to be heard in committee before the House bill, it would speed up the process and allow the two bills to be combined before passage in the Senate.

New Supplemental Budget in the House

Early in the Legislative Session, Governor Mike Parson asked the General Assembly to pass a Budget bill to supplement extra expenses in the current fiscal year.  Most pressing is the over $2 billion in federal assistance for school districts throughout Missouri that have been impacted by the Pandemic.  Also included is funding for the Missouri Medicaid Program, MO HealthNet, both for ongoing expenses related to the Pandemic, and the voter approved, and Supreme Court upheld, Medicaid Expansion to Missourians making up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level.

The funding that has become the most contentious, however, is a pay increase for State Employees.  The Governor proposed increasing salaries by 5.5% throughout State Government and raising the base wage to $15 per hour.

This week, Budget Chairman Cody Smith (R-Carthage) released his version of the Supplemental with a $12 per hour base wage, and increase in State Spending on Medicaid, where the Governor had used federal funds, and the establishment of savings accounts to hold federal funds for future use.

Members of the House Budget Committee are currently crafting their amendments to the Supplemental Budget which are due to the Chairman by close of business today.