COVID-19 concerns leave Missouri lawmakers uncertain when they’ll return to Capitol

Missouri lawmakers, who face a May 8 deadline to approve the state’s $30 billion budget, are uncertain when they will be able to return to the Capitol to complete their work.

Legislators must also finalize a supplemental budget that includes $40 million in state and federal emergency funding to combat the COVID-19 virus before adjournment on May 15.

Gov. Mike Parson announced during a news conference Monday afternoon that all state offices in Missouri – including the state Capitol – will be closed to all non-essential personnel for two weeks.

But Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz said uncertainty surrounding the pandemic means there’s no specific timeline for the return of the legislature.

“We’re waiting for some guidance from the Department of Health, also from the University of Missouri on the protocols that would allow us to come back safely to the building,” said Schatz, R-Franklin County.

The House passed the supplemental budget on March 19. But it will likely be changed in the Senate, which will require the 163-member House to gather again to send it to the governor, said House Budget Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage.

Smith said the Senate will need to amend the supplemental budget to increase federal funds for Medicaid that were appropriated by Congress in their initial coronavirus relief bill. And the House would have to return to sign off on those changes.

“We are in contact with the Senate and the Parson administration on a daily basis,” Smith said. “I expect the House will have another vote on the supplemental budget.”

Parson on Tuesday said lawmakers must find a way to pass the supplemental budget.

“I do believe the legislature will answer that call… because they understand what a priority that is,” Parson said.

Some lawmakers are dubious about the House returning soon, citing as a cautionary example Rep. Joe Runions, the Grandview Democrat who tested positive for COVID-19 on March 20.

“There’s not a good reason for us to break all CDC guidelines to come back to that building,” Rep. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, said. “We can wait until the end of April and do this. If they call us back any time in the next 3 or 4 weeks, I’m going to be shocked. I just don’t see the reason why we would do that.”

Though Gov. Parson has not declared a shelter-in-place order for the state of Missouri and has maintained that his previous social distancing order is sufficient, lawmakers don’t have a set plan in place if they can’t physically return to the Capitol.

Schatz said he thinks the Missouri state Constitution does not allow lawmakers to work remotely; they have to legislate out of the Capitol.

“That’s kind of uncharted territory,” Schatz said. “We believe that we’re going to have to come there physically, in order for us to get some of these measures done. We’re just trying to determine how we can do it in a safety proof manner.”

Despite all this, Schatz is confident that the legislature will be able to convene to pass the budget.

“We do have a clock that is ticking… But I am confident at some point we are going to pass the state budget and we’ll do it as quickly and as proficiently as we can,” Schatz said.

Jason Hancock contributed to this story.