Missouri Gov. Parson’s special session on violent crime ends. Lawmakers passed 2 bills

Two months after Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, amid jarring numbers of homicides in Kansas City and St. Louis, called a special session to address violent crime, lawmakers ended their work on Wednesday after passing two of the six proposals he supported.

Parson, a Republican who has made law and order a central theme of his election campaign, had sought several changes to state law. The GOP-controlled General Assembly ultimately approved bills creating a witness protection fund and lifting a requirement that St. Louis police officers live within the city as the department struggles to fill vacancies.

But a proposal to allow the Missouri attorney general the power to intervene in murder prosecutions in St. Louis – the most controversial measure considered – didn’t pass. Stiffer penalties for endangering children also didn’t advance. And lawmakers didn’t approve any dollars for the witness protection fund.

Parson struck an upbeat tone at a news conference, telling reporters: “We got the two main pieces that we wanted.”

The governor, acknowledging lawmakers didn’t pass his full anti-crime package, said “you’re not going to hit a home run every time” in the Capitol. He said he was “very content” with what was passed.

“Anything we can do to help law enforcement, to help victims in this state to fight violent crime is a win, no matter how small or how big it is,” Parson said.

Kansas City and St. Louis have been beset by waves of homicide this year. At least 145 people have been killed in Kansas City in 2020, compared to 113 at the same point in 2019. Nearly 200 people have been killed in St. Louis, matching the city’s homicides for all of 2019.

Galloway campaign manager Chris Sloan called the session a “complete waste of time and taxpayer dollars” that would little to reduce violent crime.

“House Republicans’ refusal to pass major parts of Governor Mike Parson’s agenda shows that he can’t even get his own party onboard with his so-called law and order campaign message,” Sloan said in a statement. “Heading into the toughest election of his career, the Governor has failed to convince Republicans to support his key policy priorities.”

After adjourning, House Republican leaders issued a brief joint statement.

“We are excited to have passed several significant measures to provide additional resources for law enforcement officers and protect the witnesses against violent criminals,” House Speaker Elijah Haahr, Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann and Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo said

Only two of six bills made it through the full legislature. GOP leaders said they are committed to working with Parson during the next regular session, which begins in January, “in our fight to reduce the occurrences of violent crime in Missouri.”

Parson won’t be governor during the next session if he loses to Galloway, however. The Democratic candidate has been sharply critical of the Republican governor’s approach to crime, contending that Parson, who became governor in 2018, waited too long to address the issue.

The witness protection fund had been sought by Kansas City leaders, including Mayor Quinton Lucas and Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker. The Star has previously reported that Kansas City police detectives have had to use their own money to relocate witnesses during murder investigations.

The bill blocking the St. Louis residency requirement for police officers was more controversial. Critics said it undercut the city’s local control, but supporters countered that the city’s police department needs more officers.