Missouri health director resigns, as Parson slams Senate for indulging ‘a few men’s egos’
Gov. Mike Parson announced Tuesday that Missouri’s top health official has resigned amid anti-vaccination opposition to his nomination, a stunning setback the Republican governor blamed on the Senate for choosing “to indulge a few men’s egos.”
The broadside against the GOP-controlled chamber was Parson’s angriest attack against members of his own party while in office.
His searing early evening statement capped an extraordinary two days in which the nomination of Donald Kauerauf to permanently lead the Department of Health and Senior Services unraveled as it became clear the Senate would adjourn early because of an impending snow storm – causing lawmakers to miss a constitutionally-mandated Friday deadline to confirm him.
The failed confirmation culminates years of clashes between the Senate’s Conservative Caucus, a group of hard-line Republicans, and the rest of the majority party. The disputes have often halted business in the upper chamber and last year brought the state’s Medicaid program to the brink of insolvency.
But killing the confirmation of Kauerauf, a former Illinois public health official with more than 30 years of experience, over anti-vaccine concerns is the caucus’ most notable recent victory.
“It’s unfortunate that we now have to disrupt state operations and the leadership at an entire department because the Missouri Senate chose to indulge a few men’s egos,” Parson said in a statement. “The events that have transpired over the past few days surrounding Don’s Senate confirmation hearing are nothing short of disgraceful, unquestionably wrong, and an embarrassment to this state and the people we serve.”
Parson said he was appointing Richard Moore, DHSS’ general counsel, as acting director.
Kauerauf received a rocky reception at his Monday confirmation hearing from Sen. Mike Moon, an Ash Grove Republican and a Conservative Caucus member. Moon pressed Kauerauf on mandates, vaccine science and the work of his wife, Judy Kauerauf, who is a public health official in Illinois.
After the Senate gaveled in on Tuesday, Moon, who is running for Congress, held the floor for at least two hours, speaking on and off about Kauerauf and making clear his opposition. He relinquished his time only after assurances from another conservative that it appeared the nomination was unlikely to move forward.
The Senate Gubernatorial Appointments committee then voted out the nominations of others who had hearings held Monday, but did not act on Kauerauf’s confirmation.
Parson could have withdrawn Kauerauf’s name and resubmitted it next week to restart the clock on his confirmation, or re-appointed him in an acting capacity which would not require Senate approval.
But he was not included on a list of other withdrawals the governor sent to the upper chamber on Tuesday afternoon. Under the Missouri constitution, appointments that Senators don’t confirm within the first 30 days of a legislative session are “terminated.” Kauerauf can’t be appointed to the same office again.
Parson’s spokeswoman, Kelli Jones, said while “every option was on the table,” Kauerauf chose to resign.
“Absolutely not,” she said when asked whether Parson asked for the resignation. “The governor stands 100% behind his appointment.”
Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, a Columbia Republican, said on Tuesday that after Monday’s hearing Republicans’ skepticism of Kauerauf had spread beyond Moon.
“Obviously we knew there was some opposition, but there ended up being a little more than I think we have anticipated,” he said. “At some point, we just realized it was functionally going to be impossible to make it happen.”
Sen. Bob Onder, a Lake St. Louis Republican and Conservative Caucus member, on Twitter said the day marked a “big victory for liberty” in Jefferson City.
Sen. Greg Razer, a Kansas City Democrat, said the “anti-science movement” had won the day in the Missouri Senate.
“The fact that he was forced from his position because he promoted vaccines is incredibly sad,” Razer said in a statement.
In terms of anger directed at the General Assembly, Parson’s condemnation of the Senate is rivaled only by his fury last year when House Republican leadership cancelled the governor’s State of the State address at the last minute, forcing Parson to deliver the speech in the smaller Senate chamber.
While the governor, a former senator himself, has clashed in the past with the Conservative Caucus, Tuesday’s statement was directed at the Senate itself – making no distinction between the GOP establishment and the hard-right senators fanning opposition to Kauerauf.
“Throughout this process, more care was given to political gain than the harm caused to a man and his family. Don is a devoted public servant who did not deserve this, and Missourians deserve better,” Parson said. “I pray that honor, integrity, and order can be returned to the Missouri Senate and that it comes sooner rather than later.”
This story was originally published February 1, 2022 at 7:24 PM.
