The Final Three Weeks
Like so many businesses, churches and schools throughout Missouri, the Legislature has been sidelined by the COVID-19 crisis. As initial concerns about the virus began to mount, the Senate began its annual spring recess one week early on March 12. We had every intention of returning to the Capitol on March 30. When it became clear two weeks was not sufficient to ensure safety, a decision was made to delay the resumption of legislative activities. During the past six weeks, the Senate has been in session just two days.
The Legislature came back to Jefferson City in early April to pass a $6.2 billion supplemental budget consisting mostly of federal money received as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. Our work during those two days made it possible for unemployed Missourians to receive the $600 weekly supplement authorized by the federal bill and directed much needed assistance to schools, health care facilities and first responders.
Lawmakers return to the Capitol on April 27. We have a lot of work to do, and a short amount of time to do it. The Missouri Constitution requires the Legislature to conclude its business before 6 p.m. on “the first Friday following the second Monday in May,” which this year falls on May 15. We have just three weeks before the end of the 2020 legislative session.
As we resume our work, our top priority will be passage of a balanced budget for 2021. Drafting a state budget is a monumental task in a normal year. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’ve played a part in weighing the needs and desires of the various state agencies against available resources. In hindsight, crafting our current budget was relatively straight-forward. The economy was chugging along, with sales and income taxes reflecting the prosperity of the times. Balancing the books in this current environment will be a much more difficult task.
When the Appropriations Committee resumes its work on the budget it must face the reality that all previous assumptions are in doubt. In fact, I believe we can’t even rely on projections for the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30. According to the Office of Administration, state revenues were down more than 4% in March. The governor has already announced two rounds of budget restrictions for the 2020 budget. A number of departments won’t receive money they were anticipating. It appears the cuts will be especially painful for our institutions of higher education.
All across Missouri, storefronts are locked shut, production lines are idled and restaurant chairs are stacked atop tables. Business has come to a virtual standstill. With economic activity so severely impacted, the amount of money the state receives will be greatly reduced. Anticipating state revenues for the next 12 months will be difficult. I believe deciding how best to allocate those diminished resources will be even more daunting. Like families and businesses all across the state, each agency of government will have to cut costs. That may be easier said than done, given the fact that nearly 40 percent of Missouri’s current $30 billion budget is consumed by Medicaid and other social services programs.
It remains to be seen what, if any, legislative priorities move forward during the next three weeks. I expect that a few bills that were nearly complete before we left for recess may receive some attention. I suspect that many measures that seemed important just a couple of months ago will fall by the wayside. On that note, I am pleased to announce that legislation to streamline issuance of professional licenses to military spouses was signed into law by the governor this week. This measure, which I sponsored in the Senate, will make it easier for the husband or wife of a service member assigned to duty in Missouri to resume their professional career once they get settled in our state. I was glad to have a role in the passage of this important workforce development initiative. It does not appear many laws will make it to the governor’s desk this year. I’m glad this is one of them.
From my perspective, no one at the Capitol is happy about our current conditions. But the situation is what the situation is. Like everyone else in America, the Legislature will adapt and make do. We will get through this. I’ll let you know how it turns out. In the meantime, everyone stay safe and healthy.
It’s my honor to serve as your senator for the 16th District. If you have questions or need any assistance, please call my office at 573-751-5713 or log onto my webpage at https://www.senate.mo.gov/brown for more information.