Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey

Debate in Missouri over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search

BP-Initials-UPDATED.png

These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.


Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.

These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.


This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Missouri in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:


Debate over stay-at-home orders in Missouri

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Missouri.

  • Governor Mike Parson (R) (Official Website of the Missouri Governor): 

    "With favorable data and approval from state health officials, we are ready to take another step forward in the recovery of Missouri. Today, I am announcing phase one of our ‘Show Me Strong Recovery’ Plan, which will begin Monday, May 4 and extend through Sunday, May 31. ... All of Missouri’s businesses, employers, and employees are vital to our state’s economy and well-being. Opening these businesses is going to look very different for awhile, but I’m confident Missourians will abide by the guidelines as we move forward." - "Governor Parson Announces First Phase of "Show Me Strong Recovery" Plan May 4," April 27, 2020.

  • Stephanie Browning (KRCG): Stephanie Browning, director of Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, extended the Boone County stay-at-home order to May 3 to align with the state's order and argued that the decline in cases make her feel comfortable to start opening up some businesses.

    "The prevalence of new COVID-19 cases has decreased to the point that I feel comfortable in starting to slowly open up some retail businesses. I do want to emphasize how important it will be for everyone to continue to practice social distancing and good hygiene so we don't see a resurgence in cases." - "Boone County aligns stay-at-home order with statewide order, relaxes some regulations," April 23, 2020.

  • Governor Mike Parson (R) (NPR): In an interview with, Governor Mike Parson (R) said his approach to reopening the state will be based on data, specifically the rate of infection and availability of healthcare resources.

    "It will be based on facts that we're receiving every day. ... I think you could see that in the next several weeks, we'll have a phased approach. We'll probably open the state up for economics, probably different areas of the state at different times." - "Missouri Gov. Mike Parson To Reopen State Through 'A Phased Approach'," April 15, 2020.

  • Saundra McDowell (R) (Twitter): Saundra McDowell, a gubernatorial candidate in Missouri, argues that the statewide stay-home order is unconstitutional because it violates First Amendment rights and fails to meet the strict scrutiny test applied when government restricts those rights.

    "I do not believe the recent state-wide stay-home order issued by Governor Parson is constitutional. ... Given that the current prognosis is for a death toll lesser then many other diseases we already endure, how can our Governor justify infringing the inherent rights of our People to assemble, to worship, to travel, and to pursue happiness?" - "Saundra McDowell Issues Statement Regarding Constitutionality of Missouri State-wide Stay-home Order," April 13, 2020.

Debate over reopening plans in Missouri

See also: Debate over reopening plans during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on reopening plans in Missouri.

  • Governor Mike Parson (R) (Governor of Missouri): Governor Mike Parson (R) identified four pillars that are guiding Missouri's reopening plans. They include expanded testing, increased reserves of personal protective equipment, monitor and possibly expand health care system capacity, and predict potential outbreaks from state health care data. 

    "Because Missouri took aggressive actions to combat COVID-19 from the start, we are in a good place with each of these pillars and confident that we are ready to move forward into the recovery process. ... The overall trends in the data show that Missouri’s health care system is under control. Our hospitals are not overwhelmed, and things are improving, which is why we have made the decision to move forward and begin reopening Missouri on May 4." - "Governor Parson Highlights Data Supporting "Show Me Strong Recovery" Plan," April 28, 2020.

  • Dr. Elvin Geng, infectious disease expert at Washington University Medical School (St. Louis Public Radio): As Missouri reopens economy, public health officials worry about uptick in Covid-19 cases.

    "I do think that we are still on a precipice. And that is something I think a lot of infectious disease people and epidemiologists sort of recognize, but I’m not sure the public does. Even though it’s been very painful already so far, that the virus is merciless. It doesn’t give us credit for the pain that has already been incurred." - "Health Experts Worry St. Louis Lifted Coronavirus Orders Too Soon," June 23, 2020.

  • St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson (D) (City of St. Louis): St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson (D) argued that the city's stay-at-home order would be extended despite Governor Mike Parson (R) easing statewide restrictions.

    "It’s just not safe right now to begin to reopen the City of St. Louis. We need to see at least 14 days of sustained decrease in the number of new COVID-19 cases before we can consider reopening. By moving that process too quickly, we could put our family members and neighbors at risk for contracting the virus. I understand many of you wish to return to work and your normal lives, but we must remain vigilant to continue to slow the spread." - "City of St. Louis Remains Under Stay at Home Order Beyond May 4th Missouri Statewide Reopening," April 30, 2020.


Debate over school closures in Missouri

See also: Debate over school closures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in Missouri.

  • Superintendent Gregg Klinginsmith (St. Louis Public Radio): Gregg Klinginsmith, the superintendent of the Warren County R-3 school district, explained in a letter why the school district chose to close schools for the remainder of the academic year.

    "The decision to close our school district was extremely difficult and made out of an abundance of caution for our community. We know closing our schools will have a significant impact on our families, but we also believe that strong, urgent action must be taken to prevent the spread of this virus and to protect lives." - "'I Think We're Done': Educators Not Optimistic Of Schools Reopening," March 20, 2020.

  • Governor Mike Parson (R) (St. Louis Public Radio): Governor Mike Parson (R) defended his decision not to mandate school closures and to leave that decision up to local school authorities.

    "A lot of these school districts don’t have day care, for one. A lot of these schools are the main employer of those areas and those towns and everything. To me, it was the obligation to leave that to the local levels to decide how they would manage that." - "'I Think We're Done': Educators Not Optimistic Of Schools Reopening," March 20, 2020.


Debate over religious service restrictions in Missouri

See also: Debate over religious service restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in Missouri.

  • Saundra McDowell (R) (Twitter): Saundra McDowell, a gubernatorial candidate in Missouri, argues that the statewide stay-home order is unconstitutional because it violates First Amendment rights and fails to meet the strict scrutiny test applied when government restricts those rights.

    "I do not believe the recent state-wide stay-home order issued by Governor Parson is constitutional. ... Given that the current prognosis is for a death toll lesser then many other diseases we already endure, how can our Governor justify infringing the inherent rights of our People to assemble, to worship, to travel, and to pursue happiness?" - "Saundra McDowell Issues Statement Regarding Constitutionality of Missouri State-wide Stay-home Order," April 13, 2020.

  • Brian Kaylor (The Kansas City Star): Brian Kaylor, a Baptist pastor in Missouri, insisted that Governor Mike Parson should include church services in his ban on social gatherings of more than 10 people.

    "Preventing mass gatherings remains critical to stopping the spread of coronavirus, which doesn’t stop at the church’s front door. In fact, we already know individuals who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 have sat in the pews and possibly exposed others. For instance, someone who tested positive attended the Springfield, Missouri, megachurch James River Assembly." - "Church is in your heart, not the pew. Ban in-person services in Missouri, Gov. Parson," March 25, 2020.


Debate over election policy in Missouri

See also: Debate over election policies and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in Missouri.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over absentee voting in Missouri

See also: Debate over absentee voting during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on absentee voting in Missouri.


Debate over state budget in Missouri

See also: Debate over state budget during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on state budget in Missouri.

  • Governor Mike Parson (R) (KRCG): In addition to a $180 million budget cut previously announced, Gov. Mike Parson (R) announced that the state would be cutting another $47 million that would affect nine state agencies, the officer of the attorney general, and the legislature to help alleviate the economic damage produced by the coronavirus pandemic on the state budget. - "Parson announces $47 million budget cut in addition to $180 million cut," April 20, 2020.


Debate over state laws and legislation in Missouri

See also: Debate over state laws and legislation during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on state laws and legislation in Missouri.

  • Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo (D) (The Joplin Globe): Democratic Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo explained that House Bill 2014, which expanded the power of the governor to spend federal stimulus money, was necessary because it gives the governor the necessary powers needed to manage the pandemic.

    "We are putting a lot of faith in the governor and giving him the flexibility, in my opinion, that he needs to manage this pandemic." - "Missouri Senate backs virus spending bill before House vote," April 8, 2020.


Responses to the coronavirus in Missouri

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Missouri)
Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in Missouri.

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

v • e
Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021
OverviewsCOVID-19.jpg
Articles by Type
Federal policy responses • State government responses • Local government responses • Diagnosed or quarantined incumbents, candidates, and officials • State legislative session changes • State legislative responses • State executive orders • Eviction and foreclosure policies • Travel restrictions • School responses (2021-2022) • School responses (2020-2021) • School responses (2019-2020) • State court closures • Stay-at-home order status • States that issued stay-at-home orders • States that did not issue stay-at-home orders • Changes to ballot measure campaigns and policies • Changes to vote-by-mail and absentee voting procedures • Initial key federal official responses • Arguments in support of and opposition to government responses • Lawsuits • Multistate agreements • Non-governmental plans to reopen • Unemployment filings • Analysis articles • Paycheck Protection Program • Mask requirements • School budget changes • State budgets • Federal definitions of essential and nonessential businesses • Federal aid to states • Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program • State emergency power authority • Changes to state emergency power authority • Municipal emergency power authority • Halloween guidelines • Vaccine distribution plans • State plans to end federal unemployment • Changes to emergency power laws • Active COVID-19 emergency orders • State vaccine requirement (vaccine passport) policies • Recalls related to the pandemic • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on school responses to the coronavirus • State employee vaccine requirements • Healthcare worker vaccine requirements
State responses to coronavirus
State paths to recovery
State school responses
Coronavirus debate topics
Coronavirus debate by state
Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Debate_in_Missouri_over_responses_to_the_coronavirus_(COVID-19)_pandemic,_2020&oldid=8690404"