In a break from virus dread, let’s take a look at three recent Missouri stories not getting the attention they deserve…
Missouri Census Numbers Point To Greater Republican Dominance
Towards the end of March the census folks released their population estimates for 2019. These estimates are derived from the on-going American Community Survey. They have some methodology issues but they’re the best numbers we have – and may be more reliable than the 2020 Census.
Since 2010 St. Charles County added about 40,000 people while the City of St. Louis shed 19,000. In other words, Republican-dominated St. Charles added enough people for another state representative seat while the Democratic city lost a big chunk of one. On the senate side, after the new lines are drawn next year expect St. Charles County to control three state senators while it may be a challenge to get two elected from the city.
If CLEAN‘s rules can survive, the state ought to pick-up a few Democrats for the state house and maybe a couple of senators. The long term trend, alas, is growth in areas where Republicans rule. Taking back Missouri from the forces of darkness will be a long and hard crusade.
2019 Population Estimates
St. Louis County 994,205
St. Charles County 402,022
St. Louis City 300,576
Jefferson Co. 225,081
March 27, 2020 St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Please remember that urban areas always have low compliance rates with the census: I have money on the ‘official’ 2020 count in the city coming in at 285,000 people.
Missouri May Be Losing Money On Gambling
The staff head of the state’s gaming commission is pulling his ripcord, basically pissed off that the commission gives the Highway Patrol way too much money.
David Grothuas (himself a retired law enforcement guy) complained that troopers – who have little specialized training and come at a high price – do jobs ‘civilian technicians’ (read: ‘experts’) could do for less money. The gaming commission took the troopers’ side, so, the executive director quit.
Those ‘high costs’ are especially critical now: with the state’s casinos closed Missouri isn’t collecting the usual million dollars a day. Yet, the troopers still get paid. So, the state is now losing money on gambling…
Oh yes, the state’s five gaming commissioners are all older white guys. Two are former state representatives, two are lawyers and the last is a retired city administrator and cop. Yes, so representative of Missouri’s diverse population.
http://www.mgc.dps.mo.gov/bottom/_commissioners.html
The Accidental Governor’s Crusade Against Unions Is Almost Over
Unions lost.
Buried deep in the St. Louis Post Dispatch (and ignored by the state’s other major media), comes a report that all of the bargaining units for state employees no longer have current contracts.
A Post-Dispatch review of state labor agreements found the Office of Administration has not successfully negotiated a labor contract in more than four years, when Jay Nixon, a Democrat, was in office.
Post-Dispatch 4/10/20
This should not be a surprise. Remember, the Parson administration stopped collecting dues for the corrections workers’ union after they won a lawsuit against the state. While voters resounding defeated Right To Work, the accidental governor and most Republicans still want it. Killing state workers’ rights gets them a bit further along in their journey.
Unfortunately, don’t expect organized labor to come to the aid of their brothers and sisters working for Missouri. Union workers remain strongly in Donald Trump’s camp.
A recent example: the current Bloomberg Business Week [4/13/20] includes a story on the toll the national shutdown is taking on American manufacturing. One of those quoted in the article is a Ford forklift operator and union member, Brian Pannebecker: “We’re going to have to learn to live with this…So, let’s start looking towards how we’re going to do that instead of just sitting at home and twiddling our thumbs.” The story includes a picture the guy, grey haired and stern, wearing a red Trump, Keep America Great t-shirt.
As long as many, perhaps most, union members support Trump and Mike Parson progress for working families won’t happen.
Glenn