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Governor Parson Announces $176 Million in Spending Cuts for FY 2020
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 This week, Governor Mike Parson announced $176 million in spending cuts for the remainder of FY 2020, which ends June 30, as a result of revenue shortfalls. In his press release announcing the cuts, he indicated that revenues had fallen off due to business closures brought on by COVID-19. He also indicated other cuts may be necessary in coming months, but that he hoped he could plug some of the shortfalls with federal dollars being made available from the recently passed stimulus bill.
The cuts come primarily from higher education ($11 million from community colleges, and $61 million from public four-year colleges and universities). Other cuts are being made to facilities maintenance, tourism, the Department of Economic Development and workforce development budgets in order to balance the budget for the current year. The budget line items being trimmed can be found on the Office of Administration website. |
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Missouri Legislature to Return Next Week to Address Supplemental Budget Bill
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 The Missouri legislature is expected to return to Jefferson City next week to take up and pass the supplemental budget bill passed several weeks ago by the Missouri House. HB 2014, a budget bill which includes supplemental funding for FY 2020, was passed by the House on March 18 and must now be taken up and passed by the Senate. The Senate is expected to take up the bill first and will likely offer amendments to allow Governor Parson the ability to access new federal funding made available through the COVID-19 relief bills passed by Congress. The House will then have to take up the amended bill for debate and passage. It is unclear how the two bodies will do their work in light of social distancing rules that are currently in place. It is also unclear when the two bodies will return to debate and pass the FY 2021 budget; that work may have to wait until this summer during a special session when it is safer for them to convene. |
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Federal Government to Provide Expanded Unemployment Insurance During COVID-19 Outbreak
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 The federal government has recently made significant changes to unemployment assistance during the coronavirus outbreak, increasing the benefits and broadening who is eligible. While the states will still continue to pay regular unemployment benefits, the bills recently passed by Congress included significant federal funds to support enhanced and extended benefits.
Missouri law currently provides 20 weeks of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits at a maximum of $320 per week. The extended unemployment (EU) allows for an additional 26 weeks, once certain triggers are met and would be fully funded. Additionally, there are three new federally funded programs offering unemployment assistance. The first program would provide emergency assistance to workers who do not traditionally qualify for UI, such as the self-employed, contractors and part-time workers.This program would provide 39 weeks of assistance and is operational through December 31, 2020. The second program funds an additional $600 per week in compensation paid on top of the compensation paid by the state's regular UI program. This program runs through July 31, 2020. The third program funds an additional 13 weeks of unemployment insurance after exhausting the maximum number of weeks allowed by the state's regular unemployment insurance program, assuming the extended benefits are triggered. |
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More Missourians File for Unemployment Assistance
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 It is difficult to assess how many people will need and qualify for unemployment in Missouri due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but the Department of Labor expects an enormous surge in the number of unemployment claims. In the week ending March 21, 42,207 Missourians filed claims for unemployment. For the week ending March 28, there were 104,230 claims filed. That's two and half times more claims filed than two weeks ago, and 26 times higher than three weeks ago. It is projected that through July 2020, 163,000 Missourians will file unemployment claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing in an additional $1.7 billion in federal unemployment benefits to the state.
To qualify, one must have lost their job through no fault of their own, such as closures due to the coronavirus. If a person was fired for poor performance, was on sick leave or on family medical leave, they are not eligible. Also, if you left work to take care of children due to school closures or babysitting responsibilities due to coronavirus, you are not eligible. Click here to apply for unemployment benefits. If you are in need of food stamps or other assistance through the Department of Social Services, click here.
Nationally, 6.6 million people filed for unemployment just last week. In total, nearly 10 million Americans have lost jobs due to coronavirus. At the height of the Great Recession, 8.8 million lost jobs. |
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WHO Shares Steps to Maintain Good Mental Health During COVID-19
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 Feeling stressed while social distancing and following other precautions to avoid spreading the coronavirus? You're not alone. The World Health Organization (WHO) gives us some tips to maintain low stress levels and good mental health during these unprecedented times. WHO recommends avoiding watching or reading the news that makes you feel anxious or distressed. They suggest seeking information that gives you practical steps to prepare your plans and to protect your loved ones. Seek information at specific times during the day -- once or twice a day, not once or twice an hour. The near constant stream of news about the outbreak can cause anyone to feel worried. The organization also reminds us not to attach the outbreak to any one ethnicity or nationality; instead, show empathy for all people afflicted with the disease.
Other health experts give the following tips: maintain routines, avoid crowds (but find a way to stay connected to others), get plenty of sleep, eat healthy foods, avoid drinking in excess, exercise, look to reliable news sources, take breaks, and seek help if needed. |
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Don't Forget to Respond to the 2020 U.S. Census!
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 Wednesday, April 1 was Census Day, but there is still time to send in your response to the 2020 U.S. Census. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to protect its employees and the general public, the U.S. Census Bureau has extended several census deadlines by at least two weeks. The self-response phase, as well as deadlines for in-person interviews, counting people who live in group settings and mobile questionnaire assistance, were all extended. Read more about these extensions in this article from the Columbia Missourian.
In the latest issue of Good News, we seek to provide you with helpful information about the U.S. Census and how you can make sure you are counted. As you may know, a census, or population count, is conducted in the United States once a decade. The last census was in 2010, which means we have reached another census year in 2020. As the normalcy of our everyday life has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize that it is easy to let important events slip by -- but we cannot neglect our duty to respond. We encourage you to read and share the information contained in this Good News with your family and friends so that we can all be prepared to respond.
Click here to read the March/April 2020 edition of Good News. |
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Governor Parson's daily press conference has been moved to 5 p.m. today. Sources report that the governor is expected to issue a statewide stay at home order at that time. As always, the conference will be live streamed on the governor's Facebook page. 
Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has called U.S. Catholics to join him on Good Friday, April 10, to pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart at noon (EDT).