JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI (KMOX) - The Missouri Senate Health and Pensions Committee heard testimony Wednesday on a bill authored by House Representative Jim Murphy R-St. Louis to restrict health orders by local officials. HB 75 would limit health orders issued by local authorities to last 15 days before being subject to extension or rejection by a local legislative body, such as a city or county council. After considerable debate, the Committee voted to send the measure to the full Senate. It had previously passed in the House.
"Health departments need to protect our health." Rep. Murphy told the Committee. "Legislators need to protect our liberties." He was joined testifying in favor by St. Louis County Councilman Tim Fitch, who has long complained about restrictive orders issued by County Executive Sam Page. "I would think most of the County Council would agree with a lot of the public orders that have been issued. We have never been given the opportunity to discuss it, or even ask questions." St. Louis County Senator Andrew Koenig also spoke in favor. "Just because they're local that doesn't give them authority to do whatever they want. Local control resides with you as an individual in a free society."
Opponents, mostly Democrats, say public health orders should not be in the realm of politics. Others believed it to be a political hot button mostly around St. Louis County and Dr. Page. Senator Bill White, whose district include Joplin, said, "Our public health officials did not have these kinds of problems. My concern with your bill is that you would be forcing my commissioners to go up every 10 days for reevaluation."
It's uncertain if the bill will pass the full Senate. A similar measure failed recently. Also, Governor Bill Parson has repeatedly said local health orders - such as mask mandates - are a local issue for local officials. It's unclear if he would support a state law mandating how local leaders deal with each other.
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