How Missouri’s 57th governor is helping his successor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Governor Mike Parson said he is doing everything he can to make it a smooth transition to the next administration.

Parson will officially pass over the reins in January, but until then he's helping Governor-Elect Mike Kehoe and his staff craft next year's budget and asking for their input on decisions. In an exclusive interview with our Missouri Chief Capitol Bureau Reporter Emily Manley, the 57th governor spoke about his remaining 60 days in office.

During the interview, Parson said he felt there were issues he's leaving office without addressing, ones he's hoping the next administration takes on.

"The daycare issue in the state of Missouri has not been resolved and we've got to figure out some way to help the working-class people," Parson said "The legislature, they need to do their part, and the governor needs to do his part but that needs to be addressed.

It seems to be affecting businesses, families, and the state's economy—a lack of childcare providers.

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Over the course of two years, the state has lost 1,100 childcare providers, leaving some counties without a facility. According to the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, the state's economy loses out on more than $1.3 billion annually. For the second years in a row, the General Assembly failed to pass tax credits to help businesses, families, and childcare providers. Many blaming it on the infighting in the Senate.

Another stone left unturned, changes to the initiative petition process. The hot button topic of last session. The legislation would have made it harder to approve a constitutional amendment by increasing the number of votes needed to approve a referendum.

"I've been working on that for years and for them not to get that to the desk, it was just disappointing," Parson said.

Parson endorsed Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe to be his successor after he chose Kehoe in 2018 as his second in command following the resignation of former Gov. Eric Greitens.

"I want to make sure on day 1, they are ready to go," Parson said. "I don't want anybody to go through what we went through trying to build a team, trying to make decisions and just having so many things on your plate so quick."

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Parson's term ends at a time when voters overturned a ban he signed in law. Back in 2019, he approved the "Heartbeat Bill," which allowed abortion to become illegal in the state if Roe v. Wade was overturned.

The 57th governor said he will do whatever it takes to protect life, but knows with the clock ticking, it could be up to the next administration.

"It was voted on by a majority and whether I like it or not, I took an oath to apply the law and I think that's what you have to do sometimes," Parson said. "Now, what all the legal actions beyond that, what can you do to stop it and all that, I'll just have to let the courts decide that."

Parson said in his remaining two months he'll be helping make the transition and being the best governor he can.

Kehoe will be sworn in as the 58th governor on Jan. 13, 2025.