JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — With Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens’s resignation just days away, state lawmakers are helping guide the soon-to-be governor.
Current Lt. Gov. Mike Parson will become Missouri’s 56th governor on Friday after 5 p.m.
Parson spent a majority of the day Wednesday in meetings and on the phone with lawmakers — including House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, and Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, R-Joplin.
Although he did not speak to members of the media outside of his office, Parson stopped and answered two questions from 41 Action News in the hallway about his transition to governor.
“We are working on the transition today,” he said adding, “Most of the day today we will be in our office working on our phone contacts.”
Lt Governor @mikeparson just stepped out of his office. He tells me he is working on his transition, meeting with state leaders and cabinet members @41actionnews #moleg #GreitensResigns pic.twitter.com/SVvI7c4NGx
— Ariel Rothfield KSHB (@arothfield) May 30, 2018
Richardson and Richard said they are sharing staff with the lieutenant governor to help ensure a “smooth transition.”
While the Senate President said “it is not a happy time,” the House Speaker said they are “pleased there is an open line of communication.”
Click here to learn more about Parson
Greitens was not seen or heard from on Wednesday, the same day lawmakers signed more than 140 bills approved during the spring session.
The bills now go to the governor’s office for his consideration. It is unclear if Greitens or Parson will approve or reject them.
Greitens has the power to take action in the next two days before he leaves office.
What's next?
“We will be ready when the time comes,” said Lt. Gov. Mike Parson.
On Friday, farmer, former sheriff and well-known face in the legislature Mike Parson will become Governor of Missouri.
Depending on who you ask, outgoing governor Eric Greitens didn’t spend much time focused on the western side of the state.
“I think for us on this side of the state, it was very few and far between when we would actually see him,” said Kansas City Mayor Pro-Tem Scott Wagner.
Wagner is hopeful the lack of interest in Kansas City will change under Parson. In the last six months, as Lieutenant Governor Park spoke at a KC Chamber event and visited The Roasterie on his buy local tour.
Greitens was at a closed-door GOP event in Parkville and rock climbed at a veterans business.
A recent veto blocking funding for UMKC to build a campus for the arts downtown didn’t sit well with some.
“Last year we had a Republican legislature that voted to support it with state dollars, it hit the governors desk, it was a veto. I think there is an expectation that the conversation can happen again,” said Wagner.
Clay County Rep. Kevin Corlew recently met with Parson. Corlew says Parson will be a governor for everyone.
“He's been a strong advocate for things like infrastructure investment, issues on workforce development, things that are important to the Kansas City area,” said Rep. Corlew.
Wagner says despite party affiliation, he thinks Parson will be open to having the conversation about issues that matter.
“As we discuss the issues that were important to this community and looking for state support, on this side of the state, we didn't have a welcome ear,” said Wagner.
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