JEFFERSON CITY — Democrats raised questions Monday about the cost of sending Missouri soldiers and police to Texas as part of an election-year effort by Republicans to draw attention to immigration problems on the nation’s southern border.
Democratic members of the House Budget Committee said they were unclear why Gov. Mike Parson is asking for $2.2 million to send 200 Missouri National Guard troops and 11 members of the Missouri Highway Patrol to the Lone Star State beginning next month.
Although there is $4 million for emergency costs already available already, Parson, a Republican, is seeking the midyear budget adjustment as a buffer in case funds are needed for other emergencies that may arise in the state.
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“Why is that not being used for this?” said Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, who is the ranking member of the panel. “Why do we need an emergency supplemental? It feels like we’re here unnecessarily.”
Parson budget chief Dan Haug said the administration doesn’t want to roll the dice in case a tornado, flooding or other natural disaster hits the state before the end of the fiscal year on June 30.
“This should be plenty for anything that comes up,” Haug said. “You don’t want to get caught short.”
Parson announced the decision last week after witnessing “the crisis” on a recent trip to Texas, placing blame on President Joe Biden for what he described as a “wide open” border.
In making the announcement, Parson joined other Republican governors who said they would dip into taxpayer coffers to assist Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in his election-year standoff with the federal government.
Guard members will “assist in the construction of physical barriers and with security patrols as needed.”
Illegal crossings at the southern border reached an all-time high in December, but that figure dropped by 50% in January due to seasonal trends and “enhanced enforcement efforts” by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
U.S. House members shot down a bipartisan border security package earlier this month after former President Donald Trump disapproved the proposed deal.
The first deployment is scheduled to be active in Texas on March 10, and rotating groups of National Guard members will be deployed roughly every 30 days. The mission is set to last 90 days, though it could be extended.
Eleven Missouri Highway Patrol troopers will also be in Texas beginning March 1. They will be partnered with Texas troopers, riding with them in their vehicles near the border and answering calls.
Up to 22 highway patrol troopers could be deployed.
Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Manchester, questioned whether 132 vacant positions within the highway patrol could result in law enforcement resources being depleted.
“Does that not put Missouri at risk?” Lavender said.
Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Eric Olson said they have chosen troopers from throughout the state to ensure that no one area of Missouri is affected by the deployment.
Missouri National Guard Adjutant General Levon Cumpton said sending troops to Texas will not impact services back home. In all, there are 12,000 soldiers in the state.
“We’re very fortunate to have a strong Missouri guard,” Cumpton said.
The National Guard already has a presence in Texas. There have been 250 Missouri National Guard members in the state for the past four years under federal orders.
“They are there to protect the border,” Cumpton said.
Under Democratic questioning, Cumpton said the soldiers’ roles will not be in conflict with the orders of those in Texas under federal orders.
Republicans on the committee expressed support for the deployment as a response to illegal immigration, human trafficking and the import of fentanyl.
“You have my full support in this effort,” said Rep. Cody Smith, R-Carthage, who is chairman of the powerful budget-writing committee.
The committee took no action on the request Monday.
The legislation is House Bill 2016.
