Missouri Senate rejects governor's pick for health director over support for COVID vaccines

Over 100 demonstrators rallied at the Capitol on Monday in opposition to Donald Kauerauf's nomination and efforts to boost vaccination rates.
The Missouri Senate refused to confirm Donald Kauerauf as Gov. Mike Parson’s health director on Tuesday, leaving Kauerauf banned from the position for life.

Hours later, Parson named Richard Moore, the Department of Health and Senior Services’ general counsel, as acting director of the agency. He slammed senators who blocked Kauerauf’s nomination and called the events of the week “nothing short of disgraceful, unquestionably wrong and an embarrassment to this state and the people we serve.”

“It’s unfortunate that we now have to disrupt state operations and the leadership at an entire department because the Missouri Senate chose to indulge a few men’s egos,” Parson said.