I've done some more digging into the McChrystal Group contract with Missouri.

From June 1 - July 31, we spent over $522,000 out of Missouri CARES Act funding. There's a bunch of hyphenated, fancy terms in the contract. Here's what we got:

1/

1) The COVID Fusion Cell, a forum to "increase transparency and accountability" in our government, bring together members of every state agency, and spotlight progress toward goals using charts and calendars

2/

2) The COVID Response Forum, another forum to talk about what happened at the other forum and provide "situational awareness"

3) Slide templates, action trackers, decision frameworks, priority action briefs, and a tracking and reporting system for COVID-19 testing

3/

4) Contact tracing

5) General project management

6) Data oversight, which included just looking at Missouri data our state produced

4/

From August 1-December 18, we are on the hook for $1.15 million, although that number can change. It can go up if the state wants to run simulated outbreaks. It can go down if state employees start doing these jobs we've outsourced.

5/

I'm not ruling out that this money was well-spent. But the whole process leaves a lot unanswered.

The contract emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability. Where is that?

6/

Initially, a foundation covered the cost of this consulting work, and we were told the state would not have to cover the costs. Why wasn't the public told that was changing?

7/

Why was there no bid or transparency involving this contract? Even if an emergency procurement was necessary, why didn't we start a bidding process in June or July so we could get bids for services in August?

Why was the contract signed in August if it started in June?

8/

Is there no company in Missouri that can do this work? I know some great folks who can put together PowerPoints and manage calendars, and we have quite a few highly qualified veterans if that's the experience this needs.

9/

Are we intending to exercise the part of the contract that says state employees are going to take over these duties? When? Why does our government have a Chief Operating Officer if we need a contract like this to coordinate the government?

10/

The main focus of the contract is open communication. Why isn't our government communicating with us?

11/

Maybe if it did, it would know that there is a looming eviction crisis. Maybe it would have built a website and put out PSAs to help Missourians easily access rental and utility assistance.

12/

Maybe it would have improved our unemployment system so that people could actually call into it and get help without being dropped from the call several hours in.

13/

Maybe it would have started implementing improved access to affordable health care, like we all just voted for, and like our state government is still suing in federal court to eliminate.

14/

Maybe it could have protected workers on the job and helped companies build safer working environments to reduce the spread of the virus and protect the food supply.

15/

Maybe all of our school districts could have had the resources they need to care for their students, families, and teachers.

16/

This isn't a political issue. The Governor is a Republican. General McChrystal is a Democrat.

This is about that transparency and accountability thing we're all paying for but not getting much of right now.

17/

You can see the contract here: https://awardedsearch.oa.mo.gov/PublicAccess/!CustomSearchPages/PublicAccessProvider.ashx?action=ViewDocument&overrideFormat=PDF

I've requested more documents. I'll get them to you as I have them.

18/18