On Monday, May 31, 2021, Governor Mike Parson granted 36 pardons pursuant to Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Missouri. Official pardon documents have been filed with the appropriate government agencies and are being sent to the individuals. Governor Parson has instructed his legal team to continue reviewing clemency files […]
In 2008, Congress passed and then-President George W. Bush signed into law a bill requiring health insurance companies to cover mental health the same as any other health problems. Thirteen years after the measure became law, Missouri is the only state not yet enforcing that law. Two bills pass this year would ban insurance companies […]
A bill awaiting action by Governor Parson would crackdown on drivers with a commercial vehicle license who are convicted of human trafficking. State Representative Becky Ruth of eastern Missouri’s Festus sponsored the bill. She says drivers with a CDL license are often involved in sex trafficking. The bill also penalizes people with a […]
The governor is expected to sign off on the gas tax increase, but an advocacy group is moving forward in trying to put the question on a general election ballot. Lawmakers approved the state’s 17-cent-a-gallon gas tax to 29.5 cents over five years, including a refund if consumers collect receipts. The increase is […]
Governor Mike Parson granted 36 pardons under Article IV, Section 7 of the Constitution of the State of Missouri. Official pardon documents have been filed with the appropriate government agencies and are being sent to the individuals. In the interest of privacy, the Governor’s Office will not immediately release the names of the individuals granted […]
(Missouri Independent – The simmering division among Republicans over a bill crucial to funding Missouri’s Medicaid program boiled over this week, with the state senator at the center of the debate calling for a change in the chamber’s leadership. Sen. Paul Wieland, R-Imperial, led the charge to include language banning the use of taxpayer money […]
(Missouri Independent) – From statehouses to Congress, Republicans have launched into a fight against the teaching of “critical race theory,” which just a year ago was a niche academic term. Experts in critical race theory say it’s about acknowledging how racial disparities are embedded in U.S history and society, and the concept is being mischaracterized […]
Sedalia State Representative Brad Pollitt says the government should reward workers who have worked throughout the pandemic, instead of giving more “government handouts” like unemployment benefits. Pollitt says he pleaded with Governor Parson’s Office to stop taking the 300-dollar-per-week federal coronavirus-related unemployment benefits. On June 12, Missouri will no longer take […]
Saying that there’s a labor shortage across Missouri, Governor Mike Parson (R) has issued a directive to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to end all federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits. Missouri’s House Democratic Leader is blasting the decision. Governor Parson made the announcement during a Tuesday afternoon briefing at the Statehouse in Jefferson […]
Governor Mike Parson has appointed the Honorable Robin Ransom as the next Judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri. She will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Laura Denvir Stith in early March. “Appointing a judge to the Supreme Court of Missouri is an important duty that I do not take […]
(Missouri Independent) – Missourians voted to legalize medical marijuana in 2018. But under federal law, growing, transporting, or selling marijuana remains a crime. Unsurprisingly, that dynamic has created a lot of headaches for the fledgling industry. One notable example: Unlike every other legal business in the state, marijuana companies are prohibited from deducting business expenses […]
The Missouri Veterans Commission last held a special meeting to look deeper into its finances because they are in a deficit. Much of its money comes from unpredictable sources, like gaming and medical marijuana revenue, and the latter, medical marijuana, is paying for lawsuits over its licensing. Kelly McClelland is the new MVC Commissioner and […]
The next state budget does not include funding to expand Medicaid healthcare coverage to another 275-thousand low-income Missouri adults. The Republican-controlled Missouri Legislature refused to fund the expansion – setting up an expected court battle. John Rizzo, the top Democrat in the Missouri Senate, says the GOP is more concerned about their next office. […]
(Missouri Independent) – Republicans in the Missouri Senate should move to shut off debate if a filibuster blocks anti-abortion lawmakers from putting their stamp on provider taxes that fund Medicaid, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said in an interview with The Independent this week. The advice was not, however, well received by the Senate’s Republican or […]
Bipartisan legislation toughening penalties on residents who KNOWINGLY release feral hogs in Missouri is now on the governor’s desk. The Missouri House voted 150-1 to give final approval to the bill from Speed State Representative Tim Taylor, before Friday’s adjournment. Under Taylor’s bill, repeat offenders would be charged with a felony for each feral swine […]
The governor traveled to eastern Missouri’s Moscow Mills on Tuesday to help cut the ribbon on a three-million-dollar expansion project at one of the town’s largest manufacturers. Governor Mike Parson says the expansion at Elite Tool is creating 20 new jobs. The new jobs will pay an average salary of more than 41-thousand […]
The state Legislature did not end up passing a bill this session that would let about 46,000 Missourians keep extra unemployment relief the state mistakenly gave them. Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden of Columbia says a fix could be part of a special session. Early on, Governor Parson supported the idea of the […]
Missouri’s GOP House Speaker and the House Elections Committee chairman are disappointed that the GOP-controlled Senate did not approve legislation on voter ID and initiative petition reform. Speaker Rob Vescovo tells Missourinet he’ll review Election Chairman Dan Shaul’s request that the governor call a special session. The Missouri House gave final approval in […]
(Missouri Independent) – The pathway to renewing provider taxes essential to funding Medicaid before Missouri lawmakers adjourn for the year became much narrower when issues raised by abortion opponents forced removal of the taxes from a health care bill. When a conference committee met to work out differences between the House and Senate on the bill, […]
Another session of the Missouri Legislature has come and gone. Of the 1,559 House bills and 689 Senate bills filed this time around, 69 bills will make it to Gov. Mike Parson’s desk. Here are some key bills left up to the governor to sign or veto: Missouri lawmakers vote to pump up […]
