The Missouri House is expected to give final approval to a proposed $34.9 billion state operating budget Wednesday in Jefferson City. The House will gavel-in Wednesday morning at 10, and House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, tells Missourinet they’ll take up the budget at that time. He notes the Legislature must approve a balanced budget by […]
Tag: lawmakers
Missouri’s lack of e-commerce use tax means missing out on revenue from items sold online
As Missouri moves to reopen the state’s economy while still respecting social distancing measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, city and county government leaders warn of dire financial problems due to Missouri’s lack of an e-commerce use tax. Callaway County Presiding Commissioner Gary Jungermann said the failure of the Missouri legislature to pass an e-commerce […]
Audio: Supplemental budget passed by Missouri lawmakers expands Medicaid and funding for child care
One of the Missouri House Budget Committee’s senior members says the six-point-two billion dollar supplemental budget approved by the Legislature on Wednesday expands Medicaid to those impacted by the coronavirus and are below the poverty level. Versailles GOP State Representative David Wood chairs the Appropriations subcommittee on social services. The budget contains funding […]
Missouri to receive federal guidance this week on $13 million in coronavirus funding
Missouri’s budget director testified Sunday in Jefferson City that he expects federal guidance early this week on what the Show-Me State can spend its coronavirus funding on. State Budget Director Dan Haug tells the House Budget Committee that Missouri is expected to receive at least $13 million in federal funding. “Right now we do know […]
Missouri Health and Senior Services Director testifies that the state is well-prepared for Coronavirus
Missouri’s health director testified Monday afternoon in Jefferson City that he’s hoping for the best and preparing for the worst regarding the coronavirus. State Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams appeared before the newly-created Missouri House Special Committee on Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Williams testifies there have been no confirmed […]
Medicaid expansion emerging as key issue in Missouri gubernatorial race
Missouri’s GOP governor and his likely November Democratic opponent clashed over the issue of Medicaid expansion, during separate press conferences Tuesday in Jefferson City. Medicaid is a federal and state program that assists with medical costs for residents who have limited incomes. Missouri’s current Medicaid budget is about $10 billion, accounting for about one-third of […]
Audio: Missouri medical marijuana director to testify at Missouri Capitol again next week
The state’s medical marijuana director will be back to testify at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City next Wednesday. Director Lyndall Fraker delivered a presentation to the House Special Committee on Government Oversight yesterday. House Speaker Elijah Haahr tells Capitol reporters that lawmakers are trying to learn more about how the program works. […]
Audio: Missouri Medicaid Director Richardson to present budget this week
The state’s Medicaid director will present his budget to the Missouri House Budget Committee Tuesday morning in Jefferson City. The hearing is set for 8:15. During his January State of the State Address, Governor Mike Parson (R) credited former House Speaker and current Medicaid director Todd Richardson for finding $84 million in savings, in the Medicaid […]
What you need to know about Governor Parson’s proposed prison budget
Governor Mike Parson’s proposed state budget of $30.5 billion includes $825 million to fund the Missouri Department of Corrections and the 21 prisons it operates. The plan is about a $44 million increase compared to the current fiscal year. Parson wants to reduce the number of housing units within Missouri’s prison system. During a House […]
Audio: Missouri lawyer says federal background check system used for firearms sales is faulty
A southwest Missouri trial lawyer says the federal background check system used for firearms sales is faulty. During a Monday hearing before an interim Missouri Senate committee studying the state’s gun violence problem, Craig Heidemann of Springfield, says Missouri is not providing mental health information to the database, to keep guns away from unstable people. […]
Audio: Missouri agriculture group representative reacts to Trump’s biofuels plan
The Trump Administration has released a plan to boost an unspecified amount of ethanol that oil refineries must add to their fuel starting in 2020. The Environmental Protection Agency says the rules would ensure that more than 15 billion gallons of ethanol be blended into the fuel supply. Bradley Schad with the Missouri Corn Growers […]
Missouri Lt. Governor says Missourians to decide if gasoline tax increase is needed
The state’s lieutenant governor says Missourians will have to decide whether a gasoline tax increase is needed. Missouri’s 17-cent gasoline tax has remained the same since 1996. Last November, voters rejected a proposed ten-cent gas tax increase. At his campaign announcement, last week at Jefferson City’s Memorial Park, Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe (R) told the audience […]
Audio: Missouri lawmakers to join striking autoworkers at GM Fairfax plant
At least six Missouri Democratic state lawmakers will be joining striking autoworkers on the GM picket line today (Friday) in Kansas City, The General Motors plant in Fairfax is minutes away from downtown Kansas City and makes the Cadillac XT4 and the Chevrolet Malibu. Today (Friday) is day five of the United Auto […]
Audio: Another child dead by gunshot in St. Louis County
Another child died from a gunshot Thursday in the St. Louis area, this time at an apartment complex in north St. Louis County. St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said officers had to drive the four-year-old to the hospital while trying to save his life. Governor Mike Parson met with city and county leaders […]
‘Back the Blue’ Missouri license plate now available
Law enforcement officials and lawmakers came together Tuesday to unveil a new license plate that will give Missourians an opportunity to show their support for the men and women who protect and serve. Missouri drivers now have the option to obtain a new “Back the Blue” license plate to express their support for law enforcement. […]
Audio: Missouri Special Session begins Monday at Statehouse in Jefferson City
Missouri lawmakers will return to Jefferson City today (Monday) for a special session involving a complicated State Supreme Court ruling about vehicle sales. Governor Mike Parson announced in August that he’s calling the special session over the Supreme Court’s “Kehlenbrink vs. Department of Revenue” case. The Supreme Court’s summer ruling involves using the […]
Construction wages cut in half by new prevailing wage rules
According to Jeff Phillips, Communications and Outreach Manager of the Laborers International Union of North America in St. Joseph, construction workers in many rural Missouri counties are working for less this Labor Day holiday. Missouri’s new prevailing wage law has cut wages for construction workers in many counties, sometimes by more than half. The new […]
Dozens of Missouri legislative bills become law today
Historically, most of the bills passed during the Missouri Legislature’s regular session become law on August 28. Of the roughly 2,100 measures filed this year, 144 proposals made it across the finish line. Dozens of proposals become official today. Here is a snapshot of 10 key measures taking effect: Education funding In the fiscal year […]
Audio: A group of state lawmakers want to talk about gun violence in the special session
A group of state lawmakers want to talk about gun violence in the special legislative session on September 11. The Missouri Legislative Black Caucus in a letter asked Governor to add consideration of a law to allow municipalities with high incidents of gun violence to pass their own gun control legislation. The caucus […]