The Missouri Legislature is expected to make highway funding a top issue in the upcoming session, according to Triple-A spokesman Mike Right. Right says one of the reasons November’s ballot measure failed was likely from “bait and switch” language. Proposition D would have increased the gas tax by two and a half cents […]
State Representative Jim Hansen of northeast Missouri’s Frankford plans to ask the legislature to pass a total ban on texting while driving. Missouri is one of the only states in the country without a total ban on texting while driving. Hansen hopes his proposed ban on texting while driving will get some traction […]
Auditor Nicole Galloway has released her review of the state’s home and community-based services program to assist disabled and elderly Medicaid-eligible Missourians. The report examined the effectiveness of recent cost-saving measures approved by the legislature and recommended continued improvement to processes for determining and authorizing individual need. The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) […]
People languishing in federal prison for decades on nonviolent drug convictions may get a new chance at justice if the U.S. Senate finds the political will to pass sentencing reform in the final weeks of the lame-duck session. Groups on both left and right on the political spectrum support the First Step Act, a series of […]
Missouri lawmakers could be considering a far-reaching abortion restriction in the upcoming legislative session. Republican state Representative Nick Schroer of O’Fallon pre-filed a bill this week that would prohibit doctors from performing abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. The measure, which allows for exceptions in medical emergencies, would ban most abortions after […]
Despite the failure of a Right-to-Work ballot measure this year, a bill will return to the Missouri Legislature in 2019. The state legislature will be asked next year whether to bar Missouri businesses from requiring workers to pay mandatory union fees. The bill is being sponsored by Republican Senator-Elect Eric Burlison of Springfield. […]
State Senator-elect Cindy O’Laughlin thinks citizens have a mistrust of Missouri’s government because departments are poorly managed. She says it’s predictable that they would oppose propositions like the gas tax that failed in November’s election. The Shelbina Republican says lawmakers don’t have confidence that lawmakers are spending money wisely. She says […]
Incoming Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz announced his intention to appoint Senator Dan Hegeman as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The 100th Missouri General Assembly will convene its first regular legislative session on Wednesday, January 9. The Appropriations Committee is tasked with giving preliminary approval to the state operating budget for each fiscal […]
Cindy O’Laughlin is one of nine new State Senators who’ll join the next Missouri legislature in January. She’s one of five Republican newcomers to receive at least 70% of the vote in GOP dominated mostly rural districts. O’Laughlin said campaigning became a fulltime job for her. The businesswoman from Shelbina says the time […]
While the outgoing chairman of the Missouri House Veterans Committee is pleased with the House’s accomplishments for veterans during his tenure, he admits not all of his priorities passed. Webb City GOP State Representative Charlie Davis is leaving the Legislature, because of term limits. Davis is proud of the House’s accomplishments for veterans. […]
A southwest Missouri lawmaker who’s leaving Jefferson City because of term limits says he’s “shocked” that voters rejected a ten-cent gasoline tax increase last Tuesday. Webb City GOP State Representative Charlie Davis has a lot of truckers in his district. While he’s shocked at the vote, Webb City GOP State Representative Charlie Davis […]
There’s disagreement among farmers over the Clean Missouri ballot measure to redraw voting districts. The Missouri Farm Bureau opposes the proposal, claiming it would weaken the power of rural voters. Mid-Missouri cattle rancher Susan Williams says Cooper County where she lives is already disenfranchised because it’s divided into four legislative districts. Former Missouri […]
