A northwest Missouri state senator who worked to exempt federal stimulus payments from state income tax last year will work to keep the state’s hands off the latest round of checks. Senator Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican from Parkville, says the state should not be taxing checks meant to help people during a time of crisis. […]
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Holding Medicaid hostage over birth control defies law and reason
(Missouri Independent) – While playing politics with healthcare in Missouri is certainly nothing new, holding Missouri Medicaid hostage over basic birth control is a stunning — and consequential — shift. As captured in headlines across the state, state Sen. Paul Wieland has put the entire Missouri Medicaid program in jeopardy with his late-night amendment to a […]
Audio: Former Governor Greitens counting on southeast Missouri for GOP Senate nomination
Former Governor Eric Greitens says he’ll need the support of southeast Missouri to win the GOP U-S Senate nomination next year. That region was crucial to Greitens’ upset win in the 2016 gubernatorial race against Democrat Chris Koster: Greitens spoke to Missourinet Cape Girardeau television partner KFVS. Greitens and Attorney General Eric Schmitt […]
Audio: Jesus’ name invoked by both parties as Missouri House approves $34 billion budget, without Medicaid expansion
After a heated floor debate that included numerous biblical references, the Missouri House voted Thursday afternoon to give final approval to a $34.1 billion state operating budget. The House budget does not contain funding for Medicaid expansion. The operating budget now heads to the Missouri Senate, and Medicaid expansion supporters hope senators will include the […]
Hawley calls for Biden to extend freeze on foreign worker visas
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to extend President Donald Trump’s executive order freezing visas for certain temporary foreign workers, which will expire today, March 31, 2021, unless President Biden acts. Senator Hawley writes that the temporary freeze, issued to protect American workers during the pandemic, should be extended […]
Audio:” Missouri bill would re-direct federal stimulus checks for prisoners who owe restitution
A northwest Missouri state senator wants to re-direct federal stimulus payments which might be heading to prisoners who owe money to victims. Senator Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican from, Parkville, sponsors the measure being considered during the legislative session in Jefferson City. Luetkemeyer’s bill could head to the Senate floor at any time. Congress […]
Audio: Missouri Senate gives preliminary approval to requiring a prescription drug monitoring program
Missouri is another step closer to getting a statewide prescription drug monitoring program. The state Senate has given initial approval to Senator Holly Rehder’s nine-year quest to require a centralized database to help the medical community look for cases of suspected misuse of painkillers. Lake St. Louis Senator Bob Onder, a fellow Republican, […]
Audio: Missouri Senate passes bill that would ban police chokeholds
Police chokeholds could be banned in Missouri. The Missouri Senate has overwhelmingly passed a wide-ranging bill that would ban them. Parkville Senator Tony Luetkemeyer’s plan would also let Kansas City police officers live outside of city limits, and ban officers from having sexual contact with someone they have detained or jailed. The plan […]
Audio: Southern Missouri Congressman Jason Smith considering Senate run; criticizes Biden on border wall suspension
A southern Missouri congressman who serves as the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee says he’s considering a run for the U-S Senate in 2022. Salem Congressman Jason Smith spoke to Missourinet Monday (last) evening in Jefferson City, outside the Statehouse: Former Governor Eric Greitens and Attorney General Eric Schmitt, both Republicans, […]
Audio: Missouri Senate Committee to hear testimony Tuesday on school bus safety legislation
A state senator from Kansas City wants to see a task force study school bus safety, particularly the effectiveness of seat belts. Kansas City State Senator Greg Razer will testify today (Tuesday) before the Missouri Senate Transportation and Public Safety Committee. His bill would establish the Joint Task Force on School Bus Safety […]
Audio: 65% of Missourians 65 and older have received at least their first coronavirus vaccination
About 65-percent of Missourians 65 and older have been given at least their first coronavirus vaccination. During a Missouri House committee hearing, Robert Knodell, the governor’s deputy chief of staff, confirmed the figure. He says the state is going to reach a point when supply is not a challenge. Governor Parson says Missouri’s […]
Missouri Attorney General files suit against Treasury Department over provision in American Rescue Plan concerning state tax cuts
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has filed a lawsuit against the United States Department of the Treasury and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen over the interpretation of a mandate in the American Rescue Plan Act that would force states to choose between accepting COVID-19 relief funds or exercising their sovereignty over state tax policy. “As a […]
Audio: Missouri senator attempts to expand LGBTQ protections
State Senator Greg Razer says minds are shifting about changing the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act. The Kansas City Democrat has filed legislation that would ban discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identity for things like housing, financial help, employment, or the use of public restrooms. Razer, who is openly gay, says he has talked to […]
Missouri updates demographic estimates used in vaccination dashboard
Missouri’s COVID-19 vaccination dashboard was updated this afternoon to reflect the current state of COVID-19 demographics among Missourians. When Missouri’s vaccination dashboard was initially created, the method used relied on national population demographic percentages which were attributed to Missouri, and not taking into account the differences between Missouri’s demographic landscape and national averages. Going forward, Missouri-specific demographic […]
Lawmakers introduce legislation to close loophole in Child Citizenship Act preventing citizenship from those raised by American parents
U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.), Mazie K. Hirono (Hawaii), Susan Collins (Maine), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), and Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) announced that they have introduced the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2021. The bipartisan bill would close a loophole in the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (CCA), which has prevented internationally-adopted children, who are […]
Chillicothe Police Department receives grants to improve 911 call service and implement mobile communications center
Chillicothe/Livingston County E-911 Coordinator Cindy Hanavan applied for and received two grants in 2020 through the Office of Homeland Security/Department of Public Safety for the Next Generation 911. The Chillicothe Police Department reports the federal grants will pay 60% of the total cost of the project, and the city/county pays the other 40%. The total […]
Evanston, Illinois to provide housing grants as form of reparations
Black residents of Evanston, who lived in the city between 1919 and 1969 or are direct descendants of someone who did, can start receiving what the City Council calls reparations in early to mid-summer, in the form of housing grants. The plan is to provide $25,000 grants for home repairs, mortgage assistance, or down payments, to […]
Audio: Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden says Greitens still unfit for office; Schatz has similar feelings about the ex-governor
Missouri Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden of Columbia has strong words about fellow Republican Eric Greitens running for the U.S. Senate. Greitens resigned as governor in 2018 after allegations about federal campaign donation violations, taking a half-nude photo of his former mistress without her permission, improperly taking a donor list to bankroll his […]
Audio: Missouri Senate gives final approval to legislation keeping sex offenders away from Missouri conservation areas
Legislation aimed at keeping registered sex offenders away from state Conservation areas has been given final approval today (Thursday) by the Missouri Senate. Riddle notes current Missouri law bans sex offenders from being 500 feet of public parks with playground equipment, public swimming pools, and children’s museums. The only exception would be a […]