The Missouri House has voted unanimously to expel Lee’s Summit Representative Rick Roeber. The House Ethics Committee released an investigative report this week about allegations that Roeber, a Republican, abused his four adult children when they were younger. It says two of the children were allegedly sexually abused and two others reported being physically abused. […]
Tag: Republic
Audio: Anti-Grain Belt Express bill gets another Senate hearing with testimony lasting two hours
The Grain Belt Express project plans to run wind power transmission lines across eight rural counties in northern Missouri—from Buchanan through Ralls. Though the Public Service Commission has approved it and the commission’s approval won a court challenge, agricultural opponents have once again found support in the Legislature. The Missouri House passed HB 527 to stop utility […]
Audio: Missouri House considers attaching provision to bill to restrict transgender high school athletes
The Missouri House debated Tuesday a bill that could include a provision limiting who transgender high school athletes can compete against. The amendment, offered by Rocheport Republican Representative Chuck Basye, proposes to only allow the students to play in coed or sex-separated sports based upon their biological sex. Kansas City Democrat Maggie Nurrenbern […]
Missouri spending bill would offer money for mortgage help, utility bills
(Missouri Independent) – Help may be coming for Missouri homeowners behind on their mortgage payments because of COVID-19 income losses. The Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday added $150 million in federal mortgage assistance funds to the supplemental spending bill for the current fiscal year, one of several new sections using money from pandemic relief bills passed by Congress […]
Panel recommends Missouri House expel Republican accused of sexually abusing his children
(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri House Ethics Committee voted unanimously on Monday to recommend Rep. Rick Roeber be expelled from the Legislature. The committee, made up of five Republicans and five Democrats, said evidence obtained over the course of its four-month investigation confirmed Roeber had sexually abused two of his children in 1990 when they […]
Audio: Missouri House wants to crack down on porch pirates
The Missouri House of Representatives wants to crack down on porch pirates. It has passed a bill that would make the first offense of stealing a package a misdemeanor and any following offense would be a felony. State Representative Adam Schwadron, a Republican from St. Charles, is the sponsor of the plan. The […]
Audio: Hawley votes against legislation designed to fight hate crimes against Asian Americans
Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley has voted against legislation designed to fight hate crimes against Asian Americans. Hawley, a Republican, was one of only six lawmakers who opposed the measure. Hate crimes against Asian Americans have been increasingly reported during the pandemic and the bill would speed up a U.S. Department of Justice […]
Audio: Missouri House gives initial approval to letting guns in churches and on public transportation
The Missouri House of Representatives has given initial approval to a wide-ranging gun bill. The plan would allow concealed guns in places of worship. Current law requires churchgoers to first get the okay from church leaders before they bring them on site. The legislation would also let people bring guns on public transportation, […]
Audio: Missouri House passes bill intended to help the state’s growing HIV problem
Missouri pharmacists could be allowed to give HIV preexposure and postexposure medication without a prescription. The state House has unanimously passed a bill that would allow them to provide customers with a 30-day supply once every two years. Representative Phil Christofanelli, a Republican from St. Peters, is sponsoring the bill. Christofanelli, who is openly gay, […]
Audio: President Biden’s gun plan not sitting well with Republicans in Missouri Legislature
President Biden has signed six executive orders aimed at reducing gun violence. They include tightening buyer restrictions for often untraceable homemade firearms. Another one would make it easier for states to adopt laws that could let the police take weapons from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. During a press conference, State Senate […]
Todd Graves approved for University of Missouri curators despite bipartisan filibuster
(Missouri Independent) – A bipartisan coalition of state Senators was unable to stop politically connected Kansas City attorney Todd Graves from winning a seat on the University of Missouri Board of Curators. After a two-round filibuster — three hours last week and eight more hours ending around 1 a.m. Wednesday — the Senate voted 19-13 to […]
Audio: Some state agencies working on VERY antiquated systems, says Senate Budget chairman Dan Hegeman
Some state agencies are working with the oldest computer operating systems- and still using them, mainly because of the costs associated with upgrading and replacing these outdated programs. That’s according to State Senate Budget Chairman Dan Hegeman. As Missourians well know- one of those is the Missouri Department of Revenue. Some of the systems […]
Missouri State Fair awards scholarships to 4-H and FFA youth
Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe announced today that 40 youth, selected from Missouri 4-H and FFA State Fair exhibitors, will be awarded scholarships by the Missouri State Fair and the Youth in Agriculture (YIA) committee. These students are seeking higher education at a Missouri university/college. “Cultivating Missouri agriculture youth is at the core of […]
Audio: Parson’s pick for University of Missouri Board of Curators having an uphill battle in Missouri Senate
The governor’s choice to serve on the University of Missouri System Board of Curators is having an uphill battle in the state Senate. Senators on both sides of the aisle blocked an attempt last week to consider the nomination of Todd Graves to the University of Missouri System Board of Curators. Graves, a former state […]
Audio: Northwest Missouri Senator works to exempt stimulus payments from state income tax
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. […]
Audio: Will the Missouri Senate back the House’s attempt to defund Medicaid expansion? Senate President Dave Schatz weighs in
The Missouri House has passed the next state operating budget – without funding voter-approved Medicaid expansion. The $34.1 billion budget plan is now in the hands of the Republican-controlled Senate. Missouri Senate President Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, gives his thoughts to Missourinet affiliate KTUI in Sullivan about whether he expects the upper chamber to fund the expansion. […]
Missouri House plan to reject Medicaid expansion faces uncertain fate in the Senate
(Missouri Independent) – Republicans in the Missouri House finalized their plan to block funding for voter-approved Medicaid expansion on Thursday, giving final approval to its version of the state’s budget and sending it to the Senate. What happens next remains unclear. House Democratic Leader Crystal Quade said she’s confident the Senate will restore the $1.9 […]
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 […]
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: Governor Parson responds to House’s effort to block Medicaid expansion funding
The Republican-controlled Missouri House has given initial approval to defunding a Medicaid expansion effort approved by voters last year. The chamber could vote to use the governor’s one-point-nine billion dollar budget request for the expansion to instead help seniors in nursing homes, the developmentally disabled, and expand mental health programs, among other things. Here is […]