U.S. Senator Roy Blunt announced he would not seek re-election to the United States Senate in 2022. The Missouri Republican Party reports it’s grateful for everything Senator Blunt has done for Missouri and The United States. Senator Blunt began his service to Missouri as the Greene County Clerk. This position would lead him to become […]
Tag: senate
Audio: 15 cent per gallon gas tax legislation expected to go to Missouri Senate this week
Missouri lawmakers will be tackling several key issues this week, including a proposed gas tax increase and changing the makeup of the Missouri Conservation Commission. Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz of Sullivan tells Missourinet he expects his proposal to increase the motor fuel tax to go to the Senate floor this week. […]
Video Interview: Senator Hawley wants separate minimum wage hike and immediate tax credit for blue-collar workers works
Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley voted Friday against adding a minimum wage hike to the current COVID-19 relief bill in the Senate but is calling for a higher minimum wage — and a tax credit for some blue-collar workers. Hawley, in a stand-alone bill, would require companies that make more than $1 billion annually to […]
Every Republican, including Senator Blunt, voted no on $2 trillion budget bill
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement today after voting against Democrats’ nearly $2 trillion budget reconciliation bill. The far-reaching legislation includes $1,400 stimulus checks, $300-per-week jobless benefits through the summer, a child allowance of up to $3,600 for one year, $350 billion for state aid, $34 billion to expand the Affordable Care Act subsidies, and $14 billion for vaccine distribution. […]
Audio: Missouri House passes bill about 46,000 Missourians mistakenly given virus unemployment benefits
Missourians who were mistakenly paid coronavirus unemployment benefits might not have to return the federal portion, but they still might owe the state’s share. The Missouri House has passed a bill affecting roughly 46-thousand Missourians who received the benefits in error and have been told by the state to pay up. During debate, Nixa Republican […]
Missouri Senate confirms Phil Hoffman to Coordinating Board for Higher Education
The Missouri Senate confirmed three appointments for new members to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. Governor Mike Parson last week announced the appointment of Phil Hoffman of Trenton, Anne-Marie Clarke of Saint Louis, and Hollie Elliot of Fair Grove. Hoffman will represent District 6. He has served as the manager of the Hoffman Reed […]
Audio: Missouri lawmakers are looking into foreign ownership of Missouri farmland.
A Democratic state lawmaker from St. Louis County wants to ban foreign companies from buying more farmland in Missouri. Democratic Senator Doug Beck, of Affton who is sponsoring the proposal, told members of a Senate panel Monday it is a national security issue, as well as a food security issue. Under current law, […]
Audio: School choice legislation and gas tax legislation could go to Missouri Senate floor this week
Legislation to increase Missouri’s gasoline tax is expected to go to the state Senate floor for debate this week, according to Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz. Schatz spoke to Missourinet Sullivan affiliate KTUI. His legislation would increase Missouri’s gasoline tax by 15 cents per gallon, by 2027. Missouri’s 17 cents-per-gallon gas tax […]
Blunt backs bill to require Congressional approval before any Iran sanctions relief is granted
Roy Blunt (Mo.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, announced that he is an original cosponsor of the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2021. The bill, introduced by U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (Tenn.), would enable Congress to approve – or block – any administration effort to suspend or terminate U.S. sanctions […]
Lawmakers propose permanent tax credit to stimulate development in nation’s underserved areas
U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Ben Cardin (Md.) have introduced a measure to permanently extend the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), which has created jobs and driven investment in neighborhoods with high poverty and unemployment rates. The New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act (S.456) will permanently authorize a 39 percent federal tax credit for […]
Audio: Missouri U.S. House of Representatives respond to stimulus package passed on Saturday
A one-point-nine-trillion-dollar pandemic relief package heads to the U-S Senate after approval by the Democratic-controlled U.S. House. The plan featuring $1,400 stimulus checks passed early Saturday with no Republican support. Missouri GOP Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler says it’s “serving as an excuse to spend our tax money on unnecessary things completely unrelated to the […]
Audio: After years of attempts, Missouri House passes private schooling tax credit bill
After years of attempts, the state House has voted to pass a bill that would let donors provide scholarships for students to attend a private Missouri K-12 school. In return, they would get state tax credits. Under the bill, students with special needs and those who qualify for free and reduce price school meals would […]
Lawmakers reintroduce Kelsey Smith Act to assist law enforcement with locating kidnap victims
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) joined U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (Kan.) and Deb Fischer (Neb.) in introducing the Kelsey Smith Act. The bill, named for 18-year-old Kelsey Smith who was abducted and murdered in 2007, would strengthen law enforcement’s ability to lawfully and quickly access cell phone location information, or ping information when a person […]
Who defines the Missouri GOP: Roy Blunt, Josh Hawley or Eric Greitens?
(Missouri Independent) – The eyes of the nation turned to U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley over the holidays when he became the first senator to announce an objection to the certification of presidential electors. But the eyes of local politicos turned instead to his home-state colleague, Missouri’s senior senator. How would Roy Blunt — up for […]
Missouri Republicans look to reinstate voter ID requirement
(Missouri Independent) – About 137,700 registered voters in Missouri did not have a state-issued identification in 2017, according to an analysis from the Secretary of State’s Office. Another 140,000 voters had expired IDs, and 2,000 more voters had forfeited their driver’s licenses. Under a bill passed Wednesday in the Missouri House, those registered voters would either have to […]
Governor appoints Trenton resident to Coordinating Board for Higher Education
Governor Mike Parson has appointed a Trenton resident to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. C. Phillip Hoffman’s appointment was one of five appointments Parson announced to boards and commissions on February 24th. Hoffman worked for his family’s agriculture input supply business since 1976. GFG Agriservices acquired the family business in 2014. He and his […]
Missouri cities, counties in line for millions from federal COVID relief bill
(Missouri Independent) – The plan for distributing money directly to Missouri counties in the current version of the $1.9 trillion federal coronavirus relief bill is pretty simple – each gets $195.44 per person. But for cities, instead of a formula based on population, Congress divvies up the money using the method for determining Community Development Block Grant allocations. […]
Audio: Missouri Senate passes protections against COVID-19 lawsuits
The Missouri Senate has passed a bill that would protect some businesses and organizations from COVID-19 exposure lawsuits. The legislation is designed to protect businesses like health care providers, manufacturers, schools, and churches from such lawsuits in many instances. Under the bill, the lawsuits must be filed within a year of an alleged COVID-19 exposure. […]
Audio: Senator Hawley questions Attorney General nominee on “defund the police”
On Capitol Hill this week, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned U.S. Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland. Garland said that getting to the bottom of the January 6th attack on Congress was a priority.