Missouri Senate President Dave Schatz wants drivers to pay a little more when they get fuel. A Missouri Senate committee is considering whether to ask voters to increase the fee by two cents per year over a five-year period. During a public hearing, Schatz says an increase is necessary to pay for repairs to the […]
Tag: senate
Audio: Parson accuses own members of his party of “insider stunt and petty show of arrogance”
Governor Parson has fired off a three-page letter criticizing House Republican leadership for disrupting his plans to hold last week’s State of the State address in the lower chamber. Parson, a fellow Republican, said four hours before the start of his speech, the House Leader informed him the address could only be given […]
North Central Missouri College announces 2021 Homecoming Royalty Candidates
The candidates for the 2021 North Central Missouri College Homecoming and Alumni Appreciation Day have been announced. Festivities will be held on February 27th when NCMC men’s and women’s basketball take on Region 16 foe Metropolitan Community College. Nominees for king and queen had to be current NCMC sophomores in good standing, nominated by their […]
Audio: The Missouri Senate could bring up controversial education package this week
The Missouri Senate could debate this week a wide-ranging education package. Senate Bill 55, sponsored by Republican Cindy O’Laughlin of northeast Missouri’s Shelbina, is a controversial measure that could change the landscape of K-12 public education. The plan could expand charter schools to any Missouri city with a population greater than 30,000 people. […]
Missouri’s Governor Parson says unemployment benefits paid in error must be returned
(Missouri Independent) – Missourians who were mistakenly paid unemployment benefits by the state should be required to pay that money back, Gov. Mike Parson said Thursday. The Missouri Department of Labor told St. Louis Public Radio last week that the state overpaid roughly $96 million in unemployment benefits between January and September last year. The errors were […]
Audio: Missouri GOP Senate President Pro Tem pushing gasoline tax increase
Missouri’s GOP Senate leader says it’s time to increase the state’s gasoline tax. Brian Hauswirth files this report. Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz (pronounced like shots) of Sullivan will testify before the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday. He’ll present his bill, which would increase Missouri’s gasoline tax by two cents per […]
Audio: Senator Blunt defends Josh Hawley for questioning election results
Senator Roy Blunt is coming to the defense of his Missouri Republican colleague, Senator Josh Hawley, who has been criticized for questioning the results of the presidential election. Several Senate Democrats filed an ethics complaint against Hawley and Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz, is asking the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate whether their actions played […]
Audio: Missouri House approves $324 million to help struggling renters and landlords
The Missouri House has unanimously approved today designating 324 million dollars in federal emergency aid for renters and landlords. The plan could help with some rent and utility costs. Under the bill, renters and landlords could apply for funds through the Missouri Housing Development Commission. The measure, House Bill 16, heads to the Senate for […]
Audio: Medicaid expansion, COVID and early childhood highlight Missouri State of the State Address
Missouri’s governor is pledging to move forward with Medicaid expansion because voters approved it in August. GOP Governor Mike Parson, who campaigned against Medicaid expansion, emphasized the issue during his State of the State Address. Medicaid is a federal and state program that assists with medical costs for residents with limited incomes. 53 […]
Audio: Missouri Senator Roy Blunt says impeaching Trump would be unconstitutional
Missouri U.S. Senator Roy Blunt asserts the effort to impeach former President Donald Trump is unconstitutional. Blunt was one of the 45 Republican senators who voted for a measure declaring the House effort to impeach Trump fell outside of its constitutional powers. Five Republicans joined the 50 Democrats in the US Senate to […]
North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees tackle lengthy agenda including personnel and spring graduation
The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees approved several personnel items on Tuesday evening, January 26th. Former Board Clerk/Secretary Vicki Weaver was granted emeritus status. She was an employee of NCMC for 36 years. She retired at the end of December. President Doctor Lenny Klaver noted in a nomination letter that Weaver “guided NCMC […]
Audio: Missouri Senator proposes to let drivers use deadly force against some protesters
State Senator Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, wants to make it a Class E felony for any protester who interferes with or blocks a public road. Drivers would not be held liable for injuring the demonstrators who block traffic. A provision in the bill says the driver is still liable if they are found to be using […]
Hawley wants an ethics probe of U.S. Senate Democrats who filed complaint against him
(Missouri Independent) – Seven U.S. Senate Democrats urged the chamber’s ethics panel last week to investigate Sen. Josh Hawley’s role in the pro-Trump assault on the Capitol. Now Hawley is calling for an ethics probe of the Democrats. In a Monday letter, Hawley argued that the Democrats filed an improper complaint last week against him and Sen. […]
Audio: Missouri Senate committee considers law enforcement use of force package
The Missouri Senate Judiciary Committee is considering a law enforcement package. During a public hearing, Bill sponsor Brian Williams says the legislation would include restrictions for when officers could use force. Officers would not be allowed to use force against a person already restrained and chokeholds would be banned. Williams, a Democrat from […]
Biden immigration overhaul would open a door to citizenship for 11 million people
(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden is poised to send a sweeping immigration reform bill to Congress Thursday that would lay out a path for nearly 11 million undocumented people to obtain citizenship within eight years. Immigration has been one of the toughest issues for Congress to tackle, and the legislation’s fate is unclear in […]
Audio: Missouri Senate committee approves massive school choice plan
The Missouri Senate Education Committee has sent to the full Senate a comprehensive school choice package. Senate Bill 55 would allow charter schools in any school district located within a charter county as well as in any Missouri city with a population greater than 30,000 people. It would let parents use tax credits […]
Audio: Missouri Senate Committee hears testimony on Second Amendment Preservation Act
Legislation establishing a Second Amendment Preservation Act had support from rural Missourians during a Tuesday Senate committee hearing in Jefferson City. Battlefield GOP State Senator Eric Burlison, the bill sponsor, predicts President-Elect Joe Biden’s administration will push for gun control. Burlison’s bill declares that it’s the duty of the courts and law enforcement […]
Audio: Hawley blocks quick confirmation of Homeland Security head Alejandro Mayorkas
Sen. Josh Hawley said Tuesday that he would block a procedural move to bypass full committee consideration of the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas to lead DHS. “Mr. Mayorkas has not adequately explained how he will enforce federal law and secure the southern border given President-elect Biden’s promise to roll back major enforcement and […]
Effort to stop charging 17-year-olds as adults has stalled in Missouri
(Missouri Independent) – Khadijah Wilson had a bully during her junior year at Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles. She told her principal and teachers about the name-calling, and how the other girl constantly threatened to beat her up. But no one intervened. It went on for several months. “I reported it more […]