U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement on the congressional certification of the Electoral College results of the 2020 presidential election: “President Trump won the votes of millions of Americans. I supported President Trump and served as co-chair of his campaign in Missouri. “I defended the president’s right to pursue all legal options […]
Tag: state law
Missouri State Auditor issues report on use of highway funds
State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released an audit of the use of highway funds by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a division of the Missouri Department of Public Safety. The audit, required by state law, includes a review of the Highway Patrol’s management of its appropriations from the State Highways and Transportation Fund. During […]
Lack of adequate funding has left county taxpayers bearing incarceration costs of state prisoners
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released an audit of the County Reimbursement Program, which reimburses county governments for certain costs for housing and transporting state prisoners. The program is administered by the Missouri Department of Corrections. The audit found that a combination of delayed reimbursements due to lack of state funding and increasing incarceration […]
Missouri Attorney General joins multistate lawsuit against Google for anticompetitive practices and deceptive online display advertising
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt joined a multistate coalition of 10 states in filing a lawsuit against Google for multiple alleged violations of federal and state antitrust laws, including anticompetitive conduct, exclusionary practices, and deceptive misrepresentations in connection with its role in the multibillion-dollar online display advertising industry. “In this lawsuit, we allege that Google […]
Missouri Attorney joins multistate lawsuit seeking to end Facebook’s illegal monopoly
Attorney General Eric Schmitt joined a bipartisan coalition of 48 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against Facebook Inc., alleging that the company illegally stifles competition to protect its monopoly power. The filing can be found here. The lawsuit alleges that, over the last decade, the social networking giant illegally acquired competitors in a predatory manner […]
Grundy County Health Department and Health Officer Elizabeth Gibson issues “Public Health Order”
The Grundy County Health Department and Health Officer Elizabeth Gibson have issued a Public Health Order requiring face coverings or masks to be worn to prevent or limit the spread of COVID-19. The order goes into effect on December 11th. Gibson notes the intent of the order is to create safer environments for all residents […]
Trenton residents to decide in April election on enacting a local “Use Tax” for online out-of-state purchases
City of Trenton voters will get to decide next April on whether to enact a local “Use Tax” involving online purchases from out-of-state vendors which primarily involves the dot com and dot net vendors. The eight-member council voted unanimously on Monday night to let the voters decide. The rate is to be no more than […]
Audio: $76 Million in to be deployed to Missouri’s K-12 schools, once Governor signs supplemental budget
About $76 million in federal money will be heading to Missouri’s k-12 schools, once Governor Mike Parson signs the supplemental budget bill. House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, says the $1.27 billion supplemental budget includes $75.6 million for school nutrition services. “i.e., paying for meals in k-12 education,” Smith says. “So this […]
Trenton City Council to consider mask mandate at Monday meeting
The Trenton City Council will consider an ordinance the night of December 7th establishing a requirement for face coverings to control and reduce the spread of COVID-19. The ordinance would require persons at least 10 years old to wear a face mask any time they are or will be in contact with others who are […]
Audio: Missouri Legislature will be asked to change part of Missouri’s voter ID law
The Missouri Legislature will be asked to change part of Missouri’s voter ID law. State Senator Bob Onder wants to put an end to a provision in state law allowing voters without certain identification to still vote by signing a statement saying they are who they say they are. Onder, a Republican from Lake St. […]
Missouri state auditor releases 2020 property tax rates review
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released her office’s annual review of local property tax rates. The State Auditor’s Office reviews rates to determine whether the rates are compliant with state law and to monitor rate adjustments to ensure revenue neutrality, as required by law. The office does not make recommendations on property tax rates […]
Missouri lawmaker: State employees and teachers should receive pay raises, not elected officials
A veteran state lawmaker from southeast Missouri will file a resolution this week, aimed at blocking proposed pay increases for state lawmakers and for statewide elected officials. State Rep. Andrew McDaniel, R-Deering, was first elected to the Missouri House in 2014 and will be a senior member in January during his final House term in […]
State auditor says fund transfers, budgeting process in Jackson County left taxpayers in the dark
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released a report on Jackson County government focusing on budgeting and funds transfers which found that more can be done to ensure transparency in county spending. The audit was completed at the request of the Jackson County Legislature and the recommendation of the county executive. “Jackson County taxpayers deserve […]
Audio: Southeast Missouri lawmaker will file resolution to block proposed pay raises for state lawmakers
A veteran state lawmaker from southeast Missouri will file a resolution this week, aimed at blocking proposed pay increases for state lawmakers and statewide elected officials. Deering GOP State Representative Andrew McDaniel has voted against previous pay raises for lawmakers, and says it’s state employees and teachers who should receive a raise: The […]
Audio: Missouri’s Senate President Pro Tem to review report recommending pay increases for lawmakers
A bipartisan committee is recommending a five percent pay increase for Missouri lawmakers AND for statewide elected officials. The Citizen’s Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials has made the recommendation. While he hasn’t seen their report yet, Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz says the commission’s work is independent. The “Springfield News-Leader” reports […]
With no statewide mandate in Missouri, more local governments are requiring masks
(Missouri Independent) – In early July, the Columbia City Council passed an ordinance requiring everyone over 10 years old to wear a face mask when in close contact with someone from outside their household. Since that vote, a requirement for face masks has been in every health order issued for the city of 123,000 by the Columbia-Boone […]
Police chokeholds, no-knock warrants spark debate in Missouri House committee
(Missouri Independent) – As state lawmakers mull the idea of restricting police use of chokeholds or no-knock warrants, they are facing pushback from law enforcement organizations who contend decisions should be made at the local level. The House Special Committee on Criminal Justice met for three hours on Monday to explore the possibility of passing […]
Applications now open for Missouri State Highway Patrol Commercial Vehicle Officer
The Director of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division of the Missouri State Highway Patrol invites individuals to take the written test for the position of commercial vehicle officer. Examination dates and locations are as follows: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on December 5, 2020 Troop A Headquarters, 504 S.E. Blue Parkway, Lee’s Summit, MO Troop […]
Voters repeal Clean Missouri redistricting plan they enacted in 2018
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri voters on Tuesday repealed a constitutional amendment they enacted in 2018 that would have required legislative districts be drawn to ensure partisan fairness. They replaced it with one that critics contend could forgo the use of total population to draw districts and instead exclude all non-voters, specifically children and non-citizens — tilting the political […]
Missouri Supreme Court: There is no constitutional right to absentee or mail-in voting
The Missouri Supreme Court rejected the arguments of voting rights groups that voters who are afraid of contracting COVID-19 at the polls should not have to get a notary public to sign their mail-in ballots. The Missouri Conference of the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, and two citizens appealed that “The trial court erroneously […]