939 the Eagle’s "Wake Up Mid-Missouri"

(AUDIO): Bipartisan Missouri landfill legislation is backed by Congressman Mark Alford

March 24, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

State Rep. Mike Haffner (R-Pleasant Hill) testifies before a Missouri House committee in Jefferson City on March 23, 2023 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The Missouri House has voted to give final approval to bipartisan legislation that creates a one-mile buffer between landfills and neighboring towns.

House Bill 909 is sponsored by State Rep. Mike Haffner (R-Pleasant Hill). This week’s vote on Haffner’s bill was 139-16 and comes after public outcry from Missouri lawmakers in both parties about a proposed landfill that would be built near Raymore and Lee’s Summit. U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-Harrisonville), who represents part of Columbia on Capitol Hill, tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that he and U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) both oppose the proposed location.

“This landfill will probably be built, just not there,” Congressman Alford tells listeners.

Supporters of Haffner’s bill say the landfill would impact the livelihoods of thousands of Missourians, in its current proposed location. Congressman Alford notes this is a bipartisan issue.

“I promised when I campaigned to be the voice and the vote for the people of my district. And I’m going to be their voice, I don’t care if it’s here, I don’t care if it’s in the Statehouse (in Jefferson City) or in city hall, that’s what I intend to do,” Alford says.

Raymore’s mayor also supports Haffner’s bill, saying the future of their community is on the line.

(AUDIO): Missouri sports wagering supporters say bill addresses compulsive gambling

March 24, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher (R-Des Peres), left, and State Rep. Dan Houx (R-Warrensburg), second from left, address Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on March 23, 2023 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Bipartisan sports wagering legislation is now heading to the Missouri Senate, after being approved by the House on a 118-35 vote.

The 23-page House Bill 556 taxes sports wagering at ten percent. State Rep. Dan Houx (R-Warrensburg) tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the Show-Me State is losing tax dollars to neighboring states.

“But it’s most the residual tax revenue we’re losing out. When people go to Kansas or Illinois or Iowa, wherever they go and they spend money in those other states, that’s (the) revenue we’re really missing out on. Besides the tax revenue of bet placed,” Representative Houx says.

Gambling opponents like State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) worry about compulsive gambling. Other opponents worry people will gamble their rent money.

“You know I listen to people like Cheri, I listen to Representative Ben Baker from down south (southwest Missouri’s Neosho) and he was concerned about compulsive gambling. We put $500,000 in there (the bill) to make sure that we’re able to protect people if they have problems. On the mobile apps, it’s a self opt-in or opt-out of being able to do it. Once you opt-out, you’re blocked from that account forever”

Representative Houx, who chairs the Missouri House Fiscal Review Committee, tells “Wake Up” that Chiefs fans from Missouri have traveled to Kansas to place bets on NFL games.

“During the Chiefs-Bengals (playoff) game back in January, around Arrowhead (Stadium) alone, just around the parking lot and inside Arrowhead, there were 4,557 bets attempted to be made during that timeframe. That same day in Kansas, there was 1.14 million bets made. (The) majority of them were around the state line of Kansas”

Under the bill, you would have to be at least 21 years old to place bets. Sports wagering would be taxed at ten percent, and the revenues would be placed in the “Gaming Proceeds for Education Fund.”

The Associated Press reports 33 states and the District of Columbia now offer some form of sports wagering.

Click here to listen to the full “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” interview with State Rep. Dan Houx (R-Warrensburg).

(AUDIO): State Rep. Dan Houx (R-Warrensburg) discusses sports wagering legislation on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

March 23, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri House has voted 118-35 to give final approval to bipartisan sports wagering legislation. The bill taxes sports betting at 10 percent and those revenues would fund public education. State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) warns about compulsive gambling. The bill sponsor, State Rep. Dan Houx (R-Warrensburg) joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” this morning. Representative Houx says Missourians are traveling to Kansas, Iowa and Illinois to gamble and are spending money there on things like food. He also tells listeners that his bill includes $500,000 to address compulsive gambling. He describes compulsive gambling as a mental illness:

(AUDIO): Missouri celebrates National Agriculture Week

March 22, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson and state Department of Agriculture director Chris Chinn (right) pose after the governor signs a proclamation recognizing National Agriculture Week in Missouri (March 21, 2023 photo courtesy of the Governor Parson’s Flickr page)

Missouri’s lieutenant governor says agriculture is critical to the state’s economy. Jefferson City Republican Mike Kehoe notes the governor has signed a proclamation recognizing National Agriculture Week in Missouri.

“If people could only understand, when they go in that grocery store and they get a product off of the shelf or out of the cooler case … what it all took to get there, they’d be amazed,” Kehoe says.

Kehoe tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that agriculture is Missouri’s largest industry, with a $93-billion economic impact. You can hear the full interview with the lieutenant governor here on our 939 the Eagle Facebook page.

(AUDIO): State Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder (R-Scott City) discusses SB 39 on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

March 22, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Legislation that would prohibit a transgender female student-athlete born as a biological male from competing in sports designated for females has been approved by the GOP-controlled Missouri Senate. It needs one more vote before heading to the Missouri House. The bill is sponsored by State Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder (R-Scott City), who joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.” Senator Thompson Rehder says allowing biological males to compete against females will wipe out women’s sports as we know them. Democratic opponents of the bill say it’s unfair to transgender student-athletes. Democratic state senators have spoken out against the bill. Senator Thompson-Rehder tells listeners that both sides have used hyperbole: