Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) tells 939 the Eagle that we could see initiative petition reform and education reform legislation in the Senate in Jefferson City next week. Initiative petition reform has been a priority for Pro Tem Rowden and for the Senate Freedom Caucus. They say a simple majority is too easy for out-of-state groups to change the Missouri Constitution. Democrats oppose the proposed changes involving initiative petitions, saying Republicans are not listening to the will of voters statewide. Democrats also say a simple majority should rule. State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold) supports IP reform but thinks supporters need to do a better job of messaging that. She joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, telling listeners that initiative petition reform sounds like she needs to fix her computer. Senator Coleman, who’s seeking the GOP nomination for Missouri’s soon-to-be-open Third Congressional District seat, says there have been more than a dozen changes to the state Constitution in the past 20 years. She’s also pleased with the Missouri House’s passage of open enrollment legislation, saying education freedom is becoming more and more popular. She also addressed some of the chaos that’s been happening in the Missouri Senate, and the tension between Senate GOP leaders like Rowden and the Freedom Caucus:
(LISTEN): State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold) appears on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) tells 939 the Eagle that we could see initiative petition reform and education reform legislation in the Senate in Jefferson City next week. Initiative petition reform has been a priority for Pro Tem Rowden and for the Senate Freedom Caucus. They say a simple majority is too easy for out-of-state groups to change the Missouri Constitution. Democrats oppose the proposed changes involving initiative petitions, saying Republicans are not listening to the will of voters statewide. Democrats also say a simple majority should rule. State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold) supports IP reform but thinks supporters need to do a better job of messaging that. She joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, telling listeners that initiative petition reform sounds like she needs to fix her computer. Senator Coleman, who’s seeking the GOP nomination for Missouri’s soon-to-be-open Third Congressional District seat, says there have been more than a dozen changes to the state Constitution in the past 20 years. She’s also pleased with the Missouri House’s passage of open enrollment legislation, saying education freedom is becoming more and more popular. She also addressed some of the chaos that’s been happening in the Missouri Senate, and the tension between Senate GOP leaders like Rowden and the Freedom Caucus:
(LISTEN): Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) discusses 2024 session on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) expresses frustration with the Senate Freedom Caucus, saying they “bloviated” on the Senate floor before essentially taking a deal he offered them two weeks ago. Pro Tem Rowden joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, telling listeners that he made it clear all along that initiative petition reform would be taken up quickly, once gubernatorial appointments were made. Pro Tem Rowden tells listeners that initiative petition reform and what he describes as education reform may come up next week. Republicans have a 24-10 supermajority in the Missouri Senate. Senator Rowden says he has a good working relationship with Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo (D-Independence). He says Leader Rizzo represents a red district, while Rowden represents a blue district. He expects more partisan debate later this session:
(AUDIO): Missouri secretary of state and gubernatorial candidate Jay Ashcroft recaps 2023 session on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Missouri’s GOP secretary of state and gubernatorial candidate Jay Ashcroft says Missourians don’t elect legislators for social media speeches but elect them to enact good policy. He’s disappointed with Friday’s chaos in the Missouri Senate, which featured GOP infighting. Ashcroft blames people putting politics ahead of policy. Secretary Ashcroft delivered a clear rebuke to the GOP-controlled Legislature on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”. He says despite GOP supermajorities in both chambers, the Legislature did not deliver a parents bill of rights, a big tax cut and initiative petition reform. He says Republicans must stand up to the Democrats, who are outnumbered 111-51 in the House and 24-10 in the Senate:
(AUDIO): Missouri’s House Speaker doesn’t believe special session will be necessary; anti-hazing bill appears to be dead
Missouri’s House Speaker is pleased with the 2023 legislative session, which wraps up Friday evening at 6 in Jefferson City.
Speaker Dean Plocher (R-Town and Country) notes House Republicans have a 111-51 supermajority, and tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” they should lead like they have a supermajority. Plocher notes he outlined House GOP priorities in early January.
“We wanted some tax cuts, we wanted initiative petition reform, we were going to work on the transgender anomaly that’s hitting this country for some social reason. We’re going to talk about open enrollment, reducing personal property taxes. We outlined all of that in January and I think come the end of the week here, we have four days to go, I think people are going to be very happy with what we deliver,” Plocher says.
The House also voted 154-2 this week to pass a bipartisan bill that would end state taxes on Social Security benefits starting in 2024. That bill is now on the governor’s desk. Speaker Plocher predicts the Legislature will pass transgender-related legislation by Friday evening. He tells “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that he doesn’t believe a special session will be necessary, based on what he anticipates will happen this week in Jefferson City.
“I know we’re going to hit the transgender issues. Whether we hit them up to everybody’s satisfaction remains to be seen. But we’re going to pass some stuff. Hopefully the governor (Mike Parson) finds it satisfactory, I think he should. I think the people will,” says Plocher.
Meantime, anti-hazing legislation in the Missouri House appears to be dead, over language concerns about the bill. House Bill 240 from State Rep. Travis Smith (R-Dora) says any person who renders aid to a hazing victim or is the first to call 911 or campus security is immune from prosecution. Speaker Plocher doesn’t like the bill’s wording.
“I don’t want to grant immunity just because you call 911. What if you’re the perpetrator. I mean you can shoot somebody or haze them in some capacity and then you call 911 and then you’re immune? I think it’s a duty for people to help each other,” Speaker Plocher says.
Representative Smith, a Mizzou graduate, has said he wants to prevent another situation like Danny Santulli’s from happening again. Santulli’s family members say he’s blind and unable to walk, after an alleged October 2021 hazing incident at a Mizzou fraternity house.
Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers: 24-10 in the Missouri Senate and 111-51 in the Missouri House. You can hear the full interview with Speaker Plocher here.