Boone County GOP central committee chair Tony Lupo says the committee has not written a letter to Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) calling for him to step down as pro tem. Mr. Lupo joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”. The issue involves Senator Rowden’s decision this week to remove three fellow Republicans from their committee chairmanships. Mr. Lupo says the committee intended to send a private message to Senator Rowden asking him to show some leadership and to come back to the committee. Mr. Lupo tells listeners a central committee member offered write a first draft, which was done. That first draft ended up being posted on Twitter, and Mr. Lupo doesn’t know how that happened. He tells listeners that the first draft would need revisions and a vote, before any letter would be sent to Senator Rowden. Pro Tem Rowden has stripped State Sens. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg), Bill Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) and Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester) from their chairmanships:
(LISTEN): Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden discusses committee chairmanships and 2024 session on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Missouri’s Senate President Pro Tem has stripped three fellow Republicans of their committee chairmanships, describing them as “the “Chaos Caucus.” While Republicans have a 24-10 supermajority in the Senate, GOP infighting has led to gridlock in Jefferson City. Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) made the announcement during a Tuesday afternoon Statehouse press conference. He’s stripped State Sens. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg), Bill Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) and Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester) from their chairmanships. Senator Rowden joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, telling listeners that he took action due to years of disrespect toward the Missouri Senate and colleagues. He also says the Freedom Caucus senators have tried to break the Senate. Senator Eigel, who’s seeking Missouri’s GOP gubernatorial nomination in August, has issued a statement to 939 the Eagle, after he was stripped from his chairmanship. Senator Eigel, writes, in part: “Jefferson City is ruled by a uniparty cartel of special interests, RINOS and Democrats, who band together to crush the voice of the people. These are the same tactics the Swamp uses against President Trump.” Senator Hoskins’ district includes Cooper and Howard counties in the 939 the Eagle listening area:
(LISTEN): Missouri Senate Education chairman Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester) touts school choice and ESA expansion legislation on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Republicans have supermajorities in both legislative chambers in Jefferson City. They control the Missouri Senate 24-10 and have a 111-51 supermajority in the Missouri House. Missouri Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee chairman Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester) joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”. Senator Koenig confirms there’s a lot of infighting in the GOP ranks in Jefferson City, saying it will make it harder to get things done. But he’s optimistic about education, touting school choice and his bill expanding the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program. Senator Koenig’s Senate Bill 727 increases the amount of tax credits that can be allocated in any year from $50 million to $75-million. Chairman Koenig also touts what he calls school choice, and rejects criticism from Democrats that it defunds public education. Senator Koenig tells listeners that school choice is positive for Missouri’s public schools:
(LISTEN): State Sen. Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester) preview Missouri’s 2024 session on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
State Sen. Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester) will serve his 16th and final year in the Missouri Legislature in 2024, due to term limits. He chairs the Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee and is also seeking the GOP nomination for Missouri Treasurer in 2024. Senator Koenig joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” to preview the 2024 session, which begins January 3 in Jefferson City. One of his top priorities is what he describes as initiative petition reform. Senator Koenig tells listeners that changing the Missouri Constitution should require a higher threshold than a simple majority. Democrats strongly oppose the change, saying Missouri voters have been approving things like a minimum wage increase, Medicaid expansion and a right-to-work repeal because GOP lawmakers are not listening to voters. But Senator Koenig disagrees. He wants to see an IP bill pass that would require a proposed Missouri constitutional amendment to be approved by voters in five of the state’s eight congressional districts. Senator Koenig says cities shouldn’t be able to tell farmers what to do and versa. Senator Koenig also called for the expansion of school choice and a parental bill of rights on the program. He’ll also focus on transgender legislation in 2024:
(AUDIO): State Sen. Bill Eigel appears live on 939 the Eagle’s “Randy Tobler show”
Outspoken State Sen. Bill Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) is one of the former members of the Missouri Senate Conservative Caucus, which disbanded this week. Senator Eigel, who chairs the Senate General Laws Committee, is calling for a new coalition of leadership in the Missouri Senate GOP caucus. Republicans currently have a 24-10 supermajority. Eigel joined Randy …