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:
(AUDIO): Powerful Missouri congressman trying to obtain federal funding for massive I-70 project
A $2.8 billion bipartisan plan to six-lane I-70 across Missouri has been approved by a conference committee of Missouri Senate and House budget negotiators and is heading back to the two respective chambers.
The measure from State Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) has been a top priority for Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia). U.S. House Transportation Committee chair Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) met with state senators in Jefferson City this week about I-70. Congressman Graves tells 939 the Eagle that he’ll support whatever I-70 bill the Legislature approves.
“We’ll see if we can get the (state) Legislature to provide that seed money. (We’ll) see if we can find more money in Washington for this,” Congressman Graves says.
Under Senator Hough’s I-70 measure, the state would pay about $132-million a year for 15 years to pay off the expansion.
Congressman Graves also warns the Biden administration could have issues with the I-70 plan.
“The (Biden) administration has tried to stop any addition of extra lanes to clear up congestion around the country. So we’re pushing back on that at the federal level because it literally runs headlong into what we’re trying to do here in Missouri,” says Graves.
The Missouri Constitution requires state lawmakers to approve a balanced budget by Friday evening at 6.
Meantime, obtaining federal funding for rural lettered routes is a top priority for Chairman Graves, whose district includes Moberly, Mexico and Macon in the 939 the Eagle listening area. He says he’s trying to find federal dollars to offset state dollars and describes the rural lettered routes in north Missouri as critical farm-to-market roads.
“Which continue to be plagued with problems and potholes. I know the governor (Mike Parson) has found that extra $100-million to do that and we’re trying to find more money to be able to allow the state to move more resources over there,” says Graves.
Congressman Graves also says there are a lot of deficient bridges in rural Missouri, including many in his massive 39-county district, which contains more square miles than nine states.
Missouri House committee to vote Thursday on deer legislation
A mid-Missouri lawmaker says a bill is needed requiring the state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to remove and bury dead deer found on roads or highways large enough to impede traffic.
A Missouri House committee is scheduled to vote Thursday on a bill from State Rep. Kent Haden (R-Mexico). Under Haden’s one-page House Bill 404, MoDOT would remove the deer and their expenses would be paid for by the Missouri Department of Conservation, which would be required to bury the deer on Conservation land three feet deep. Representative Haden notes both agencies are overseen by commissions and don’t report directly to the governor.
“What happens when you’ve got two commissions and neither one of them will do what’s right. Who is going to referee this food fight among two agencies? And again neither one wanted to expend their money to pick up the deer,” Haden tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.”
Haden tells listeners that urban and rural lawmakers want the issue to be addressed.
“The reason it’s written the way it is is that Conservation by the (state) Constitution is responsible for deer. And by the (Missouri) Supreme Court, that they own the deer in essence. But they appear to think that once they hit my car they’re not their deer anymore,” says Haden.
Click here to listen to the full “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” interview with Representative Haden.
Missouri’s governor say his AG pick embodies faith, family and freedom
Missouri’s next attorney general is a familiar name in state government and at the Statehouse in Jefferson City.
Governor Mike Parson (R) has appointed his office’s general counsel, Andrew Bailey, to the post. Bailey has also served as a Missouri Assistant Attorney General and as general counsel for the Missouri Department of Corrections.
He will be Missouri’s fourth attorney general in six years. Governor Mike Parson says bringing stability to the AG’s office is critical. The governor says he looked for five core things with this appointment.
“Commitment to law and order, patriotism and respect for the (state) Constitution. Conservative values, family values and someone who would promote calm and steady while never afraid to fight for Missourians,” Parson says.
Bailey’s start date hasn’t been determined yet. While the governor didn’t say it, he implied that he expects Bailey to run for the post in 2024. Parson tells Capitol reporters that Bailey has had many accomplishments as general counsel for the governor’s office.
“We fought for the unborn and ended elective abortions in Missouri. We’ve strengthened the Second Amendment protections. Supported law enforcement at every turn,” says Bailey.
Bailey will replace U.S. Sen.-Elect Eric Schmitt, the outgoing attorney general. This is the second time Governor Parson has appointed an attorney general. Parson appointed Schmitt to the post in 2018, when Josh Hawley was elected to the U-S Senate.
Meantime, Missouri’s top House Democrat is calling on Bailey to end what she calls outgoing attorney general Schmitt’s frivolous lawsuits. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) says Schmitt used the attorney general’s office “as a taxpayer-funded arm of his political campaigns,” saying he wasted money on frivolous lawsuits.
‘We are hopeful that Mr. Bailey can succeed in the immense task that awaits him,” Leader Quade says, in a news release.
As for GOP Governor Parson, he says Bailey embodies the ideals of faith, family and freedom, and that he’ll fight for Missouri children like they’re his own.