Missouri’s governor is calling on state lawmakers to again fully fund the K-12 education foundation formula with an additional $120-million over last year’s levels. Governor Mike Parson (R) also wants lawmakers to fully fund school transportation across Missouri. The governor unveiled his proposed $52-billion state operating budget on Wednesday in Jefferson City, and he outlined his legislative priorities during his 2024 State of the State address. The governor is proposing another 3.2 percent pay raise for state employees. Governor Parson joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, saying the everyday operation of state government depends on good people. He also provided more details on the $90-million federal transportation grant obtained by U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio). Governor Parson says that money is in additional funds to put toward projects on I-70. Governor Parson tells listeners that the $90-million frees up money to go to other projects. The governor also discussed his recommendation to establish the I-44 improvement fund:
(LISTEN): Missouri’s 2024 legislative session begins at noon; legislative prayer service is this morning
Child care and transportation are expected to be key issues in Missouri’s 2024 legislative session in Jefferson City, which begins today at high noon.
Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers: 111-51 in the House and 24-10 in the Senate. Both chambers will gavel-in at high noon today, per the state Constitution. The annual legislative prayer service is this morning from 8:30 to 10 at Jefferson City’s Concord Baptist Church. Governor Mike Parson will be attending. He’ll outline his 2024 legislative priorities in three weeks during his State of the State address.
162 state representatives and 34 state senators will be returning to the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City for today’s (Wednesday) start of the 2024 legislative session. Mayor Ron Fitzwater tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that he’s always happy to see the legislators return.
“They bring an energy to the community and you know we have a lot of visitors. You know I’ve tried to talk since I’ve been in office that we have to embrace our role as the Capital City and as hosts for the guests coming in,” Fitzwater says.
Mayor Fitzwater tells listeners that city staff and Jefferson City’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) have bought into that. The city’s hotels and restaurants see a boost when lawmakers return to Jefferson City.
(LISTEN): Key mid-Missouri state lawmaker focused on state employee pay for 2024
Cole County’s approximately 14,000 state employees received an 8.7 percent pay raise in February, under a bipartisan plan proposed by Missouri Governor Mike Parson. The plan received strong bipartisan support, and the governor signed it into law in February at Jefferson City’s Truman Building.
State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City) tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that he hopes the governor will highlight state employee pay again during his January State of the State address.
“We’ve been lucky in the last few years to be able to increase the salary. Hopefully we can do that again this year (2024) would be one of the main things I would think that we would do,” Senator Berskoetter tells listeners.
Missouri’s 2024 legislative session begins January 3 in Jefferson City, and the governor is expected to deliver his final state of the state address in mid-January. Senator Bernskoetter, who chairs the Missouri Senate General Laws Committee, says state lawmakers have also set aside millions of dollars to fund improvements to the Missouri Capitol’s aging interior. He’d like to see Governor Parson address that as well during State of the State.
“If you go around the (state) Capitol, you’ll see little spots with tape on them and stuff where the paint is peeling off. Right now the legislative library there’s some decorative I don’t what you’d call them medallions or something that were falling off the ceiling. Just you know, the building is 100 years old and other than a few coats of paint here and there and some new carpeting here and there, there hasn’t been much done to the inside,” says Bernskoetter.
You can listen to the full “Wake Up” interview with Senator Bernskoetter here.
(LISTEN): Key mid-Missouri state lawmaker focused on state employee pay for 2024
Cole County’s approximately 14,000 state employees received an 8.7 percent pay raise in February, under a bipartisan plan proposed by Missouri Governor Mike Parson. The plan received strong bipartisan support, and the governor signed it into law in February at Jefferson City’s Truman Building.
State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City) tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that he hopes the governor will highlight state employee pay again during his January State of the State address.
“We’ve been lucky in the last few years to be able to increase the salary. Hopefully we can do that again this year (2024) would be one of the main things I would think that we would do,” Senator Berskoetter tells listeners.
Missouri’s 2024 legislative session begins January 3 in Jefferson City, and the governor is expected to deliver his final state of the state address in mid-January. Senator Bernskoetter, who chairs the Missouri Senate General Laws Committee, says state lawmakers have also set aside millions of dollars to fund improvements to the Missouri Capitol’s aging interior. He’d like to see Governor Parson address that as well during State of the State.
“If you go around the (state) Capitol, you’ll see little spots with tape on them and stuff where the paint is peeling off. Right now the legislative library there’s some decorative I don’t what you’d call them medallions or something that were falling off the ceiling. Just you know, the building is 100 years old and other than a few coats of paint here and there and some new carpeting here and there, there hasn’t been much done to the inside,” says Bernskoetter.
You can listen to the full “Wake Up” interview with Senator Bernskoetter here.
(LISTEN): Key mid-Missouri state lawmaker focused on state employee pay for 2024
Cole County’s approximately 14,000 state employees received an 8.7 percent pay raise in February, under a bipartisan plan proposed by Missouri Governor Mike Parson. The plan received strong bipartisan support, and the governor signed it into law in February at Jefferson City’s Truman Building.
State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City) tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that he hopes the governor will highlight state employee pay again during his January State of the State address.
“We’ve been lucky in the last few years to be able to increase the salary. Hopefully we can do that again this year (2024) would be one of the main things I would think that we would do,” Senator Berskoetter tells listeners.
Missouri’s 2024 legislative session begins January 3 in Jefferson City, and the governor is expected to deliver his final state of the state address in mid-January. Senator Bernskoetter, who chairs the Missouri Senate General Laws Committee, says state lawmakers have also set aside millions of dollars to fund improvements to the Missouri Capitol’s aging interior. He’d like to see Governor Parson address that as well during State of the State.
“If you go around the (state) Capitol, you’ll see little spots with tape on them and stuff where the paint is peeling off. Right now the legislative library there’s some decorative I don’t what you’d call them medallions or something that were falling off the ceiling. Just you know, the building is 100 years old and other than a few coats of paint here and there and some new carpeting here and there, there hasn’t been much done to the inside,” says Bernskoetter.
You can listen to the full “Wake Up” interview with Senator Bernskoetter here.