Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) is hopeful about the 2024 legislative session in Jefferson City. He joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” and touts education. He says legislation expanding the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program will hit the Senate floor this week. He’s also hopeful about his anti-swatting bill. Senator Rowden notes Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) was swatted at his Jefferson City home earlier this month. Rowden tells listeners that swatting is happening to Republicans and Democrats around the nation and that it’s intimidating:
(LISTEN): State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold) appears on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold) has announced she’s running to try to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) in November. Senator Coleman joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, telling listeners that her priorities include securing the border, illegal immigration, protecting life and protecting women’s sports. Senator Coleman represents eastern Missouri’s Jefferson County, which until recently was considered a Democratic county with a large number of labor union voters. It’s now Republican. Coleman tells listeners that Jefferson County has always been pro-life and pro-gun and still has a large segment of labor union members. But she says many of those union members have been voting Republican, which has helped turn the county red. We also asked Senator Coleman about Missouri’s 2024 legislative session and Governor Mike Parson’s (R) State of the State address next Wednesday. Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers. Senator Coleman tells listeners that the state has been on a spending spree, adding that she’s like to hear the governor call for reining in state spending during next week’s address. She’s not optimistic on that:
(LISTEN): Mid-Missouri lawmaker to file bipartisan catalytic converter legislation
While Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers in Jefferson City this year, State Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) is hopeful about the 2024 session. Representative Tyson Smith tells 939 the Eagle that people are tired of division.
“And it’s time for hope and it’s time for change. And I think, it doesn’t matter what party people are in: I believe we can work together and get things done that benefit everybody. We need to put down rancor and division and move forward and come together as a people,” Representative Tyson Smith says.
There are several issues where there is bipartisan support in both chambers. They include University of Missouri funding, transportation improvements, child care and state employee pay. Representative Smith plans to file a bipartisan bill this year aimed at preventing the stealing of vehicle catalytic converters. He says the issue impacts the entire state: rural, urban and suburban.
“It’s an epidemic in Missouri and around the country,” says Representative Tyson Smith.
He’s worked with State Rep. Don Mayhew (R-Crocker) for a few years on this issue. The Missouri House approved their bipartisan bill last year, but it died in the Senate due to a filibuster on unrelated issues.
Most of Missouri’s 196 state lawmakers will also be attending the Governor’s prayer breakfast tomorrow morning. It’s from 7:30 to 9:30 am at Jefferson City’s Capitol Plaza Hotel.
(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): Jefferson City Mayor Ron Fitzwater previews Missouri’s 2024 session on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Complaints about the lack of parking near the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City date back decades, and those complaints continue today. Jefferson City Mayor Ron Fitzwater joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” to preview Missouri’s 2024 legislative session, which begins tomorrow at high noon in Jefferson City. Mayor Fitzwater tells listeners that parking remains a challenge and that he’s committed to looking at that. State employee pay remains one of Mayor Fitzwater’s top priorities. More than 14,000 state employees work in Cole County, making state government Jefferson City’s largest employer. Mayor Fitzwater praises Governor Mike Parson for proposing and signing last February’s bipartisan 8.7 percent pay raise for state employees:
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