GOP Governor Mike Parson remains in the Missouri Governor’s Mansion in 2024 and Republicans will have supermajorities in both legislative chambers in the new session. It begins on Wednesday January 3 at high noon in Jefferson City. Republicans control the Missouri Senate 24-10 and the Missouri House 111-51. Missouri Senate Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin (R-Shelbina) joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” to preview the 2024 session. Leader O’Laughlin expresses frustration with a term that’s used sometimes in Jefferson City: RINO. That means Republican in name only. Senator O’Laughlin tells listeners that some of her GOP colleagues don’t want to compromise, adding that you must compromise to get 18 votes in the chamber. Senator O’Laughlin also doesn’t think the controversial slot machine issue will be resolved during the 2024 session:
Missouri’s 2024 legislative session begins one week from today
Missouri lawmakers will return to Jefferson City one week from today for the start of Missouri’s 2024 legislative session.
Under the state Constitution, lawmakers start their session on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January, which is January 3 this year. GOP Governor Mike Parson will deliver his final State of the State address on Wednesday January 24 at 3 pm. He’ll outline his legislative priorities and his budget recommendations. One of the governor’s top priorities in 2023 was state employee pay. Cole County’s approximately 14,000 state employees received a 8.7 percent pay raise in February, under a bipartisan plan proposed by the governor. The governor will address a joint session of the Legislature, where he’ll be flanked by Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe (R) and House Speaker Dean Plocher (R-Des Peres).
State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City), 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. Senator Bernskoetter would like to see the governor address that during the State of the State.
Republicans will have supermajorities in both chambers again in 2024: they hold a 24-10 supermajority in the Missouri Senate and a 111-51 supermajority in the House.
“Missouri Times’ publisher Scott Faughn discusses 2024 on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
“Missouri Times” publisher Scott Faughn says former State Sen. Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis) can win a statewide race for lieutenant governor, adding that Onder would still be able to practice medicine if elected to the post. Mr. Faughn describes former Senator Onder as someone who can raise money and someone who’s effective. Faughn joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, and he also weighed in on State Rep. Sarah Unsicker (D-Shrewsbury) being removed from Missouri House committee assignments over social media posts she’s made. Faughn also previewed Missouri’s 2024 legislative session in Jefferson City:
(LISTEN): Jefferson City Mayor Ron Fitzwater discusses Missouri’s 2024 session and downtown parking on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
It can be difficult, if not impossible, to find a parking space near the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City when the Legislature is in session. Missouri lawmakers return to the Capital City on January 3. Jefferson City Mayor Ron Fitzwater joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” this morning and discussed his priorities for the 2024 session, which include learning details about renovations of the Missouri Capitol complex. Mayor Fitzwater would also like to see shuttles in downtown Jefferson City to get motorists to the Capitol, but that is down the line. He also discussed the city council’s vote to increase parking rates, noting they haven’t been raised in 15 years:
(LISTEN): Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) previews Missouri’s 2024 session on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) is seeking Missouri’s Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2024. Republicans currently have a GOP supermajority in the House of 111-51. Leader Quade joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.” She predicts House Democrats will pick up five additional seats in the next election cycle. She’s also confident that bipartisan child care legislation from State Rep. Brenda Shields (R-St. Joseph) will pass the House again this year, and predicts GOP Governor Mike Parson’s proposed budget in January will fund Medicaid expansion. Leader Quade tells listeners that a number of rural Missouri hospitals have closed since she took office after the 2016 election. She says Medicaid expansion is helping rural hospitals: