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): U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Springfield) discusses school choice legislation and state highway bill on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Springfield) is not a fan of legislation from State Rep. Don Mayhew (R-Crocker) that would change the name of I-70 in Missouri to I-44 and would change the name of I-44 in Missouri to I-70. Congressman Burlison joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.” He also discussed legislation he’s introduced called the Achieving Choice in Education Act. It would double the contribution limit on K-12 expenses with 529 accounts from $10,000 to $20,000 a year. Congressman Burlison says school choice makes educational institutions more accountable and responsive to families. He also tells listeners that he felt persecuted in public schools in the 1980s and 1990s, citing his experience in an art class. Critics of school choice say it takes money away from public schools:
(AUDIO): Missouri’s Ashcroft making gubernatorial run in 2024
Missouri’s secretary of state is running for governor in 2024.
Republican Jay Ashcroft made his official announcement early this morning in a two-minute and 20 second video on social media. His video criticizes what he describes as career politicians. Mr. Ashcroft says that he’s running to serve the people, and tells 939 the Eagle that he sees a lot of potential in Missouri that we aren’t using.
“We are not being as good as we can be. We are not leading this country in ways that we should. We’re not a state where parents can know that their children are getting to get good jobs and stay in Missouri. People are scared to move here, they’re worried about the education their kids will get. Companies are scared to move to parts of Missouri because of crime and concerns about that,” Ashcroft says.
Mr. Ashcroft says education will be one of his top priorities, if he’s elected governor.
“For decades we’ve had a problem in this state where not every child had the opportunity to get a good education. I think it’s long past time every child had the opportunity to get a challenging education, and every parent in the state had the same opportunity to choose where their child went to school that I do,” Ashcroft says.
He tells 939 the Eagle that state government is getting richer and richer, noting the state has a record surplus. He’s calling for returning more money to taxpayers.
Ashcroft will face Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe in the GOP gubernatorial primary, which could also include State Sen. Bill Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) and others. Governor Mike Parson plans to retire after his term expires. The Democratic field is unclear. Official filing for the position opens in February.
Ashcroft was elected secretary of state in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. Ashcroft, a Jefferson City high school graduate, will join us live this morning at 7:10 in-studio to discuss his gubernatorial bid.
(AUDIO): Mid-Missouri lawmaker downplays consolidation concerns involving open enrollment
The Missouri House narrowly approved open enrollment legislation before their spring break.
The vote was 85-69, with about 30 Republicans voting no. The bill is sponsored by House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee chairman State Rep. Brad Pollitt (R-Sedalia). He tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that districts must opt-in to participate.
“Basically this bill puts into the hands of the local taxpayers that have students in a district the ability to shape their district in the future,” Pollitt says.
Critics worry the bill will lead to school district consolidation in rural and urban Missouri. Chairman Pollitt downplays that, noting the word “consolidation” is not in the bill.
Supporters of open enrollment legislation say it’s designed to give parents and students more choice.
“The local tax dollars stay local. So if a student transfers out a district, those local tax dollars that are in that district stay in that district. The tax dollars that follow the student are the state and federal dollars”
Under Pollitt’s 21-page House Bill 253, parents will be responsible for transportation to the nonresident school or to an existing bus stop location in the nonresident district.
AUDIO): Federation for Children head Jean Evans joins “Wake Up Columbia” to discuss school choice and Missouri’s ESA bill
Former State Rep. Jean Evans (R-Manchester) now leads the Missouri Federation for Children. She’s also a former Missouri Republican Party executive director. She joined “Wake Up Columbia” this morning to discuss school choice and Missouri’s $25 million new education savings account (ESA) program. Evans describes education as the enemy of poverty, and says competition makes …