Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher (R-Des Peres) says the Legislature could have hit a grand slam on Friday, but instead hit a double or possibly a triple. While he’s pleased with the session, Speaker Plocher tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that some senators put themselves above the state on Friday, describing their behavior as selfish. Speaker Plocher is pleased the Legislature has passed bipartisan legislation to end state taxes on Social Security benefits. Under the bill, Missouri’s senior homeowners would be spared from rate hikes on property taxes. If the governor signs the bill, it would be up to counties to approve the property tax breaks for people 65 and older. Speaker Plocher is also pleased with I-70 transportation funding. He says he couldn’t be more proud of his 111-member GOP House caucus and of the entire 163-member House:
(AUDIO): Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe Discusses 2023 Session and I-70 Funding on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Missouri’s lieutenant governor says the one thing that is for certain in the Missouri Senate is that nothing is for certain. He’s referring to the chaos that happened Friday in Jefferson City on the final day of Missouri’s 2023 session. The final day featured finger-pointing and GOP infighting in the Senate. Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City), who’s running for governor, says there are positives from the session. One of them is $2.8 billion to six-lane I-70 across Missouri. Kehoe describes that as a game-changer. He’s also pleased with a bipartisan bill that passed which will end state taxes on Social Security benefits starting in 2024. That bill is now on the governor’s desk:
(AUDIO): Missouri’s House Speaker doesn’t believe special session will be necessary; anti-hazing bill appears to be dead
Missouri’s House Speaker is pleased with the 2023 legislative session, which wraps up Friday evening at 6 in Jefferson City.
Speaker Dean Plocher (R-Town and Country) notes House Republicans have a 111-51 supermajority, and tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” they should lead like they have a supermajority. Plocher notes he outlined House GOP priorities in early January.
“We wanted some tax cuts, we wanted initiative petition reform, we were going to work on the transgender anomaly that’s hitting this country for some social reason. We’re going to talk about open enrollment, reducing personal property taxes. We outlined all of that in January and I think come the end of the week here, we have four days to go, I think people are going to be very happy with what we deliver,” Plocher says.
The House also voted 154-2 this week to pass a bipartisan bill that would end state taxes on Social Security benefits starting in 2024. That bill is now on the governor’s desk. Speaker Plocher predicts the Legislature will pass transgender-related legislation by Friday evening. He tells “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that he doesn’t believe a special session will be necessary, based on what he anticipates will happen this week in Jefferson City.
“I know we’re going to hit the transgender issues. Whether we hit them up to everybody’s satisfaction remains to be seen. But we’re going to pass some stuff. Hopefully the governor (Mike Parson) finds it satisfactory, I think he should. I think the people will,” says Plocher.
Meantime, anti-hazing legislation in the Missouri House appears to be dead, over language concerns about the bill. House Bill 240 from State Rep. Travis Smith (R-Dora) says any person who renders aid to a hazing victim or is the first to call 911 or campus security is immune from prosecution. Speaker Plocher doesn’t like the bill’s wording.
“I don’t want to grant immunity just because you call 911. What if you’re the perpetrator. I mean you can shoot somebody or haze them in some capacity and then you call 911 and then you’re immune? I think it’s a duty for people to help each other,” Speaker Plocher says.
Representative Smith, a Mizzou graduate, has said he wants to prevent another situation like Danny Santulli’s from happening again. Santulli’s family members say he’s blind and unable to walk, after an alleged October 2021 hazing incident at a Mizzou fraternity house.
Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers: 24-10 in the Missouri Senate and 111-51 in the Missouri House. You can hear the full interview with Speaker Plocher here.