Springfield | 98.3 The Dove

(LISTEN): Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) appears on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

September 19, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee chair Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) says the “votes weren’t there” in the Senate last week to override any of the 14 budget bills overridden by the GOP-controlled Missouri House. That included restoration of $1.4 million for Columbia-based Missouri Task Force One and $2-million for Missouri National Guard reenlistment incentives. The Senate did not take up any of the overrides last week, and Chairman Hough tells listeners that it’s simple and involves math. Overriding a veto in the Senate requires at least 23 votes. He also praises the approximately $50-billion budget signed recently by Governor Parson, noting it contains $2.8 billion to rebuild and expand I-70 to six lanes from Wentzville to Blue Springs and another $300-million for a new mental health hospital in Kansas City. Chairman Hough also addressed the spending criticism he received last week on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” from one of his colleagues, State Sen. William Eigel (R-Weldon Spring):

(LISTEN): Missouri Task Force One and Missouri National Guard reenlistment incentives get attention at veto session

September 14, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher (R-Des Peres) prepares to drop the gavel to begin Wednesday’s veto session in Jefferson City (September 14, 2023 photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The GOP-controlled Missouri House overrode 14 budget bills that were vetoed this summer by Republican Governor Mike Parson (R), but the Senate did not take up any of the overrides on Wednesday afternoon.

Parson issued 201 line-item vetoes this summer, totaling more than $555-million. State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) successful urged her House colleagues to override the governor’s veto of Missouri Task Force One funding.

“This is restoring $1.4 million to Missouri Task Force One. It is based out of my county of Boone, but this helps every county in Missouri and every state in this country. And I appreciate your all’s consideration,” Representative Reisch said on the House floor.

The Missouri House voted 121-26 to override Parson’s veto of Task Force One funding. They only needed 109 votes. Governor Parson says the money wasn’t included in his budget blueprint. Senate Appropriations Committee chair State Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) declined to seek a vote on any of the 14 bills overridden by the House. Senator Hough said he didn’t think there were enough Senate votes to override any of the 14. It takes a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a veto.

Another veto that was overridden by the House on Wednesday involves $2-million for Missouri National Guard reenlistment incentives. That was a top priority for House Veterans Committee chair Dave Griffith (R-Jefferson City), who urged his House colleagues to override Parson.

“As we all know right now in our country, we have a real need for young men and women to join our military service. Those that are already serving serve a real valuable service to us. In order for provide them some incentives to stay in the military is a real benefit for all of us,” says Representative Griffith.

He praises the Guard members, saying they dedicate their lives to serving Missouri and the country. The governor says the money was not included in his budget blueprint.

(LISTEN): Missouri Attorney General Bailey discusses Senate Bill 49, gun rights and Columbia’s Brotherton case on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

August 23, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) signed a bill into law this year that say no health care provider shall perform gender transition surgeries on any minor. Senate Bill 49 was sponsored by State Sen. Mike Moon (R-Ash Groves) and State Rep. Brad Hudson (R-Cape Fair). Implementation of the law is currently being challenged by critics who say it’s unconstitutional. Transgender groups say it also unfairly targets them. Missouri attorney general Andrew Bailey joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, telling listeners that Senate Bill 49 is constitutional and will be upheld by the courts. General Bailey is in Springfield this morning for court proceedings. He also addressed Columbia murder suspect Samuel Brotherton’s guilty plea this week to second degree murder for the brutal shooting death of his stepfather in 2022. General Bailey says his office will hold wrongdoers accountable. Brotherton will be sentenced in October for second degree murder. Bailey also discussed gun rights, saying St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones’ proposed gun legislation would violate the constitutional right of Missourians to keep and bear arms:

Columbia I-70 expansion bill-signing ceremony is today

August 15, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

The weather in Columbia is expected to be perfect for this afternoon’s bill-signing ceremony for the massive I-70 expansion project.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson will hold a ceremonial bill-signing at 2:30 pm in the Moberly Area Community College (MACC) parking lot, which is near the Business Loop. That lot is visible from heavily-traveled I-70.

The bipartisan bill provides $2.8 billion to rebuild and expand I-70 to six lanes from Kansas City to St. Louis.

The governor held a similar ceremony Monday at the weigh station just west of exit 206 near Wentzville. Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe is excited about today’s ceremony. Parson deputy chief of staff Kelli Jones tells 939 the Eagle that Senate Appropriations Committee chair Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) will join the governor. Ms. Jones says State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) and State Reps. David Tyson Smith, Kathy Steinhoff and Doug Mann (all D-Columbia) will also be in attendance.

(AUDIO): Columbia business leader describes I-70 expansion project across Missouri as generational

July 20, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce president is praising Missouri Governor Mike Parson and state lawmakers in both parties for providing funding to six-lane I-70 across the state.

The budget signed by the governor provides $2.8 billion to expand and rebuild I-70 from Kansas City to St. Louis. Columbia Chamber president Matt McCormick tells 939 the Eagle that this is a generational project.

“This isn’t something that happens on a regular basis and (it’s) something that we’ve been working on for a very long time. You now I-70 is such a instrumental part of our state. We saw that whenever we were working on the Rocheport bridge, the amount of truck traffic and the amount of freight that comes across there,” McCormick says.

The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says four-million trucks cross the I-70 Rocheport bridge each year.

Mr. McCormick has briefed Columbia-area business leaders on the I-70 expansion project. He predicts it will boost safety and commerce.

“And so to be able to widen that and to be able to redo that to where it’s a good, safe efficient place to move goods, service and people, then we are very appreciative of the governor (Mike Parson) signed off on it. We are very appreciative to the (Missouri) Legislature that supported it,” McCormick says.

Mr. McCormick tells business leaders that the Columbia to Kingdom City expansion will be the first phase done by MoDOT. He also says the Boonville to Columbia phase will be the last one done by crews.

Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) notes part of I-70 through Missouri was built in 1956, when President Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House.