Former U.S. Rep. Billy Long (R-Springfield) accumulated one of the most conservative voting records in Missouri’s GOP delegation during his 12 years on Capitol Hill. For State of the Union every winter, Congressman Long stood in the aisle before and after every speech, shaking the hands of both President Barack Obama (D) and Donald Trump (R). Presidents Obama and Trump also signed Congressman Long’s St. Jude tie, and the ties were auctioned off to help St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis. Some of Congressman Long’s constituents in conservative southwest Missouri were not happy that he shook President Obama’s hand. Congressman Long discussed that this morning on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.” He encourages civility on Capitol Hill, and urges Missouri freshmen U.S. Reps. Mark Alford (R-Harrisonville) and Eric Burlison (R-Springfield) to sit in the aisle for next Tuesday’s State of the Union. Long says they can and should be cordial to President Biden while still fighting for conservative principles:
Top Columbia banker predicts more explosive growth in Ashland
The president of Columbia’s largest bank says growth continues in Ashland, Boonville, Hallsville and Centralia.
Central Bank of Boone County president Ed Scavone notes the bank has branches in all of those communities.
“Some of the housing issues we talked about and cost of land and cost of living is enough difference between Columbia and those markets where that commute’s not so bad. And if you live in south Columbia and you work downtown it’s not much shorter than driving from Ashland to downtown now,” Scavone says.
He says the bank wants to help those communities and businesses grow. Ashland’s population has increased from 3,700 in 2010 to about 4,700 in 2020. That explosive growth has caught the eye of Scavone. He joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning for 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Round Table.”
“Maybe not in my career, but I see it like (southwest Missouri’s) Nixa to Springfield. And between us and Jefferson City. And you’re seeing with the Ranken School that I know you were a big part of making that happen, that’s just a tip of the iceberg of what’s going to happen down there I believe over the coming years,” says Scavone.
Construction continues on Ranken Technical College’s new center in Ashland. It will focus on IT, construction, nursing and manufacturing and is being built next to Salter Lawn Service, near Highway 63. Ranken’s president has told 939 the Eagle that Ranken didn’t choose Ashland, and that it was Ashland which chose Ranken.
Central Bank also opened a new branch in Naples, Florida in August.
Winter storm and wind chill warnings for mid-Missouri take effect on Thursday
The entire 939 the Eagle mid-Missouri listening area is under two warnings, which both take effect on Thursday.
National Weather Service (NWS) St. Louis meteorologist Melissa Byrd tells 939 the Eagle that the warnings have been issued by NWS offices in St. Louis, Pleasant Hill and Springfield. A winter storm warning for mid-Missouri will take effect from 6 am tomorrow through midnight tomorrow. A wind chill warning will be in effect from noon Thursday through noon on Saturday.
While models will likely change, mid-Missouri is expected to receive two to four inches of snow by tomorrow afternoon. The biggest issue will be the Arctic temperatures and wind chills approaching 30 degrees below zero.
Missouri’s governor say his AG pick embodies faith, family and freedom
Missouri’s next attorney general is a familiar name in state government and at the Statehouse in Jefferson City.
Governor Mike Parson (R) has appointed his office’s general counsel, Andrew Bailey, to the post. Bailey has also served as a Missouri Assistant Attorney General and as general counsel for the Missouri Department of Corrections.
He will be Missouri’s fourth attorney general in six years. Governor Mike Parson says bringing stability to the AG’s office is critical. The governor says he looked for five core things with this appointment.
“Commitment to law and order, patriotism and respect for the (state) Constitution. Conservative values, family values and someone who would promote calm and steady while never afraid to fight for Missourians,” Parson says.
Bailey’s start date hasn’t been determined yet. While the governor didn’t say it, he implied that he expects Bailey to run for the post in 2024. Parson tells Capitol reporters that Bailey has had many accomplishments as general counsel for the governor’s office.
“We fought for the unborn and ended elective abortions in Missouri. We’ve strengthened the Second Amendment protections. Supported law enforcement at every turn,” says Bailey.
Bailey will replace U.S. Sen.-Elect Eric Schmitt, the outgoing attorney general. This is the second time Governor Parson has appointed an attorney general. Parson appointed Schmitt to the post in 2018, when Josh Hawley was elected to the U-S Senate.
Meantime, Missouri’s top House Democrat is calling on Bailey to end what she calls outgoing attorney general Schmitt’s frivolous lawsuits. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) says Schmitt used the attorney general’s office “as a taxpayer-funded arm of his political campaigns,” saying he wasted money on frivolous lawsuits.
‘We are hopeful that Mr. Bailey can succeed in the immense task that awaits him,” Leader Quade says, in a news release.
As for GOP Governor Parson, he says Bailey embodies the ideals of faith, family and freedom, and that he’ll fight for Missouri children like they’re his own.
Missouri Republicans and Democrats view impact of tax cut bill differently
The largest tax cut in Missouri history will be signed into law Wednesday morning by Governor Mike Parson in Jefferson City.
It’s been a top priority of the special session call from the GOP governor, who says the General Assembly has answered his call to cut Missourians’ taxes and return some of their hard-earned dollars.
House Democratic Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) warns the tax cut will blow a $2-billion hole in the state budget, once fully implemented. 939 the Eagle News interviewed Governor Parson Tuesday at a statewide education conference in Columbia. We asked him about Leader Quade’s concerns.
“Crystal Quade is just more in the political scenario there. And it’s unfortunate because you’re really getting to help people (with the tax cut). And we’ll have statistics on that, but you’re getting to help everyday people here. It was unfortunate, some of the political tactics used but it’s just the arena you’re in sometimes,” Parson says.
The GOP state senator who sponsored the tax cut bill says it will help everyone. State Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield), the Senate Appropriations Committee vice chairman, says it will help low-income and high-income earners and will keep main streets open.
Leader Quade sees it differently, saying the Missouri Department of Social Services’ (DSS) Children’s Division employees are underpaid and overworked. Quade says one DSS employee sells his plasma to pay the bills.
As for Governor Parson, he tells 939 the Eagle that the tax cut will provide real relief to you and all other taxpaying Missourians.
“But I’m going to tell you this: people are going to have more money in their pocket when I sign that bill. And that’s the good news for Missourians,” Parson says.
Governor Parson says that extra money will help Missouri families purchase groceries and gasoline and deal with inflation. State Rep. Peter Merideth (D-St. Louis), the House Budget Committee’s ranking Democrat, says the tax cut will benefit the rich.
Representative Merideth says the top one percent of Missouri earners will save $15,000 per year under the plan.
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