State Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin (R-Shelbina) serves as the Missouri Senate Majority Leader, a powerful position in Jefferson City. Republicans have a supermajority in the Senate, 24-10. Senator O’Laughlin is the first female to hold that post in state history. She joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” to preview Missouri’s 2024 legislative session and to discuss education, particularly the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Leader O’Laughlin tells listeners that DESE wants an additional $250-million in funding next year, emphasizing that she’s opposed to that. Senator O’Laughlin says schools are receiving record funding but that the money is not getting to teachers. She says our classrooms are being “dumbed down” and that schools need to be teaching students how to read and write:
Bernskoetter hopeful on special session and on Missouri Senate leadership race
Legislation that would have sent $325 checks to Missourians with an income under $150,000 has been removed by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Senate could debate the combined new bills on Tuesday, and amendments will likely be offered on the Senate floor.
State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City), who chairs the Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee, tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that he’s optimistic a tax cut bill will pass.
“I don’t know that it’s going to look like what the governor called for. But I think we will agree that the state of Missouri has a lot of money right now, and the people know how spend it better than we do,” Bernskoetter says.
Bernskoetter also tells listeners that House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith (R-Carthage) wants to rewrite the entire tax code.
Senator Bernskoetter is also optimistic that he’ll be the next Senate Majority Leader, which is the number two position in the chamber.
“There’s me and (State) Senator (Andrew) Koenig and (State) Senator (Cindy) O’Laughlin are running for Floor Leader. Things are looking good on my end,” says Bernskoetter.
Missouri’s current Senate Majority Leader is State Sen. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia), who’s running for Senate President Pro Tem. Bernskoetter predicts Rowden will win that race.
Critical race theory to be discussed Monday at Missouri Capitol
Missouri lawmakers will hear invited testimony Monday afternoon in Jefferson City on critical race theory and the 1619 project. The Joint Committee on Education is a committee comprised of state senators and representatives. They’ll hear invited testimony at 1, but will also accept written testimony. The committee is chaired by State Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin (R-Shelbina). Two …