Boone County GOP central committee chair Tony Lupo says the committee has not written a letter to Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) calling for him to step down as pro tem. Mr. Lupo joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”. The issue involves Senator Rowden’s decision this week to remove three fellow Republicans from their committee chairmanships. Mr. Lupo says the committee intended to send a private message to Senator Rowden asking him to show some leadership and to come back to the committee. Mr. Lupo tells listeners a central committee member offered write a first draft, which was done. That first draft ended up being posted on Twitter, and Mr. Lupo doesn’t know how that happened. He tells listeners that the first draft would need revisions and a vote, before any letter would be sent to Senator Rowden. Pro Tem Rowden has stripped State Sens. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg), Bill Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) and Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester) from their chairmanships:
(LISTEN): Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden discusses committee chairmanships and 2024 session on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Missouri’s Senate President Pro Tem has stripped three fellow Republicans of their committee chairmanships, describing them as “the “Chaos Caucus.” While Republicans have a 24-10 supermajority in the Senate, GOP infighting has led to gridlock in Jefferson City. Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) made the announcement during a Tuesday afternoon Statehouse press conference. He’s stripped State Sens. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg), Bill Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) and Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester) from their chairmanships. Senator Rowden joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, telling listeners that he took action due to years of disrespect toward the Missouri Senate and colleagues. He also says the Freedom Caucus senators have tried to break the Senate. Senator Eigel, who’s seeking Missouri’s GOP gubernatorial nomination in August, has issued a statement to 939 the Eagle, after he was stripped from his chairmanship. Senator Eigel, writes, in part: “Jefferson City is ruled by a uniparty cartel of special interests, RINOS and Democrats, who band together to crush the voice of the people. These are the same tactics the Swamp uses against President Trump.” Senator Hoskins’ district includes Cooper and Howard counties in the 939 the Eagle listening area:
(LISTEN): Missouri’s Rowden, Hoskins clash again over sports wagering
Two Missouri GOP state senators who are running for secretary of state next year are blaming each other for the defeat of sports wagering legislation in Jefferson City this year.
Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) spoke Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program.
“We had the ability to cut property taxes, legalize sports betting and do some other things in the tax realm all in one fell swoop, and Senator Hoskins decided to kill all of that because they want slot machines in gas stations,” Senator Rowden says.
Senator Rowden tells listeners that the legality of these slot machines in gas stations is questionable, noting the issue is currently in litigation.
State Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrenburg), who represents mid-Missouri’s Cooper County in the listening area, disagrees. He’s issued a statement to 939 the Eagle, which says “the Missouri Constitution says state tax revenue from gaming must be used for education and veterans and currently that tax revenue does not fully fund our veterans homes and cemeteries. As a veteran of the Missouri Army National Guard, I will continue to fight to find a dedicated funding source for our veterans homes and cemeteries. Unfortunately, as a former pop singer, Rowden’s loyalties lie with getting the best deal for casinos, not the best deal for Missouri veterans and taxpayers.”
Meantime, Senate President Pro Tem Rowden says term limits are good but that Missouri’s term limits are bad. Missouri voters approved term limits in 1992, and state lawmakers can serve up to four terms in the House (eight years) and up to two four-year Senate terms (eight years) for a maximum of 16 years in Jefferson City. Senator Rowden tells 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” he’d like to see that tweaked and sent back to voters.
“I love the idea or I like the idea of saying ok you can just serve 16 years (in the Missouri Legislature) but you can do it wherever you want. Because instead of saying you can only serve eight and eight in either chamber, there’s a bunch of House members that are never going to run for the (Missouri) Senate, but if they’re there for 16 years they have the ability to really kind of put their roots down and figure out those ways to really serve their community well,” says Rowden.
You can listen to host Fred Parry’s full interview with Senator Rowden here.
(LISTEN): Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) discusses secretary of state’s race, term limits and sports wagering on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”
Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) is seeking the GOP nomination for secretary of state in August 2024. Senator Rowden, who is being forced out of the Senate by term limits at the end of 2024, joined 939 the Eagle host Fred Parry for the hour on Saturday morning’s “CEO Roundtable” program. Term limits were a key topic of discussion. Missouri voters approved term limits in 1992, and lawmakers can serve up to four terms in the Missouri House (eight years) and up to two Senate terms (eight years) for a maximum of 16 years. Senator Rowden tells listeners he’d like to see that changed. Under his proposal, the 16 years would stay the same but a lawmaker could serve it wherever they want to. For instance, you could serve eight House terms for a total of 16 years etc. Senator Rowden also outlined his reasons for running for secretary of state, saying it’s an office that can make Missourians lives better and easier. Fred Parry and Senator Rowden also discussed sports wagering on the program. Senator Rowden blames State Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg) for sports wagering’s defeat in the 2023 session, saying Senator Hoskins wanted slot machines in gas stations:
Columbia’s Rowden running for Missouri Secretary of State in 2024
Missouri’s powerful Senate President Pro Tem is seeking the GOP nomination for secretary of state next year.
State Sen. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) made his announcement Saturday with a large sign at Mizzou’s 112th Homecoming parade downtown. Senator Rowden tweeted Saturday that he wanted his hometown Mizzou faithful to be the first to know about his future plans. He says he and his wife Aubrey and their three children are ready to embark on what he describes as an ”exciting new political journey.”
Rowden was elected to the Missouri House in 2012 and served two terms, before beating then-State Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) in 2016 to win the Missouri Senate seat. Rowden won another close race in his 2020 re-election race, defeating former State Rep. Judy Baker (D-Columbia). Rowden will be forced out of the Senate by term limits at the end of 2024.
Senator Rowden is expected to face State Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg), State Rep. Adam Schwadron (R-St. Charles) and Greene County clerk and former House Speaker Pro Tem Shane Schoeller (R-Willard) in the August 2024 GOP primary. The primary winner will face the winner of the Missouri Democratic primary in November 2024.
Missouri’s current secretary of state, Jay Ashcroft, is running for governor.
Our Zimmer colleague, Cosmo from Y-107, reports a woman dressed as a witch rode a bicycle and demonstrated against Senator Rowden throughout Saturday’s parade route. She also handed out literature to the crowd.