State Rep. Adam Schwadron (R-St. Charles), who serves on the Missouri House Elections and Elected Officials Committee, has announced that he’s seeking the GOP nomination for Missouri secretary of state in 2024. Representative Schwadron, who’s in his second House term in Jefferson City, joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.” He’s focusing on election security, saying that “free and fair elections are the bedrock of our republic.” Representative Schwadron blasts proposals to federalize elections. He’s also calling for protecting election workers and judges from threats of violence and harassment. Representative Schwadron is expected to face State Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg), Greene County clerk and former Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Shane Schoeller (R-Willard) and possibly others in the GOP primary. Incumbent Jay Ashcroft is running for governor. Representative Schwadron also discussed Israel on on the program, asking listeners to pray for Israel. He also blasts U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-St. Louis) over Israel, saying he hopes she is defeated in her bid for re-election:
(AUDIO): Excelsior Springs state lawmaker seeking state Senate seat that includes mid-Missouri
A state lawmaker from western Missouri’s Excelsior Springs has formally announced his candidacy for a state Senate seat that includes three mid-Missouri counties.
State Rep. Doug Richey (R-Excelsior Springs), who chairs the Missouri House Special Committee on Government Accountability, is in his third House term in Jefferson City. Richey has also been involved in pastoral ministry for 25 years.
“What positions me uniquely in this respect is that I recognize that no matter what industry a person works within, they matter. And I know how to communicate with people from all walks of life, no matter what their professional responsibilities are,” Richey says.
The sprawling six-county district includes Cooper, Howard and Saline counties in the 939 the Eagle listening area. It also includes Lafayette and Ray counties, and part of Clay county. Former State Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport) was on the host committee for Richey’s campaign announcement. The Senate seat is currently held by State Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg), who’s being forced out of the Legislature in 2024 by term limits.
Representative Richey chairs the Joint Committee on Education and serves on the House Budget Committee. Richey, who’s finishing his third term in the House, tells 939 the Eagle that the state budget has increased from about $28-billion to about $50-billion during that timeframe.
“We all know that there’s coming a day where that kind of growth, I mean it’s just number one it’s not sustainable. But we’re doing to have to make some hard decisions in terms of how to begin to cut that budget back down to what’s more reasonable,” says Richey.
He says there is a disconnect between the way the bureaucracy functions and what Missourians need or expect.
“There are times where state bureaucracy will get into the realm of rule-making. It’s independent of the legislative process, and yet it has the weight or force of law. And it just begins to create challenges for Missouri residents in a way that is not helpful,” Representative Richey says.
Richey was considering a run for Speaker. He says constituents and colleagues encouraged him to run for the state Senate seat, because he could have more effective as a state senator than as Speaker.
Representative Richey officially announced his run last (Tuesday) night at the Home Place in Camden. Former House Speaker Tim Jones served as the emcee.
(AUDIO): Missouri’s Hoskins hopes to become secretary of state
A state senator who represents three mid-Missouri counties in the 939 the Eagle listening area is running for secretary of state next year.
State Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg) says election integrity would be one of his top priorities, if elected in 2024.
“You know I filed a bill this past legislative session, Senate Bill 350, to establish the Office of Election Crimes and Security. I believe that with so many illegal immigrants crossing the border, especially from Mexico, we need to make sure that we have election integrity in our elections,” Hoskins tells 939 the Eagle.
Senator Hoskins’ Senate Bill 350 would have created the new office within the secretary of state’s office. It would have overseen a voter fraud hotline. The bill did not receive a hearing in the Missouri Senate.
Senator Hoskins’ district includes Cooper, Howard and Saline counties. He chairs the Missouri Senate Economic Development and Tax Policy Committee. Hoskins notes the secretary of state’s office plays a role in business services and helping Missourians start businesses:
“I want to focus on that as well to make sure that we can eliminate red tape when people are trying to start a business here in Missouri, and trying to get as much done as possible online and make it simple and easy for them,” says Hoskins.
The 48-year-old Hoskins graduated from Westphalia’s Fatima high school, in mid-Missouri’s Osage County. He served in the Missouri House from 2009-2016 before being elected to the Senate in 2016. He’s finishing his second four-year term in the upper chamber.
Meantime, Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) says former Pro Tem and former House Speaker Ron Richard’s legacy will live on for decades to come. Rowden served in the Senate with Richard (R-Joplin), who’s passed away. Senator Hoskins served with Richard in both chambers. Ron Richard served as Missouri House Speaker in 2009, when Hoskins arrived at the Capitol as a freshman legislator.
“Ron was a stalwart. Most certainly he was a very honorable man and he told you the truth. And sometimes even when you didn’t want to hear the truth, he was not afraid to tell you how it was and how he saw things,” Hoskins says.
Ron Richard is the only Missouri lawmaker in state history to serve as both House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tem.
Slot machines would be legalized in Missouri, under proposed gaming bill
A veteran state lawmaker who represents Howard County in the 939 the Eagle listening area says expanding gaming will help Missouri honor its commitment to veterans.
State Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg) has filed Senate Bill one, which is called the “honoring Missouri veterans and supporting Missouri education act.” Hoskins’ bill would legalize video lottery terminals (VLTs) in fraternal and veterans’ organizations and truck stops. VLTs are slot machines.
“I have a veterans home in Warrensburg in my district as well as a (state) veterans cemetery in Higginsville. During the current year, they’re about $50-million short. So we had to supplement their budget with general revenue of about $50-million,” Hoskins says.
Hoskins’ bill also authorizes wagering on sporting events, including e-sports. He says Missouri must honor its commitment to veterans.
“Video lottery terminals, which are in my bill to legalize, would bring into the state about $250-million. So that would more than cover that (shortfall). Sportsbook, which is also part of my bill, would bring in a little less than $10-million,” says Hoskins.
There has been opposition to slot machines in the Legislature and from others who believe they’re illegal. Former Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz (R-Sullivan) was an outspoken critic of slots. The Missouri Lottery has testified that illegal slot machines cost Missouri education about $50-million a year.
(AUDIO): Missouri Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) responds to Hoskins interview
Missouri Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) responded to the comments from State Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg), during a live interview this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Columbia.” Senator Rowden says Senator Hoskins still has some bitterness over losing the Majority Leader’s election a few years ago. Leader Rowden also addressed how the …