Eight-term U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) will be retiring in December, after 16 years on Capitol Hill. Missouri’s new third congressional district includes Columbia south of Broadway, Ashland, Hartsburg, Fulton, Boonville, California, Kingdom City, Holts Summit, Jefferson City, Linn and New Florence. It also includes Wentzville and O’Fallon. Former Boone County clerk Taylor Burks announced his run to try to replace Congressman Luetkemeyer, during a live interview on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” this morning. Mr. Burks tells listeners that he’s the only candidate who’s looking at this race from mid-Missouri, and that the district should be represented by someone from central Missouri. State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold) and former State Sen. Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis) are also running. Mr. Burks criticized the redistricting process that drew the new boundaries, saying central Missouri “got sliced up by some jokers in Jefferson City.” National security is a top priority for Mr. Burks, who’s a veteran. He’s also touting transportation, saying service roads along I-70 from St. Louis to Columbia literally run out and that must change:
(LISTEN): Former Boone County clerk Taylor Burks announces congressional run on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Eight-term U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) will be retiring in December, after 16 years on Capitol Hill. Missouri’s new third congressional district includes Columbia south of Broadway, Ashland, Hartsburg, Fulton, Boonville, California, Kingdom City, Holts Summit, Jefferson City, Linn and New Florence. It also includes Wentzville and O’Fallon. Former Boone County clerk Taylor Burks announced his run to try to replace Congressman Luetkemeyer, during a live interview on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” this morning. Mr. Burks tells listeners that he’s the only candidate who’s looking at this race from mid-Missouri, and that the district should be represented by someone from central Missouri. State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold) and former State Sen. Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis) are also running. Mr. Burks criticized the redistricting process that drew the new boundaries, saying central Missouri “got sliced up by some jokers in Jefferson City.” National security is a top priority for Mr. Burks, who’s a veteran. He’s also touting transportation, saying service roads along I-70 from St. Louis to Columbia literally run out and that must change:
(LISTEN): Missouri’s 2024 legislative session begins at noon; legislative prayer service is this morning
Child care and transportation are expected to be key issues in Missouri’s 2024 legislative session in Jefferson City, which begins today at high noon.
Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers: 111-51 in the House and 24-10 in the Senate. Both chambers will gavel-in at high noon today, per the state Constitution. The annual legislative prayer service is this morning from 8:30 to 10 at Jefferson City’s Concord Baptist Church. Governor Mike Parson will be attending. He’ll outline his 2024 legislative priorities in three weeks during his State of the State address.
162 state representatives and 34 state senators will be returning to the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City for today’s (Wednesday) start of the 2024 legislative session. Mayor Ron Fitzwater tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that he’s always happy to see the legislators return.
“They bring an energy to the community and you know we have a lot of visitors. You know I’ve tried to talk since I’ve been in office that we have to embrace our role as the Capital City and as hosts for the guests coming in,” Fitzwater says.
Mayor Fitzwater tells listeners that city staff and Jefferson City’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) have bought into that. The city’s hotels and restaurants see a boost when lawmakers return to Jefferson City.
(LISTEN): Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick discusses Madison trip, homelessness and priorities on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”
Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick is pleased with the Chamber’s recent leadership visit to Madison, Wisconsin. Madison, which has about 270,000 residents, is home to both a state capital and the University of Wisconsin. Mr. McCormick joined host Fred Parry in-studio for an hour on Saturday morning’s 939 the Eagle “CEO Roundtable” program. He tells Mr. Parry that more than 70 Columbia-area business leaders and elected officials made the trip to Madison. Homelessness was a main topic during the trip. Mr. McCormick also highlighted the Columbia chamber’s top legislative priorities on the “CEO Roundtable”, both this year’s and 2024 priorities. Transportation, especially I-70, continues to be a top priority:
(LISTEN): State Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) discusses Missouri legislative priorities on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
State Rep. David Tyson Smith’s (D-Columbia) district is primarily in north Columbia, but he also represents some areas south of I-70 as well. Representative Smith joined us live this morning in-studio on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.” He says the transgender issue is being used as a “wedge” issue by some in Jefferson City. Representative Smith tells listeners that 40 percent of his constituents are Republicans, and that no one brings up transgender issues when he goes door-to-door. He says his constituents are worried about roads and I-70. Representative Smith also tells “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that he’d like to see the GOP-controlled Legislature focus more on education, paying teachers more and having safer elections: