State Sen. William Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) says Republicans need to get back to the founding principles of the GOP platform. He’s seeking Missouri’s GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2024 and says voters want someone who will challenge the coalitions that he says are entrenched in Jefferson City. Senator Eigel joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, and blasts the $50-billion budget signed into law by GOP governor Mike Parson. Senator Eigel says the state budget has doubled since 2010 and that it’s grown during each of his seven years in Jefferson City. He says GOP Governors Eric Greitens and Mike Parson have grown the size of state government during the past seven years larger than any Democratic governor combined before them. Eigel also blasts Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) during the interview, saying chairman Hough put “boondoggles” in the state budget, including a dinosaur museum in Jefferson County:
(AUDIO): State Sen. Bill Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) discusses personal property tax relief and sports wagering on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
State Sen. Bill Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that there is no path forward for sports wagering legislation this year. The 2023 session ends this evening at 6. He says any bill that would pass today with Sportsbook attached to it would be a clear Hammerschmidt multiple subject violation and would be thrown out by the courts. Senator Eigel also delivered a message to Missouri Senate and House GOP leaders on “Wake Up”: he says the Missouri Senate will pass his personal property tax cut bill today or nothing else will happen. Eigel says it’s badly needed for seniors and others hit with whopping personal property tax bills:
(AUDIO): Veteran Missouri state senator wants to see I-70 four-laned through Columbia
A state senator from eastern Missouri who’s strongly considering a 2024 gubernatorial bid says the money is available to pay for his proposal to four-lane I-70 from Wentzville to Blue Springs.
State Sen. Bill Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) spoke on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.”
“Using a combination of the surpluses we have in Jefferson City, plus setting aside some future revenues over the next ten years to pay for it. We weren’t going to have to raise anybody’s taxes. We would be able to do this all with the funding that we already have coming in the door,” Eigel says.
Senator Eigel has said a federal match of 50 percent would give Missouri the $8-billion needed to complete the project. He also tells listeners the project would take eight years to finish.
Senator Eigel also wants Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) to support his plan.
“What I’m not sure that has gained traction is the political impetus to do a full four-lane expansion. You know, when you’re talking about a big idea like this that’s going to require a tremendous amount of political energy, you really have to have leadership at the top of government. That’s the governor’s office,” says Eigel.
Senator Eigel also says Missouri’s record surplus would help fund the project, without raising taxes.
You can hear the full interview with Senator Eigel on 939 the Eagle’s Facebook page.
(AUDIO): Missouri State Sen. Bill Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) discusses I-70 funding and possible gubernatorial bid on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
State Sen. Bill Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) is considering a Missouri gubernatorial bid in 2024. He says Missouri desperately needs leadership in a number of areas, including transportation. Senator Eigel has a proposal to rebuild I-70 from Wentzville to Blue Springs, making it four lanes in each direction. He says it would not require a tax increase. Senator Eigel tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that a major proposal like that probably needs GOP Governor Mike Parson’s support. The governor’s plan is not as large as Senator Eigel’s plan: Parson has requested an $859-million appropriation to widen and rebuild the I-70 corridor and to add a third lane in the Columbia, St. Louis and Kansas City areas:
(AUDIO): Missouri’s Ashcroft making gubernatorial run in 2024
Missouri’s secretary of state is running for governor in 2024.
Republican Jay Ashcroft made his official announcement early this morning in a two-minute and 20 second video on social media. His video criticizes what he describes as career politicians. Mr. Ashcroft says that he’s running to serve the people, and tells 939 the Eagle that he sees a lot of potential in Missouri that we aren’t using.
“We are not being as good as we can be. We are not leading this country in ways that we should. We’re not a state where parents can know that their children are getting to get good jobs and stay in Missouri. People are scared to move here, they’re worried about the education their kids will get. Companies are scared to move to parts of Missouri because of crime and concerns about that,” Ashcroft says.
Mr. Ashcroft says education will be one of his top priorities, if he’s elected governor.
“For decades we’ve had a problem in this state where not every child had the opportunity to get a good education. I think it’s long past time every child had the opportunity to get a challenging education, and every parent in the state had the same opportunity to choose where their child went to school that I do,” Ashcroft says.
He tells 939 the Eagle that state government is getting richer and richer, noting the state has a record surplus. He’s calling for returning more money to taxpayers.
Ashcroft will face Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe in the GOP gubernatorial primary, which could also include State Sen. Bill Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) and others. Governor Mike Parson plans to retire after his term expires. The Democratic field is unclear. Official filing for the position opens in February.
Ashcroft was elected secretary of state in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. Ashcroft, a Jefferson City high school graduate, will join us live this morning at 7:10 in-studio to discuss his gubernatorial bid.