Deb Lavender /tags/deb-lavender Deb Lavender en-US Copyright © 2024 ÍâÍøÌìÌà Fri, 10 May 2024 22:33:59 GMT Missouri legislature passes $51.7 billion budget with some complaints about lack of transparency /government-politics-issues/2024-05-10/missouri-house-passes-state-budget-after-months-of-republican-turmoil Lawmakers had until 6 p.m. Friday to pass the budget. The final product is roughly $1 billion less than Gov. Mike Parson proposed. Fri, 10 May 2024 22:33:59 GMT /government-politics-issues/2024-05-10/missouri-house-passes-state-budget-after-months-of-republican-turmoil Sarah Kellogg Missouri legislature passes expansive K-12 education bill that includes raise for teachers /government-politics-issues/2024-04-18/missouri-legislature-passes-expansive-k-12-education-bill-that-includes-raise-for-teachers The legislation passed the Missouri House by the bare minimum on Thursday. It now goes to the governor’s desk. Thu, 18 Apr 2024 23:36:24 GMT /government-politics-issues/2024-04-18/missouri-legislature-passes-expansive-k-12-education-bill-that-includes-raise-for-teachers Sarah Kellogg Missouri Democrats gripe over limited debate for proposed $50 billion state budget /government-politics-issues/2024-03-26/missouri-democrats-gripe-over-limited-debate-for-proposed-50-billion-state-budget Missouri House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith cut the time set aside for amending his spending plan but said the final product is ‘largely the same.’ Tue, 26 Mar 2024 12:56:47 GMT /government-politics-issues/2024-03-26/missouri-democrats-gripe-over-limited-debate-for-proposed-50-billion-state-budget Rudi Keller Dean Plocher draws new scrutiny over Capitol meetings with out-of-state vendor /government-politics-issues/2024-03-11/dean-plocher-draws-new-scrutiny-over-capitol-meetings-with-out-of-state-vendor Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, faced criticism last year for unsuccessfully pushing the House to purchase a software system from a private company over the objections of nonpartisan legislative staff. Meetings his office helped arrange with an Oklahoma company last month are drawing comparisons. Mon, 11 Mar 2024 17:00:00 GMT /government-politics-issues/2024-03-11/dean-plocher-draws-new-scrutiny-over-capitol-meetings-with-out-of-state-vendor Jason Hancock Missouri House gives initial approval to defunding clinics like Planned Parenthood /government-politics-issues/2024-02-28/missouri-house-gives-initial-approval-to-defunding-clinics-like-planned-parenthood Under the proposed legislation, no public funds would be given to any clinic that provides abortions or its affiliate. Similar legislation has stalled in the Senate. Wed, 28 Feb 2024 20:53:51 GMT /government-politics-issues/2024-02-28/missouri-house-gives-initial-approval-to-defunding-clinics-like-planned-parenthood Sarah Kellogg Missouri legislature passes bill that eliminates state tax on Social Security /government-politics-issues/2023-05-08/missouri-legislature-passes-bill-that-eliminates-state-tax-on-social-security The legislation received almost unanimous bipartisan support in the House on Monday with a vote of 154-2. Since the House passed the Senate bill with no changes made, the measure now goes to the governor. Mon, 08 May 2023 23:53:45 GMT /government-politics-issues/2023-05-08/missouri-legislature-passes-bill-that-eliminates-state-tax-on-social-security Sarah Kellogg Missouri Senate committee restores library funding in state budget, strips anti-DEI language /government-politics-issues/2023-04-19/missouri-senate-committee-restores-library-funding-in-state-budget-strips-anti-dei-language Senate Appropriations Chair Lincoln Hough said after speaking with departments, businesses and vendors, he recommended removing the anti-diversity, equity and inclusion language. The committee still must pass the budget bills before they can make it to the Senate floor. Wed, 19 Apr 2023 23:31:16 GMT /government-politics-issues/2023-04-19/missouri-senate-committee-restores-library-funding-in-state-budget-strips-anti-dei-language Sarah Kellogg Missouri House gives initial approval to $45.6 billion state operating budget /government-politics-issues/2023-03-29/missouri-house-gives-initial-approval-to-45-6-billion-state-operating-budget The budget is less than Gov. Mike Parson’s initial proposal. However, Democrats and Republicans repeatedly clashed. Wed, 29 Mar 2023 06:25:08 GMT /government-politics-issues/2023-03-29/missouri-house-gives-initial-approval-to-45-6-billion-state-operating-budget Sarah Kellogg Missouri House approves cut to state’s income and corporate taxes /government-politics-issues/2023-03-23/missouri-house-approves-cut-to-states-income-and-corporate-taxes The bill would also remove taxes on Social Security benefits, which both parties say could be helpful to seniors in the state. Thu, 23 Mar 2023 17:06:59 GMT /government-politics-issues/2023-03-23/missouri-house-approves-cut-to-states-income-and-corporate-taxes Jason Rosenbaum Transgender rights, control of St. Louis police targeted as Missouri legislature resumes /government-politics-issues/2023-03-20/transgender-rights-control-of-st-louis-police-targeted-as-missouri-legislature-resumes Before leaving for spring break, Missouri House Republicans called the first part of this year’s session successful. How much gets done during the second half, however, depends on how well both chambers navigate divisive bills. Mon, 20 Mar 2023 10:00:00 GMT /government-politics-issues/2023-03-20/transgender-rights-control-of-st-louis-police-targeted-as-missouri-legislature-resumes Sarah Kellogg