Missouri Politics Archives

Missouri Senate votes against Medicaid expansion

April 29, 2021 5:55 AM Ben Fein

The Missouri Senate met Wednesday and voted 20-14 against Medicaid expansion.

Failed guns on buses effort delays Missouri budget debate

April 28, 2021 9:00 PM Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A fight over allowing guns on public transportation temporarily derailed debate on the Missouri budget Wednesday before being struck down in the Senate. Republican Sen. Bob Onder on Wednesday tried to strip public transportation funding unless buses and trains allowed people with concealed carry permits to ride. But the top GOP

Missouri bill to block COVID-19 lawsuits hits snag

April 28, 2021 8:56 PM Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri bill to shield businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits has hit a major roadblock in the Legislature. A House committee voted the bill down Monday. The measure was meant to protect hospitals, manufacturers and other businesses from lawsuits over alleged wrongdoing during the pandemic. Republican Gov. Mike Parson says the

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should Missouri raise its gas tax?

April 28, 2021 1:47 AM ABC 17 News Team

The last time Missouri’s voters weighed in on the issue, they voted against a gas tax increase. However, legislators are working on a plan that would raise the tax by 2.5 cents each year for the next five years. The plan would also allow drivers to get rebates for their gas taxes. Missouri’s current 17

Missouri Democrats push back against moves to halt Medicaid expansion

April 27, 2021 11:41 AM Chanel Porter

Missouri House Democrats and health care advocates said that health care is a basic human need that should be available to workers during a rally Tuesday outside the Missouri Capitol.

House committee endorses proposed gasoline tax increase

April 27, 2021 12:30 PM Associated Press

A Missouri House committee unanimously endorsed a proposal to increase the state’s gasoline tax.

State House gives vocal approval to chokehold bill

April 27, 2021 5:37 AM Zach Boetto

The bill features a measure that prohibits law enforcement officers from using a respiratory choke-hold unless deadly force is authorized under the law.

Gov. Parson: LIHEAP energy assistance program changes to help more Missourians pay energy bills

April 23, 2021 11:24 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Parson is extending the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Energy Assistance (EA) Program for one-time primary heating bill payments through May 31 of this year. The state is expanding eligibility for both the heating and cooling programs for Missouri households with incomes up to 135 percent of the

Parson hopes to pick new Missouri health director quickly

April 22, 2021 4:22 PM Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson says he hopes to have a new health director within the next two months. Parson said Thursday that he thought it was in the best interest of his office and Cabinet to part ways with former health director Randall Williams. The governor did not elaborate on

Missouri Senate panel votes down Medicaid expansion funding

April 22, 2021 12:07 PM Associated Press

The budget panel voted 7-7 Wednesday on a Republican-sponsored proposal that would have set money aside to pay for the program. The tie vote meant the proposal failed.

Sen. Blunt issues statement on DOJ pattern-or-practice review of Minneapolis police department

April 21, 2021 6:13 PM ABC 17 News Team

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KMIZ) US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the Department of Justice is opening an investigation into police practices in Minneapolis. This comes after former police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted in the killing of George Floyd Tuesday. The DOJ will investigate the policies and operations of the Minneapolis police department. The new investigation

McCloskeys want grand jury to take a new look at their case

April 21, 2021 1:59 PM Associated Press

A St. Louis husband and wife facing criminal charges for waving guns at racial injustice protesters last summer are asking a judge to send their case back to the grand jury, citing concerns about Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s handling of it.

Missouri chokehold ban bill working through state House

April 21, 2021 12:00 PM Meghan Drakas

The measure won approval in the state Senate last month and the House held a committee hearing on the bill last week.

Missouri House expels lawmaker accused of child abuse

April 21, 2021 11:26 AM Associated Press

The Missouri House has ousted a lawmaker accused of sexually and physically abusing his children years ago.

Local health department ‘surprised’ at the news of state’s health director’s resignation

April 20, 2021 5:42 PM Victoria Bragg

COLUMBIA, MO (KMIZ) Missouri state health director, Dr. Randall Williams, resigned from his position at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Kristi Campbell, the director of the Cole County Health Department, said she was surprised when she heard the news of Dr. Williams. Campbell says she hadn’t heard anything in regards to Dr.

Missouri health director out, acting director appointed

April 20, 2021 12:18 PM Matthew Sanders

Gov. Mike Parson’s office said in a news release Tuesday that Parson had accepted Dr. Randall Williams’ resignation. The release was issued as the St. Louis-Post Dispatch reported that Williams and the state’s chief operating officer, Drew Erdmann, were leaving their posts.

Pro-mask candidates leave office as Missouri tires of limits

April 20, 2021 3:45 PM Associated Press

ROLLA, Mo. (AP) — Pro-mask candidates are leaving office and occupancy limits are falling by the wayside in Missouri as communities tire of pandemic restrictions. St. Louis Public Radio reports that in the central Missouri city of Rolla, a slate of anti-mask candidates joined the City Council on Monday after being elected this month even

Missouri House passes bill for guns in churches, buses

April 20, 2021 3:37 PM Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s GOP-led House has passed a bill that would allow guns in churches and on public transportation. The House voted Monday to send the proposal to the Republican-led Senate. Currently, people need permission to bring firearms into places of religious worship. The bill would allow people with concealed carry permits to

Report: Missouri lawmaker should be ousted for alleged abuse

April 19, 2021 9:09 PM Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A state House committee report says a new Missouri lawmaker accused of physically and sexually abusing his children years ago should be ousted. The Missouri House Ethics Committee on Monday released its report on Republican Rep. Rick Roeber. His now-adult children testified to House investigators earlier this year that he sexually

Rep. Billy Long of Missouri to attend Mar-a-Lago fundraiser

April 19, 2021 2:21 PM Associated Press

U.S. Rep. Billy Long of Missouri says he plans to attend a fundraiser at former President Donald Trump’s golf resort in Florida.