Missouri Politics Archives

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should lawmakers block Medicaid expansion?

April 1, 2021 3:45 AM ABC 17 News Team

Voters last year approved a measure to expand Medicaid’s health-care coverage to low-income, working adults.

Senate committee hears testimony on bill to limit local health order power

March 31, 2021 11:11 AM Chanel Porter

The Senate rejected a similar proposal on an initial vote last week. Nine Republicans and 10 Democrats voted against that proposal.

Missouri House condemns Dred Scott ruling

March 31, 2021 6:54 PM Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers have formally condemned the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1857 ruling denying U.S. citizenship to Dred Scott and other Black Americans. The GOP-led state House voted 152-0 to denounce the decision Wednesday. The court ruled that Scott, a slave, was not an American citizen and therefore could not sue for

Former state lawmaker sentenced for misusing campaign funds

March 31, 2021 6:43 PM Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A former Democratic state representative from St. Louis County has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for misusing campaign money for personal expenses. A federal judge in St. Louis on Wednesday also ordered 39-year-old Courtney Curtis to repay nearly $48,000. He pleaded guilty in November to three counts of wire

Protestors demonstrate at Sen. Hawley event in Columbia

March 30, 2021 7:13 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Protesters have gathered to demonstrate against Republican Senator Josh Hawley at the corner of Forum Blvd and Woodrail avenue at the Country Club of Missouri entrance. Protestors gathered both in support and against Hawley. One demonstrator said she was unhappy with comments the senator made surrounding the January 6th capitol riots. Rebecca

Missouri House votes against funding Medicaid expansion

March 30, 2021 5:38 PM Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s House has voted against paying for thousands more low-income adults to get Medicaid. The Republican-led House on Tuesday voted down several Democratic proposals to fund Medicaid expansion. Missouri voters last year amended the state Constitution to expand eligibility for the government health care program. But the GOP-led House Budget Committee

Missouri Senate votes to ban police chokeholds

March 29, 2021 6:37 PM Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A bill to ban police chokeholds has passed the Missouri Senate. Senators voted 30-4 in favor of the measure. The bill also would allow Kansas City police to live up to 30 miles outside of the city’s limits in Missouri. Democratic Sen. Brian Williams says he doesn’t like everything in

State lawmaker faces more charges accused of multiple fraud schemes

March 26, 2021 11:10 AM ABC 17 News Team

A Missouri state representative faces additional federal charges linked to a COVID-19 fraud scheme involving a Springfield charity.

Missouri House committee votes down Medicaid expansion

March 25, 2021 8:51 PM Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers have voted against funding a voter-approved expansion of Medicaid health care for low-income adults. The GOP-led House Budget Committee on Thursday voted 20-9 against paying to extend the program. Republicans argued it’s financially irresponsible to commit to expanding the expensive program. But Democrats argued Medicaid expansion is required by

Missouri House approves voter ID, other election changes

March 25, 2021 5:30 PM Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House has approved election law changes that include requiring residents to show photo IDs before voting. The measure also would prohibit counting absentee ballots until all Election Day ballots are collected, and bars election law changes within six months of a presidential election. All but one Republican House

EPA urged to reconsider listing Missouri lakes as ‘impaired’

March 25, 2021 4:41 PM Associated Press

O’FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The eight Republican members of Missouri’s congressional delegation are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider listing 40 Missouri waterways as “impaired.” That list that includes the Lake of the Ozarks and Truman Reservoir. A letter from Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer and Vicky Hartzler and signed by the other GOP delegation members

Missouri bill for limits on COVID shutdowns fails in Senate

March 25, 2021 2:01 PM Associated Press

A legislative attempt to put checks on local Missouri health officials’ powers during emergencies such as the coronavirus pandemic has failed.

Missouri joins lawsuit to undo Biden pause on US oil and gas lease sales

March 24, 2021 2:06 PM Associated Press

Louisiana, Missouri and 11 other states are suing the Biden administration to end a suspension of oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters.

Missouri AG Eric Schmitt announces run for U.S. Senate

March 24, 2021 8:11 AM ABC 17 News Team

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced his plans to run for Roy Blunt’s US Senate seat Wednesday morning.

Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens delivers masks

Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens announces Senate bid for Blunt’s seat

March 22, 2021 5:46 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens announced Monday afternoon his intentions to replace Roy Blunt in the US Senate. Greitens made the announcement while speaking to Bret Baier on Fox News. Greitens released the following statement in a press release: Washington, D.C. is controlled by establishment politicians who serve Beltway lobbyists instead of

Kehoe won’t pursue Senate but will run for governor in 2024

March 22, 2021 9:50 AM Associated Press

The field of potential candidates seeking to replace Sen. Roy Blunt has narrowed with Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe announcing he will not seek the Republican nomination in 2022 but will instead run for governor in 2024.

Over 225,000 Missourians vaccinated following Phase 1B Tier 3 activation

March 20, 2021 5:07 AM Ben Fein

After the state activated Phase 1B Tier 3 on Monday, 225,016 Missourians got vaccinated through Friday.

Missouri governor announces activation of next coronavirus vaccination phase

March 18, 2021 2:34 PM Chanel Porter

Gov. Mike Parson announced Missourians in Phase 2 of the state vaccination plan will become eligible to receive the vaccine on March 29.

Black woman becomes face of Missouri following NAACP warning

March 16, 2021 1:38 PM Associated Press

A Black woman has become the face of Missouri’s tourism campaign, nearly four years after the NAACP warned travelers that their civil rights may not be respected it they visit the state.

Former Libertarian candidate for governor announces candidacy for US Senate as a Republican

March 11, 2021 9:01 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) Former Libertarian candidate for Missouri governor in 2020 Rik Combs announced his candidacy as a Republican for the U.S. Senate seat for Missouri. Combs is a former senior officer in the United States Air Force for parts of three decades before retiring and serving as CEO for the consulting firm Baron