Missouri lawmakers in final day of legislative session

As another legislative session comes to an end, Missouri lawmakers are on track to pass only a small fraction of the bills that have been introduced.

So far this session,583 bills have been introduced in the state Senate and only one of them has been signed into law. The K-12 foundation formula bill introduced by stateSen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, was vetoed by the governor, but the veto was overridden.

In the Missouri House, 1,457 bills were introduced this session, 18 of which were signed into law. However, 14 of those signed by the governor were required budget bills. A controversial measure known as the “paycheck protection bill” was vetoed by the governor, but the veto was overridden in the House. The Missouri Senate is expected to attempt a similar action on Friday.

The disparity of bills introduced and bill signed into law is not uncommon as it happens most every year. Many impactful decisions are made when the legislature strikes down a particular bill. To see how many bills your Columbia/Jefferson City lawmaker sponsored, follow this link.

Missouri also passed a record-high budget this year. Under Nixon, a Democrat, and the Republican-controlled Legislature, the state fiscal plan has increased from $22 billion in 2009 to $27 billion this year.

For an extended interview with Republican Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins, click here.

For an extended interview with Democratic Representative Stephen Webber, click here.