Missouri Politics

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri senators have given initial approval to a gas tax hike, despite Republican division over tax increases. The bill would raise Missouri’s gas tax of 17 cents per gallon for the first time in two decades. It stalled Tuesday after hours of Republican infighting, but a compromise that lowered the

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Thousands of Missourians would be off the hook for repaying federal unemployment benefits the state wrongly awarded them under a state bill gaining traction. House lawmakers voted 157-3 in favor of forgiving the federal portion of unemployment overpayments owed by Missourians. The state’s Labor Department doled out $146 million in unemployment

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Transgender student athletes would be required to compete as the sex on their birth certificate under a proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution. Republican sponsor Rep. Chuck Basye during a state House committee hearing on Wednesday said transgender girls have an unfair advantage. He says allowing transgender girls to compete on

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri legislators have given initial approval to a bill that would bar local health officials from ordering businesses and schools to close for more than 15 days during an emergency without getting permission of elected officeholder. During a debate Wednesday in the GOP-led House, Republicans railed against business restrictions that St.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Guns would be allowed on Missouri buses and other public transportation under a bill advancing in the state House. The Republican-led chamber gave the proposal initial approval in a voice vote Wednesday. It needs another vote of approval to go to the Senate. Currently, firearms and other dangerous weapons are

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A pending bill would exempt thousands of Missourians from repaying federal unemployment benefit overpayments. At issue are mistakes by Missouri’s Labor Department as it was considering a huge influx of unemployment claims during the coronavirus pandemic. The agency doled out roughly $146 million to 46,000 people who didn’t qualify. Gov. Mike

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri protesters who repeatedly block traffic without permission could face felony charges under a bill passed by state senators. The GOP-led Senate voted 24-9 Thursday to pass the bill. The measure follows protests last summer in the St. Louis area over the death of George Floyd, including demonstrations that blocked