GOP Same Sex Marriage Crosscurrents

Rep. Chris Sander is under fire for his proposed constitutional amendment which would redefine marriage. 

The Jackson County Missouri Republican Party is planning to vote to censure Sander for HJR 31 which would define marriage as between “two individuals” instead of the current “a man and a woman.”

Driving the Day: Wrong Imprisonment Compensation

Coming on the heels of the exoneration of Lamar Johnson, who served 28 years in prison, today’s Senate Judicial Committee hearing may be extra poignant.  Sen. Brian Williams will be presenting SB 253 which would allow wrongly imprisoned Missourians compensation for their time behind bars.

Fauci to Speak at WashU

Expect the next flurry of jabs from conservatives at “too woke” Washington University after yesterday’s announcement that Dr. Anthony Fauci will give the commencement speech to Med School this year.

1 Big Thing: Foundation Formula Rewrite Coming?

The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee held a working session yesterday to talk about the foundation formula.

Quiet Day Ahead

The focus of a lot people today will be in Kansas City not Jefferson City today, as the Super Bowl Parade rolls down Grand Boulevard.  The governor will be there, as will a bunch of legislators.

Transgender Issues Take Center Stage

The whistleblower affidavit has brought the issue of gender reassignment to the center stage of the Missouri legislature.

Early estimates say 100 million bets were made on the Super Bowl yesterday…

1. Super Bowl viewership.

2. Super Bowl ad prices.

3. Sports Betting States.

4. Missing child care workers.

5. Missouri is one of China’s largest land investments.

6. Compromise.

7. Dog names.

Remington / MOScout Poll: GOP Statewide

Survey conducted by Remington Research. February 8 9, 820 likely 2024 Republican Primary voters. Margin of Error is +/-3.2%.

Q1: If the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary were held today, for whom would you vote? 

Ron DeSantis: 35%

Nikki Haley: 8%

Donald Trump: 38%

Undecided: 19% 

1 Big Thing: WashU Under Fire

This “whistle-blower” account in The Free Press started making the rounds in the capitol around 8:30AM and it only gained speed throughout the day.

It’s the headline story of the Post-Dispatch today…

Richey Outlines Speaker Plans

Rep. Doug Richey, who running to succeed Dean Plocher as Speaker, proposed a series of “reforms” to the Office of the Speaker which would curtail some of that office’s expansive power. 

Exclusive: Schoeller to Enter SOS Race

I’m told that Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller will announce his candidacy for Secretary of State this weekend at Lincoln Days.

1 Big Thing: Republican Agenda Chugs Along…

We’re about a month into the legislative session with a month to go until Spring Break, and so far there’s been no major disruptions or drama.  The Republican supermajority has avoided the infighting that has characterized recent sessions.

Ahead of this weekend’s Lincoln Days there are a bunch of names being floated for statewide office…

1. “Government is the problem.” 

2. Congress by age.

3. Docs going D?

4. Fortnite killing the environment?

5-6. Technology doesn’t “destroy jobs,” it boosts GDP.

7. How much Missourians drink.

China Balloon Over MO

One lobbyist joked that Republican legislators were “working to outdo one another” in response to the China Spy Balloon floating over Missouri.

Yawn: No Senate Fireworks

Brian Treece and Warren Erdman were confirmed to the State Highways and Transportation Commission yesterday without even a protest speech. 

Morning Drama: Highway Commissioners to Floor

Governor Mike Parson’s appointees to the State Highways and Transportation Commission (Brian Treece, a Democrat, and Warren Erdman, a Republican) were voted out of the Gubernatorial Appointments Committee yesterday after receiving bipartisan praise.

Their confirmation will come to the Senate floor today. 

Highway Commissioners in Gubby Appts

Governor Mike Parson’s appointees to the State Highways and Transportation Commission were added to the agenda of this morning’s Gubernatorial Appointments hearing (11AM, Senator Lounge).

Corporate Tax Cut Hearing

The House’s Special Committee on Tax Reform (HR7, Noon) will hear two bills seeking to phase out Missouri’s corporate income tax.