1. End of the pandemic.

2. STL’s downtown blues.

3. Childcare workers since 2019.

4. Ripley County: housing prices vs wage growth.

5. Twitter by party.

6. Baseball.

Senate Rallies

The Senate showed its mercurial nature Friday, rallying and forging ahead with compromises after a squandered day had invoked a glooming pessimism.

Brattin Threatens Final Days

Sen. Rick Brattin gobbled up the entire Senate Day yesterday as he raged that he’s been unable to pass the “landfill” bill. 

Senate Talks Landfill

The Senate spent significant time again yesterday debating the House’ “landfill” bill.

1 Big Thing: Games of Chicken

Eight days left in session, we’re in the chicken stage on a lot of issues. 

Bernskoetter Pokes Hoskins

Yesterday Sen. Mike Bernskoetter poked Sen. Denny Hoskins by offering an amendment similar to Hoskins’ DEI amendment to the budget bills. 

10 Days Left…

Two weeks left.  Here’s where some of the action will occur…

1. State tax burden

2. Diploma divide

3. Abortion polling

4. Parental leave

5 - 6. Biden approval

7. Diversity in data

8. Font analysis

Remington/MOScout Poll: IP Language

I asked about components to Jobs for Justice’s initiative petition filings.  Interesting that they’re all around above the 50% level needed to win passage now, but below the new proposed threshold of 57%.

Senate Passes IP Reform, But…

The Senate quickly passed a resolution to ask voters to approve changes to the initiative petition process. 

The End of the $$$ Shower

Although the budget debate has had some very prickly moments, it’s an entirely different experience than when there’s a shortfall and everything is on the chopping blocks.  We may look back on these days with longing – when the legislature had the luxury to spend time debating DEI instead of whether services or programs get cut or zeroed.

Senate Slogs Through Budget

The Senate got a later start than I thought they would and then found itself mired for hours in the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Belonging) debate.  It finally finished up passing the budget around 3:30AM this morning.

Senate Prepping for PQ?

Looking past today’s budget debate, one veteran of the building says that we’ll soon see the Senate prepping for worst-case scenario this session.

The Coming Pile-Up…

Take a look at the House calendar right now and you won’t see many Senate bills.  Speaker Dean Plocher seems to be making good on his decision to slow walk Senate bills until he sees action on his priority issue: initiative petition reform.

1. Responsible gun ownership.

2. Political polarization

3. Age and labor force.

4. College-bound and abortion laws.

5. No great expectations for pols. 

6. kiss of death.

Wash U Rebuts Charges

Washington University released the results of its internal investigation, rebutting the charges that had been leveled at it by former employee Jamie Reed. 

Trump Calls Roe “Kiss of Death”

Former President Donald Trump in touting new polls numbers tagged Axiom CEO Jeff Roe as the “kiss of death.” 

Ashcroft Throws Punches

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft isn’t pulling punches as he tries to muscle his way to the governor’s mansion.

Green Decries “Fascist” JeffCity

St. Louis Business Journal’s Jacob Kirn reports that St. Louis Board President Megan Green threw some punches at Jefferson City in her inaugural address yesterday. 

Exclusive: School Choice Group Punches Lonsdale

American Federation for Children, a school choice group, is hitting Rep. Chris Lonsdale for flip-flopping on their issue.