Missouri House of Representatives Archives

‘Political trailblazer for women’ inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians

August 27, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

America’s first female county clerk has been inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians. A bronze bust of Annie White Baxter of southwest Missouri’s Carthage joins 47 others in the esteemed hall already showcasing journalist Walter Cronkite, radio host Rush Limbaugh, and the 33rd U.S. President – Harry Truman. They line the third floor of the Missouri Capitol Rotunda in Jefferson City to pay tribute to the legacy they have left.

Bronze bust of Annie White Baxter unveiled on August 26, 2020 (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

As House Speaker, Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, gets the final say on who is inducted into the hall. During a ceremony today in the Missouri House of Representatives, White Baxter was remembered as one of the state’s best county clerks and a political trailblazer.

In 1890, she defeated her opponent by about 400 votes to become the Jasper County Clerk during a time when women did not have the right to vote. White Baxter, a Democrat, later served as state registrar of lands and financial secretary of the Missouri Constitutional Convention.

Her induction coincides with today being Women’s Equality Day to commemorate the 1920 adoption of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution – prohibiting government from denying the right of American citizens to vote based on gender. Women of color were not guaranteed the right to vote until later.

Rep. Peggy McGaugh, R-Carrollton, led today’s opening prayer. She is a former Carroll County clerk.

“Thank you for allowing her to pave the way for the 85 female county clerks and personal friends serving throughout the 114 counties in Missouri today,” she said.

The Pledge of Allegiance was then flawlessly led by Haahr’s three daughters.

Former state Rep. Charlie Davis, the current Jasper County Clerk, said White Baxter blazed the trail for women – not only in Missouri but in America. He notes the county auditor, assessor, circuit clerk, public administrator, prosecuting attorney, recorder of deeds and treasurer in Jasper County are all women.

“It’s amazing that half of our elected officials in Jasper County are women,” he said. “That kind of shows the importance that women place on our society, but especially our community of Jasper County.”

Davis said the second female Jasper County Clerk was elected 100 years later. Out of the last 30 years, he said 20 years were served by female Jasper County clerks.

According to Davis, a bust of White Baxter will also be placed in the Jasper County Courthouse.

Wendy Doyle, the President and CEO of Women’s Foundation, said millions of people who visit the Missouri Capitol each year, including many students, will enjoy the symbol of inspiration that White Baxter represents.

“I’m thrilled she’s getting the recognition she finally deserves,” she said. “By writing women back into history, we can ensure that women can see themselves in the change makers and barrier breakers of the past.”

Women’s Foundation and its supporters, particularly generous Missourians from White Baxter’s home county, funded the project.

“It’s important to the Women’s Foundation that we are able to go back in time to preserve legacies and history so that we can see how far we’ve come but also for us to see who we could be, to show women that there is a path forward – that we are working toward equality,” she said. “We are demonstrating to Missouri women that we are making progress.”

The cost of the bust is in the neighborhood of $15,000.

Haahr said putting White Baxter in the hall was a no-brainer.

“There’s a lot of really talented people that are not yet in the Hall of Famous Missourians. I started thinking about Annie White Baxter back in 2018 when I first became Speaker. It made a lot of sense – it’s the 100th General Assembly, it’s the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote. So, it all kind of dovetails together,” said Haahr.

He hopes today’s event will serve as a learning experience for his three daughters.

“My mom was my first political advisor,” he said. “But having three daughters, they are going to grow up in a world where they are never going to worry about not being able to vote, not being able to hold office. And so for me, without having to go through that struggle to remind them of the people that did, I feel like is very important.”

The sculpture was crafted by E. Spencer Schubert of Kansas City.

Parson calls House passage of 5 special session bills is ‘A win for Missouri’

August 26, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri House of Representatives did not pass two of seven bills the governor wanted as part of his special session call to address the state’s violent crime rate. During a briefing today, Gov. Mike Parson says he is still pleased about the ones that did pass.

Gov. Mike Parson

The House did not sign off on legislation that would give the Missouri Attorney General jurisdiction to prosecute some St. Louis murder cases.

“Jurisdiction is something I think was very important, that come later on in the session,” says Parson. “I still think anything we can do to address violent crime in this state. And I do want to say, with what we’re doing with session giving the tools that law enforcement needs, that prosecutors need to be able to take violent criminals off the street is a win for Missouri right now.”

Another measure that did not reach the finish line in the House would let judges decide whether juveniles 16 to 18 years old should be prosecuted as adults and possibly go to prison for certain crimes committed with weapons.

“We would have loved to have the juvenile situation – be able to get that done. That was very important to us,” says Parson.

The House did pass legislation that would create a fund to protect witnesses and their immediate family before trial but members did not put money into the fund. The governor told Capitol reporters his office is looking at whatever funding they can get, to get the program started as soon as possible.

Other bills passed in the House would:

* Boost penalties for witness and victim tampering

*Remove a requirement for St. Louis first responders to live within the city

*Toughen the penalty for anyone who sells or gives a gun to a juvenile

*Make it a crime to assist someone 17 or younger to commit a crime with a weapon

The bills head to the Senate for consideration. Senate President Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, says the upper chamber will return next week to finish work on the proposals.

Missouri Representative on special session: “Tough on crime approach does not actually reduce crime”

August 24, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri House is in session today and is expected to take a preliminary vote on six crime bills. Gov. Mike Parson cites the state’s rising crime rate for calling the current special session.

Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove

Kansas City Democrat Ashley Bland Manlove, the Vice Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, tells Missourinet she has met with the governor about a handful of times over the past year to discuss ways to reduce crime.

“When we asked him to hold a special session last year, he said a special session isn’t enough time to address a heavy issue like violence. And then literally the next year, which unfortunately happens to be an election year, he holds a session on violence. Interesting,” she says.

She says holistic approaches like additional counseling services, surveillance cameras, education funding and social services would help to root out violence – not the bills up for debate today.

“We learned from the 80s that tough on crime does not actually reduce crime,” she says. “You actually have to treat the person and invest in the human capital.”

One of the most contentious bills being considered today would let judges decide whether 16 to 18-year-olds should be prosecuted as adults and possibly go to prison for certain weapons crimes. Another controversial measure would remove a requirement for St. Louis police officers to live within the city. One measure Bland Manlove supports would create a witness protection fund to keep witnesses and their families safe before trial.

A bill absent from today’s lineup is one that would let the Missouri Attorney General get involved in some St. Louis murder cases. Parson expanded his special session call to urge lawmakers to pass the measure.

The Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, with many being Republican members, is strongly opposed to the proposal. The group of 115 prosecutors says it has consistently fought for decades against proposals that would give the state attorney general jurisdiction in local cases.

Other legislators also oppose the plan and accuse the governor of playing political games for going after St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner. The governor has publicly condemned Gardner for charging an affluent St. Louis couple with felonies after they pulled out their guns on protesters walking along their private street.

Protesters hit streets of Jefferson City to oppose governor’s special session crime bill

August 13, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Protesters marching down High Street in Jefferson City

Protesters marched the streets in the heart of Jefferson City today to voice their opposition to the governor’s crime package. They walked down High Street in front of the Missouri Capitol and made a pitstop at the Governor’s Mansion. Police were on the scene to try and keep protesters from blocking the streets.

Gov. Mike Parson’s special session crime plan would let judges choose whether children 14 to 18 years old should be tried as adults for certain weapons crimes. It would also allow the Missouri attorney general to prosecute some St. Louis murder cases. Parson says out of at least 161 St. Louis murders so far this year, 33 suspects have been charged.

Rep. Rasheen Aldridge

State Representative Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, participated in the protest.

“Charge them as an adult because that is how we are going to fix violence – by being tough on crime to individuals that have made a mistake and should be held accountable but you are charging our youngest babies,” says Aldridge. “When does we go to ten? When do we go to nine? What’s going to be next? Eight? Seven? Are we locking up literally babies and putting them in jail with serial killers?”

Missouri Congressional candidate Cori Bush

Cori Bush of North St. Louis County, who defeated longtime St. Louis Democratic Congressman Lacy Clay in this month’s primary election, was among the crowd of protesters. They marched to the Cole County Jail and Bush had a message for law enforcement.

“We are about saving lives,” she says. “And so if you think we want to destroy your property – we don’t. If you think that we want to just disrupt just to disrupt – we don’t. We’re disrupting because you won’t stand up and do the right thing and make sure your work is to save lives.”

The legislation would also scrap a requirement for St. Louis police officers to live within the city and would create a witness protection fund to compel more witnesses to come forward in crime cases.

The Missouri House of Representatives gets back to work next week on the legislation. Three committees have scheduled hearings for Monday afternoon.

Missouri prosecutors oppose governor’s bid to let attorney general take on St. Louis murder cases

August 13, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Gov. Mike Parson expanded his special legislative session call this week on violent crime to include giving the Missouri Attorney General the power to prosecute some St. Louis murder cases. He says out of 161 murders there so far this year, 33 suspects have been charged.

Gov. Mike Parson

A group of 115 Missouri prosecutors is not on board with the governor’s bid to let the State Attorney General get involved in local cases. The Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys says it has consistently fought for decades against proposals that would give the state attorney general that type of jurisdiction. In a press release, the group says the measures undermine the independence and autonomy of locally elected prosecutors.

“The best control is local control. Vesting the Attorney General with new original or concurrent jurisdiction erodes the ability of local voters to decide who will seek justice on their behalf should they be victimized by crime. Further, any attempt to vest the attorney general with jurisdiction to prosecute homicides without the request of the elected prosecuting attorney fundamentally changes our system of local, independent prosecution that has served the citizens of Missouri well since 1875,” the release says.

The organization says any prosecutors seeking help can reach out to the association and they will get the support they need.

“MAPA, through our individual members, stands ready to assist any fellow prosecutor. Our prosecutors routinely come to each other’s aid: assisting with cases; sharing resources; and ensuring that all Missourians receive effective prosecution services.”

Parson denies his expanded call being a personal move. Parson and Attorney General Eric Schmitt, both Republicans, have publicly disagreed with St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, a Democrat, for prosecuting an affluent couple who pointed guns at protesters walking through their neighborhood in June.

The Missouri House of Representatives is scheduled to get back to work Monday on the crime package.

Missouri Senate gives initial approval to crimefighting package

August 7, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

After twelve hours of floor work Thursday, the Missouri Senate has given preliminary approval to a special session bill intended to crackdown on violent crime. Gov. Mike Parson called lawmakers back in to pass a package that would create a witness protection fund and toughen the penalty for anyone who sells or gives a gun to a juvenile.

State Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff, speaks on the Missouri Senate floor in Jefferson City on January 10, 2019 (file photo courtesy of Senate photographer Harrison Sweazea)

The legislation was met with opposition from a group of Black Lives Matter protesters. They were outside the Capitol, but eventually moved indoors to the upper gallery of the Senate chamber. During debate, protesters interrupted by chanting “Criminal justice reform, not rhetoric.” Senators took a brief break while protesters were shooed out of the chamber.

Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff, says his bill would help to clean up Missouri communities, their economies and their education system.

“Businesses locate all over the state and as you may know, our rural crime has really went up. As a matter fact, we’re ranked really high for rural crime across the United States,” he says. “People have a right to feel safe in their homes. They want their kids to be able to ride their bicycle down to the park and be able to play on the swings and stuff. And, it’s just not the way it is right now in some places.”

State Senator Bob Onder

Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, says three Missouri cities – St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield – rank within the top 25 most violent cities in America.

“We truly have a crime epidemic in Missouri,” he says. “Missouri, overall, has the third highest murder rate in the country. These are not things to be proud of. It gives our whole state a black eye. Don’t think when job creators from around the country are looking about whether to come to Missouri they don’t look at the fact that we have the third highest murder rate in the country, that our major cities are hotbeds of crime, that prosecutors in our major cities are not committed to prosecuting crime and protecting their citizens.”

The legislation would also scrap a requirement for St. Louis police officers to live within the city. Outgoing Senator Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, was one of the most vocal critics of the plan.

Senator Jamilah Nasheed (left) and Lesley McSpadden, mother of Michael Brown, Junior

“We want people that look like us, that can relate to us and they are not afraid to approach those individuals who live in those neighborhoods,” says Nasheed.

She says the state has no business getting involved because St. Louis voters will be asked in November whether to toss out the requirement.

“So all of my good friends in here who always emphasize that local control is important, especially when it comes to farmers. But how about letting us control our home,” asks Nasheed. “I wouldn’t have come into your district and filed legislation that impacts the quality of life for people that you represent. Ask me if I need help and then offer it to me. Don’t just tell me what you think is best for my district. You ain’t never lived there. You don’t have to walk those streets.”

Sen. Caleb Rowden (2016 file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

She goes on to say St. Louis has a police retention problem – not a police residency problem.

Majority Floor Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, says letting officers live outside of the city could help with recruiting.

“If we’re trying to figure out a way in areas where there is higher crime rates, to get more boots on the streets, I just want those boots to be qualified,” says Rowden. “I just want them to be qualified. I want them to be willing, go through training and feel that there’s some level of calling, an obligation to serve their communities in that way. If they’re from the city of St. Louis or they’re from Columbia, fine. If they’re not, but they still have that calling and that desire to serve their community in that way, I think they should be able to do that.”

Sen. Karla May

Sen. Karla May, D-St. Louis, calls the measure a “political ploy” heading into November’s general election. She says her city has been a “mismanagement of resources” with the majority being ruled by the minority. According to May, the police department makes up $178 million of the city’s budget.

“When you’re putting all the resources in what you call the affluent portions and you want to pay more attention to the 1% and ignore what is going on in the rest of the city, then you’re going to have issues like this,” says May. “But we have to talk about violent crime from a social economic purview because that is totally the issue here.”

St. Louis lacks about 130 officers from its authorized strength.

A provision with some of the most contention is one that would expand state statute and let judges decide whether individuals 14 to 18 years old should be prosecuted as adults for certain weapons crimes.

“Did you know that 85% to 87% of African-American youth are certified as adults opposed to any other demographic,” asks May. “Why is that? You cannot tell me that there’s no bias going on in the judicial system. We have to fix that first.”

She points to a U.S. Department of Justice report about the juvenile justice system in St. Louis County.

“They did a six-year study that showed that juveniles ages 12, 13, 14, and 15 were denied their civil rights solely based on racism. But no one wants to deal with the underlying causes of crime,” says May. “They want to do this tough on crime approach and continue to destroy families by locking up people for a long time instead of dealing with the child. Where were you at when he was seven or eight – when his community was tumbling down?”

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner

Onder says St. Louis prosecutor Kim Gardner’s conviction rate is 20% and calls her “incompetent”, triggering Nasheed to fire back.

“I am concerned about the blood in the streets, many of whom are your constituents,” says Onder.

“The blood in the streets,” asks Nasheed.

“If we cannot get a handle on the crime problem in the city of St. Louis,” says Onder.

“The blood in the streets? The blood in the streets is a direct correlation to you all being soft on guns,” says Nasheed.

“Black males and black females, even children as young as four years old, are dying in the streets of the city of St. Louis,” says Onder.

“When have you guys ever cared,” asks Nasheed. “When have you ever cared?”

“And we have a prosecutor who is willfully neglectful in performing her duty,” says Onder.

“But when have you ever cared,” asks Nasheed.

Onder listed several names of kids killed this year in St. Louis.

“So did Kim kill them,” asks Nasheed. “Did Kim kill them? I’m asking you, did she pick up a gun? So it’s Kim’s fault and not your fault because you all allow all type of guns in the inner city based on the weak policies where anyone can have access to guns. Who are you blaming? You should be blaming yourself, not Kim.”

“Senator, there were guns in the city of St. Louis five years ago. There are guns today,” says Onder. “Something has changed. Gun crime, all crime has skyrocketed. Ms. Gardner is charging the brutal crime of carjacking as stealing as if someone had stolen a pack of gum.”

Nasheed accused Onder of rallying his base.

Gardner has been criticized for her handling of the former Governor Eric Greitens court case involving a graphic photo of his ex-mistress that was allegedly taken without the woman’s permission and used to blackmail her to keep quiet about their affair. Gardner has also come under recent fire for charging a St. Louis couple with felonies for flashing guns at protesters walking along their private street.

The Senate is expected to give final approval to Senate Bill 1 on Friday. Then, the measure heads over to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Parson signs plan expanding absentee voting during the coronavirus outbreak

June 5, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Gov. Mike Parson has signed into law a bill expanding mail-in voting during this year’s August and November elections only. Under Senate Bill 631, an absentee ballot will only be allowed for voters who request one.

Governor Mike Parson (file photo courtesy of Governor Parson’s office)

Voters who have contracted or are at-risk of getting COVID-19 can cast an absentee ballot without notarization. All other voters can mail in their ballot without an excuse, but they must submit a notarized statement saying they are who they say they are.

“Any Missourian affected by COVID-19 should still be able to vote, including those who are sick or considered at-risk,” Parson says in a written statement. “I applaud Senator Dan Hegeman, Representative Dan Shaul, and the rest of the legislature for taking this important step, which provides Missourians with a safe and secure way to vote while still safeguarding our elections and ballot process.”

Other provisions of the legislation include modifications to the following:
• Investigative powers for the Secretary of State
• Candidate filing fees
• Political activities by state employees
• Financial interest statements
• Secretary of State’s Technology Trust Fund
Ballots must be returned and received in an envelope postmarked by U.S. Mail by 7 p.m. on election day.

The Missouri House of Representatives gave final approval to the legislation with less than one hour to go on the final day of this year’s regular session.

To view SB 631, click here.

Missouri Legislature sends “Clean Missouri” redistricting changes back to the ballot in November

May 14, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri Legislature has passed today a controversial resolution that would ask voters this November to overturn Clean Missouri’s redistricting process passed by voters in 2018. The plan would let a bipartisan commission redraw legislative districts, instead of a nonpartisan demographer. It would also ban lobbyist gifts, instead of Clean Missouri’s $5 limit, and put a $2,000 cap on Senate candidate political donations, instead of the current $2,500.

Rep. Dean Plocher (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

During Missouri House debate today, bill handler Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, says Clean Missouri prioritized the interests of billionaires in New York and Texas.

“It was all out of state money that funded Amendment One. Why? Where was the Missouri money? This is Missourians we’re voting on here. Our communities matter,” says Plocher.

Some Democrats say the proposed constitutional amendment could leave out certain segments of the population, including minors and noncitizens. Representative Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, says the measure would let politicians get back to manipulating the boundaries of their districts.

“I dare you to look at a map where one district wraps around another district, where one member of our body has to drive through three other people’s districts to get to his polling place from his house. I dare you to say that those are not gerrymandered maps,” says Merideth.

Rep. Phil Christofanelli (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

Represenative Phil Christofanelli, R-St. Peters, fired back.

“Which judge gerrymandered the maps?” asks Christofanelli.

“I don’t know, gentleman. But I can tell you they are gerrymandered,” replies Merideth.

“That’s right you don’t know because you made it up,” says Christofanelli. “The Democrats made this up and they have been lying about this from the beginning.”

“Gerrymandering doesn’t exist, gentleman? That’s a powerful statement,” says Merideth.

“The maps have not been gerrymandered. It was a scam,” says Christofanelli.

Rep. Peter Merideth (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

Earlier this week, Missouri House Rules Committee Chairman Rocky Miller, R- Lake Ozark, voted in favor of the resolution but made his own prediction.

“This is going to go down in flames if it makes it to the ballot. Flames. This will not pass at all,” said Miller. This will be as bad as right-to-work. This will be three strikes in a row against the GOP. So, if they want three strikes in a row – pass this. We’ll see how it goes.”

In 2017, the Missouri Legislature passed a right-to-work law, which would ban mandatory union fees in the workplace. The next year, Missouri voters overwhelmingly shot down the law.

Miller also said the Missouri GOP Party told him the proposal has errors that need correcting, but he did not elaborate.

Fourteen House Republicans voted with Democrats against the proposal.

The measure is Senate Joint Resolution 38.

Senior GOP lawmaker on redistricting plan: “This will go down in flames if it makes it to the ballot”

May 12, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri House Rules Committee has voted 6-3 in favor of a resolution that would repeal 2018 legislative redistricting changes. The plan, headed to the full House, opposes Clean Missouri’s efforts to change how legislative district maps are drawn.

Rep. Rocky Miller (R-Lake Ozark)

Many Democrats say Clean Missouri’s efforts will make legislative races more competitive and many Republicans says it will work in favor of Democrats.

Committee chairman Rocky Miller, a Republican from central Missouri’s Lake Ozark, voted in favor of the resolution intended to reverse the Clean Missouri measure.

In 2017, the Missouri Legislature passed a right-to-work law, which would ban mandatory union fees in the workplace. The next year, Missouri voters overwhelmingly shot down the law.

He said the Missouri GOP Party told him the proposal has errors that need corrected. Miller, who is in his 8th and final year in House due to term limits, did not elaborate.

“That would then require it to go back over to the Senate, which I think at this late hour may be a death sentence,” said Miller. “So, I would hope that if people feel strongly on this bill, that they would either not allow it to come forward or come forward as is.”

The Senate has already passed the plan, but Democrats would likely use their filibuster power to stall a vote. The Legislature’s regular session ends Friday.

During Monday’s vote, Democrat Sarah Unsicker of Shrewsbury pointed out a contentious piece of the plan that would use eligible voters instead of total population – leaving out some voices.

“I believe that’s intended to count only citizens,” she said. “But I’m not sure what data would be used to count citizens as opposed to immigrants.”

In an earlier hearing, bill sponsor, State Senator Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, said he’s concerned Clean Missouri’s redistricting process would hurt communities.

“My biggest concern is that we will break up those voices and then Gladstone may be represented by three people and therefore represented by nobody,” said Hegeman.

Hegeman said Clean Missouri would lead to “greater gerrymandering” and he calls it a “partisan train wreck”.

Hegeman’s resolution would let a bipartisan commission redraw legislative districts, instead of a nonpartisan demographer. It would also ban lobbyist gifts, instead of Clean Missouri’s $5 limit, and put a $2,000 cap on Senate candidate political donations, instead of the current $2,500.

The measure is Senate Joint Resolution 38.

What you need to know about the revised Missouri budget proposal

April 29, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri Legislature will have a big job now that lawmakers are back to work – dealing with a projected state budget shortfall of about $700 million. Members have been on break for about one month due to the coronavirus threatening the state.

The Missouri House and Senate convene on January 9, 2019 for a joint session to commemorate the 100th General Assembly (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The Missouri House of Representatives is considering a revised state budget for the fiscal year beginning in July. The $34.9 billion budget outline is about a $4.5 billion increase over Gov. Mike Parson’s original fiscal plan released in January. It includes $10 billion in state general revenue, $14.5 billion in federal funding and $10.3 billion in other funds.

The blueprint includes two major differences from what Gov. Parson recommended in January. The latest version no longer includes a 2% pay raise that Parson recommended for most state workers and MoHealthnet is planning to use a savings plan in which the state moves to an outpatient fee schedule that is tied to Medicare. According to Chris Dunn with Missouri House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith’s office, upwards of $90 million would be saved in hospital and managed care reimbursements.

The revised budget plan includes about $10.4 billion to the Missouri Department of Social Services. Most of the Social Services budget goes to Medicaid costs.

About $3.5 billion in base funding would go to Missouri’s K-12 public schools – the same amount as in the current year’s budget. As for school bus transportation, $100 million is being proposed – a reduction of about $7 million compared to the current budget year.

Missouri Senate

About $1.5 billion would go to the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development – a roughly $200 million increase over the current year. The figure includes both the general revenue cuts that Representative Smith proposed and an increase of federal authority should federal funds be made available to support the state’s two-year and four-year colleges and universities. Under the plan, they would get a 10% reduction in funding compared to the current year.

The Department of Corrections budget proposal would be about $805 million – a $24 million increase over the current year. About $38.5 million would go to reimbursing county jails for transporting inmates and holding offenders who end up going to state prison – the same amount as the current year’s budget.

The Missouri Department of Transportation would get about $3 billion, compared to $2.93 billion in the current year’s budget.

Under the House plan, there would be some shuffling of the size of the state’s workforce. Missouri would have 53,935 state workers, a net increase of three full-time equivalent state employees.

Full-time equivalent, or FTE, refers to the number of hours worked by a single employee in a week. FTE is used to convert the hours worked by part-time employees into those worked by full-time staff.

The largest staff increase is 197.5 FTEs the governor requested to be added in the Department of Public Safety to help with the pandemic. The largest reduction would be 128 FTE workers in the Department of Corrections. As the offender population has declined, the agency plans to consolidate certain housing units so that some housing units can be closed. This is allowing the department to reduce vacant FTE positions.

The Missouri House is debating the budget bills and final approval is expected today. Then the Missouri Senate will go from there. Senate President Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, says the Senate Appropriations Committee is planning to take up the budget on Saturday and work through the weekend.