House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith wants to spend $100 million over several years on bridge repair, an alternative to bonding the Carthage Republican says will save millions in interest payments. And House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, noted that his colleagues passed nearly 70 bills, including several changing the criminal justice system.īut the House threw up a roadblock of sorts to Parson’s bonding plan. The Senate did end up altering some rules around lawsuits and curtailing the low-income housing tax credit. But we want to have a solid financial plan that helps us achieve our goals without having to go back to the taxpayer and ask for additional money.”

“We are not opposed to the goals that the governor wants to achieve,” said O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina. Cindy O’Laughlin have slowed those measures in the Senate. While some of his workforce-development agenda has passed the House, some conservative lawmakers like Sen. Parson spent the lion’s share of his State of the State speech sketching out how he wanted to expand workforce-development programs and launch a bonding plan to fix Missouri bridges. Members of the senate walk onto the floor of the House chambers ahead of this year's State of the State address.

And sometimes we get off on the side roads, and we need to stay focused: What is it that Missourians want, and how do we deliver those services?” “And there’s no reason Republicans can’t lead on that. “We have to do the things that affect the everyday moms and dads and the children out there for the future,” Parson said. With Republicans controlling both the executive and legislative branches, Parson is cognizant that his party needs to produce some tangible results. Some want to expand gambling, restrict abortion rights and try to counteract a proposal to merge St. But it’s clear lawmakers from both parties have more on their minds than Parson’s workforce development and transportation plans. There’s still plenty of time for lawmakers to act until they adjourn in mid-May. Mike Parson holds near and dear have run into opposition from his own party. While lawmakers in both the House and Senate have been able to tackle issues that have historically stalled, such as curtailing the low-income housing tax-credit program, priorities that Gov. As the Missouri General Assembly hits its week-long spring break, lawmakers are mulling over what they’ve accomplished so far - and bracing for an array of items that haven’t reached the legislative finish line.

Abortion by Mary E. Williams