Welcome to the Missouri State Capitol News Bureau page! KSMU's Missy Shelton brings you the latest from Jefferson City. Visit our Capitol News Bureau where you'll find in-depth reports as well as links to helpful information about state government. And tune in to Jeff City Journal Fridays at 7PM and Sundays at 12:30PM on Ozarks Public Televsion. Each week during the session, Missy Shelton talks with elected officials about important legislative issues.
The Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children held its first public hearing Friday in Springfield. KSMU’s Jennifer Moore was there and has details.
Governor Jay Nixon will travel to Brazil this month on a trade mission. As KSMU’s Jennifer Moore reports, the trip comes on the heels of the news that Missouri saw its strongest year ever for exports in 2011.
The superintendents of several Ozarks school districts gathered together Thursday to advocate for their districts when it comes to state funding. KSMU's Jennifer Moore has details.
Governor Jay Nixon has been traveling the state to promote a new set of incentives in his overall strategy to create jobs in Missouri. The proposal is called “Missouri Works.” KSMU’s Jennifer Moore has details.
Even though lawmakers don’t start their regular session until the first week of January, this is a busy time of year in state government. Many lawmakers are pre-filing bills and the chairs of interim committees are preparing reports. And as KSMU’s Missy Shelton discusses with long-time statehouse reporter Phill Brooks, the Nixon administration is working on putting together a budget proposal.
The Senate Interim Committee on Health Insurance Exchanges was in Springfield this week to gather testimony from the public. At issue is whether the state of Missouri should set up its own health insurance exchange as required under the federal healthcare law. KSMU’s Missy Shelton reports.
An interim senate committee that’s evaluating whether Missouri should set up its own health insurance exchange will meet in Springfield tomorrow morning at 10 at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
On Sunday, former Congressman Mel Hancock passed away at the age of 82. In this week’s Capitol Perspectives, Phill Brooks, the longest full-time statehouse reporter, discusses Hancock’s lasting impact on state government with KSMU's Missy Shelton.
Senator Claire McCaskill was in Springfield over the weekend to stop by the Veterans Cemetery here to make sure that the scandals that have rocked Arlington National Cemetery are not happening across the country. Last year, a report revealed that hundreds of graves at Arlington were either unmarked or mismarked, and some of the ashes of America’s fallen soldiers and sailors had been discarded with the trash. KSMU’s Jennifer Moore has this interview with the senator.
The Missouri Senate leader says he intends to end a special legislative session next week without approving the package of business incentives lawmakers were called to Jefferson City for. KSMU’s Jennifer Moore reports.
Missouri’s two US Senators are joining hands to pay tribute to soldiers who may have been overlooked due to discrimination. KSMU’s Jennifer Moore has details.
Congressman Billy Long of southwest Missouri says he will vote against President Barack Obama’s jobs package if it makes it to the House of Representatives "as is." Long says he feels it’s an expensive repeat of the earlier stimulus package, which he says was a failure. KSMU’s Jennifer Moore talked with the Congressman about his ideas for creating jobs.
Thursday evening, many Americans will tune into President Barack Obama’s speech about the nation’s slow economic recovery. KSMU’s Jennifer Moore heard from both of Missouri’s senators about what they hope to hear from the president.
The chair of the Missouri House Budget Committee is again raising concerns about the amount of travel by Governor Jay Nixon. KSMU’s Missy Shelton reports.
Governor Jay Nixon toured the state Wednesday, highlighting the economic package he wants lawmakers to pass in a special legislative session in September. In Springfield, he made a stop at Holloway America, a five-year-old company that makes stainless steel tanks and other tools used by pharmaceutical companies. KSMU’s Jennifer Moore reports.
State Auditor Tom Schweich says his office will do everything it can to follow-up on audits that identify serious problems such as the embezzlement of funds. KSMU’s Missy Shelton reports.
The Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court urged lawmakers to spend more money on rehabilitation programs like drug courts instead of locking up so many nonviolent offenders. This was part of the message in the State of the Judiciary Address, which the Chief Justice delivered today. KSMU’s Missy Shelton files this report from Jefferson City.
On Wednesday, Senate President Pro Tem Robert Mayer named 15 Senate Committee Chairmen who will be in charge of holding public hearings and drafting legislation. Two Senators from the Ozarks have been named chairmen. KSMU’s Mike Donnelly reports.
A coalition of business leaders from across the state held a press conference today to announce six legislative priorities. One goal is to stop automatic increases in the minimum wage as the cost of living goes up. KSMU’s Missy Shelton reports.
Tax cuts approved under the Bush Administration will expire at the end of the year unless Congress intervenes. Republicans and Democrats disagree over which cuts to renew. KSMU's Missy Shelton has this report on what Senators Kit Bond and Claire McCasill have to say on the matter.
With methamphetamine lab busts on the rise in Missouri, Governor Jay Nixon is calling on lawmakers to make certain cold medicines available only by prescription. The idea is to limit access to pseudoephedrine, a key meth ingredient. Nixon was in Springfield Tuesday to discuss the proposal. KSMU’s Missy Shelton was there and files this report.
The U.S. House has passed a $26 billion jobs bill to protect 300,000 teachers and other nonfederal government workers from layoffs nationwide. KSMU’s Jennifer Moore reports on what this means for Missouri.
For families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, it’s been a long time coming. Governor Jay Nixon has signed into law a bill that requires insurance companies regulated by the state to provide coverage to children with autism. KSMU’s Jennifer Moore attended the bill-signing press conference in Springfield Thursday and has this report.
The vast majority of emphasis in the Missouri legislature this session has been on the budget. But a little-known bill aiming to regulate the adult entertainment industry has cleared the Senate and has two passionate sides fighting for and against its passage in the House. KSMU’s Jennifer Moore reports.
