State Rep. Tony Lovasco is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Republican from St. Charles County talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll about the big issues that he and his colleagues are dealing with during the 2021 session.
Lovasco represents the 64th District, which takes in parts of St. Charles and Lincoln counties. The cities he represents include O’Fallon, Moscow Mills and St. Paul.
Here’s what Lovasco talked about on the program:
- 2021 finally beginning to resemble a normal session. Most of the 2020 legislative session was derailed when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down much of the state.
- The prospect of Missouri getting billions of dollars from President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan. Lovasco said the legislature should have a role in how that money is divvied up.
- The American Rescue Plan's financial incentives for states like Missouri to expand Medicaid, money that could presumably pay for the state’s 10% match for years. Lovasco discussed whether that would soften Missouri Republicans’ opposition to expanding Medicaid.
- Why Missouri Republicans want to reinstate parts of a photo voter identification law that was struck down by the Missouri Supreme Court. He talked about how his colleagues are reacting to bills to expand charter schools and to institute education savings accounts.
Lovasco has worked in computer sales for more than 15 years. His pathway to the Missouri House was somewhat unusual. After an unsuccessful bid for the St. Charles County Council in 2018, state Rep. Robert Cornejo resigned to serve on the Labor and Industrial Relations Board. Lovasco was picked as the Republican nominee and won the seat with more than 60% of the vote.
Lovasco won reelection in 2020 with more than 68% of the vote. He serves as vice chairman of a House committee looking into criminal justice issues and is also a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum
Follow Jaclyn Driscoll on Twitter: @DriscollNPR
Follow Tony Lovasco on Twitter: @TonyLovasco
