On the latest edition of the Politically Speaking weekly news roundup, St. Louis Public Radio’s team of political reporters talks about the re-emergence of former Gov. Eric Greitens and efforts in Jefferson City to pass a prescription drug monitoring program.
St. Louis Public Radio’s Julie O’Donoghue, Jaclyn Driscoll and Jason Rosenbaum discussed how a PDMP once again passed the Missouri House despite loud opposition from some Republicans. It faces a tough reception in the Missouri Senate, where the program aimed at stamping out opioid abuse has failed to advance previously.
Here’s what else was discussed on this week’s show:
- Driscoll brought us up to speed on how Missouri lawmakers are responding to reports of the state’s children being thrown off Medicaid. That’s become a major issue among Missouri Democrats, who see the enrollment decline as a failing of Gov. Mike Parson.
- Rosenbaum talked about a Missouri Ethics Commission decision that fined Greitens’ campaign $178,000 (though, in actuality, the campaign will pay only $38,000). He also talked about Greitens’ re-emergence after months of silence — and efforts in Jefferson City to discover the true source of money linked to the reveal of his scandal.
- O’Donoghue led a discussion about the sentence commutation of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich — whose criminality throughout the late 2000s captured national attention and landed him a cameo on Donald Trump’s "Celebrity Apprentice."
Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum
Follow Julie O’Donoghue on Twitter: @jsodonoghue
Follow Jaclyn Driscoll on Twitter: @DriscollNPR
Music: “Live Your Life” by T.I. and Rihanna
