Betsy Fogle

The Springfield Democrat is the ranking member on the House Budget Committee, which gives her more say in what’s in the first draft of the budget.

The budget includes 1% raises for state employees for every two years on the job up to 10 years, as well as $375 million for school transportation.

The largest point of consternation between Democrats and Republicans on this year’s budget is education funding.

In addition to passing the budget, a Missouri House committee is slated to advance a proposed constitutional amendment that overturns parts of Amendment 3, which enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution.

The money will fund the state government through the end of the current fiscal year. The legislature is required to pass a full budget for the next fiscal year before the legislative session ends.

The budget bills come as the Missouri Senate is expected to make changes to the House’s legislation. Senators have expressed frustration at the House taking what they believe is longer than normal on the budget with only six weeks left in the 2022 session.

Missouri's election officials have tried for years to get rid of the state's excuse system for absentee balloting. While nothing is assured, they say 2021 may be the year when the idea gains momentum.

State Rep.-elect Betsy Fogle talks about her 76-vote win in the 135th District, where the Springfield Democrat was the only person to flip a state House seat this past election.