Dean Plocher

Plocher’s hold on his speakership remains tenuous and his campaign for lieutenant governor is now considered a longshot. His top legislative staff are gone, either fired or resigned in the wake of the scandals. But the impact of the ethics probe is playing out in more subtle ways in the Missouri House.

After weeks of flirting with the idea, Missouri State Sen. Lincoln Hough of Springfield jumped into the Republican Primary for lieutenant governor on Thursday.

In the wake of Wednesday’s mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs parade, lawmakers say they feel helpless to do anything about firearms or the high homicide rate. That's in large part because Missouri preempts local governments from enacting gun control measures.

Many of Missouri's Republican and Democratic lawmakers attended the Super Bowl victory celebration and sought safety when gunfire erupted.

The two Missouri legislators who called for Plocher to resign from his position as speaker were, until last week, the only Republicans without any of their bills referred to committee.

The set of tax credits, which Gov. Mike Parson mentioned during his State of the State address, gained broad bipartisan support. It stalled in the Senate last session.

Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher bristled this week at questions about a recently fired legislative staffer and an ongoing ethics investigation he’s facing, cutting off a press conference he convened after only four minutes.

Missouri Republicans and Democrats have both expressed concern that election year pressures may make it difficult to pass significant legislation.

Public records show the Missouri House spent $60,000 of taxpayer money renovating the speaker’s office — including $29,000 on new furniture like a leather sofa and new fridge. At the same time, other legislative offices remain inaccessible to constituents with disabilities.

State Rep. Ian Mackey, D-Clayton, said election year politics could interfere with the legislature.