John Rizzo

Can the group that’s critical of GOP state legislative leadership be effective?

Expanding child care access and making it harder to amend Missouri’s constitution through ballot initiatives are among the priorities for the Republican-led legislature.

Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek contends economic headwinds, political actions of Chinese government make the country a bad investment.

Facing a move by the Missouri attorney general to oust her, a contempt of court charge and increasing public and legislative pressure, Gardner announced Thursday that she will resign effective June 1.

The bills now move to the House. Meanwhile, legalizing sports betting is stalled in the Senate.

Both bills now go to the Missouri House, where leadership says they are a priority.

Before leaving for spring break, Missouri House Republicans called the first part of this year’s session successful. How much gets done during the second half, however, depends on how well both chambers navigate divisive bills.

The legislation would raise the share of votes needed to pass a proposed change to the Missouri Constitution from a simple majority to 60%.

In addition to added transparency requirements, the bill bans the teaching of some diversity-centered topics. Senate Democrats believe the language would be interpreted too broadly.

Both the Senate president pro tem and Senate minority leader agree that Missouri needs to pay state workers more. Whether they go with exactly Gov. Mike Parson’s proposed plan is yet to be determined.