Lincoln Hough

Missouri Republicans campaigning for lieutenant governor in the August primary are making it one of the year's most crowded races, including two state senators, an attorney, a county clerk and a businessman.

Fundraising in the Republican and Democratic primaries for Missouri governor has exceeded $21 million, with the majority going to Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe. But the race for attorney general is also proving pricey.

The lieutenant governor is next in line to be governor, breaks ties in the Missouri Senate and sits on various boards.

After an over 40-hour filibuster on the Senate side on the tax, the House passed it in less than 10 minutes.

The Federal Reimbursement allowance is set to expire at the end of September. The bill in question would extend the tax through September 2029.

Lawmakers had until 6 p.m. Friday to pass the budget. The final product is roughly $1 billion less than Gov. Mike Parson proposed.

The deadline for the legislature to pass the budget for the upcoming fiscal year is 6 p.m. Friday.

A resumption of the internal GOP warfare that led to a 41-hour filibuster last week could, for the first time since 1997, force lawmakers to complete appropriations in a special session.

The Federal Reimbursement Allowance, which is a tax on hospitals, ambulance districts, nursing homes and pharmacies, is set to expire at the end of September. The Senate gave it initial approval early Thursday morning after more than 40 hours of filibustering by the Missouri Freedom Caucus.

The Missouri Freedom Caucus, a faction of the state GOP, has vowed to debate the budget in detail and attempt to cut hundreds of millions in spending. That could push final votes on spending past the constitutional deadline of May 10.