Mary Elizabeth Coleman

Missouri could be the first test of a more aggressive strategy to keep abortion off the ballot and out of the state constitution.

The annual state budget and a tax that funds the bulk of Missouri’s Medicaid program are two things that must pass this session.

Members of the Missouri Freedom Caucus have said passing a resolution that would make it harder to amend the state’s constitution is their top priority. Senate Democrats spent Monday and Tuesday filibustering the resolution.

As amendments aimed at legalizing abortion in cases of rape or incest were voted down, one Republican state senator defended the decision saying, ‘God does not make mistakes.’

The St. Charles County Republican first ran for Congress nearly 16 years ago, losing a primary to eventual victor Blaine Luetkemeyer, who is retiring.

The starting salary for an child abuse investigator is around $43,000 a year.

Members of the Missouri Freedom Caucus held up the Senate for hours on Thursday over the lack of action on legislation that would make amending Missouri’s constitution more difficult.

The St. Elizabeth Republican is departing a Congress that’s been stymied by infighting among Republicans.

Much of the attention is on Bob Onder, a former state senator who is currently running for lieutenant governor. Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman announced her congressional bid on Friday.

Officials say tackling St. Louis and St. Louis County’s more than 6,000 abuse and neglect cases will require hiring more investigators.