Mike Parson

Prevailing Wage Exemption For Maintenance Projects Likely Dead Following Mo. Senate Filibuster

Marshall Griffin and The Associated Press — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:10:07 +0000

It appears that Democrats in the Missouri Senate have successfully stopped legislation that would have redefined what constitutes a maintenance project and exempted those being done on public property from the state's prevailing wage requirement.

Dempsey Denies Mo. Senate Republicans Are Reversing Opposition To Medicaid Expansion

Marshall Griffin — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:59:16 +0000

The leader of the Missouri Senate is denying reports from some conservative bloggers that top Republicans are planning an about-face on Medicaid expansion.

In particular, Red State published a report Monday that President Pro-tem Tom Dempsey (R, St. Charles) and Senator Mike Parson (R, Bolivar) were backing a so-called “shell bill” that would be used to add Medicaid expansion to next year’s state budget. Dempsey denies that report.

Animal Advocates Await Response From Mo. Supreme Court

Marshall Griffin — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 01:04:29 +0000

The Humane Society of the United States and two Missouri-based non-profit animal groups are waiting to hear if the State Supreme Court will take up their appeal on what they describe as a crippling regulation.

The plaintiffs say the animal adoption tax levied on non-profit shelters and rescue groups can cost them up to $2,500 a year, making it hard to feed and find homes for the animals in their care. Amanda Good is the HSUS State Director for Missouri.

“For the smaller shelters, that’s actually a significant chunk of their budget, money that should be spent on helping the animals and caring for the animals," Good said.

New Faces Of Mo. Senate Leadership Announced

The Associated Press — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 20:48:27 +0000

The Missouri Senate will be led by new people when it convenes for the 2013 session.

Majority party Republicans on Thursday nominated Sen. Tom Dempsey, of St. Charles, to serve as president pro tem - the top position in the chamber. Dempsey still must be elected by the full Senate when it convenes in January, but that is expected to be a mere formality.

Republicans picked Sen. Ron Richard, of Joplin, to succeed Dempsey as the Senate majority leader. Richard, a former House speaker, defeated Sen. Mike Parson, of Bolivar, during a closed-door meeting of the Republican caucus.

Filing period bill fails after passing Mo. House

Marshall Griffin — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:59:43 +0000

Legislation that would have moved back Missouri’s filing period for the August 7th primaries has been withdrawn from consideration by the State Senate.

Instead of debating the bill itself, some St. Louis-area Senators began criticizing the citizens’ commission that drew up the latest State Senate district map. Jim Lembke (R, Lemay) and Jane Cunningham (R, Chesterfield) both had harsh words for the proposed map, which would move Cunningham’s 7th District to the Kansas City area.