Bill Eigel

The Senate had been moving at a glacial pace all week, imperiling major pieces of legislation for the GOP majority.

The Senate’s proposed budget is $4.2 billion more than what the House passed weeks ago. Like in the House, most of the debate in the Senate was spent over an amendment that would have inserted language against diversity, equity and inclusion.

Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, expressed unease with the measure so soon after a deadly school shooting in Nashville.

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.

Under the legislation, those who receive benefits from Medicaid during pregnancy would be able to keep them for one full-year post birth. But the program can only begin after nearly 5,000 other people are kicked off Medicaid.

State Sen. Bill Eigel has launched the opening salvo of a likely contentious 2024 Republican gubernatorial primary.

Sen. Bill Eigel, looking to run for governor in 2024, said $6 billion cash balance should go to "big infrastructure projects."

The session, called by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, is supposed to center around a permanent income tax cut as well as tax credits for agriculture. However, some lawmakers are filing unrelated bills in hopes of passing them this time around.

The caucus frequently clashed with Republican leadership but now members say they want a united front to pursue GOP platform policies.

The Senate version outspends the budget passed by the House weeks ago by more than $1 billion. Additionally, the Senate has yet to address how to allocate federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.