Latest news with #Missourians
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Missouri special session begins with lawmakers split on stadium funding plan
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs (Anna Spoerre/The Missouri Independent). The opening of the legislative special session Monday put partisan and intraparty fights in the Missouri Senate on display as Democrats called for expanded storm relief and Freedom Caucus members called for tax cuts as the price for supporting stadium subsidies. Gov. Mike Kehoe called lawmakers together just two weeks after they finished work in the regular session to consider a package of tax incentives intended to convince the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to stay in Missouri. Kehoe is also asking lawmakers for a $235 million spending bill with $25 million for disaster relief as well as a special tax deduction for the cost of meeting insurance deductibles after a disaster. The brief opening session didn't feature any sharp exchanges, but the bills filed — and the statements made about them — show where the battle lines are being drawn. Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, told reporters that members of his caucus aren't willing to talk about stadium funding until an appropriations bill and other disaster relief measures are on Kehoe's desk. 'When that happens and it's through the House and on the governor's desk, then we can talk about it,' Beck said. Members of the Freedom Caucus said they are holding out for a tax cut that benefits all Missourians before considering a stadium plan, said state Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance. Schroer filed a bill to cut the top income tax rate to 4% — it is currently 4.7% — and make the tax flat across all incomes. 'The members of the Freedom Caucus, plus the other conservative members that are not necessarily in the caucus, they've all expressed that whether it's income tax, personal property tax or real property tax, for us to sit at the table, and allow tax credits for billionaires to move forward, the little guy needs to get something in return,' Schroer said. The regular session ended in acrimony when Republicans twice invoked a rarely used procedural move to shut off debate. Democrats had blocked a proposed ballot measure to restore Missouri's ban on most abortions and a bill repealing the paid sick leave law passed by voters in November. Democrats vowed that the move ended their cooperation with Republicans and gave a taste of what that meant last week when they stalled the final paperwork of the regular session. Under the Missouri Constitution, lawmakers have 60 days to complete work on items in a special session and Kehoe has said he won't try to impose an artificial deadline. Because of the uncertainty of action in the Senate, the Missouri House won't convene until next week and will only remain in session if the Senate has passed a bill for it to consider. But the Chiefs and Royals have only until the end of the month to answer an offer from Kansas to fund new stadiums. Kehoe hopes to have his plan for tax incentives worth about 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums to be passed by then. The plan for the Chiefs and Royals would take tax money already generated from activities at the stadiums — $28.8 million annually as estimated by the Chiefs and $15 million annually by an estimate from the Royals — and commit it to bond payments for 30 years for the new or upgraded facilities. The economic activity associated with the Chiefs supports 4,500 jobs, Kehoe contends, and a new stadium for the Royals would generate about 8,400 jobs. The spending bill Kehoe wants passed would use $25 million of general revenue to support a new research reactor on the University of Missouri's Columbia campus, plus funding for a new livestock display barn at the State Fairgrounds in Sedalia and about $50 million to help with construction of a new mental hospital in Kansas City. The funding for the reactor is $25 million less than Kehoe proposed. State Sen. Stephen Webber, a Columbia Democrat, introduced an appropriations bill with $75 million for the reactor, plus all the other general revenue projects that died when Missouri House Republicans refused to bring the construction spending bill up for a vote. 'If there is going to be a $25 million variance on agreements made in this chamber, we ought to go $25 million in the other direction,' Webber said. Webber also introduced a bill imposing a 1% income tax surcharge on incomes greater than $1 million, which he said would bring in about $400 million over three years to support disaster relief. 'There is obviously a belief, among some, that billionaires should be given a sweetheart deal. I would disagree with that,' Webber said. 'There is also some concern about whether we can fund disaster relief for some communities in our state that were desperately hit. So what I've tried to do is build a bridge between those two issues.' State Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican who chairs the Freedom Caucus, introduced a bill to finance the stadiums entirely from donations. He called it the 'No Taxation, All Donation Act' and included incentives for giving. 'So if somebody gives over $10,000 to this stadium, then they are able to obtain free parking to be able to get into that stadium,' Brattin said. The next step will be to send the bills to committees for hearings. That will happen tomorrow and the first hearings will occur soon afterward. Senate Majority Leader Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican from Parkville, seemed happy to have gotten past the first day without a filibuster. 'Today went smoothly,' Luetkemeyer said. 'And then we'll just take it day by day and see where we go from here.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
With Missouri abortion access in limbo, both sides eye battles in court, on the ballot
An abortion procedure room pictured on March 3 at Planned Parenthood in Columbia (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent). Both sides of the abortion debate seemed caught by surprise last week by the MIssouri Supreme Court's order that essentially reimposed the state's abortion ban. Planned Parenthood clinics were sent scrambling, cancelling abortion appointments and working with patients to ensure access in other states — a return to the way things operated before voters enshrined reproductive rights in the state constitution last year. Anti-abortion advocates, meanwhile, celebrated the return of regulations but acknowledged the win could be temporary. With no clear indication of when — or if — access to abortion will be restored, and a GOP-crafted amendment banning the procedure heading for the ballot next year, advocates on both sides are navigating the uncertainty and gearing up for the fight ahead. '…anti-abortion politicians in Jeff City have once again weaponized our political system against Missourians. What's really clear here is the confusion this will cause among patients was the whole point,' said Mallory Schwarz, executive director of Abortion Action Missouri, later adding: 'Missourians proved at the ballot box that what we want is access to abortion. This is not over, and I'm confident that ultimately abortion care will continue in Missouri.' Sam Lee, a longtime anti-abortion advocate with Campaign Life Missouri, expressed relief that state regulations are back in place but cautioned that the only way to 'safeguard the lives of unborn children' is to amend the constitution next year. 'While it is good news that abortion has ended in Missouri – at least for now – it would be a mistake for the pro-life movement to rely on the state courts to keep these health and safety laws and regulations in place,' he said. Missouri Supreme Court order reinstates 'de facto abortion ban' across the state While the court last week imposed what abortion providers called a 'de facto ban,' it didn't actually weigh in on the constitutionality of state regulations. The decision was procedural, calling into question the legal standard a Jackson County judge used to justify blocking certain abortion regulations enacted over the years by state lawmakers. The injunction was vacated and the judge was ordered to re-evaluate the case using the standards the Supreme Court laid out last week. A new injunction could be issued, or access could be left in limbo while the case makes its way to a January 2026 trial. Fifty-two percent of Missouri voters in November approved Amendment 3, which said 'the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justifiable by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.' The amendment made Missouri's abortion ban unconstitutional, at least until the point of fetal viability, which is generally considered at or around 24 weeks. Attorney General Andrew Bailey acknowledges this in his appeal to the Supreme Court, writing that among the laws which are no longer enforceable because of Amendment 3 are 'Missouri's prohibitions on abortion before viability.' But myriad other restrictions remained on the books, including wait times before abortions and constraints on where abortions could be performed. Planned Parenthood affiliates in Missouri sued in December to overturn the state's Targeted Restrictions on Abortion Providers, or TRAP laws. Over the course of a decade before an outright ban on abortion was put in place, those laws resulted in the number of abortions performed in Missouri falling from more than 5,000 to less than 200. Over the course of two rulings — one in December and one in February — Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang pointed to the voter-approved constitutional amendment in issuing the temporary injunction. Most notably, Zhang struck down licensing requirements for abortion clinics, arguing the regulations were 'unnecessary' and 'discriminatory' because they do not treat services provided in abortion facilities the same as other types of similarly situated health care, including miscarriage care. She left in place a requirement that all abortion providers have a medical license. Zhang's ruling opened the door for procedural abortions to resume in Planned Parenthood's Kansas City and Columbia clinics. Medication abortions, which nationally make up two-thirds of all abortions, have not been available as the clinics have been unable to get the state to approve a required complication plan. The state Supreme Court order, signed by Chief Justice Mary Russell, means even procedural abortions are now inaccessible in Missouri. 'This is not the end of the legal battle, but it is a critical victory for every pro-life Missourian,' said Brian Westbrook, executive director of Coalition Life. Abortion may be inaccessible in Missouri, but 'the good news is that this court ruling does not affect other reproductive and sexual health care provided at Planned Parenthood health centers across the state,' said Dr. Margaret Baum, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers. The hope, Baum said, is that the court's order is only a 'temporary setback.' In the meantime, she said access to abortion is still available in Kansas and Illinois and that Planned Parenthood will support patients 'who need lodging, transportation and other resources to access sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Business Journals
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Journals
How Missouri American Water keeps quality on tap
Missouri American Water has continued providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable water and wastewater service since 1886. With nearly 140 years of experience, the company has become a leader in the water and wastewater industry. Serving approximately 1.6 million Missourians, the company strictly follows regulations that are set by local authorities as well as federal standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Missouri American Water understands how important water and wastewater service is to daily life. When you need it, you expect it to be there. Water quality For 22 years, six of Missouri American Water's treatment plants have been recognized with the Directors Award from the Partnership for Safe Water, a voluntary initiative developed by six prestigious drinking water organizations including the EPA. For a second year in a row, Missouri American Water has won the 'Drinking Water Taste Test' award at the joint MO-AWWA/MWEA conference. The company's water quality reports are published online and are updated each spring. expand Investing in aging infrastructure Recently released grades from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2025 Report Card for America's Infrastructure, a comprehensive assessment of the nation's 18 major infrastructure categories, paint a grim and stagnant picture for water and wastewater systems across the U.S. Drinking water infrastructure received a grade of C-, while wastewater infrastructure earned a D+. These grades haven't changed or improved in the four years since the ASCE 2021 Report Card. With over a trillion dollars in infrastructure investments needed in water and wastewater across the country over the next two decades, American Water continues to work with local, state and federal leaders to provide expertise and investment in communities that need to strengthen their water and wastewater systems. Providing high quality water and wastewater service is a top priority. Customers and community leaders can view an interactive map of the company's pipe replacement projects. Projects are prioritized based on main break rate, system criticality and coordination with state and local governments. Passing of SB 4 Recently, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 4, a bill that will allow private utilities in Missouri to plan rates based on future costs versus historical costs. This helps utility companies, like Missouri American Water, plan for necessary investments while focusing on rate stability. Built-in projections help safeguard customers from being overcharged if actual costs are lower than estimated. Why future test year is good public policy: Incentivizes greater infrastructure investment Attracts business and makes Missouri more competitive for economic development Aligns Missouri with most other states which use modern rate-setting tools to balance customer protection and investment needs Keeps rates predictable by allowing utilities to invest in new technologies and perform necessary maintenance to improve reliability Excess charges will be refunded to customers if projected costs are overestimated, creating a fairer system where customers only pay for actual, justified expenses Helping communities solve water and wastewater challenges Missouri American Water provides 1 in 4 Missourians with water and/or wastewater services. The team of more than 700 industry professionals serves areas across the state. The company understands that reliable water and wastewater service is critical to community health and prosperity. Acquisition case studies: In 2018, Missouri American Water purchased the water and wastewater systems in the city of Lawson. The city was facing regulatory compliance issues with its wastewater system that would have required a significant rate increase to address. Since the acquisition, several key improvements have been made to the wastewater system in a cost-effective manner, including the addition of ultraviolet disinfection to the treatment process, construction and implementation of a new lift station, and installation of remote monitoring. Approximately 3,000 feet of water mains have been replaced and about 3,500 feet of new water mains have been added. Garden City was facing major compliance challenges for both their water and wastewater systems. Since 2015, they received 27 violations for drinking water from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Critical investments had not been made in an effort to keep rates low. In 2020, more than 67% of Garden City voters supported the ballot measure to sell the water and wastewater systems to make Missouri American Water their trusted water and wastewater provider. Immediately work began in 2021 to maintain regulatory compliance, including improvement of the chemical feed system and cleaning of the wastewater lagoons. With the sale, the city could retire its debt and have significant funds to address additional community needs. here. Missouri American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.6 million people. For more, visit
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Capitol Perspectives: Memories of the late Missouri Gov. Kit Bond
Officers carry the casket of former U.S. Senator and Governor Christopher S. 'Kit' Bond into the Missouri State Capitol on May 20 to begin a memorial service (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). Christopher 'Kit' Bond's death brought very deep memories for me about a governor I have missed since he left the office in 1985. My strongest memory of Bond was his pursuit as the Republican gubernatorial candidate to replace the Democratic governor who controlled a legislature dominated by Democrats. He began his election campaign critical of Democrats, until, as I was told, Republican Attorney General Jack Danforth advised Bond to put more focus on issues of importance to Missourians. I suspect that was a factor in Bond's subsequent policy-focused agenda, which led his lasting legacy and the frequent description of Bond as a moderate. Bond's successful agenda included consumer protection, campaign finance disclosure requirements, expanding education programs for children, the Sunshine Law providing public access to government records and reforming state government hiring. Bond's focus on consumer protection issues was not surprising since he served as Danforth's consumer protection director. Bond went further in his bipartisan approach, crossing conservative Republican lines when he supported Missouri ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (which ultimately failed). His cross-party agenda came under dramatic attack from a few fellow statehouse Republicans. The most vivid demonstration of the split between Bond and his party came from long-time Carthage Republican state Sen. Richard Webster. Angered by some of Bond's gubernatorial staff and proposals, Webster attacked Bond's staff on the Senate floor. Webster coined the phrase 'kiddie corps,' which he used in his Senate attacks to describe Bond's staff as brash younger folks, not sufficiently conservative for Webster. Webster's attack reflected the views from some Republicans who had hoped for a new Republican-focused conservative agenda without a Democratic governor. It was not to be. I do not recall Bond ever wavering from his agenda. Instead, Bond pursued issues that could win bipartisan support, including moderate Senate Republicans. I still miss that era when a partnership with Bond, Democrats and moderate Republicans dominated public policy in the legislature. Bond demonstrated his cross-party support for major issues when, after leaving the U.S. Senate, he returned to state government on behalf the Missouri Chamber of Commerce to support Medicaid expansion. Facing stiff statehouse GOP opposition, Bond's efforts failed in the legislature. But it was eventually enacted by initiative petition. But it was another demonstration about how Bond could cross ideological and political boundaries for an issue he felt was important for our state.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Kansas abortion clinics could take on more patients in Missouri ban fallout
The Planned Parenthood office on June 24, 2022, in St. Louis. (Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent) TOPEKA — A total abortion ban is back in Missouri, and for Kansas clinics, that could mean added strain on a system that already serves as a regional safe haven. Two recent rulings from a lower court judge allowed Missourians to receive abortion care in major cities, blocking years of restrictions implemented by state lawmakers. Those rulings came after voter approval of a constitutional amendment in November enshrining reproductive freedom in the state constitution. All of that was undone in a two-page ruling Tuesday from Chief Justice Mary Russell of the Missouri Supreme Court, which ordered Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Jerri Zhang to vacate the December and February decisions and reevaluate the case, restoring a ban on abortions and facility licensing restrictions. Missourians have a constitutional right to reproductive freedom in name only, said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Great Plains. She called the Tuesday ruling surprising but added that the organization is accustomed to having to pivot because of court cases and politics. Planned Parenthood Great Plains has clinics on both sides of the state line, so the impacts of the court's ruling are widespread for the organization. On the Missouri side, appointment times are being canceled, and care will become scarcer if the ruling remains in place, Wales said. On the Kansas side, the ruling means adding more appointment times and stretching providers to offer care to an entire region. Kansas abortion clinics serve mostly out-of-state patients, which has been attributed to its strong reproductive freedoms and its proximity to Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, where residents must seek care away from home. 'Having so few providers to support an entire region is not a sustainable system,' Wales said. The ruling is a continuation of notoriously difficult-to-access care in Missouri, said Isabel Guarnieri, communications director for the Guttmacher Institute, a health policy research and advocacy organization. 'As of now, the total ban is back in effect, along with other restrictions that force patients to wait and receive counseling before obtaining an abortion and (targeted regulation of abortion providers) laws that make it difficult for clinics to operate,' Guarnieri said in a Wednesday press release. In 2023, with Missouri's ban in effect, almost 3,000 Missourians traveled to Kansas for an abortion. More than 8,700 traveled to Illinois. Wales said Planned Parenthood had been hopeful that Missouri's restoration of access to abortion could have offered Kansas clinics breathing room. 'We know that the demand for the region outpaces what we can provide,' she said. And that only applies to those who can access care. Without local abortion access, Wales said, people without the ability to travel for care will be left behind. Missouri lawmakers intend to put another ballot measure before voters, likely in the 2026 general election, that would overturn the November amendment establishing reproductive freedom in the state constitution. Kansas Republicans have taken a more roundabout approach in presenting to voters an August 2026 referendum on the state Supreme Court justice selection process. Electing state Supreme Court justices by popular vote could give the majority a conservative tilt, paving the way for the reversal of decisions that protect abortion, public school funding and legislative districts, among others. Attorneys general from Kansas, Missouri and Idaho are involved in a federal lawsuit seeking to rewrite federal prescribing guidelines for medication abortions. The Trump administration has asked the court to dismiss the suit.
