Marshall Griffin

Governor Jay Nixon (D) says the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) is not forwarding information on applicants for driver’s licenses and conceal-carry endorsements to the federal government.

He became exasperated with reporters who asked questions about the controversy during a press conference today at the State Capitol.

A Missouri House committee has passed the Republicans’ alternative to the Medicaid expansion being sought by Democratic Governor Jay Nixon.

Legislation that would cut Missouri’s income tax while raising the sales tax was examined today by a State House committee. 

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is moving forward with fully implementing new standards in Missouri’s K-12 schools for teaching math, English and language arts.

Spokeswoman Sarah Potter says the new standards are based on those crafted by the Common Core State Standards initiative.

“The standards say what students should know and be able to do by the end of each grade level to be on track for success in college and career,” Potter said.

Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones (R, Eureka)  says the decision over gay marriage should be left to the states, and not to the federal government.

 Gov. Jay Nixon signed a bill today that authorizes tax incentives for large sporting events and for some charitable donations. 

Missouri’s budget for the next fiscal year has been passed by the State House.

While Medicaid expansion has dominated most of the debate, spending hikes were approved in other areas.  There’s an extra $65 million for K-12 schools, although the increase still falls short of fully funding the state’s public school formula.  Republican Mike Lair of Livingston County chairs the Appropriations committee on Education.

Labor union members from across Missouri descended on the State Capitol today, hoping to convince lawmakers to defeat bills they say are anti-worker.

Supporters and opponents spent several hours Monday testifying on an alternate Medicaid proposal being floated by House Republicans.

The Missouri House will begin debate Tuesday on the 13 bills that make up next year’s state budget.

The three bills that encompass the state’s Medicaid program don’t include Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) proposed expansion, although House Democrats may try to offer amendments to change that.  Budget chairman Rick Stream (R, Kirkwood) says the state should have more of a say in how Medicaid dollars are handled.