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Politically Speaking: Rep. Donna Baringer Talks Vaping, Car Taxes, Gun Violence

Missouri Rep. Donna Baringer, D-St. Louis, poses for a portrait in the St. Louis Public Radio studios.
Jason Rosenbaum | St. Louis Public Radio
Missouri Rep. Donna Baringer, D-St. Louis, poses for a portrait in the St. Louis Public Radio studios.

State Rep. Donna Baringer, D-St. Louis, talks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about the need to regulate vaping and other topics during the latest episode of Politically Speaking. 

Baringer’s district includes the neighborhoods of South Hampton, Princeton Heights, St. Louis Hills, Villanova and parts of Lindenwood Park, Northampton, Bevo Mill and Boulevard Heights.

Here are some highlights from the discussion: 

  • Baringer wants the state to reconsider a law that doesn’t allow vape products to be treated and taxed like tobacco products. She said Missouri is losing out on revenue by not taxing vaping like smoking. 
  • She wants to cut down on the number of cars with expired temporary license plates. She believes people are continuing to use temporary tags after they have expired because they aren’t able to pay the vehicle sales tax needed to get their permanent plates. She said vehicle sales tax should be paid at the time of a car sale. 
  • Baringer said she is in favor of instituting stricter concealed-carry gun laws.

 

  • She believes the St. Louis region should be looking toward Kansas City and Jackson County as a model for a successful city-county government merger.
  • Baringer has a master’s degree in corporate communication from Lindenwood University and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Maryville University. Before getting elected to the statehouse in 2016, she served on the St. Louis Board of Aldermen for 14 years. 

    Outgoing Music: “Mule Skinner Blues” by Dolly Parton 

    The podcast is sponsored by the St. Louis-based law firm of Capes Sokol

    Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

    Follow Donna Baringer on Twitter: @STLDonnaB

    Copyright 2021 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.

    Julie O'Donoghue
    Since entering the world of professional journalism in 2006, Jason Rosenbaum dove head first into the world of politics, policy and even rock and roll music. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Rosenbaum spent more than four years in the Missouri State Capitol writing for the Columbia Daily Tribune, Missouri Lawyers Media and the St. Louis Beacon.