Local Political News

City Councilwoman Karen DeLuccie host her short battle with cancer this week.  DeLuccie was re-elected in the April 5th election and was the top vote-getter.  Read more in the Examiner.  The City Council will now have to call for a special election to fill the vacancy caused by DeLuccie’s death and the likely date for that election will be August 2nd.

Incumbent Councilman Mike Huff on Thursday filed a suit against the Jackson County Election Board, City Clerk and DeLuccie’s estate claiming that DeLuccie should not have been certified following the election due to incapacity to hold office.  Read more

The current Council will hold its final meeting on Monday, April 18th.  They will adjourn the meeting and new Mayor Rory Rowland and At-Large Councilman Jared Fears will be sworn in to begin their four-year terms.

News from the Missouri Capitol

The Missouri House of Representatives had an active week with several bills being debated related to schools, unemployment benefits, election legislation, and a tax rebate for Missouri residents.  On Thursday, the House passed a bill that would limit the number of weeks a Missourian could collect unemployment benefits based on the unemployment rate.  That legislation now heads to the Senate.

The House budget committee held hearings on allocating 1 billion dollars which would be refunded to Missouri residents.  The tax credit would be $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples filing jointly.  The bill was expected to be voted out of committee on Thursday but that hearing was cancelled but will likely be brought back up next week as this is a priority for House Leadership.

A lengthy 3-hour debate occurred in the House chambers on Wednesday evening on the topic of election legislation.  Much of the discussion was centered around prohibiting drop boxes and direct-record electronic touchscreen voting machines.  Currently, drop boxes are not used in Missouri and the only direct-record voting machines are located in St Louis and are slated for replacement.

The House did pass a voter ID bill that would require a photo ID to vote at the polls.  Language was added that would let voters within a school district decide if transgender athletes born as male can play in female sports.

State Representative Rory Rowland also submitted his resignation to House Leadership this week as he prepares to take the oath of office for Mayor in Independence on April 18th.

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 8-5 in favor of a constitutional amendment that would again ask voters to reverse their 202o decision to expand Medicaid.  The legislation was already approved in the house by a vote of 96-41 but could face a filibuster in the Senate.

The Missouri Senate indicated that they would address sports betting next week which would allow Missourians to legally place wagers on college and professional teams.