Rudi Keller | Missouri Independent

A bill that exempted National Guard duty pay from income tax now carries a $1.7 billion price tag for tax rate cuts extending to at least 2037

A top initiative from Gov. Mike Kehoe is in trouble as House Budget Committee considers the chairman’s spending plan, which also has less for state employees pay raises and $139 million for earmarks.

With more than 400 line items directed at particular districts or organizations, totaling $2.1 billion, lawmakers have continued to pile extras into spending bills as the state enjoys a near-record surplus

Edgar Springs, a town of 200 in southern Phelps County, must now pay Rebecca Varney $750, plus almost $80,000 in attorney fees, to satisfy a November court decision that found it violated Varney’s First Amendment rights and the Missouri Sunshine Law.

Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek dismissed concerns about legality of machines in letter to House chairman, says advertising costs nothing to promote Unclaimed Property program.

The chair of a Missouri House appropriations committee is demanding Treasurer Vivek Malek answer questions about the state’s involvement with Torch Electronics.

The majority opinion, written by Judge Kelly Broniec, recognized that redistricting is a political process and courts should be reluctant to interfere with it.

Spending plan focuses on ongoing state programs with increases for teachers, child care and state employee pay.

The Missouri secretary of state criticized his fellow Republican over an audit accusing Ashcroft of withholding information, refusing to cooperate and likely breaking state law.

The Missouri State Employees Retirement Fund reversed its previous decision to reject a divestment proposal from Treasurer Vivek Malek. One of the four legislators on the board accused Malek of playing politics with state investments to boost his 2024 election chances.