Jeff Roorda

Mo. Gen. Assembly Sends $25 Billion State Budget To Gov. Nixon

Marshall Griffin — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:43:13 +0000

Missouri lawmakers have sent a nearly $25 billion budget to Governor Jay Nixon (D).

Mo. House Rejects Senate Version Of State Budget, Defeats Another Medicaid Expansion Attempt

Marshall Griffin — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:45:43 +0000

The Missouri House has formally rejected the Senate version of the state budget, setting the stage for final negotiations over the state’s spending plan for next year.

Among the bones of contention is the rejection by the Senate of $20 million in federal funding from the Department of Homeland Security, which happened as part of the backlash over the document scanning controversy. House Speaker Tim Jones (R, Eureka) says, though, t

Teaching Of Evolution In K-12 Schools Would Be Regulated Under Mo. House Bill

Marshall Griffin — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:36:29 +0000

State and local-level school officials would be required to develop guidelines for teaching evolution under legislation making its way through the Missouri House.

If passed, school districts would have to, “encourage students to explore scientific questions” regarding the “strengths and weaknesses” of both biological and chemical evolution. The sponsor, State Representative Andrew Koenig (R, Winchester), says House Bill 179 stresses academic freedom.

“It does not mandate curriculum to the teacher," Koenig said. "It’s really up to the school district, and if evolution is gonna be taught, it just allows them to teach the scientific strengths and weaknesses.”

Special Elections Bill Passes Another Mo. House Committee, Floor Debate Next

Marshall Griffin — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:39:29 +0000

Legislation to require special elections in Missouri to fill vacancies in statewide offices has cleared another hurdle.

The bill today easily passed the House Rules Committee and is expected to be debated on the floor of the House next week. If passed, House Bill 110 would only allow the governor to appoint a temporary placeholder if a statewide office is vacated, and that person would be ineligible to run in the special election to fill the vacancy. State Representative Jeff Roorda (D, Barnhart) sits on the Rules Committee and cast one of the few “no” votes.

No Retail Shopping On Thanksgiving, Other Bills, Prefiled In Mo. For 2013 Session

Marshall Griffin — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:32:46 +0000

Today is the first full day that Missouri lawmakers in both chambers can prefile bills for next year’s regular session.

One bill in particular comes in the wake of the annual holiday shopping surge that surrounds the Thanksgiving holiday weekend: HB 37 would make it illegal for retail stores to open for business on Thanksgiving Day. The proposal is sponsored by State Representative-Elect Jeff Roorda (D, Barnhart). He says it’s in response to the ongoing push by retailers to open for business on nationally-recognized holidays.