JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The focus of the General Assembly this week was almost exclusively on the utility bill on which the special session was called. The House quickly passed the bill, sponsored by Rep. Don Rone, working it through committee in a single day before signing off on it the next day.
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The Senate also quickly pushed the legislation through their committee, taking up the bill Friday for third reading. After hours of debate, the Senate passed the bill unchanged, sending it to Gov. Eric Greitens’ desk.
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But a few others items of note also occurred this week. It was announced this week that former UM System Interim President Mike Middleton has been appointed the interim president of Lincoln University.
Rep. Courtney Allen Curtis, D-Ferguson, criticized the hiring, calling on the Board of Directors to reconsider the appointment in a long statement.
One issue that came to the forefront during the legislative session concerned the state’s weight in motion scales. That issue became hot-button topic after word spread that an FBI investigation was taking place in regard to HELP, Inc. and Missouri officials sitting on their board. In the end, those officials were taken off the board. Reps. Glen Kolkmeyer and T.J. Berry issued invitations to interested parties this week to meet and discuss the issues in an attempt to find solutions.
The House also said farewell to Rep. Tila Hubrecht this week, giving her the opportunity to run the dais before leaving her seat in the House.
Benjamin Peters was a reporter for The Missouri Times and Missouri Times Magazine and also produced the #MoLeg Podcast. He joined The Missouri Times in 2016 after working as a sports editor and TV news producer in mid-Missouri. Benjamin is a graduate of Missouri State University in Springfield.
