Archive for October 2020

State Sen. Bill Eigel is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Weldon Spring Republican talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about his priorities if he’s reelected on Nov. 3 and whether St. Charles County will remain a GOP stronghold.

Eigel represents a portion of the county in the 23rd District. He is running for a second term against Democrat Richard Orr.

Orr’s episode of Politically Speaking will be posted later this week.

Here’s what Eigel had to say during the show:

• Democrats have been talking about making inroads in St. Charles County for years, saying the fast-growing suburb’s population of organized labor members would swing in their party’s direction. Eigel, though, says the conservative mindset of the county bodes well for the GOP this election cycle.
• He talked about efforts to place most, if not all, of St. Charles County in one congressional district. That could be a major priority for Republicans during next year’s congressional redistricting process.
• Eigel, a member of the Conservative Caucus, discussed some of his members’ priorities. They include expanding charter schools, which has often run into bipartisan opposition.
• He talked about two high-profile state Senate contests. The 15th District race is between Republican Sen. Andrew Koenig and Democratic state Rep. Deb Lavender, and the 19th District matchup is between GOP Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden and former Democratic state Rep. Judy Baker. Both of those races have major implications for the 2021 Senate session.

Eigel was first elected to the Senate in 2016, after emerging out of a competitive primary against then-state Rep. Ann Zerr and longtime municipal Judge Mike Carter. He went on to defeat Orr in the general election by a comfortable margin.

As a member of the Conservative Caucus, Eigel has differed with GOP leadership on a number of fronts. They include a prescription drug monitoring program and an incentive package to get General Motors to expand in Wentzville.

If Eigel wins, he will serve in the Senate through 2024 before term limits bar him from running for that chamber again.

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

Follow Bill Eigel on Twitter: @billeigel

Music: “Yulia” by Wolf Parade

Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jaclyn Driscoll to talk about his campaign for a full four-year term on the latest episode of Politically Speaking.

Kehoe is running against Democrat Alissia Canady on Nov. 3. He was appointed to his post in 2018 after then-Lt. Gov. Mike Parson became governor when Eric Greitens resigned. This is Kehoe’s first statewide contest.

You can listen to Canady’s episode of Politically Speaking by clicking here.

Here’s what Kehoe talked about on the program:

• The impact of the Buy Missouri program, which Parson started to promote Missouri-based small businesses. He also discussed some of the major challenges these businesses face since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Why he would be prepared to become governor if the governor died, resigned or was appointed to another position.
• Changes to the low-income housing tax credit program that the Missouri Housing Development Commission agreed to earlier this fall. As lieutenant governor, Kehoe is a member of that panel, which decided to restart the incentive to build housing for the poor, disabled and elderly.
• Whether, with some polls indicating a closer presidential race in Missouri this time than in 2016, the national political environment could affect his bid for a full term.

Kehoe spent nearly eight years as a state senator representing several mid-Missouri counties, including Cole. Before that, he was a member of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission — which oversees the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Before getting into elective office, Kehoe was a car dealer. He became something of a household name in central Missouri, with his commercials saying that “Mid-Missouri loves a Mike Kehoe deal.”

Kehoe is a north St. Louis native and a graduate of Chaminade. His family was close with Dave Sinclair, another north St. Louis native who established one of the most successful car dealerships in the state. This episode of Politically Speaking was recorded at a Dave Sinclair dealership in St. Peters.

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

Follow Jacyln Driscoll on Twitter: @DriscollNPR

Follow Mike Kehoe on Twitter: @mikelkehoe

Music: “Cars” by Gary Numan

The uprising for Black lives has amplified the names of Black people who have been killed by police and in racist attacks. But the names of people who are Black and trans are lesser known due to transphobia and a lack of understanding from media and society. In St. Louis, organizers have been uplifting the name of Kiwi Herring, a Black trans woman who was known by her loved ones as a playful nurturer, adored by neighborhood kids and her own children, who she taught to value education and hard work. In this episode we’ll hear more from organizers who are supporting people who are Black and trans, using art to promote social change, and staying inspired through the uprising.

Sen. Andrew Koenig returns to Politically Speaking to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about his reelection campaign in Missouri’s 15th Senate District.

Koenig represents cities including Ballwin, Manchester, Valley Park and Kirkwood. He’s squaring off against state Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, in a contest most observers believe is the most competitive legislative race in the state this year.

Lavender’s episode of Politically Speaking can be found here.

Here’s what Koenig talked about on the program:

• Why the previously Republican-leaning 15th District has become competitive in recent years. One theory is that voters in the suburban district have soured on President Donald Trump.
• Missouri’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly whether the state should adopt a requirement for people to wear masks in particular public situations.
• Why he sponsored legislation that would have allowed the state’s attorney general to intervene in St. Louis homicide cases under certain circumstances.
• His efforts to figure out a way to tax online retailers in a similar manner to brick-and-mortar businesses. That issue, known as Wayfair because of a court case on the matter, has been a thorny topic of discussion for Missouri lawmakers.

Koenig was first elected to the Missouri House in 2008 and served four terms. He defeated former state Rep. Rick Stream in a highly competitive primary in 2016 for the 15th District seat and easily defeated Democratic candidate Stephen Eagleton in the general election.

Koenig was the Senate handler of a bill prohibiting most abortions at eight weeks of pregnancy, which he discussed in detail last year. He is a member of the Conservative Caucus, a group of Senate Republicans that has often clashed with the GOP leadership’s priorities.

If he’s reelected, Koenig can serve through 2024 before term limits prevent him from running for the General Assembly again.

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

Follow Andrew Koenig on Twitter: @Koenig4MO

Music: “Where the Circle Ends” by Thursday