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Archive for March 2022

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Missouri House Rep. Bill Hardwick is not upset at the Senate’s slower pace

With only one bill so far becoming law, the Missouri legislature has around seven weeks left in the 2022 legislative session.

While the House has passed more than 45 pieces of legislation, the Senate has approved fewer than 20.

Some House members have expressed disappointment on the slower pace, which in part has been caused by infighting among the Senate’s Republicans. However, Rep. Bill Hardwick, R-Waynesville, says the Senate is just doing its job.

On this week’s episode of Politically Speaking, Hardwick talks about how the legislative session has gone so far as well as his opinions on some of the House legislation that has already made it to the Senate.

Here’s some of what else Hardwick talked about on the show:

  • The legislative task of drawing Missouri’s congressional districts. Hardwick’s district includes Fort Leonard Wood, which has been an area of interest as lawmakers debate whether Missouri’s military bases should be together in one district or split between two.
  • His bill to bar public entities from issuing mask mandates, as well as other House legislation related to the pandemic.
  • Other major pieces of legislation, including measures involving legalizing sports betting and recreational marijuana use.

Hardwick first ran for election in 2020 and is serving his second year in the legislature. Besides Fort Leonard Wood, he represents other parts of Pulaski County.

Hardwick is an attorney who was the city prosecutor for St. Robert. He is a lieutenant colonel in the Missouri National Guard.

Follow Sarah Kellogg on Twitter: @sarahkkellogg

Missouri House Rep. Bill Hardwick is not upset at the Senate’s slower pace
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/podcast/politically-speaking/2022-03-29/missouri-house-rep-bill-hardwick-is-not-upset-at-the-senates-slower-pace
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St. Louis Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer on constituents, city worker pay and cats

St. Louis Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer of the 13th Ward joins St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann  to talk about running for office versus managing campaigns, whether board members should be legislators or focus more on constituent services and making public participation the norm in city government.

Schweitzer was elected nearly a year ago, part of an effort to boost a progressive presence at City Hall known as “Flip the Board.” She beat Beth Murphy, who was first elected in a special election in 2014.

Here’s what Schweitzer talked about on the show:

  • Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Schweitzer has been in the aldermanic chambers just once — for her swearing-in. She said she is excited to get to know her colleagues better now that they are returning for in-person meetings.
  • A recent debate on Schweitzer’s resolution to block board members from participating in meetings if they were driving featured accusations that she was trying to take away the votes of members of the Black caucus. She said the tone of the debate shocked her. “I thought we were introducing a common-sense rule change that anyone could get behind,” she said. “It certainly was not a racially motivated rule change in any way.”
  • While other members of the progressive caucus think the board should focus on its role as the legislative body for the city, Schweitzer enjoys the constituent service part of the role more. “I cherish the relationships I have with the residents of the 13th Ward,” she said.
  • Though the exact amount is still unknown, the city stands to receive several hundred million dollars from a settlement over the departure of the St. Louis Rams. Schweitzer wants at least some of that money put toward boosting city salaries.  

Schweitzer, a St. Louis native, comes from a political family. Her grandfather, Gordon, was the city’s sheriff in the 1980s. Her father, also named Gordon, was a city municipal judge, and her mother, Jane, was the last elected circuit clerk in the city. In an example of how tightly knit the St. Louis political world can be, Jane Schweitzer was a law school classmate of former Mayor Francis Slay.

Schweitzer plans to run for reelection in 2023 in what will be the new 1st Ward, and she said she’s excited about the unique circumstances of the race.

“Part of it, I’m an incumbent running for reelection, and part of it, I will be a person running for the first time and introducing myself. So it makes it a really interesting campaign,” she said.

Follow Anne Schweitzer on Twitter: @Schweitzer88

Follow Rachel on Twitter: @rlippmann

St. Louis Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer on constituents, city worker pay and cats
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/podcast/politically-speaking/2022-03-15/st-louis-alderwoman-anne-schweitzer-on-constituents-city-worker-pay-and-cats
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Missouri Rep. Ron Hicks wants to pass marijuana legalization before voters do

Several initiative petition proposals could put legalizing marijuana for recreational use in Missouri on the November ballot.

However, a recently filed bill by Rep. Ron Hicks, R-Defiance, would legalize the drug before then and give the legislature the ability to later make any changes if issues arise.

Hicks represents the 102nd District, which includes parts of O’Fallon, Lake St. Louis, St. Peters and Wentzville.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, Hicks talks about his HB 2704, which is over 70 pages and not only legalizes the drug, but also establishes other policies related to marijuana.

Here are some of the things Hicks talked about on the show:

  • What he’s hoping to accomplish beyond recreational marijuana in his last year in the Missouri House.
  • His thoughts on the 2022 legislative session so far. Hicks said the beginning of the session has been disappointing and had hoped the legislature would have accomplished more by now.
  • The lack of progress on congressional redistricting. During debate on the House floor, Hicks introduced a proposed map that would have established a 7-1 Republican majority. That amendment was unsuccessful, and Hicks ended up voting for the 6-2 map.
  • Other marijuana legislation he has filed, including expunging prior nonviolent marijuana offenses for Missourians who have a medical marijuana card.

Hicks first ran for election to the House in 2012. He served until 2016, when he took two years off, running again in 2018. He is term-limited from running again in the House and hasn’t publicly said what he will do next. 

Follow Sarah Kellogg on Twitter: @sarahkkellogg
Follow Ron Hicks on Twitter: @RNHCKS

Missouri Rep. Ron Hicks wants to pass marijuana legalization before voters do
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/podcast/politically-speaking/2022-03-04/missouri-rep-ron-hicks-wants-to-pass-marijuana-legalization-before-voters-do
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