Archive for June 2023

Missouri Congressman Mark Alford is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, talking about his first few months in office.

Alford represents the 4th Congressional District, which takes in a swath of central and western Missouri counties. It includes Fort Leonard Wood.

Here’s what Alford discussed on the program:

• His priorities for Fort Leonard Wood, including securing money to improve housing and build a shooting range for the Army training facility.
• His philosophy for making his mark on the Armed Services Committee, even though he lacks seniority. The last two representatives for the 4th District – Democrat Ike Skelton and Republican Vicky Hartzler – also served on the committee.
• Why he voted against legislation that raises the nation’s debt ceiling. Among other reasons, he felt that the bill constricted defense spending too much – especially at a time when China is building up its military.
• The fissures within the GOP caucus over the debt ceiling vote. Alford said that there need to be fewer divisions among House Republicans, especially since the margins in the chamber are so tight.

Alford is a Texas native who spent several decades as a television journalist. Alford decided to step down from his post as a morning anchor at FOX4 in Kansas City and announced his bid for Congress soon after.

Alford jumped into a crowded GOP primary to succeed Hartzler, who was vacating her seat to run for the U.S. Senate. He won the primary fairly decisively, which effectively clinched his election in the heavily Republican district.

In addition to serving on the Armed Services Committee, Alford is a member of the House Agriculture Committee.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Rep. Bill Hardwick talks about fallout from the 2023 legislative session and what next year may bring.

Hardwick is an attorney who was first elected to the Missouri House in 2020. The Waynesville Republican represents a portion of Pulaski County, including Fort Leonard Wood.

Here’s what Hardwick discussed on the show:

• How the last week of session may have been disappointing to some lawmakers but also how a difficult legislative process may actually be a good thing since it forces legislators to sell ideas to a wide array of people.
• Why he supports legislation that would bar some transgender minors from access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Hardwick also explained why he is not in favor of limiting gender-affirming care to adults.
• Why lawmakers failed to send a measure making the Missouri Constitution more difficult to amend to voters. He said he expects that issue to reemerge during the 2024 session but added that proponents of raising the threshold could face a skeptical electorate.
• With 2024 just around the corner, Hardwick provided his early assessment of how the GOP primary for governor is shaping up among Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and possibly state Sen. Bill Eigel of St. Charles County.
• Whether an acrimonious primary could help a Democratic gubernatorial hopeful like House Minority Crystal Quade of Springfield in November 2024.

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

He’s the chairman of the House Emerging Issues Committee, which handled legislation on such matters as sports wagering and regulations around rural hospitals.

The latest episode of Politically Speaking features St. Charles County Prosecutor Joe McCulloch talking about his priorities for the job and how his office plans to help the new St. Louis circuit attorney.

McCulloch was recently appointed prosecutor after Tim Lohmar resigned. He previously served on the St. Charles County Council and as a municipal judge. He’s the brother of former St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch.

Here’s what McCulloch had to say on the program:

• McCulloch is a former police officer who became a lawyer somewhat later in life. He discussed how that experience helped him prepare to become St. Charles County prosecutor.
• Why he left the Democratic Party, which he said was primarily due to how the party dealt with law enforcement policy. McCulloch was a Democrat while serving on the county council in the 2000s.
• How he’ll approach efforts to stem drug abuse. 
• His plans to work with St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, who defeated his brother in 2018.

McCulloch was one of 11 people who applied to become prosecutor after Lohmar’s resignation. St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann appointed him to the post, and the county council unanimously approved the selection.

McCulloch said he plans to run to fill out the rest of Lohmar’s term next year.

Despite being in the super minority in both chambers, Missouri Democrats left this past legislative session with a few things to celebrate.

Some of the largest victories, said House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, are within the state budget. Quade also said Democrats were able to take advantage of Republican infighting and stop bills they didn’t want to see passed.

Quade was the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast and offered not only her thoughts on the latest legislative session, but also on why she says state Democrats are looking at a big opportunity in the 2024 election cycle.

Here’s what Quade talked about on the show:

• Why she believes Republicans were unable to accomplish all of their goals, despite having a supermajority in both chambers.
• What she sees as major budget wins for Democrats, including increasing pay for home care workers and fully funding school transportation.
• Why she believes it was so important to restore state library funding after House Republicans initially tried to cut it, as well as why she thinks she got so many calls from concerned residents on the issue.
• The lack of action this session on legislation aiding access to child care in the state and what she would like to accomplish on that front.
• Legislation passed this year that restricts transgender minors’ access to gender-affirming health care such as puberty blockers and hormone treatment and whether she believes Republicans will try to expand those restrictions to include transgender adults.

Quade was first elected to the House in 2016. She was elected minority leader after the 2018 election and was reelected to her post in 2020.

While the minority leader is less powerful than the speaker, Quade appoints her fellow Democrats to serve on standing committees and make recommendations on who serves on special committees. She will no longer serve in the House due to term limits after next year and is weighing a run for governor.