Archive for November 2023

State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick returns to Politically Speaking to talk about his first year in office, which included a high-profile fight with state Attorney General Andrew Bailey over the potential costs of passing an abortion rights ballot initiative.

Fitzpatrick became state auditor earlier in January after winning election over Democrat Alan Green. He previously served as state treasurer and also was House Budget Committee chairman.

Here’s what Fitzpatrick said on the program:

• Fitzpatrick went into detail about his dispute with Bailey over cost estimates of proposed ballot items to legalize abortion. Fitzpatrick pushed back against his fellow GOP official’s contentions that the measures could cost the state billions.
• Fitzpatrick discussed his transition into office, including how he’s sought to get more money to hire additional auditors. He previously said staffing concerns made it difficult for him to launch discretionary audits, such as one for the Children’s Division.
• He also talked about his decision to launch an audit of the state marijuana program, something he said he would do when he was running for the post last year.
• While Fitzpatrick is not on the ballot in 2024, he talked about whether a series of crowded primaries for statewide offices will hamper GOP chances next year.

Fitzpatrick served three full terms in the Missouri House. Gov. Mike Parson appointed the Barry County Republican to be treasurer in early 2019 after Eric Schmitt was picked to be attorney general. He won a full four-year term in 2020 against Democrat Vicki Englund.
After state Auditor Nicole Galloway decided against running for reelection in 2022, Fitzpatrick won a primary against then-state Rep. David Gregory — and then easily defeated Green in the general election. Fitzpatrick’s victory meant that Republicans controlled every statewide office.

Fitzpatrick is a native of Shell Knob, a community about 40 miles from Branson. He started a dock repair business while he was in high school, a company that grew dramatically while he was in college.

State Rep. Ian Mackey is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked about his concerns around the upcoming legislative session and the 2024 elections.

Mackey represents Missouri’s 99th House District, which takes in St. Louis County cities like Clayton, Ladue and Olivette. He was first elected to the Missouri House in 2018 and won reelection in 2020 and 2022.

Here’s what Mackey discussed on the show:

• His expectations for the 2024 session, particularly whether his GOP colleagues would try to push restrictions on adult transgender people having hormone therapy or gender transition surgery. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued emergency rules on that subject earlier this year but withdrew them before they went into effect.
• Why he’s not calling for GOP House Speaker Dean Plocher to step down from his post. Plocher has been under fire after the Missouri Independent reported he received House reimbursements for travel expenses that had been paid for by his campaign.
• His support of House Minority Leader Crystal Quade’s gubernatorial bid and why he’s not worried that she’s now facing Springfield businessman Mike Hamra in a Democratic primary.
• Whether a looming primary between U.S. Rep. Cori Bush and St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell will fragment the Democratic coalition that other candidates may need to rely on next year.

Mackey has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Westminster College and a law degree from Suffolk University in Boston.

He serves on House committees dealing with crime prevention, K-12 education and the judiciary.

St. Louis Alderwoman Daniela Velazquez is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where she discussed her first few months in office.

Velazquez represents the city’s 6th Ward, which takes in Compton Heights, Compton Hill, Shaw, Tower Grove South and portions of Dutchtown. She was first elected in April, becoming the first Latina to serve on the board.

Here’s what Velazquez talked about on the program:

• While St. Louis has roughly $250 million to spend from a settlement over the departure of the St. Louis Rams, Velazquez said it would be prudent to hold off on spending the money — especially when the city still needs to expend American Rescue Plan Act funds.
• Some of the big issues that have come before the board since she was sworn in, including regulating short-term rental properties and raising water rates for the first time in nearly a decade.
• How her colleagues are trying to provide more oversight over the corrections department and whether there’s momentum to boost pay for corrections officers.
• Velazquez is the sponsor of legislation that would fine people who file serial numbers off guns. While that’s already against federal law, Velazquez said it would show that city policymakers are trying to take tangible steps to reduce gun violence.

Velazquez spent her professional career as a journalist and communications professional. Before running for office, she worked at FleishmanHillard and the ACLU of Missouri and was a staffer for the Ferguson Commission.
She ran against former St. Louis Alderwoman and former Recorder of Deeds Jennifer Florida. Velazquez won by over 1,000 votes and will serve on the board through 2027.