Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey Seeks Increased Funding for His Office Post-Election
JEFFERSON CITY — Following his successful re-election on November 5, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is pushing for a substantial increase in funding for his office. Bailey, a Republican who was appointed to the position by Governor Mike Parson in 2022, has proposed a budget request of $2.9 million to hire 28 new staff members, including additional attorneys, in order to enhance the office’s operational capacity.
The request comes at a time when Missouri’s revenue growth is stabilizing. Although Bailey has authorization for up to 416 employees, his office only had 294 staff as of June 30. His funding proposal seeks to expand the budget from approximately $31.5 million to $50 million. The Missouri General Assembly and the incoming Governor, Mike Kehoe, will consider Bailey’s request when they convene in the spring.
Bailey’s budget submission notably arrived after Election Day, distinguishing it from other statewide offices that presented their financial needs earlier in October. This decision has drawn scrutiny, as previous Attorney General Eric Schmitt faced obstacles in securing additional funding for his office.
The proposal includes adding new attorneys in various divisions, including criminal appeals, governmental affairs, and consumer protection law, aimed at addressing high employee turnover and a backlog of public records requests. Bailey’s administration has also been met with criticism for prioritizing national cases, such as his unsuccessful attempt at halting a Trump-related sentencing, which the U.S. Supreme Court denied.
As Bailey prepares for his full term starting in January, the future of his funding request and the impact of state budget deliberations will be closely watched.
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