Wasinger Calls for Changes in Missouri Senate Operations
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (WGEM) – Missouri’s new Lieutenant Governor, David Wasinger, is pushing for significant changes within the state Senate, emphasizing the need for efficiency. He recently challenged legislators, calling for innovative ideas to improve operations, highlighting the stagnation in bill passage as a critical concern. With only 14 bills sent to the governor during this legislative session, and just four signed into law, Missouri trails behind its neighboring states, which typically pass hundreds of bills annually.
Wasinger argues that the ineffectiveness of the Senate has led citizens to bypass legislative processes, citing eight initiative issues on the November ballot, from online gaming to marijuana legislation, as evidence that voters are seeking alternatives due to legislative inaction. He suggested possible reforms, including restricting the Senate’s filibuster powers, which allow prolonged delays on bills.
In response, Republican Senate leader Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin expressed frustration on social media, contending that Wasinger lacks the authority to change Senate rules and criticized his approach. Meanwhile, Sen. Lincoln Hough, responsible for the Senate budget, defended the current processes as open and transparent, inviting Wasinger to discuss concerns.
As the legislature rushes to finalize the state budget—its only constitutional duty—before a one-week deadline to address other contentious topics like abortion and paid sick leave, the friction between Wasinger and established lawmakers highlights ongoing challenges in Missouri’s legislative landscape.
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