The Missouri legislature convenes this Wednesday.
The hallmark issue may be Medicaid expansion. Topics of tax credits and arming classroom teachers are also expected to come up for debate.
Host Don Marsh talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s statehouse reporter Marshall Griffin, St. Louis Beacon political reporter Jo Mannies, and University of Missouri – St. Louis political science professor Terry Jones about the upcoming session.
Governor Jay Nixon has already appeared more willing to spar with Republicans than he has in the past. He’s taken a stance for Medicaid expansion and against arming teachers, two stances incongruous with Republican leadership.
Although Democratic Governor Jay Nixon is used to a statehouse that’s firmly in Republican control, this will be the first time he’s dealt with a veto-proof GOP majority.
“Yes, it’s veto-proof, but both the senate and the house are just one or two votes above that. The larger the majority, the more difficult it is to keep that majority together,” said Terry Jones.
Jones added that the veto-proof majority is somewhat tenuous, and contingent upon almost all Republicans voting in agreement.
St. Louis Public Radio and Beyond November reporter Chris McDaniel contributed to this report.
