SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — On the northwest side of Springfield lies the Transportation Management Center, a high-tech hub where local, state, and even federal officials can monitor high intensity traffic all across southwest Missouri. The hub served as a backdrop for…
Author Archive for Eli Yokley
Eli Yokley is editor in chief of PoliticMo, and also serves as a political contributor to The Joplin Globe and the St. Louis Business Journal. He can be reached at eli@politicmo.com.
Graphic: Who is hardest hit by Nixon’s withholds?
by Eli Yokley •
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Gov. Jay Nixon announced a wide-reaching, $400 million state budget freeze on Friday, citing his fear that a GOP backed tax plan could cripple state revenue. With the new fiscal year 2014 budget going into effect,…
Education, state workers tied up in battle over tax bill
by Eli Yokley •
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Gov. Jay Nixon announced Friday that his administration would withhold $400 million from the state budget, citing his concern that the GOP-backed tax reform proposal would be detrimental to the state’s coffers. Speaking to reporters 72…
Judge denies legislative subpoenas of Nixon administration
by Eli Yokley •
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A Cole County judge has blocked a legislative committee seeking to subpoena officials in Gov. Jay Nixon’s administration over the Department of Revenue document scanning controversy. “You’re ordered to refrain from all actions in the premises…
Nixon critical of legislative hearings on document scanning controversy
by Eli Yokley •
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Gov. Jay Nixon shrugged off criticism from lawmakers that his administration has been evasive in their investigation into privacy concerns raised by the Department of Revenue’s document scanning process. During an interview in Columbia, just hours after…
Legal impact of Supreme Court ruling unclear for Missouri gay community
by Eli Yokley •
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — For the Missouri gay community, Wednesday’s landmark decision at the United States Supreme Court overturning much of the Defense of Marriage Act carries significant symbolic weight. But aside from that, in a state where the constitution…
Nixon veto of “paycheck protection” bill may only be a temporary win for bill’s opponents
by Eli Yokley •
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed legislation championed by Republicans that sought to limit political activity by public labor unions, but the victory may only be temporary for the bill’s opponents. On Tuesday, he struck down Senate Bill…
Schweich audit refocuses attention on Nixon plane usage
by Eli Yokley •
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — State Auditor Tom Schweich released a new audit Tuesday critical of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s purchase of a new plane for executive and employee transportation. Schweich’s audit claimed that the Highway Patrol failed to justify…
Missouri Republicans mull Latino outreach, finance hurdles
by Eli Yokley •
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri Republicans met in Columbia over the weekend for their quarterly committee meeting, where the party focused on new ways to reach out to Latinos — part of a broader strategy laid out by party leaders. The…
Missouri student presidents join effort against student loan rate hike
by Eli Yokley •
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Student body presidents from three Missouri universities have joined a national campaign urging Congress to extend the current interest rates on student loans. In a letter, student body presidents Ashley Koesterer, Missouri University of Science and Technology,…