Missouri legislature kicks off 2022 session with tight deadlines, Republican infighting

JEFFERSON CITY -- The Missouri General Assembly opened its 2022 legislative session on Wednesday with a packed agenda as dwindling Republican numbers in the House and infighting in the Senate threatens GOP power.

Lawmakers have several hefty tasks to complete early this session.

They must approve a new Congressional map in time for the state to hold its August primary election. Candidate filing begins Feb. 22. There is billions in unspent COVID-19-related federal aid to allocate, some with a March deadline.

And Gov. Mike Parson has asked the legislature to pass by Feb. 1 a supplemental budget that includes raising state workers’ minimum pay to $15 an hour to address critical staff shortages.

House Republican leaders are scheduling extra work days this month in the hopes they’ll still have time for other priorities, such as tightening the requirements for voting and pushing back on federal vaccine mandates.

Read more at: https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article257078277.html