"Missouri's 2024 Legislative Session: GOP Prioritizes Childcare and Education Amidst Ongoing Divisions"

The Missouri Senate's 2024 legislative session opened with echoes of past divisions as the rebranded "Freedom Caucus" of GOP senators voiced their commitment to conservative principles and their frustration with the chamber's leadership and legislative process. Despite GOP supermajorities, there's a sense of dissatisfaction with the progress on key issues like taxes, education, and gun rights. Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden and House Speaker Dean Plocher called for principled progress over political pandemonium, emphasizing the need to prioritize the welfare of the people over personal or political interests. However, ongoing internal conflicts and an ethics investigation into Plocher have tempered expectations for a productive session.