Politically Speaking

U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin, joined the Politically Speaking crew on this week’s show. Before she was elected to represent the 2nd congressional district in 2012, Wagner had served as the head of the Missouri Republican Party, co-chair of the Republican National Committee and then as ambassador to Luxembourg under President George W. Bush. Originally published on Feb. 25, 2014.

This week, Chris McDaniel and Jo Mannies hosted state House Minority Leader Jake Hummel, a Democrat from St. Louis. Hummel, a union electrician, acknowledges that the 52 House Democrats have a tough task because they are outnumbered by more than 100 Republicans. Originally published on Feb. 19, 2014.

Jo Mannies hosts state House Budget chairman Rick Stream, a Republican from Kirkwood. She was joined by Marshall Griffin of St. Louis Public Radio’s Jefferson City bureau. Originally published on February 10, 2014

Green is the city's chief fiscal officer and one of the longest-serving comptrollers in modern history. Green discussed her unlikely transition into electoral politics (which Mannies detailed in a 2011 profile), her relationship with Mayor Francis Slay and Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed as well as some initiatives she’s launched recently. She also talked at length about her role as vice chair of the Missouri Democratic Party – and efforts to recruit African-American candidates to run for statewide office. Originally published on Feb. 4, 2014.

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder becomes the third statewide official to appear on the podcast, following state Auditor Tom Schweich and Secretary of State Jason Kander. The Republican has been Missouri’s lieutenant governor since 2005; he also was the first GOP lawmaker in decades to become president pro tem of the Missouri Senate. Originally published on January 29, 2014.

Marshall Griffin joins the Politically Speaking crew to talk about Gov. Jay Nixon's State of the State speech and the latest developments involving Missouri's death penalty. Senate Minority Leader Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, joins Chris, Jo and Jason for the second part of the show. Originally published on January 22, 2014.

Jason and Jo discuss the roadblocks to getting “right to work” on the ballot and why upcoming campaign finance reports matter. For the rest of the show, the Politically Speaking crew talks with Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City. Originally published on January 15, 2014.

This week the Politically Speaking crew welcomes Secretary of State Jason Kander to the podcast. Kander, a Democrat from Kansas City, narrowly captured the statewide office in 2012 after a hard-fought contest with Republican Shane Schoeller. During the show, Kander discussed his push to alter Missouri’s campaign finance and lobbyist laws. He announced on the show that he’s throwing his support behind an ethics bill, to be introduced shortly by state Rep. Kevin McManus, D-Kansas City, that would bar lobbyist gifts, cap campaign contributions and force former lawmakers to wait before becoming lobbyists. Originally published on Jan. 7, 2014.

Ogilvie burst onto the local political scene in 2011 when he easily defeated former Alderman Tom Bauer to represent the southwest St. Louis ward. On the show, Ogilvie discussed Complete Streets legislation in St. Louis County, his bid to cap campaign donations for city elections and his opposition to a statewide transportation sales tax. Originally published on Dec. 23, 2013.

State Rep. Paul Curtman, R-Pacific, is this week’s guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, which this week features regulars Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies as hosts. Chris McDaniel is on assignment. Curtman, 32, is a second-term member of the Missouri House, with his district representing part of Franklin County.  He’s also a former Marine, serving from 1999 to 2003 on active duty.  Two of his close friends in the Marines died in Iraq, which Curtman says has affected his approach toward life and politics. Originally published on Dec. 19, 2013.

On today's episode: It's a blast from the past as we start off the show by talking about Congressman Todd Akin's race (specifically hisNRSCfunding), then we move on to Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones' so-called Speaker Tour (or the Lt. Gov.'s Tour?), and we close it out with a discussion on the Arch Tax.

The first-term lawmaker made the transition this year from being a legislative staffer to representing portions of north, central and south St. Louis. In addition to discussing life in the legislature, Butler talked about Gov. Jay Nixon’s latest push for ethics reform, the recent special session to woo Boeing, controversy around state Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro and his desire to bring state funds for crime prevention. Originally published Dec. 12, 2013.

On today's episode: We discuss Representative Jo Ann Emerson's early departure, and who's on the short-list to replace her, where we stand on Medicaid expansion, and Senator Claire McCaskill's recent PR tour.

On this week's show, St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann joins us. Ehlmann talks about playing basketball with Governor Jay Nixon (he says he's a better shooter than Nixon, but that the governor "throws his weight around" on the inside). Originally published on Dec. 5, 2013.

On this week's episode: Nixon taking a stance on Medicaid expansion, Missouri Republican plans to cut taxes and St. Louis County's LGBT non-discrimination ordinance.

On this week's show, we're joined by the president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, Lewis Reed. After admitting his "deep, dark secret," Reed talks about how his race against Mayor Francis Slay changed the governing calculus at City Hall, and whether the balance of power is shifting in favor of the mayor. We conclude with the topic du jour - the renewed conversations around merging St. Louis city and St. Louis County. Originally published on Nov. 21, 2013.

On the table for this week: GOP dissent on health exchanges, the recent ruling on public employee's right to collective bargain and the new bipartisan debt group in Missouri. And, of course, some talk about Governor Jay Nixon's deer "harvesting" and Gobbles the Turkey.

On this week's show, we're joined by Missouri state representative Rick Stream. Stream is the budget chairman, and has also been serving on two important interim committees: "Medicaid Transformation" and Education. Stream shares his experience as budget chair, and goes into detail on the changes he's proposing to the school transfer process. We close it out by discussing the Medicaid hearings, and what the expectations should be for expansion. Originally published on Nov. 15, 2013.

On this week's podcast: After the GOP's lackluster performance in Missouri's statewide races, what can the party do going forward? It's early, but ballot initiatives are already in discussion for 2014. And leadership positions have now been divvied out in the Missouri legislature. How will the Republican leaders work with Democratic Governor Jay Nixon?

On this week's show, Mo. Senator Joe Keaveny joins us. Keaveny has been meeting with fellow senators on the school transfer situation, and fills us in on what preliminary changes could be possible. We also discuss the prospect of Medicaid expansion in this session or next, as well as what changes would have to be made to the program. Originally published on Nov. 7, 2013.