Overview

• Missouri Senate Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin has suggested the expulsion of Sen. Bill Eigel, a member of the Freedom Caucus and a Republican candidate for governor, due to his obstruction of the chamber’s work.
• The Freedom Caucus has been using procedural tactics to slow routine work in an attempt to force more rapid consideration of a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it harder to pass citizen-led ballot initiatives.
• Earlier this week, Senate Republican leaders stripped four Freedom Caucus members, including Eigel, of their committee chairmanships and prime parking spots.
• Eigel has responded defiantly to these actions, stating that he will not bow to anyone and challenging O’Laughlin to explain her statement on the Senate floor.
• Governor Mike Parson has expressed frustration at the internal Republican spat, which has prevented Senate approval of his appointments to state departments, university governing boards and the state highways commission.