Rudi Keller

Biting Missouri’s hand: Chiefs’ move to Kansas exposes Hunt family ingratitude • Missouri Independent After Kansas jayhawked Missouri’s last NFL team last week, I vowed I would never again watch them play.

Clark Hunt’s decision to move the Chiefs to Kansas reminded me of Mark Twain’s quote about gratitude:
“If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." #moleg

missouriindependent.com/2026/01/01/b...

Rudi ’splains it: Missouri property tax rates and how they are set • Missouri Independent Rising property values are pushing Missouri lawmakers to dig into property tax levies. Here's a primer on how rates are set.

The #moleg committee studying property taxes holds its final hearing away from the Capitol tomorrow night in Macon. In my latest Rudi 'splains it, a look at the factors controlling property tax rates
missouriindependent.com/2025/08/26/r...

Trump says Missouri will revise congressional districts to favor Republicans • Missouri Independent Missouri "is IN" for redrawing the state's congressional districts, President Donald Trump proclaimed Thursday on social media.

Missouri “is IN” for redrawing the state’s congressional districts in a special legislative session, President Donald Trump proclaimed Thursday on his social media platform.
#moleg #redistricting
missouriindependent.com/2025/08/21/m...

Missouri math: How a 23-year sentence adds up to more than 40 years in prison • Missouri Independent A man being held in a Missouri prison received a 23-year sentence when his case was reviewed by the courts but must serve 40 years.

When Deandre Pointer was re-sentenced in 2023 to 23 years, he thought it meant he was going home after 20 years in a Missouri prison. Instead, he was told he would have to serve 21 more years. #moleg #mogov
missouriindependent.com/2025/08/08/m...

Grand jury indicts top Democrat in St. Louis County government on felony charges • Missouri Independent Sam Page, the top elected official in Missouri’s largest county, was indicted on four criminal charges, accused of misusing public money.

The grand jury indictment, secured by Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office acting as special prosecutor, accuses St. Louis County Executive Sam Page of spending public funds on a flyer and direct mail postcard for the vote on a proposal that would have curbed his power. #moleg #mogov

Trump White House pressing Missouri Republicans to redraw congressional map  • Missouri Independent The Trump White House is ratcheting up pressure on Missouri Republicans for a new round of Congressional redistricting to favor the GOP.

Trump White House pressing Missouri Republicans to redraw congressional map

Missouri House Speaker pro Tem Chad Perkins said Trump staffers called him after The Independent published his negative comments about the idea. #moleg #mogov via
@rudikellermi.bsky.social

'We've already done that': Missouri lawmakers show little enthusiasm for new congressional maps • Missouri Independent Missouri legislative leaders aren't ready to redo Congressional redistricting, an idea being pushed by President Trump to gain a GOP seat.

There are political and constitutional obstacles to drawing a new Congressional district map for Missouri...not the least is avoiding another factional fight in #moleg
missouriindependent.com/2025/07/24/w...

Missouri Gov. Kehoe signs bill repealing paid sick leave  • Missouri Independent Missouri workers who started accruing paid sick leave on May 1 will lose it Aug. 28 under legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Mike Kehoe.

Missouri workers who started accruing paid sick leave on May 1 will lose it Aug. 28 under legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Mike Kehoe. #moleg
missouriindependent.com/2025/07/10/m...

Missouri Governor signs bipartisan education legislation into law • Missouri Independent Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signs bipartisan education into law, including a ban on cell phones during the school day.

There could be more retired teachers returning as substitutes and more home-schooled students participating in sports and other activities, thanks to a stack of bipartisan education bills signed Wednesday by Gov. Mike Kehoe. via @anneliseh.bsky.social #moleg
missouriindependent.com/2025/07/09/m...

Missouri bill designed to bolster family legal defense signed into law  • Missouri Independent Older children in foster care would have attorneys and a commission will study legal representation in Missouri's foster care system.

Older children in foster care would have their own attorneys and a commission will study how to improve legal representation throughout the foster care system under a bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Mike Kehoe. via @clarabates.bsky.social #moleg
missouriindependent.com/2025/07/09/m...

Missouri governor signs bill banning state from seizing foster kids’ benefits • Missouri Independent After Aug. 28, Missouri will end the state’s longstanding practice of seizing foster children’s benefits to cover the cost of foster care.

After Aug. 28, Missouri will end the state’s longstanding practice of seizing foster children’s Social Security benefits to cover the cost of foster care. via @clarabates.bsky.social #moleg
missouriindependent.com/2025/07/09/m...

MU Health Care mulls new coverage offer from Anthem • Missouri Independent MU Health Care is reviewing an offer from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield that could restore coverage to an estimated 90,000 people.

MU Health Care confirmed Tuesday that it is reviewing a new offer from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield that could restore insurance coverage to an estimated 90,000 Missourians.
via Columbia Missourian
missouriindependent.com/2025/07/09/m...

'In the sun': St. Louis radioactive waste activists find hope in new federal law • Missouri Independent Sen. Josh Hawley got the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expanded in the federal budget bill, bringing help to Missouri and seven other states.

ICYMI: ‘In the sun’: St. Louis radioactive waste activists find hope in new federal law
The budget bill passed in Congress included U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley’s language extending compensation for radiation-caused cancers to Missouri, New Mexico & six other states
missouriindependent.com/2025/07/08/i...

Missouri or Kansas? Business leaders don’t care as long as Chiefs and Royals stay near KC • Kansas Reflector Kansas City regional business leaders don’t care whether the Chiefs or the Royals play in Missouri or Kansas as long as they don’t leave the metropolitan area.

Missouri or Kansas? Business leaders don’t care as long as Chiefs and Royals stay near KC | via @rudikellermi.bsky.social #ksleg

Missouri or Kansas? Business leaders don’t care as long as Chiefs and Royals stay near KC • Missouri Independent Kansas City regional business leaders don’t care where the Chiefs or the Royals play as long as they don’t leave the metro area.

Missouri or Kansas? Business leaders don’t care as long as Chiefs and Royals stay near Kansas City #moleg #mogov via @rudikellermi.bsky.social

Missouri or Kansas? Business leaders don’t care as long as Chiefs and Royals stay near KC • Missouri Independent Kansas City regional business leaders don’t care where the Chiefs or the Royals play as long as they don’t leave the metro area.

“Does the regional business and civic community have a preference for which side of the state line or which specific location the teams land? No. As long as the teams land within the KC region, we’re going to support their decision, full stop.” #moleg #mogov via @rudikellermi.bsky.social

Rudi ’splains it: How Kansas City stadium funding clears state constitutional hurdles • Missouri Independent The 19th century default on Missouri railroad bonds led to a ban on state funds for private enterprise, raising questions about stadium funding plans.

In the 1870s, Missouri taxes for railroad debt were more than all of state government. A new Constitution in 1875 banned aid to private interests so no future #moleg would fall for "this delusive talk, to this cuckoo song" of economic development promoters
missouriindependent.com/2025/06/13/r...

Rudi ’splains it: How Kansas City stadium funding clears state constitutional hurdles • Missouri Independent The 19th century default on Missouri railroad bonds led to a ban on state funds for private enterprise, raising questions about stadium funding plans.

Since 1875, the Missouri Constitution has banned state or local governments from granting public money or credit for the benefit of private interests. How does the stadium bill passed this week get around that prohibition?

@rudikellermi.bsky.social 'splains it. #moleg #mogov

St. Louis waits for aid as FEMA response to Missouri disasters is slowest in 15 years • Missouri Independent Federal disaster response has slowed under President Donald Trump, leaving Missouri waiting for help after the May 16 tornado in St. Louis.

FEMA response to Missouri disasters is much slower under President Trump than any other administration over the last 15 years
#moleg #disaster
missouriindependent.com/2025/06/04/s...

Proposed federal tax changes could mean $170M or more cut to Missouri state revenues • Missouri Independent An analysis of the budget bill backed by Congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump shows it would also cut Missouri state revenues.

Missouri lawmakers return to work this week to tackle tax breaks for sports stadiums against a backdrop of sluggish revenues and a declining budget surplus. #moleg #mogov via @rudikellermi.bsky.social

Proposed federal tax changes could mean $170M or more cut to Missouri state revenues • Missouri Independent An analysis of the budget bill backed by Congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump shows it would also cut Missouri state revenues.

Proposed federal tax changes could mean $170M or more cut to Missouri state revenues #moleg #mogov via @rudikellermi.bsky.social

Failure of Missouri construction budget bill shocks communities, enrages state Senate • Missouri Independent Missouri House Republicans' decision to kill a construction spending bill sent communities in shock and created a rift with the state Senate.

Failure of Missouri construction budget bill shocks communities, enrages state Senate #moleg #mogov via @rudikellermi.bsky.social

Lawmakers negotiating Missouri budget add $300M to public schools spending • Missouri Independent Missouri's public schools would be fully funded, legislative budget negotiators decided Wednesday night as they worked through spending bills.

Lawmakers negotiating Missouri budget add $300M to public schools spending #moleg #mogov via @rudikellermi.bsky.social

Push to allow online lottery ticket sales in Missouri adds new issue to budget talks • Missouri Independent A provision tucked into the Missouri budget to allow online purchase of lottery tickets through couriers set off a flurry of lobbying.

The change, which was added by the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee without any public debate, would open the door for lottery courier services — companies that charge fees to buy lottery tickets on behalf of customers. #moleg #mogov via @rudikellermi.bsky.social

Missouri bill exempting capital gains from income tax sent to governor • Missouri Independent Missouri House Republicans on Wednesday sent a top-priority bill exempting capital gains from income tax to Gov. Mike Kehoe.

Missouri House Republicans muscled their biggest tax-cut priority of the year across the finish line on Wednesday, sending a bill exempting capital gains from income tax to Gov. Mike Kehoe. #moleg #mogov via @rudikellermi.bsky.social

‘Really horrifying’: Missouri draws scorn over treatment of teen mom in foster care • Missouri Independent The story of a Missouri foster teen fighting to stay with her baby highlights systemic issues lawmakers say they've spent years trying to fix.

In the week since a teen mom in foster care went public about her struggles with Missouri’s social services agency to keep her baby, she’s faced renewed threats of being separated from her 9-week-old daughter. #moleg #mogov

‘Really horrifying’: Missouri draws scorn over treatment of teen mom in foster care • Missouri Independent The story of a Missouri foster teen fighting to stay with her baby highlights systemic issues lawmakers say they've spent years trying to fix.

“…if they had deliberately set out to emotionally torture three generations of a single family — Hailey, her aunt and, most important, her infant — they couldn’t have done a more thorough, efficient job of it than they did and continue to do in this case.” #moleg #mogov

Missouri Senate approves budget plan with boost for schools, child care • Missouri Independent The Missouri Senate on Tuesday approved 13 budget bills appropriating almost $50 billion for state operations in the coming fiscal year.

Missouri Senate approves budget plan with boost for schools, child care #moleg #mogov via @rudikellermi.bsky.social

Missouri Senate to debate budget with $450 million in spending on ‘pet projects’ • Missouri Independent There are more than half a billion dollars in earmarked items in the Missouri state budget that is being debated in the state Senate.

Missouri Senate to debate budget with $450 million in spending on ‘pet projects’ #moleg #mogov via @rudikellermi.bsky.social

Missouri Senate to debate budget with $450 million in spending on ‘pet projects’ • Missouri Independent There are more than half a billion dollars in earmarked items in the Missouri state budget that is being debated in the state Senate.

The Missouri Senate is set for a Tuesday night debate on a state budget that includes $450 million in earmarks added to the Missouri budget for hundreds of local projects or favored vendors. #moleg #mogov via @rudikellermi.bsky.social