Politics Watch

Nov. 18, 2009

Gov. Jay Nixon announces an amendment to last year's tuition freeze, meaning tuition and academic fees will not rise for in-state undergraduate students. In return, the governor has agreed to keep about 95 percent of higher education funding in place during the 2010 - 2011 school year. The plan is pending approval from the Missouri General Assembly and the governing bodies of the affected universities. In local political news, five state representatives held a mock-committee hearing to discuss House Bill 150, which aims to regulate the payday loan industry.

Nov. 5, 2009:

Weighing the public option

In this issue, The Maneater's political columnists Eric Hobbs and Jordan Stein debate the inclusion of a public option in current health care reform legislation before Congress.

Oct. 21, 2009:

Campaign fundraising recap

City, State and Nation Editor Will Guldin is joined by Staff Writer Wes Duplantier as we cover the recently-released fundraising records for Missouri's 2010 Congressional races.

Oct. 7, 2009:

LGBTQ Rights

Westboro Baptist Church protested at several locations throughout Columbia on Friday. The Maneater's political columnists discuss these protests, as well as the larger debate over LGBTQ rights in America.

Sept. 23, 2009

In this episode we talk about monday night's council meeting, where the Columbia City Council approved the city's budget for the 2010 fiscal year, which included utility bill increases. Also, default rates on student loans in Missouri have risen, and a bill going through the U.S. Senate would place the federal government in charge of these loans. In other news, several state legislators have written a letter to Gov. Jay Nixon asking him to continue funding the Tour of Missouri bicycle race.

Sept. 8, 2009

The 3rd annual Tour of Missouri race began Monday, despite funding concerns over the summer. In other news, U.S. Circuit court of appeals found John Ascroft can be sued by individuals who feel they were wrongly retained following the attacks of September 11th. Political reporter Wes Duplantier also breaks down the 2010 Senate Race, which will most likely be a showdown between U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Democratic Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.

Aug. 25, 2009:

Health care debate

The Maneater's political columnists debate the pressing issue of health care.

April 29, 2009

The Maneater's politics columnists Marcus Bowen and Nate Kennedy discuss a proposed resolution that would amend the state constitution to allow early voting in the state and require voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot.

April 15, 2009:

Concealed carry debate

The Missouri Senate gives first-round approval to the state's appropriation bills, Vice President Joe Biden comes to Missouri and The Maneater's politics columnists Marcus Bowen and Nate Kennedy discuss concealed carry on campus.

April 10, 2009

The Missouri House gives first round approval that will allow concealed firearms on college campuses, the Missouri Senate gives first round approval to a bill that would expand scholarship programs and the Columbia city elections see record lows in voter turnout.

March 12, 2009

The Missouri House approved a bill that would make it illegal to coerce a woman to have an abortion, Missouri lawmakers discuss Access Missouri with the Associated Students of the University of Missouri and Gov. Jay Nixon appoints an MU graduate to the UM system Board of Curators

March 5, 2009

House Budget Chairman Allen Icet proposes a higher education appropriations bill that is less than Gov. Jay Nixon had originally recommended, as well as a appropriations limit bill that has drawn criticism from Democrats in the Budget Committee. Also, the Office of Administration has announced that the state has taken in less revenue this year than in 2008.

Feb. 26, 2009

President Barack Obama outlined broad plans for higher education in his first address of Congress, Republicans in Missouri have voiced their opposition to some federal stimulus money and a bill proposed in the U.S. Senate would expand international programs at U.S. colleges and universities.

Feb. 19, 2009

Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., announced that he will run for Missouri's U.S. Senate seat in 2010; State Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, has proposed a plan to expand Access Missouri scholarships; and Missouri Republicans will hold their annual Lincoln Days event this weekend.

Feb. 12, 2009

Gov. Jay Nixon proposes a reallocation of funds to the UM system Extension Program, the Senate Education Committee held a hearing on a bill that would keep nine UM system curators after redistricting and higher education will get less money from a federal stimulus package than what was originally expected.

Feb. 4, 2009

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is the first candidate to officially join the race to take the U.S. Senate seat that Kit Bond will vacate in 2010 and the U.S. Senate is still debating a stimulus package that could cost up to $900 billion.

Intro/outro music: Throbert, by The Impossible Mountains

Jan. 29, 2009

This week's podcast discusses Gov. Jay Nixon's State of the State Address, the passage of an $819 billion stimulus package in the U.S. House Representatives, and Scott Murphy, a former Columbia resident that is running for a congressional seat in New York.

Sept. 10, 2008

A summary of Joe Biden's recent visit to Columbia.