Early fireworks highlighted the first day of the legislative session in Jefferson City.
The session began shortly after noon.
In the Missouri House of Representatives, the session began with the personal items. Members recognized a moment of silence for Republican Rep. Tom Hannegan, who died of a stroke at 51 in October.
The House also recognized two representatives who marked their last day in the Chamber on Wednesday. Rep. Aaron Greisheimer, R-Franklin County, left to take a position with a contractors’ organization.
Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, left to take a consulting job in Florida. On his way out, he spoke on the floor, railing against Missouri’s initiative petition process, expanded Medicaid, media coverage of government, and voters’ decision to block Right to Work.
“The Initiative petition process is a constitutional crisis,” he said. “The people are always going to vote for things that are going to sound good.”
The Senate convened shortly after 12:30 p.m.
Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe opened the session with the pledge of allegiance and a prayer, which called for a clean slate for lawmakers.
Yet, familiar tension among lawmakers flared early Wednesday.
Sen. Paul Wieland, a Jefferson County Republican, quickly challenged Senate Majority Floor Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, over a resolution to temporarily adopt the rules of the previous session until permanent rules are approved.
Wieland questioned the intent of the resolution, asking why the resolution called for temporary adoption of rules and if leadership planned to change the rules.
He said there have been some trust issues among members of the Senate recently, and vowed to read language and track procedure closely.
Rowden said it’s the Senate’s normal procedure to adopt temporary rules to start and he was following tradition. The Senate approved the resolution.
Lawmakers who attended the annual Prayer Service for Missouri Government Leaders got an early start to the first day of the Legislative Session Wednesday morning.
Local lawmakers at the breakfast included Rep. Dave Griffith, R-Jefferson City, Rep. Sara Walsh, R-Ashland, and Rep. Rudy Veit, R-Wardsville. Alongside lawmakers were Missouri Supreme Court Judge Mary Russell, Gov. Mike Parson, and Kehoe.
Monte Shinkle, the former senior pastor at Concord Baptist Church, told more than 100 lawmakers and government leaders during the service that the country’s spirit is troubled, possibly like never before.
Shinkle took a moment to tell listeners that he’s been a pastor for almost 50 years.
When he started, the country was divided over the Vietnam War. He said he “came to Christ” not long after the Kent State massacre, on May 4, 1970, when the Ohio National Guard marched on the campus south of Cleveland and fired on a peace rally, killing four and wounding nine.
“Our country was in a bad spot. Twenty years ago here in Concord, we gathered together after 9-11. Our country was in a bad spot,” Shinkle repeated. “Seriously, I don’t know when — I don’t think in my lifetime I’ve ever seen the spirit of America at the point where it is now. We need God at work in our country.”
Rev. Monte Shinkle addresses a prayer service for government leaders Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, on the opening day of the second session of the 101st Missouri General Assembly in Jefferson City. (Julie Smith/News Tribune photo)