Rudi Keller
Rudi Keller covers the state budget, energy and the legislature for the Missouri Independent. He’s spent 22 of his 30 years in journalism covering Missouri government and politics, most recently as the news editor of the Columbia Daily Tribune. Keller has won awards for spot news and investigative reporting.
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Missouri voters in 28 counties have been assigned to a different congressional district under the Republican-drawn map intended to oust Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II. But a referendum effort and lawsuits could still change where voters end up in November. -
Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick says Missouri must bring spending in line with tax collections or risk emergency reductions to state services. Democratic lawmakers point out that tax cuts passed by the GOP-controlled legislature, including a capital gains exemption, have caused revenue to plummet. -
Backers of Amendment 5, the plan to expand the sales tax to replace the income tax, said the Western District Court of Appeals exceeded its authority with ballot language revisions made last week. -
Amendment 5, which is aimed at eliminating the income tax, will stay on the August 4 ballot. But the court ruled that the summary must ensure voters know they are giving lawmakers authority to impose new sales taxes without current constitutional restrictions. -
Opponents contend the measure would violate a ban on constitutional amendments including more than one subject. They also argue the ballot summary is misleading and should be changed. -
The case brought by the NAACP attempted to quash Missouri bills that gerrymandered the congressional map and changed the initiative petition process. But the Supreme Court unanimously ruled the governor could call a special session whenever the legislature isn't already meeting. -
The head of the state clerks association says local election officials still lack access to the voter database needed to finalize new district assignments. -
Despite the potential high costs, Republicans on a Senate committee advanced the plan on a party-line vote Monday. The bill would place an amendment on the statewide ballot later this year asking voters permission to eliminate the income tax and expand sales taxes. -
Retiring Congressman Sam Graves endorsed Chris Stigall, a nationally syndicated talk radio host, to replace him. But that brought a fiery response from Kansas City Councilman Nathan Willett, who dropped out of a race for an open state Senate seat to file for Congress. -
People Not Politicians says their petition has passed the threshold of required signatures in six congressional districts, enough to qualify for Missouri's statewide ballot in November. The update comes just days after a judge approved a new ballot summary for the measure.
