* Sen. Harold Caskey, D-Butler, sponsored a bill to limit tuition increases for higher education. Under the bill, a student would pay the same tuition costs every year of undergraduate study, even if the school raised costs for incoming students.
Tension between liberal and moderate Democrats erupted this session with party members arguing on the Senate floor over guns and abortion. The infighting culminated Friday with veteran lawmaker Sen. Harold Caskey, D-Butler, publicly quitting his chairmanship of the Democratic Caucus.
Tension between liberal and moderate Democrats erupted this session with party members arguing on the Senate floor over guns and abortion. The infighting culminated Friday with veteran lawmaker Sen. Harold Caskey, D-Butler, publicly quitting his chairmanship of the Democratic caucus.
JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's Senate has approved a landmark sentencing bill aimed at curbing the explosive growth in the state's prison population. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Harold Caskey, D-Butler, said the measure would free up more than 1,500 beds in the prison system and save Missouri $30 million over the next two years.
But, opponents of the bill, such as Senator Harold Caskey of Western Missouri, say it is unfair to balance the budget on the backs of Missouri's seniors.
Bill sponsor Sen. Harold Caskey, D-Butler, said the measure would free up more than 1,500 beds in Missouri's prison system, roughly five percent of the total, and potentially allow the Corrections Department to close one of the state's prisons.
Sen. Harold Caskey, D-Butler, attempted to drive that point home by jokingly proposing and amendment mandating that parents have "a healthy, communicative relationship with their children" as well as an amendment making it illegal for minors to have sex before getting consent from their parents.