Wake Up MO Patriots!!
Yes this very same cast of characters - Gov. Kehoe, Speaker Dr. Jon Patterson and all of our current MO Representatives, passed the craziest bill I have ever seen. The bill passed with almost no vocal opposition, and sponsored by Rep. Bill Hardwick. HB 970 in 2025 Regular Session
The bill legalized video gambling/slot machines across the whole state of Missouri. (Remember gambling only on the river? No more. On every street corner in every town across the state at every gas station.)
The amount of money involved in this enterprise is staggering. "The Gambling Commission may collect for video lottery game manufacturers and video lottery game distributors, $25,000; For video lottery game operators, $500,000; For video lottery game retailer establishments, $2,000 for each video lottey game retailer's establishment; and For video lottery game handlers, $100.
The worst part of Hardwick's bill: Gives the Attorney General's office the right to hire and supervise 1,064 patrol officers "and such numbers of radio personnel as the superintendent deems necessary. In case of a national emergency the superintendent may name additional patrolmen and radio personnel in a number sufficient to replace, temporarily, patrolmen and radio personnel called into military services." These patrolmen may enforce any law, rule, or regulation, conduct background investigations under the laws of this state. . .
In other words, the Attorney General suddenly gets their very own secret police force paid for by the gambling commission! What could go wrong with this plan?!
I tried to take the wording directly from HB 970. Sponsored by Rep. Bill Hardwick. Passed by MO House of Reps on April 9, 2025. Killed by Senator Cindy O'Laughlin in committee. We are very lucky that the Senator killed this bill, but she is retiring!
PS. The sponsor of this bill is running for MO Senate in August 4 primary election.