West County Democrats meet once a month to discuss issues that concern our community, our state and our country. Our mission is to inform, and if you want to be involved and to learn more about initiatives that are affecting your lives and those of your family, you should come. Our meetings are open to the public, and our first of the new year was a packed house.
Karen Cloyd, the co-Chair of the West County Democrats, opened the meeting with brief business updates and announcements from interest groups and candidates. West County Democrats has become a focal point for the distribution of relevant information about participation opportunities. There are ton of citizen led initiatives to support our community and to influence the direction of our government. Our members receive email updates with this information, but two that were highlighted in the meeting are the Food Drive organized by Chesterfield Township Democrats to benefit Circle of Concern and the Take Action in Jefferson City Rally on January 21st.
Our featured speaker was Russ Carnahan, the Missouri Democratic Party Chairman. He updated us on the progress of the state party organization, initiatives to support Democratic candidates across the state and his thoughts on ending the Republican super majority that has been dragging our State down for better than two decades. It is clear that our current elected officials are more concerned about limiting voters’ voices and votes than actually fixing problems that everyday Missouri citizens face. Moreover, the National Democratic Party leadership has recognized Missouri Congressional District 2 as an important race in 2026 and is putting real resources in place to support the Democratic candidate chosen to replace the ineffective and near-invisible Ann Wagner.
A key feature of each of our meetings is the Legislative Report provide by Glenn Koenen. This is important information that is not widely covered in news media yet illustrates the under-the-covers actions of our State legislators and National representatives. Glenn has been reporting on the torrent of politically motivated bad governance infecting our democracy and the absolute lunacy in Washington DC. While his reporting is hard to hear sometimes, it does provide perspective on just how badly our democracy has been chipped away.
Legislative Report January 12, 2026, Glenn Koenen
FOX host Sean Hannity asked Donald Trump if he would accept the Nobel Peace Prize given to Venezuela’s María Corina Machado if she offered it to him. Trump: “When you put out eight wars, in theory, you should get one for each war…”
Federal Items:
The federal government faces another shutdown on January 31, 2026.
While House and Senate senior Republican leadership appears to fear another closure, yet, too many GOP members remain unmoved on the need to reinstate subsidies for most Affordable Care Act health care plans, and, some Republicans demand strict new prohibitions on health insurance covering abortion. In addition, some of the remaining budget bills include politically volatile items, such as more funding for anti-drug boat military attacks and ICE action within the United States.
While several GOP members – including Missouri’s Senator Josh Hawley – have voted against Trump being given an unlimited, on-going mandate to conduct military attacks on foreign nations as he sees
fit, the core of Republican members of Congress remain unwilling to seriously challenge Trump on how he is running the nation.
The New York Times asked Trump what limits he recognized on his power: “My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.” [NY Times 1/9/26 interview]
To date, military actions ordered by Trump have killed at least foreign 110 sailors, scores of Venezuelan and Cuban security forces, and, an unknown number of Iranians, Houthis, Nigerians, Yemeni and others in attacks Trump ordered.
At home, several immigrants died while in federal detention, a growing number of American citizens have been jailed or detained, and, a 37 year old poetry-writing mom has been killed by a federal agent in Minnesota.
Amid the swarm of bizarre headlines Trump generates each day, things of major consequence still happen within the federal system…
1. On Wednesday, January 7, 2026 the United States announced its withdrawal from the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the International Law Commission and several organizations pushing renewable energy and other largely non-political topics. The story ran on page 5A of the Friday, 1/9 New York Times.
2. The food pyramid was turned upside down – literally. More saturated fat from beef and other natural sources is encouraged, a preference for less processed foods has been muted and alcohol use is now more acceptable. These changes will result in new standards for school meal programs. The former body reviewing the food pyramid was replaced before the new standards were announced.
State Items
Missouri has a dangerous revenue problem. Experts expect General Revenue receipts to decline for a number of reasons, including…
• Weak state and national economies;
• Hundreds of millions dollars lost to the capital gain tax elimination;
• Increased tax credits for private schools, abortion alternatives and other causes;
• Reductions in federal Adjusted Gross Income enacted by Washington which will be reflected on Missourian’s tax base.
In light of this swamp, Governor Mike Kehoe’s stated top priority is eliminating the state’s Individual; Income Tax – which funds the bulk of General Revenue. While the governor’s plan has yet to be spelled out in detail, early reports would replace much of the lost revenue by increasing sales tax rates, and, subjecting more items to sales tax. For example, haircuts and real estate commissions are services and not currently taxed. That would change. One proposal would even add a sales tax charge to the purchase of a home!
The eventual proposal will not be revenue neutral. The state will be forced to slash billions of dollars from funding for schools, courts and other basic items. Killing the Income Tax will result in a clear savings of about 4.7% for wage earners, meaning richer families get the most savings. Middle class families will see their total tax burden increase due to high sales tax jumps.
By the way, wealthy earners can take a federal State And Local Tax (SALT) deduction for income tax paid. Sales tax paid cannot usually be deducted by individuals.
Let’s make things worse.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act shifts the partial cost of many benefit programs from Washington to the states. (This was done to help “pay” for the Trump tax cuts for really, really wealthy Americans.) By the time changes flow down to Jefferson City our state will have to pay hundreds of million of dollars more each year as its share of food stamps, Medicaid, child care services and other benefits increase. The heaviest of the changes do not take full effect for another year or two. Some changes – such as strict enforcement of work requirements for SNAP recipients – are already in effect. Failure to comply results in the loss of more federal funds.
This year Missouri will have to reallocate staff, invest in training and technology and otherwise prepare for the new rules.
As of now the Secretary of State, Denny Hoskins, is not processing around a third of the petition signatures ordering a vote on the new Congressional district maps. I am among the cynics expecting the GOP to implement the maps – even against court orders – for this 2026 election cycle. These are the district lines obviously drawn by Trump cronies in Washington.
The Missouri Senate used to be a sacred chamber of civility. The steamroller approach taken last session (and in the special sessions) by Republicans will have severe repercussions this year. The goods news is that meanness may lessen chances of bills targeting gay and trans citizens, new anti-abortion rules, initiative reform and other GOP priorities from becoming law.
Oh yes, be sure to ask Governor Mike Kehoe how it felt to be completely bested by the woman governor of Kansas.