Politics

A new report shows Columbia could seek voter approval to raise the hotel tax to pay for a new terminal at Columbia Regional Airport.

Cities like Columbia are authorized to impose a hotel tax of up to 7 percent to fund the "promotion, operation and development of tourism." The report also says the city could also legally levy a fee on each occupied hotel room.
Kansas City has such a fee, charging hotels and motels $1.50 per occupied room.

One of Republican U-S Senate nominee Todd Akin’s key endorsements is now in jeopardy.

The Missouri Farm Bureau’s political action committee overwhelmingly endorsed Akin over Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill, but that was before he made his controversial statement that a woman’s body can prevent pregnancy in cases of, quote, “legitimate rape.”  Chris Fennewald, who edits publications for the Missouri Farm Bureau, confirms that the Bureau’s county leaders are rethinking their endorsement of Akin.

Former Missouri House Speaker Steven Tilley is now a registered lobbyist in Jefferson City.

Missouri Farm Bureau members are reconsidering their endorsement of Republican Todd Akin for U.S. Senate

The Bureau’s FARM-PAC met earlier this month and endorsed Akin after hearing presentations from both he and Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill.  Chris Fennewald, an editor for Missouri Farm Bureau publications, says the Bureau’s county leaders were polled this week, and the majority said that their endorsement of Akin should be reconsidered.

Republican Congressman Todd Akin has returned to public campaigning for the U.S. Senate with an appearance in rural northwest Missouri.