You've undoubtedly heard the saying, "Denial ain't just a river in Egypt." There's a corollary to add to that: The Swamp ain't just a bog in D.C.
In fact, members of Missouri's Freedom Caucus likely would attest to the fact that The Swamp is alive and teeming with morass even in Jefferson City, the state's capital and home of a Republican supermajority. Note: That's Republican, not conservative. And therein lies the rub.
For several years, conservatives have watched in frustration as a legislature dominated by Republicans (and with a Republican governor) has repeatedly found a way to not pass effective legislation that embodies core conservative principles. School choice, transgender issues, election integrity, initiative petition reform — those are just a few of the areas in which productive legislation has either failed to pass or passed in watered-down fashion. Why?
Those who follow Missouri politics closely have a fairly good idea.
Missouri has struggled mightily to pass Big Red Republican priorities for over five years while many other GOP lead states pass them easily.@calebrowden has been in #moleg Senate Leadership for the past 5+ years.
— ThePeoplesSpeaker™️🇺🇸 (@SpeakerTimJones) January 24, 2024
Now you know what the problem is.
It's not the @MOFreedomCaucus
It's the same old song, with "establishment" players pitted against the conservative caucus, and in Missouri, it's turned into trench warfare. On Tuesday, Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden took the extraordinary measure of stripping Freedom Caucus members of committee chairmanships — and parking spots — in retaliation for their filibuster last Thursday over legislation aimed at raising the bar on the initiative petition process for amending Missouri's Constitution. [Side Note: Presently, the threshold for passing constitutional amendments in the state is 50 percent, and the state's Constitution has a whopping 119 amendments.]
This is a pressing concern for Missourians on many fronts, but most notably when it comes to the issue of life — Missouri's prohibition against abortion (with the limited exception for medical emergencies) was triggered and went into effect when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs decision in June of 2022.
The Republican civil war in the Missouri Senate reached a new crescendo of strife Tuesday, when Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden stripped four members of their committee chairs and declared he was acting against “a small group of swamp creatures.”
The action toward members of the newly formed Freedom Caucus took away traditional prerogatives of senior legislators and even relegated the targeted four to parking spots as far from the Missouri Capitol building as possible.
Rowden said he was forced to act after caucus members tied up the Senate for 11 hours on Thursday in an unsuccessful attempt to force action on bills making it harder to pass an initiative petition.
“The beginning of the 2024 legislative session in the Missouri Senate has been nothing short of an embarrassment,” Rowden said at a news conference. “A chamber designed to be occupied by civil, principled statesmen and women, has been overtaken by a small group of swamp creatures who all too often remind me more of my children than my colleagues.”
Members of the Freedom Caucus responded in a news conference of their own, then took their complaints to the Senate floor. For almost four hours, they filibustered approval of the journal and complained about Rowden’s punitive measures.
Senator Bill Eigel, who is one of the Freedom Caucus members on the receiving end of that retaliation and who also happens to be running for governor in 2024, issued the following statement in response to Rowden's action.
Today, myself and fellow @MOFreedomCaucus members were stripped of our chairmanships. I am not deterred by this. I am not backing down. My response below ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/t1UMaiK1ZK
— William Eigel (@BillEigel) January 23, 2024
"Jefferson City is ruled by a uniparty cartel of special interests, RINOs, and Democrats, who band together to crush the voice of the people. These are the same tactics The Swamp uses against President Trump. They can strip me of my chairmanship, they can kick me off committees, they can drag my name through the mud, but I am not backing down. They think this punishment will somehow deter me, but I am freer than I have ever been. I don't work for the swamp. I work for the people, and the people are tired of spineless RINOs. We will push forward until initiative petition reform crosses the finish line — I will not stand idly by and allow Missouri's pro-life laws to be destroyed."
RELATED: State Senator Bill Eigel Officially Throws His Hat in the Ring for Missouri Governor
As tensions have ratcheted up between leadership and the Freedom Caucus, X/Twitter has become part of the warzone.
In the words of the late, great Ron Richard…
— Caleb Rowden (@calebrowden) January 19, 2024
“Bring it on big boy.” #MOLeg https://t.co/V9AiKvyaUU
MO Senate leadership is so angry at me for fighting for IP reform and Pro-life Missourians that they’ve taken my parking spot and put me in the furthest spot from the MO Capitol to park my vehicle.
— William Eigel (@BillEigel) January 23, 2024
The Swamp is petty and desperate to retain power.
Jeff City needs a Reckoning.… pic.twitter.com/gEHQxb03z5
Me this morning looking for a parking spot and wishing Senate leadership would support initiative petition reform and cutting taxes:#letsgomo #mogov #moleg #youcantparkherepeasants pic.twitter.com/CbzeTe5zGm
— William Eigel (@BillEigel) January 24, 2024
— Missouri Freedom Initiative (@MissouriLibert2) January 24, 2024
Conservative groups like Freedom Principle MO have released statements condemning Rowden's move. Freedom Principle MO is also planning to stage a protest at the Missouri Capitol next Tuesday over leadership's actions.
Let's send a strong message to the RINOs. You don't control us. We are sick & tired of you selling out Missourians to the highest bidder. pic.twitter.com/M7otY2jMx9
— Freedom Principle MO (@FreedompplMO) January 24, 2024
What's worse, Rowden's own home central committee has denounced his actions.
The home central committee of @calebrowden has issued a rebuke of his actions! Even liberal Boone County won't support his actions. @BillEigel @DLHoskins @freedomcaucus pic.twitter.com/cPVbxq0ORh
— Nathan Garten (@GartenNathan) January 24, 2024
In contrast, Eigel's home central committee (full disclosure — this is my state senatorial district, though I am not involved with the committee) is standing in solidarity with Eigel and the Freedom Caucus.
Unlike @calebrowden, the folks who sent me to Jefferson City support my efforts.
— William Eigel (@BillEigel) January 24, 2024
Thank you to the St. Charles Central Committee, who represent the largest Republican County in Missouri.
I will not be silenced by RINO leadership.#letsgomo #moleg #mogov pic.twitter.com/g7JQl7VvQJ
Will leadership blink? Will initiative petition reform get its due in Missouri? Will Bill Eigel be forever consigned to searching in vain for a parking spot, a wandering Toonces? Grab the popcorn and stay tuned...
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