JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) 鈥 Missouri's Republican Gov. Mike Parson looked back on past wins in his final State of the State address Wednesday, lauding his achievements after assuming leadership in the chaotic absence of his disgraced predecessor, Eric Greitens.
, who at the time was serving as lieutenant governor, took over as the state鈥檚 top executive in 2018 after rather than continue fighting possible impeachment and allegations of personal and political misconduct.
鈥淲e closed the chapter on scandal and began a new direction, because there was no turning back,鈥 Parson said. 鈥淲e declared a fresh start and the return of stability.鈥
As governor, Parson has worked to cultivate an image of a practical leader focused on tangible achievements for taxpayers as a contrast to Greitens鈥 tumultuous and aggressive governing style.
A highlight of Parson's achievements is his work to repair and improve the state鈥檚 roads and bridges, culminating last year with a $2.8 billion investment to to six lanes across the state.
On Wednesday, he also pointed to numerous under his administration and his appointment of five statewide officeholders to fill vacancies.
Parson has not shied away from acting on more traditionally partisan issues. In 2019, he that eventually allowed Missouri to once the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Last year, he pushed lawmakers to pass legislation that , with some exceptions.
For his final legislative session, Parson, who is barred by term limits from seeking reelection, made relatively modest budget and policy requests of lawmakers.
He wants lawmakers to make it a felony punishable by up to four years in prison, or longer for repeat offenses, to bring fentanyl near minors.
Parson also called for child care tax credits and another $52 million for child care subsidies. And he wants a $120 million increase in basic aid for schools, a 3% increase in primary funding for colleges and universities, and a 3.2% pay raise for state employees.
But dysfunction and infighting among Republicans has lawmakers in the Legislature this year.
In the Senate, elected GOP leaders this week with the Freedom Caucus, a defiant Republican faction. Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden removed several Freedom Caucus members from committee chairmanships and downgraded their parking spots, a move the targeted senators have said only escalated tensions in the chamber.
鈥淟et鈥檚 not fool ourselves into thinking the prospects are good for much of anything important going through the Legislature this year,鈥 House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade told reporters after Parson's speech.
Quade, who is running to replace Parson as governor, blamed the inaction on 鈥渁 small group of GOP extremists鈥 who she said are 鈥渉olding the legislative process hostage in an attempt to bully through legislation that鈥檚 unpopular with most lawmakers and definitely most Missourians.鈥
Republican state Sen. Bill Eigel, a Freedom Caucus member who is also running to succeed Parson, said he was most struck by what Parson didn鈥檛 include in his speech. Eigel noted Parson outlined no plan to make it harder to pass ballot initiatives such as one seeking to in the state constitution.
Changing the ballot measure process was a cited by Republican legislative leaders this year.
鈥淭he only policy objectives he talked about were spending more money in this state,鈥 Eigel said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a real disappointment to me.鈥
Meanwhile, most lawmakers are either up for reelection this year or running for higher office. With a glut of GOP lawmakers and slim chances for Democrats to win any statewide office, the upcoming elections have pitted Republicans against each other.
Parson said he has humble hopes for how he will be remembered as governor, and he hinted at plans to retire from public service as he pined for the view of his southern Missouri farm from "behind the windshield of my John Deere tractor.鈥
鈥淚f we鈥檙e honored enough to be considered by Missourians as a 鈥榩retty good governor,' 鈥榙ecent guy鈥 or 鈥榮omeone who never forgot where he came from,' then it will all be worth it,鈥 Parson said.
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Associated Press writer David A. Lieb contributed to this report.
