Mike Parson: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

According to his biography, “Parson served the people of the 28th Senatorial District in the Missouri Senate from 2011-2017. He served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2005-2011. Lieutenant Governor Parson also served as the Sheriff of Polk County from 1993-2005. He also served six years in the U.S. Army.”

His biography states that while in the Missouri Senate, Parson chaired the Small Business, Insurance & Industry Committee and during his first two years served as Majority Whip. While serving in the House of Representatives, he was chair of the House Rules Committee and sponsored and co-sponsored several landmark pieces of legislation including Missouri’s Castle Doctrine and the Missouri Farming Rights Amendment. The Castle Doctrine strengthened 2nd Amendment rights and the Farming Rights Amendment was a piece of legislation that “changed the Missouri Constitution to guarantee all Missourians the right to farm and ranch.”

He reported receiving thousands of dollars from Speaker of the House Steven Tilley, who has been a lobbyist since 2012, according to St. Louis Dispatch.

“Parson also has accepted campaign contributions from Senate President Ron Richard, R-Joplin, and two other senators — Sens. Gary Romine of Farmington and Libla of Poplar Bluff — who are vocal opponents of Greitens,” the Dispatch states.

Former Senator Ryan Silvey, a Kansas City Republican who was appointed by Greitens to the Public Service Commission last month, said he sat next to Parson for two years when the two served in the House, according to St. Louis Post Dispatch. In the Senate, Silvey says he often feuded with Greitens.

“He (Parson) has deep relationships in the Legislature,” Silvey told St. Louis Dispatch. “He understands the importance of getting along with people to move policy forward. I think it would be a night-and-day difference in how the state operates. I don’t think we would have senators standing on the Senate floor every day rattling off a list of complaints about Mike Parson and how he’s operating.”

“He’s got a good outlook on what the economic development needs (of the state) are,” said Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff. “He’s a highly respected individual.”

Nick Haines

@NickHainesKC · Follow

Are you ready to say Governor Mike Parson? Missouri’s #2 to become new Missouri Governor as Eric Greitens announces his resignation.

5:35 pm · 29 May 2018

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James Harris, a veteran GOP consultant who worked on Parson’s campaign for lieutenant governor, claims that the biggest differences between Parson and Greitens are their personalities rather than their political beliefs. Harris said that, while Greitens often seem to “relish conflict,” Parson sought consensus during his time in office.

“Even if he disagreed, he would talk with everyone and try to understand their thought process,” Harris said.

According to The Kansas City Star, Parson and Greitens “vehemently disagreed” on the issue of low-income housing tax credits.

“Greitens has suggested that Missouri’s tax credit industry has conspired to exacerbate his legal problems,” the Kansas City Star reports. “The Missouri Housing Development Commission, or MHDC, of which Greitens is a member, zeroed out the state’s allocation of low-income housing tax credits after the governor stacked its membership with appointees critical of the program.”

Greitens called those involved in Missouri’s tax credit industry “ripoff artists” and “tax credit millionaires” at a May 17 event in Jefferson City. Parson, who is also on the MHDC, was one of only two members to vote against zeroing out the low-income housing tax credit program. He argued that doing so will make it harder to provide housing to low-income Missourians and military veterans.