A Missouri Freshman Democratic Legislator was in Joplin Wednesday night to speak about her first months in the House. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro was there and has this report.

Betsy Fogle spoke at the monthly meeting of the Southwest Missouri Democrats on a warm Wednesday evening at Cunningham Park in Joplin. She gave about a 40-minute progress report of the legislative session on a variety of topics from Medicaid expansion, to public education funding and the latest House Bills signed by Governor Parson this week.

She also spoke about why she voted in favor of the first gas tax increase in Missouri 25-years ago. “As a legislator, we’re always triaging right? We’re trying to find the best-case scenario with sometimes are two very terrible options. And the gas tax, what got me to a place where I was comfortable. Unlike the gas tax of 2018 there’s a rebate program, individuals can get their money back if they keep their receipts.” Fogle expects the Missouri Senate to be called into a special session next Monday. And the Missouri House the following Monday.