Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher (R-Des Peres) plans to formally announce his candidacy for lieutenant governor this afternoon. Missouri’s current Lt. Governor, Mike Kehoe, is seeking the GOP gubernatorial nomination next year, which means it will be an open seat. Speaker Plocher joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, telling listeners that he has the ability to bring people together to pass conservative legislation. He says his experience in the House will help him as lieutenant governor. Speaker Plocher also previewed Missouri’s 2024 legislative session, which begins in January in Jefferson City. He predicts the House will pass both sports betting and child care tax credits, but expresses frustration over Senate GOP filibustering, noting one state senator read from a book on the Senate floor during the 2023 session’s final week. Speaker Plocher tells listeners that sports betting should be regulated in Missouri and not by the Russians or the Chinese. State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) joined “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” host Branden Rathert and 939 the Eagle’s Brian Hauswirth and John Marsh during the interview: