Missouri
Missouri Rep. Jason Smith got his child tax credit bill through the House. Will the Senate act?
Missouri Congressman Jason Smith said the bipartisan vote on a bill that increases the child tax credit provides momentum to get through the Senate, even though some of his GOP colleagues are worrying about it helping President Joe Biden.
“You’ll hear politicians say all kinds of things all the time,” said Smith, R-Salem. “But the focus and the foundation should always be delivering for their constituents. That’s why I am pushing so aggressively for this package, because I think it’s pro-American. It is what Republicans and Democrats in this country can use.”
Smith and Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon teamed up to craft the legislation, which includes business incentives aimed at spurring research and development and a boost to the federal low-income housing tax credit. The other major part of the bill is an expansion of the Child Tax Credit. Workers who pay little to no federal taxes would get an additional $300 boost to the credit over the next three years. And for people who pay federal taxes, the credit will be tied to inflation — which means it will go up from its current $2,000-per-child rate.
Smith said the bill was the result of the Ways and Means Committee traveling throughout the country and hearing ideas from business owners. He added that he began working with the Senate after it became clear that buy-in from the Democratically controlled chamber was the only way the package would pass.
Despite passing out of the Ways and Means Committee 40-3, the bill faced turbulence — especially when Republicans from New York publicly criticized how it didn’t include an increase to the deduction for state and local taxes. Axois reported that Smith’s chairmanship of Ways and Means was in jeopardy, with one unnamed lawmaker criticizing him for working with Democrats and members of the Senate.
“There’s always people who may be disgruntled that you work with, and they love to talk to reporters and hit their message,” Smith said about the article. “But I feel very comfortable and confident with the job I’m doing as chairman.”
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Bipartisan objection
Among the 357 people who voted for the legislation were Smith, Reps. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City; Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin; Mark Alford, R-Cass County; Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, and Sam Graves, R-Tarkio.
Cleaver said that while he would have liked to boost the Child Tax Credit to where it was in 2021, at $3,600 per child, “democracy demands compromise, and we must be pragmatic when searching for progress.”
“Although the U.S. is experiencing the strongest post-pandemic economic recovery in the world, I know that there are Missouri families that are still struggling to get by and I refuse to play politics when I could help provide those families with this lifeline instead,” Cleaver said.
A number of Cleaver’s Democratic colleagues, including U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis County, voted against the measure, contending it was too slanted toward corporations.
“I raised my own children as a single mother and understand what it’s like to be overlooked when it comes to federal policies that could have made the difference between putting food on the table or going hungry,” Bush said. “I refuse to turn my back on the thousands of children in St. Louis who stand to gain from meaningful policies that will save lives, especially when the alternative is helping billionaire corporations get richer. Our work is rooted in the need to deliver for the everyday families in St. Louis and across our country and I cannot justify supporting a bill that treats our most vulnerable families as an afterthought.”
Republicans, like U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison of Battlefield, were critical of the expansion of the Child Tax Credit, which they say amounted to an expansion of the welfare state.
“While there were some pro-growth provisions in the bill, there were also provisions that expanded welfare payments while weakening work requirements,” Burlison said. “In the end, the negative aspects of the bill outweighed the positive, so I voted against the bill.”
Other Republicans, including Reps. Chip Roy of Texas and Matt Gaetz of Florida, contended during Wednesday debate that the bill would incentivize people to enter the country illegally.
Smith described the people who voted against the bill, such as Bush, Gatez and Roy, as “the extremes of both parties. He also pushed back against contentions that the Child Tax Credit changes would incentivize illegal immigration, pointing to provisions in the 2017 tax cuts that only allow the credit to go to children who have a Social Security number.
“So it’s easy for people to say one thing, but the facts are a little bit different,” he said.
Senate showdown
Smith’s bill now heads to the Senate. The measure received backing from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer several weeks ago, which is important since Democrats control the chamber.
But whether Republicans come on board is unclear. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley said this week that he was worried that passage would help Biden’s reelection efforts. That’s a similar argument Republicans are making about why they don’t want to pass any legislation to overhaul immigration policy.
A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, said he is monitoring the bill’s progress, while a request for comment from U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, was not immediately returned.
Smith isn’t expecting the bill to sail through the Senate, adding that “just as we had bumps in the road for the last 15 days here in the House of Representatives, there’ll be bumps over there.”
“Because a tax package does not move often in Congress, let alone a bipartisan tax package,” Smith said. “But when you see something get 84% of the vote, that’s a mandate.”
Copyright 2024 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.
Missouri Rep. Jason Smith got his child tax credit bill through the House. Will the Senate act?
Southwest US faces destructive tornadoes, hail with severe storms
Severe storms tear through the Southwest U.S. with tornadoes, hail and damaging winds as the NWS warns of a very active spring pattern.
Extreme weather with hail as large as softballs hit a zoo in Missouri on Tuesday, April 28, killing a female emu and injuring a male rhea. The storm, which rolled quickly through the area, also damaged vehicles and roofs.
Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield said in an April 28 Facebook post that its 21-year-old female emu, Adam, died during the storm, while a male rhea was injured and is under veterinary care. The zoo also sustained significant damage and remained closed on Wednesday, April 29.
In a follow-up post on April 29, the zoo said the male rhea, Oscar, was “doing well” and thanked everyone for the “well wishes.” The zoo also said it plans to open on Thursday, April 30, though some “small birds will be off exhibit until skylights are repaired.”
“Thank you to all staff and volunteers who are working right now to be ready for tomorrow,” the zoo said. “There is still much to be done, but please come visit.”
Emus, native to Australia, are tall, flightless birds, according to the San Diego Wildlife Alliance. The emu is the second-largest living bird in the world after the ostrich, with adult females being larger and heavier than their male counterparts. Emus live up to 35 years in zoos and between 10 and 20 years in the wild.
Storm caused significant damage in Missouri
An intense storm rolled through parts of Springfield, Missouri, and Greene County on April 28. Justin Titus with the National Weather Service office in Springfield said meteorologists measured 4-inch hail after the first wave of the storm in the early afternoon.
Cars across the region suffered significant damage, the Springfield News-Leader, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. Power outages and damage to gas meters were also reported.
Springfield-Branson National Airport said passengers who parked cars at the airport should expect to see hail damage.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 29, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from April 29 drawing
03-19-35-51-67, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 29 drawing
Midday: 8-5-0
Midday Wild: 4
Evening: 7-4-4
Evening Wild: 7
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 29 drawing
Midday: 3-7-7-4
Midday Wild: 3
Evening: 8-3-4-5
Evening Wild: 3
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 29 drawing
Early Bird: 15
Morning: 03
Matinee: 14
Prime Time: 08
Night Owl: 14
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from April 29 drawing
02-18-23-34-39
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from April 29 drawing
07-52-56-67-69, Powerball: 03
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.
To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:
Ticket Redemption
Missouri Lottery
P.O. Box 7777
Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777
For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.
For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.
When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
- Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
- Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
- Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
- Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Missouri
Missouri City police bust chop shop operation, discovering at least 10 stolen cars, officials say
MISSOURI CITY, Texas (KTRK) — Authorities say police officers busted a major automotive chop shop operation in Missouri City on Tuesday, discovering multiple stolen vehicles and parts.
According to the Missouri City Police Department, officers responded to a “suspicious vehicle call” at a local business on Tuesday at 12:04 p.m., where a neighbor reported that a box truck without license plates dropped off car parts.
Officers said they arrived at the scene and saw the box truck leaving the property located at 2105 Brown St. Authorities said that officers conducted a traffic stop on the truck, and the driver of the vehicle, Francisco Tivar Reyes, was arrested on a warrant for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen vehicle parts.
Officials said that patrol officers spoke with the business owner and asked about the recent delivery of car parts. Investigators said they did a check of a VIN number on a pickup truck on the property and confirmed that it was stolen.
A total of six vehicles on the property were confirmed to be stolen, according to officials. The owner of the business, Mohammed Fattoe, was arrested for possession of stolen property, police said.
Investigators said they returned to the site on Wednesday to resume the investigation. With the assistance of the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, a search warrant was obtained, and the business property was searched for additional stolen property, investigators said, adding that a total of ten vehicles and vehicle parts were confirmed by multiple agencies.
SkyEye13 flew above the scene on Wednesday morning, capturing images of authorities investigating the property and the multiple vehicles and car parts.
SkyEye13 was over the scene in Missouri City on Wednesday morning, with authorities investigating the “major auto chop shop operation.”
Missouri City police said the investigation is still ongoing, with search warrants on the property being executed to identify additional stolen vehicles and parts.
Authorities added that multiple agencies are working together on the investigation, including the Houston Police Department, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Department, Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, National Insurance Crime Bureau, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
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