Republican House Speaker Dean Plocher will retain his leadership position in Missouri despite the controversy surrounding his actions. In a closed-door winter caucus meeting, Plocher introduced his new chief of staff, Rod Jetton, a former House speaker who has faced legal troubles of his own.
Plocher has come under scrutiny for falsely billing taxpayers for travel expenses to conferences and attempting to push through the purchase of an $800,000 software program without following proper bidding procedures. Following the software scandal, Plocher fired his chief of staff and saw his legal counsel resign.
While some House Republicans have called for Plocher’s removal as speaker, the majority of the House GOP caucus has yet to do so. The House Ethics Committee is reportedly addressing matters related to Plocher’s actions.
During the caucus meeting, Plocher and others expressed their thoughts about the controversy, with many members reportedly awaiting the results of the Ethics Committee’s report before taking a stance. However, the release of the findings could take weeks or even months, well into the legislative session beginning in January.
Following the meeting, House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, a Democrat running for governor, criticized Plocher’s hiring of Jetton as a failure of judgment and leadership. Jetton previously faced an FBI investigation for bribery and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault in 2011.
In summary, despite facing calls for resignation, Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher will continue in his leadership role. The controversy surrounding Plocher’s actions, including false billing and questionable procurement practices, has prompted internal discussions among House Republicans. The House Ethics Committee is expected to address the matter, but its findings may not be released until well into the upcoming legislative session. The hiring of Rod Jetton, a former House speaker with legal troubles of his own, has further drawn criticism. The situation remains fluid as lawmakers await the Ethics Committee’s report.
