>>> WELCOME BACK TO DONNYBROOK NEXT UP.

OUR GUESTS TONIGHT ARE TWO ESTEEMED STATE SENATORS, SENATOR BILL EIGEL FROM ST. CHARLES.

REPUBLICAN.

STATE SENATOR TRACY MCCREERY, A DEMOCRAT FROM ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND OF COURSE, LEADING US TONIGHT WILL BE THE STAR OF THE SHOW, BILL MCCLELLAN.

[LAUGHTER.]

>> WE -- LET ME JUST START SOFTLY ENOUGH.

TELL US EACH WHAT, EACH OF YOU TELL US WHAT IS THE TOP PRIORITY FOR 2023, THE SESSION YOU ARE IN, WHAT ARE YOU FOCUSED ON?

>> SURE.

FOR ME, IT IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN IN THE SENATE SENATOR AND THAT IS CUTTING TAXES AND AT THE TOP OF MOST MISSOURI RESIDENTS IS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX.

I'M GUESSING EVERYTHING HAD THE UNFORTUNATE LUCK OF OPENING THE TAX BILLS AND SHOWING AN INCREASE, EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T BUY A NEW VEHICLE.

WE HAVE A TAX ON NEW VEHICLES IF WE CAN GET AWAY FROM THE BAD FORM OF TAX TAXATION AND EASE UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> I BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A CAR.

>> HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> EXPAND HEALTHCARE COVERAGE FOR LOW INCOME MOMS.

SHE GIVES BIRTH AND THE INSURANCE CUTS OFF 60 DAYS AND THE DEATHS HAPPEN 365, AND THERE IS A PUSH TO EXPAND THE MEDICAID COVERAGE AND KEEP BABIES, THOSE NEWBORN BABIES HELP THEM HAVE MOMS THROUGHOUT THE LIVES.

>> ARE YOU FOR THE BIPARTIAN PUSH?

>> I SUPPORTED THAT BILL AND A LOT OF FOLKS DIDN'T GET MUCH BACK, I HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO PAY MORE IN TAXES.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT YOU HAVE PLANNED.

>> AND YOU ARE GOING TO SUPPORT TRACY'S BIPARTISAN EFFORTS?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A SINGLE PERSON WHO DOESN'T WANT TO HELP NEWBORNS AND MOMS BET OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT.

MEDICAID IS THE BIGGEST PROGRAM AND IT HAS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF WASTE IN THAT PROGRAM AND WE HAVE MOVED TO EXPAND SERVICES UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAMS AND HAVEN'T GOTTEN SOME OF THE OUTCOMES AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HAVING THE DISCUSSIONS NOW.

I AM ABSOLUTELY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

AND I THINK TRACY HAS IDENTIFIED ONE OF THE POPULATIONS.

WE HAVE TO BE REAL CAREFUL, USING GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE THE OUTCOME WE ARE NOT EXPECTING.

WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT >> -- >> I WANT TO ADD.

>> AND MISSOURI HAS BEEN IN CHARGE OF MEDICAID AND I WILL GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO REPUBLICAN PARTY AND WHO LEAD THAT AND THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF REDUCING THE ROLES OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE.

WE ARE HITTING A PLACE WHERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE RECERTIFIED OF THE PROGRAM AND 200 THOUSAND MISSOURI RESIDENTS WILL COME OFF OF THAT.

AND YOU WILL SEE AS PEOPLE ARE COMING OFF AT THE END OF THE PANDEMIC THAT IT IS FISCALLY MAKES SENSE.

>> YOU DID OPPOSE THE PLAN.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, ARE YOU GOING TO EMBRACE AS SOMETHING THAT MOST MISSOURI RESIDENTS AT THE POLLS FELT SHOULD BE EXPANDED AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WELL, HOW DO YOU -- I WOULD BE SURPRISED THAT ANYTHING YOU DID THAT HAS SUPPORTING MEDICAID.

>> I DON'T HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF SUPPORTING EXPANDING GOVERNMENT.

WE TALK ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF MEDICAID.

FOR THE 6 YEARS I HAVE BEEN IN THERE, WE HAVE NOT PASSED A REFORM TO ALLOW THE PROGRAM TO GROW AND AT THE RATE OF GROWTH THAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM IN THE NEXT 10-15 YEARS.

IF THAT OCCURS, IT IS NOT NEWS THE NEW MOMS, BUT EVERYBODY THAT COULD BE HARMED IF WE DON'T TAKE ACTION NOW.

>> YOU HAVE FORMED A EXPLORING PROGRAMS, AND IS THIS A BIG PART OF YOUR CAMPAIGN AND HOW DOES YOUR OPPONENTS FEEL ABOUT THIS?

YOU ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, AREN'T YOU?

>> IF ALL REPUBLICANS ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.

I DON'T KNOW -- >> AS FAR AS MEDICAID AND GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGNING.

>> WELL, MAYBE IN A BROADER SENSE.

I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS ASKING ITSELF WHAT KIND OF FUTURE DO WE WANT FOR THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

JUST OVER THE PAST 6 YEARS WHERE WE HAVE HAD A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AND WE HAVE INCREASED THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT IN JEFFERSON AND INCREASED THE SPENDING SINCE 20 2010.

AND REPUBLICANS ARE TURNING ON THEIR TVS AND SEEING TEXAS AND OTHER STATES THAT ARE GROWING AND WE HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES AND WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT MOVING HERE LIKE THEY ARE TO OTHER STATES MY CHALLENGE IS TO ARTICULATE A VISION OF A BETTER MISSOURI TO GET TO TOMORROW THAT WE ARE NOT LIVING TODAY.

GETTING READY OF PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX.

IN THE URL AREAS WE ARE TALKING -- RURAL, AND PROTECTING THE FARM LAND FROM BEING BOUGHT BY FOREIGN ENTITIES.

WE WANT TO PROTECT YOUR FARM LAND FROM FOREIGN ENTITIES AND -- SOCIAL ELEMENTS AND I WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE CITIZENS.

>> -- IF YOU -- >> WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO GIVE YOU TOO MUCH OF A COMMERCIAL THERE.

>> I DID.

BUT I DID.

>> THERE'S A CERTAIN SELF AWARENESS THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT MOVING TO MISSOURI UNDER THE REPUBLICAN RULE.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE FORMULA LOW TAX AND LOW SERVICES NEAR THE BOTTOM IN THE COUNTRY HAVING THE LOWEST PAID WORKFORCE IN AMERICA, IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT, HAVING AMONG THE LOWEST SUPPORT, STATE EFFORT ON HIGHER EDUCATION, K-12 EDUCATION, CORRECTIONS PATROL, YOU NAME IT, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO THAT IT ISN'T WORKING SO WELL.

>> THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE TO YOU, BUT I HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE STATE WORKFORCE.

WE HAVE THE STATISTIC SIDE OF BELOW AVERAGE PAY.

THERE ARE OTHER STATES OF OUR SIZES, INDIANA, THEY HAVE HALF OF THE STATE WORKFORCE.

WHY DO WE HAVE SO MANY FOLKS TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVELY THAT A SIMILAR STATE IS PROVIDING?

IT IS A QUESTION THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ANSWERED.

I HAVE NOT BEEN AFRAID TO HOLD MY OWN PARTY ACCOUNTABLE.

K12 EDUCATION, MEDICAID, WE ARE SPENDING AND THROWING MORE MONEY AT GOVERNMENT IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION IN THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE.

IN SPITE OF ALL OF THAT SACRIFICE OF THE TAXPAYER, MISSOURI IS NOT ANY BETTER.

>> YOU WOULD CUT THE GOVERNMENT FORCE?

STATE WORKERS?

>> WE HAVE A 55 THOUSAND WORKFORCE IN THIS STATE.

BUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME, ABOUT 7000 POSITIONS ARE EMPTY, WE ARE APPROPRIATING THE DOLLARS ANY WAY.

WHY ARE WE GOING THAT?

>> YOU WOULD CUT THE NUMBER OF STATE WORKERS?

>> YOU COULD START BY CUTTING THE EMPTY POSITIONS?

>> WOULD YOU THEN RAISE THE PAY OR SAVE MONEY FOR THE TAXPAYERS.

>> I THINK YOU COULD DO BOTH.

IF YOU BRING THE NUMBER OF STATE WORKERS DOWN AND RUN IT MORE ESSENTIALLY, YOU COULD HAVE BOTH.

>> I'M GLAD HE TALKED ABOUT MISSOURI'S OVERALL DECLINING POPULATION AND IT IS AGING AS WELL.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COULD MAKE MISSOURI MORE ATTRACTIVE TO OTHERS ESPECIALLY BUSINESSES TO COME HERE IS FOCUS ON WE HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE.

WE HEAR FROM BUSINESS OWNERS FROM ALL SIZES THAT THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING OPEN POSITIONS FILLED.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO, AND THERE IS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON THIS AS WELL IS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN DO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS CAN BE TAKEN CARE SO THAT THAT PARENT, IF THERE'S A PARENT WHO WANTS TO GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE, HE OR SHE CAN.

>> TALKING ABOUT ABORTIONS, REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM HAS BEEN LEMEGONE IN MISSOURI.

>> IT WAS GONE ANY WAY.

>> NOW THAT IT IS NONE.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THAT IS IMPACTING MISSOURI'S ABILITY TO ATTRACT PEOPLE?

AND IN PARTICULAR, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DONE?

I KNOW YOU ARE PRO-CHOICE AND PRO-LIFE.

>> YES.

>> TALK ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

>> WHAT WE ARE SEEING AS IT RELATES TO WOMAN'S HEALTH, IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU LIVE AND YOUR INCOME, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT ACCESS.

PEOPLE ARE LUCKY THAT THEY LIVE CLOSE TO ILLINOIS SO THEY CAN GET BETTER HEALTHCARE ACROSS THE BORDER.

WHEN PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT COMING HERE FOR SCHOOL, THE STATE OF MISSOURI ARE SENDING A MESSAGE TO FOLKS THAT WE ARE NOT ALL ABOUT EQUALITY AND NOT AS OPEN TO LGBTQ PEOPLE.

>> I THINK THE STRONG PRO-LIFE ACTS THAT HAVE GONE ON IN TENNESSEE AND OTHER STATES HAS NOT STOPPED THE GROWTH OF THOSE STATES.

I DON'T THINK THAT TAKES AWAY FROM MISSOURI.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT MISSOURI WHAT IS ATTRACTIVE OR NOT, IF PERSON OR BUSINESS HAS A WAY TO MAKE THE DECISION TO GIVE MORE TAXES.

>> WE ARE A LOW TAX STATE, RIGHT?

>> I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT.

WE HAVE A HIGH RATE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX.

PART OF THE REASON IT IS UP FRONT OF THE 21 STATES THAT HAVE TAXES ON VEHICLES, WE HAVE 23RD RATE.

>> OUR COUNTY OFFICIALS, IN MISSOURI, ARE MOSTLY REPUBLICAN, THEY ARE OPPOSED TO GETTING READY OF GETTING READY OF THE TAX, RIGHT?

>> TYPICALLY WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING TAXES, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES WHO ARE TAKING IN SOME OF THE DOLLARS FROM SAID TAX ARE NOT GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE.

THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT ASKING THEM TO CUT THEIR REVENUES.

>> IT IS SHIFTING CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC.

>> WE NEED THAT MONEY SOMEWHERE AND IF WE GIVE THEM A BREAK.

I KEEP MY CARS A LONG TIME.

I'M NOT BUYING A CAR EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS.

IF WE DON'T DO THIS, WE WILL HAVE TO FIND IT SOMEWHERE?

>> GETTING RID OF PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX, THAT WE SHOULD SUPPORT, FIREFIGHTERS, AMBULANCE DISTRICTS, LIBRARIES.

IT IS A QUESTION WEATHER THAT FORM OF TAXATION, CHARGES A REGRESSION TAX THAT HAMMERS MIDDLE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

THEY FIGURED THAT THAT ANSWER IS NO.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU REPLACE IT?

WITH?

>> I DON'T THINK -- >> I THOUGHT YOU SAID IT DOES NEEDS TO BE REPLACED?

>> NO.

EVERY JURISDICTION THAT IS GETTING PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX HAS ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION.

THE COSTS ARE HIGHER, EVERY ONE OF THOSE JURISDICTIONS IS AT RECORD AMOUNTS OF REVENUE AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE TRACK RECORDS OF THOSE JURISDICTIONS HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE FOLKS THE CONSTITUENCIES WE REPRESENT, WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE PUBLIC IS SUPPORTING THE AMBULANCES AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

I THINK WE NEED TO BRING THAT DOWN.

>> DOES THIS BRING THE DEMOCRATS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY WANT TO KEEP THESE SERVICES GOING AND THEY THINK THAT WE -- THAT THERE IS NOT WASTE THAT THEY ARE NOT WASTING MONEY?

>> IT IS HARD TO COMPARE STATE BY STATE BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT TAXING INSTRUCTIONS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS BEING IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE CAN VOTE TO CUT TAXES AND INCREASE FEES AND BRING OTHER FORMS OF MONEY IN.

WE JUST CALL THEM DIFFERENT THINGS.

I WILL TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE SENATOR IS TRYING TO DO.

MY CONCERN WHEN YOU HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIREFIGHTERS AND LIBRARIANS COMING IN THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR BUDGETS, I HAVE TO BE HONEST, I WILL PAUSE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE SERVICES.

>> I WANT TO RETURN TO THE SUBJECT WHAT YOU CALLED THE UNBORN.

YOU ARE PROUDLY A CHRISTIAN AND CHRISTIANITY IS A BIG PART OF YOUR LIFE AND I THINK YOUR POLITICS.

DO YOU THINK MISSOURI IS A CHRISTIAN STATE?

>> I DO.

>> MEANING THE GOVERNMENT IS ESSENTIALLY SHOULD HAVE A PREFERENCE, FOR EXAMPLE -- LET ME ASK YOU THIS?

I AM JEWISH.

ARE JEWS, MUSLIMS, AGNOSTICS AGNOSTICS, SHOULD THEY HAVE EQUAL STANDINGS JUST AS CHRISTIANS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT IS A CHRISTIAN STATE.

SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT -- >> IN PARTICULAR, MAY DIFFER FROM THE OTHER -- [INDISCERNIBLE].

SHOULD IT GIVE PREFERENCE TO THOSE?

>> I SAY WHEN IT IS A CHRISTIAN STATE, OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON THESE RELIGIONS.

IT HAS BUILT THE FAMILIES FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS ARE COMBINED WITH THE LAWS WE MAKE TO LIVE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

WHEN WE GET BACK TO THE QUESTION OF THE UNBORN, FOR ME, AND I SAID THIS EARLIER, THE PROPER ROLE OF GOVERNMENT, BY THE WAY, WHEN YOU TALK TO AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, YOU SHOULD ASK, WHAT IS THE PROPER ROLE OF GOVERNMENT.

THAT GETS TO THE HEART OF YOUR GOVERNMENT, YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT AND PROTECTING THE RIGHTS.

LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE LAST ONE.

THE FIRST IS LIFE.

IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DEFEND LIFE AND WE CAN DEFINE IT, IN MY MIND THAT STARTS AT CONCEPTATIION CONCEPTION.

>> YOUMAC SAY CHRISTIANS, JEWS DEFINE THE LIFE AT BIRTH.

THAT'S HOW THEY DEFINE IT, ALL OVER THE BIBLE.

GOD BREATHS LIFE INTO THE BABY IS THE BEGINNING, A BREATH INTO THE BABY, IS THE BEGINNING OF LIFE.

JEWS HAVE A SPECIFICALLY DIFFERENT DEFINITION.

YOU SAY IT IS AT CONCEPTION, JEWS DO NOT DEFINE LIFE.

THEY DISAGREE BY 9 MONTHS.

AND THERE IS COMPROMISES IN THERE.

JEWS BELIEVE THAT THAT IS THE BABY'S HEAD COME OUT OF THE WOMB.

THAT'S A FACT THAT THEY DISAGREE.

HOW DO YOU RECONCILE, TALKING ABOUT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

JEWISH WOMEN WILL ACCEPT UNDER THE CHRISTIAN DEFINITION THAT THEY DISAGREE WITH.

I'M NOT EVEN COVERING THAT THERE ARE OTHER PLACES FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST A FAITH GROUP, INCLUDING ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTIC, WHO DISAGREE WITH YOU.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN WHY MISSOURI SHOULD GIVE PREFERENCE TO YOUR CHRISTIAN VIEW OF LIFE STARTING THEN?

>> MY DESIRE TO PROTECT LIFE STARTING AT CONCEPTION IS A DIFFERENCE IN FAITH?

THERE'S SCIENTIFIC FACTS TO SAY THAT LIFE STARTS THEN.

THAT'S THE MOMENT.

IN A DIFFERENT SENSE, FOR ME, I TELL YOU THE MOMENT THAT I KNEW I WAS PRO-LIFE, NOT THE DAY MY FIRST CHILD WAS BORN.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I STARTED TO ACT LIKE A FATHER.

IT WAS THE DAY MY WIFE TOLD ME SHE WAS PREGNANT.

>> MY TWO KIDS' BIRTH WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY OF MY LIFE.

DO YOU NOT HEAR THAT OTHER DISAGREE WITH YOUR DEFINITION?

YOU KEEP SAYING IT IS MEDICAL.

IT IS DIFFERENT!

.

THERE'S A WHOLE SPECTRUM OF RELIGIONS THAT DISAGREE WITH YOU.

WHY SHOULD JEWISH, ATHEISTS BE DEFINED HOWEVER PASSIONATELY, YOU HOLD IT, WHY SHOULD THEY HAVE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES BASED ON A DEFINITION THEY DISAGREE WITH?

>> YOU ARE POINTING OUT IF THERE IS A RELIGION OUT THERE THAT IS OKAY WITH STEALING AND OTHER CRIMES, THAT IT IS A BAD IDEA THAT WE SHOULDN'T ENFORCE THOSE LAWS.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT THE BEGINNING OF LIFE IS EQUAL TO STEALING.

IT IS A DIFFERENT POSITION.

WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DISCUSSING WHETHER JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD.

I AM SURE YOU HOLD DEARLY.

PEOPLE DISAGREE WITH THAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK JUST WATCHING THE TWO ME TALK REMINDS ME THAT EACH PERSON IS AN INDIVIDUAL.

I RESPECT A WOMAN AND THOSE SHE HOLDS CLOSE TO HER TO DECIDE WHETHER SHE WANTS TO CONTINUE WITH A PREGNANCY OR NOT.

WHEN YOU A PREGNANT AND THE CHILD CANNOT MAKE IT ON ITS OWN OUTSIDE OF THE WOMAN, THAT'S WHEN I THINK THAT HER WOMAN, HER TEAM OF PEOPLE, PARTNER, THEY GET TO DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM.

I TRUST WOMEN AND THE TEAM OF DOCTORS TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

I'M TRYING TO BE RESPECTIVELY OF DIFFERENT POSITIONS ON THIS.

>> WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT LESS CONTROVERSIAL.

>> GUNS.

[LAUGHTER.]

>> IS THIS -- WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE MISSOURI TO DO ABOUT THE TRAGIC, WE CAN ALL AGREE -- [INDISCERNIBLE], THERE HAS BEEN MORE MASS MURDERERS THAN DAYS IN THE YEAR BY A MUCH.

MICHIGAN STATE IS THE MOST RECENT.

WE HAVE HAD A SCHOOL SHOOTING HERE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE GUN POLICY LOOK LIKE HERE, GENERALLY IN PARTICULAR WITH THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS?

>> WOW.

THIS IS LESS CONTROVERSIAL.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST CONCERNED THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR TEENS AND CHILDREN ARE GUNS IN MISSOURI.

WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS WHERE THE STATE NEEDS TO BE GOING.

THE OTHER THING, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN THE UNCOMMUNITY WHEN KIDS -- IN THE COMMUNITY, WHEN KIDS CAN CARRY GUNS ON THE STREETS.

AT THE VERY LEAST THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SHOULD COME TOGETHER ON AND SAY KIDS SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO WALK AROUND THE STREETS WITH LOADED GUNS.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AND IT PUTS INNOCENT PEOPLE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN DANGER.

>> I THINK THE ENTIRE DEBATE ABOUT GUN CONTROL AS A SUBJECT IS A DISTRACTION FROM THE UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT ARE CAUSING VIOLENT CRIME, ESPECIALLY IN ST. LOUIS CITY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CRIME RATES, THEY HAVE BEEN DROPPING FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

THIS IS A POLITICAL ISSUE NOW AND THE EFFORT BY PARTICULARLY IN WASHINGTON D.C., TO UNARM LAWFUL CITIZENS IS A THREAT TO THOSE RIGHTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DEFEND.

IF WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WALKING AROUND ST. LOUIS THAT ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO HAVE WEAPONS, WITH HE NEED TO DEAL WITH THAT.

>> WHO IS THAT?

>> WHO WOULD THAT BE?

>> WHO GETS TO LOOK AT IT THOUGH?

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES IN THE REGION, WHEN THE CITY AND COUNTY WANTS TO DO SOMETHING AS FAR AS GUN CONTROL LAWS AND THE REPUBLICANS SAY, NO, WE WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT.

AND WE ARE SEEING IT WITH ELECTRIC CARS AND SAYING WE DON'T WANT LOCAL CONTROL OVER THESE THINGS.

IF THE COMMUNITY LOOKS AT SOMETHING, AND SAYS WHAT WE NEED LET'S HAVE A CONCEALED CARRY LAW AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE NEED TO GET A PERMIT TO CARRY A WEAPON, WHY DO YOU SAY THAT A LOCAL COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, ADDITION RESTRICTIONS ON GUN OWNERSHIP IN THE ST. LOUIS CITY AREA WILL NOT CHANGE A PROSECUTOR THAT DOESN'T PROSECUTOR CRIMINALS.

>> PART OF THE PROBLEM IF YOU TALK TO THE POLICE, IF THEY STOP KIDS IN A CAR AND EVERYONE HAS A GUN, THEY USED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE GUNS AWAY AND CHARGE THE ADULTS WITH CARRYING A WEAPON WITHOUT A PERMIT.

NOW THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING.

THE POLICE WOULD AGREE, THAT KIM GARDNER IS A PROBLEM.

THEY SAY GUN IS A PROBLEM TOO.

>> I HAVE TALKED TO THE POLICE AND THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT THE BUDGETS CUTS THAT THE CITY HAS DONE TO THE POLICE FORCE IS A PROBLEM.

>> THEY HAVE NOT INDICATED THAT WEAPONS ARE NOT A PROBLEM?

>> NO.

>> WOW!

>> THEY HAVE -- FOR ME, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS FACES RIGHT NOW IS LOSS OF POPULATION.

OVERWHELMINGLY.

PEOPLE ARE LIVING THE CITY AND AS THEY LEAVE THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS THEY TAKE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD GO INTO BUSINESSES AND JOBS THAT FOLKS WOULD PURSUE AT THE EXCLUSION OF THAT THEY WILL TURN TO CRIME AND A PROSECUTOR OFFICE THAT WILL NOT PROSECUTE!

.

AND TRYING TO DISTRACT FROM THAT SAYING THE PROBLEM IS ACTUALLY GUN OWNERSHIP BY LAW ABIDING CITIZENS.

THAT'S NOT IT.

>> THE PROBLEM IS THIS AND THAT.

THE POLICE I TALK TO, IT IS A MULTI-LEVEL PROBLEM, THE FAMILY'S PROBLEM, THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY.

>> WE HAVE THE SAME GUN RESTRICTIONS AND RIGHTS IN ST. CHARLES THAT WE HAVE IN ST. LOUIS CITY.

AND THINGS ARE SO MUCH WORSE IN THE CITY.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GUN OWNERSHIP IN THE CITY.

>> YOU KNOW MORE THAN THE POLICE DO.

THEY DISAGREE.

>> WE HAVE LESS THAN TWO MINUTES.

WE HAVE TO KEEP THIS BRIEF.

WHEN DID THE REPUBLICAN PARTY STOP BEING THE PARTY [INDISCERNIBLE] -- I WAS A SPEECH WRITER BEFORE YOU WERE BORN, IT WAS A KEY THING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT REPUBLICANS BELIEVED IN LOCAL CONTROL AND STAYING OUT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

YOU HAVE DESCRIBED ALL OF YOUR VIEWS, YOU DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY.

AND YOU ARE TELLING THE PEOPLE WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THEM.

THE GOVERNMENT IN JEFFERSON, THEY CREATED THE GOVERNMENTS AT THE LOCAL AREA THAT ENTRUST TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF THE CITIZENS.

IN THE EVENT THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING THAT, WHICH IS WHAT THEY ARE NOT DOING.

WE WILL HAVE PROBLEMS.

>> I HAVE THIRTY SECONDS.

I WILL GIVE IT TO TRACY.

WHAT I ASKED ABOUT GOVERNMENT.

OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

>> WE ARE IN THE CRISIS MODE WITH CRIME AND GUN VIOLENCE.

WE NEED TO STOP -- WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GOING FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS IS NOT WORKING.

I HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND GET THINGS UNDER CONTROL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE DO APPRECIATE THE TWO OF YOU.

BILL EIGEL, TRACY MCCREERY.

COMING TOGETHER AND HAVING A CIVIL DISCUSSION.

[LAUGHTER.]

>> ANY TIME.

>> YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR WATCHING US ON DONNYBROOK AND DONNYBROOK NEXT UP.

SEE YOU NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.