MISSOURI: Gov. Jay Nixon Orders All State Agencies To Comply With Obergefell

Yes, he's a Democrat:

Nixon says the order makes clear that local governments must comply with the ruling as well. One Missouri county, Schuyler, is still not issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Nixon also called again on the Missouri legislature to pass the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act, which would bar discrimination against LGBT Missourians in employment, housing, and public accommodations. “Same-sex couples now have the right to get married, but here in Missouri, individuals can still be fired for being gay. That’s wrong, it’s not who we are, and it must change,” Nixon said.

MISSOURI: Marriage Plaintiffs File Notice Of Cross-Appeal To Eighth Circuit

The plaintiffs in one of Missouri's marriage equality cases have filed their notice of a cross-appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court. On Friday the state filed their notice. The initial stayed ruling on the ACLU's case came on November 7th, at which time Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster promised to appeal. That stay was due to expire today if no appeals were filed. Both Koster and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon say they support same-sex marriage. In a separate ruling, same-sex marriage remains legal in St. Louis and those marriages are recognized statewide. Also last week, GOP lawmakers filed an attempt to gain standing to appeal the ruling that forces Missouri to recognize out of state marriages.

MISSOURI: Gov. Jay Nixon Orders National Guard To Respond In Ferguson

Nixon did not notify the White House of this action.

“Folks didn’t know,” an administration official told BuzzFeed Monday. “The White House did not know they were sending it in.” Nixon gave “no heads up,” the official said. President Obama is back at the White House today on a pre-scheduled break from his August vacation in Martha’s Vineyard. He’s scheduled to be briefed by Attorney General Eric Holder on the situation in Ferguson early this afternoon. Holder and the administration have been critical of the militarized response to protests in Ferguson.

MISSOURI: Republicans Want To Impeach Democratic Governor Over Gay Marriage

Via the Associated Press:

A Republican-led Missouri House committee plans to hold a hearing on measures seeking to impeach Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon. The Wednesday hearing on three separate impeachment resolutions includes one citing Nixon's decision to allow same-sex couples who married legally in other states to file joint tax returns in Missouri. Another measure criticizes the governor for the amount of time he took to call a special election to fill legislative vacancies. The final measure to be considered by the Judiciary Committee would impeach Nixon for his refusal to fire state officials involved with the Revenue Department's decision last year to scan driver's license applicants' personal documents into a computer system.

Nixon is mocking the hearing, calling it a "show."

MISSOURI: GOP Lawmaker Calls For Impeaching Governor Over Same-Sex Marriage Recognition

"I will seek Articles of Impeachment against the Governor. He has openly disregarded the laws and Constitution of the State of Missouri and allowed his administration to do so on multiple occasions. If we are to live under the Rule of Law, he cannot be allowed to remain in office." - GOP Missouri state Rep. Nick Marshall, who is super-angry that Gov. Jay Nixon has ordered the state to recognize same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions.  (Via Towleroad)

MISSOURI: Gov Endorses Gay Marriage, Will Recognize Out-Of-State Marriages

Surprising and welcome news out of Missouri.

Gov. Jay Nixon said Thursday that he supports legalizing gay marriage in Missouri during a news conference announcing that homosexual couples married under the laws of other states would be allowed to file combined state tax returns. In an executive order, Nixon directed the Department of Revenue to accept the combined returns as a reaction to the June ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act. That law barred same sex couples who were legally married from receiving any marriage-based federal benefits, such as tax exemptions and Social Security payments. Under state law, couples who file a joint federal return are required to file a combined state tax return. The executive order clarifies that the law applies to all couples, Nixon said.

Nixon: "Many Missourians, including myself, are thinking about these issues of equality in new ways and reflecting on what constitutes discrimination. For me, that process has led to the belief that we shouldn’t treat folks differently because of who they are."

RELATED: Missouri passed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in 2004. A total of 21 states passed such bans from 2004-2006 when Ken Mehlman headed the RNC.