We had a lively exchange about HJR with Representative Chris Kelly (D) two weeks ago. As WillyK, the author of the original post, wrote in a comment:
...I have tried to present arguments to show that this is a wrong-headed approach to the state's financial problems, though I would gladly entertain your counter arguments...
Which is to say, somewhat more diplomatic than the following:
....Since you like it, why not make the case here for why it doesn't suck, and why we should jump on the bandwagon, and how you certainly pulled the wool over the eyes of all those reactionary right wingnuts in the General Assembly?....
So, Representative Chris Kelly (D) sent us the following on HJR 43:
PUT SOME AWAY FOR A RAINY DAY
"Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers in charge of the land, and let him exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance. Then let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh's authority, and let them guard it. Let the food become as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish during the famine." Genesis 41, 34-36
Representative Eric Burlison (R-Greene) has introduced House Joint Resolution 43 to limit the amount of General Revenue Missouri State government may spend in any given year and to provide for reserve funds to be used in times of emergency and economic downturns. HJR43 is similar to previous resolutions sponsored by former House Budget Chairman Allen Icet. As a Democrat, I support this bill. This is my reasoning...
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES COOKSON (Sponsor), TILLEY, JONES (89), DENISON, WELLS, SCHARNHORST, McGHEE, BURLISON, FITZWATER, PHILLIPS, FRAKER, BARNES, CIERPIOT, FUNDERBURK, CAUTHORN, LEACH, BAHR AND McNARY (Co-sponsors).
5294L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 161, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the capitalism education and awareness commission.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 161, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 161.860, to read as follows:
161.860. 1. The provisions of this section shall be known as the "Capitalism Education and Awareness Act".
2. There is hereby created the "Capitalism Education and Awareness Commission". The commission shall be a permanent commission within the department of elementary and secondary education which shall promote the implementation of capitalism education and awareness programs in the state in order to encourage understanding of the benefits and attributes of capitalism and to encourage market justice and economic freedom.
3. The commission shall be composed of twelve members to be appointed by the governor, with advice and consent of the senate, as follows:
(1) The commissioner of higher education;
(2) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education;
(3) The president of the University of Missouri system; and
(4) Nine members of the public, representing the diverse economic and free market groups operating in the state.
4. The commission may receive funds as appropriated from public moneys or contributions from private sources. The commission may sponsor programs or publications to educate the public about the war on capitalism in an effort to deter indifference and opposition to capitalism.
5. For purposes of this section, "capitalism" means a political-economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of profits gained in free market, and which ensures economic freedom -- "the right of individuals to pursue their interests through voluntary exchange of private property under a rule of law."
6. The commission may employ an executive director and such other persons to carry out its functions.
"...The commission may sponsor programs or publications to educate the public about the war on capitalism in an effort to deter indifference and opposition to capitalism..."
One wonders, did cronies, insider traders, and credit default swap manipulators declare the war? Just asking.
"...Nine members of the public, representing the diverse economic and free market groups operating in the state..."
Does "diverse economic" groups include Marxists, Communists, and Socialists born in Kenya? Just asking.
Now, only if someone would introduce a bill aimed at reducing paranoid time wasting bill filings in the General Assembly.
JEFFERSON CITY - Orange stickers with an image of rifle crosshairs were found Tuesday on the office doors of several Democratic state senators, prompting an investigation by Missouri Capitol Police, Senate Administrator Jim Howerton said.
"We are taking all the precautions we can," Howerton said....
....Two sizes of stickers were found, Justus said. There were smaller ones, about the size of a half-dollar. Two lawmakers removed them only to find larger stickers, about 4 or 5 inches in diameter, in their place, Justus said....
We saw the following forlorn Twitter post this morning:
@MoNewsTim Tim Sampson
My parking space was stolen by another driver this morning. Now a bill is being introduced to take away all media parking at the capitol. 37 minutes ago
Would that be SB 694?:
SB 694 Relating to the preferential use of the capitol complex by private entities
Sponsor: Nieves
LR Number: 4166S.01I Fiscal Note not available
Last Action: 1/24/2012 - S First Read--SB 694-Nieves
The bill text isn't available yet.
When we go to Jefferson City we take the train, or we pay to park nearby (when there's a space available) or we park farther away and walk.
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES CAUTHORN (Sponsor) AND McGHEE (Co-sponsor).
4078L.01I
WHEREAS, our Founding Fathers were very familiar with the disastrous consequences, such as sharp price increases and the loss of wealth by most citizens, experienced by those colonies that had issued paper money not backed by gold or silver; and
WHEREAS, our Founding Fathers were very careful to craft a Constitution that prohibits the issuance of paper money by either the federal government or the states by including such statements as "No State shall...make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts..." (Article I, Section 10, United States Constitution), and only empowering the federal government "To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin..." (Article I, Section 8, United States Constitution); and
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution designated the "dollar" as the standard of value (Article I, Section 9, Clause 1 and the Bill of Rights, Seventh Amendment), which was acknowledged by the Mint Act of 1792 to be a silver coin containing 371.25 grains (troy) of pure silver; and
WHEREAS, our national government's first experiment with an unbacked paper currency, the Civil War-era "greenback", led to the large-scale loss of wealth by United States citizens when they were paid with "greenbacks", which had only about half the value of gold-backed notes; and
WHEREAS, the creation of the quasi-public, independent Federal Reserve System by the United States Congress in 1913 has led to our current monetary system of a fiat paper currency, the "Federal Reserve Note", not backed with either gold or silver since 1971; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Reserve System created a 3,000% increase in the money supply (properly known as inflation) over the years 1959 to 2006, which led to an 89% loss in the purchasing power of our "Federal Reserve Note" paper dollars (the classic effect of inflation) during the same time period; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Reserve System has been greatly increasing the money supply in recent years, and beginning with the financial crises of 2008, undertaking to create additional trillions of dollars out of thin air for bailouts with no end in sight, or as the New York Times for November 26, 2008, put it, "The Federal Reserve and the Treasury announced $800 billion in new lending programs on Tuesday, sending a message that they would print as much money as needed to revive the nation's crippled banking system..."; and
WHEREAS, as a result of these recent, large-scale increases in the money supply, we can expect unprecedented rounds of price increases and economic dislocations in the future, leading to unprecedented losses of the value of take-home pay, retirement income, insurance policies, and investments by most citizens, and possibly ultimate economic chaos:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-sixth General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby urge the United States Congress to use all of their efforts, energies, and diligence to protect all the citizens of this nation from potential, unprecedented losses in the value of take-home pay, retirement income, insurance policies, and investments as a result of the Federal Reserve's ongoing inflation of our unbacked paper money by passing legislation (such as H.R. 2756 to repeal our nation's legal tender laws, H.R. 4683 "The Free Competition in Currency Act of 2007", and H.R. 5427 the "Tax-Free Gold Act of 2008) to help restore gold and silver money in accordance with the United States Constitution, then phasing out the Federal Reserve System and its inflationary paper money, the Federal Reserve Note (as in H.R. 2755); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, and each member of the Missouri Congressional delegation.
Because we'll all enjoy paying our bills with bars of gold-pressed latinum, if the Ferengi don't corner the market first.
[Do you believe that there is a right to privacy under the United States Constitution?]
Oh, there certainly is and it us, uh, contained in the Fourth Amendment. And it says "that the people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures." Period. There is not a generalized right of privacy, whatever that means. What is a generalized right of privacy [garbled]? One of our, one of our, one of our opinions says it means "the right to be left alone". [laughter] Right. This is anarchy...
...[wire tapping] So, there is no, what should I say, exclusion from democratic debate of - conversations. It's something for the people to decide whether you should have wiretapping or not....[as practice now]...This generalized right of privacy which comes from, what is it, penumbras and emanations from the Fourth and a lot of other ridiculous stuff. Uh, you know the consequences of that? Surely one of the major policy issues around these days is whether, uh, the Federal government can listen in on these international phone calls to find what the bad guys are doing. It used to be up to the Congress to decide whether the danger was high enough and the risk of invading people's privacy high enough to permit that. No longer. It's a question for me now. It's a question for me. That's what happens when you, when you read more and more stuff into the Constitution - you reduce democracy.
"...There is not a generalized right of privacy, whatever that means..." That's what Nino said.
Senator Brian Nieves (r) filed SB 676 yesterday. The bill summary:
Current Bill Summary
SB 676 - This act creates the Civil Liberties Defense Act. This act mandates that any court, arbitration, tribunal, or administrative agency ruling shall be unenforceable if based on a foreign law that does not grant the parties the same rights as the parties have under the United States and Missouri constitutions.
The act makes contracts that choose to apply a foreign law to contractual disputes or to have disputes settled in another country void and unenforceable in Missouri, if the foreign law would not grant the parties to the contract the same rights as the parties have under the United States and Missouri constitutions.
In some cases, a court may refuse to take jurisdiction over matters, where the court believes there is a more appropriate forum for the dispute. This act requires that the court hear the case in Missouri, if a state resident brings the case and if the court finds that not hearing the case in Missouri violates or would likely violate the rights of the person who brought the case.
The act does not apply to a business entity that subjects itself to a foreign law in a jurisdiction outside the United States. The act does not authorize courts to adjudicate religious matters.
....The Missouri general assembly finds that it shall be the public policy of this state to protect its citizens from the application of foreign laws when the application of a foreign law will result in the violation of a right guaranteed by the constitution of this state or of the United States, including, but not limited to, due process, freedom of religion, speech, or press, and any right of privacy....
[emphasis added]
Right of privacy. That's a very interesting choice of phrase.
...The Connecticut statute forbidding use of contraceptives violates the right of marital privacy which is within the penumbra of specific guarantees of the Bill of Rights...
....State criminal abortion laws, like those involved here, that except from criminality only a life-saving procedure on the mother's behalf without regard to the stage of her pregnancy and other interests involved violate the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which protects against state action the right to privacy, including a woman's qualified right to terminate her pregnancy....
....It does involve two adults who, with full and mutual consent, engaged in sexual practices common to a homosexual lifestyle. Petitioners' right to liberty under the Due Process Clause gives them the full right to engage in private conduct without government intervention....
Is SB 676 an endorsement of all those penumbras and emanations? Just asking.
Two bills, HB 1319 and HB 1320, which were filed today vividly illustrate the vast chasm between practical reality and fringe ideology in Missouri's General Assembly. Which is which probably depends on one's point view of the universe. The ultimate impact on society if each becomes law couldn't be more different.
Lowers the age for concealed carry endorsements from 21 to 18
Teenagers carrying concealed firearms is a good idea? Any guesses about the possibility of this one making it through the republican controlled General Assembly?
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES STILL (Sponsor), AULL, KANDER, WEBBER, ELLINGER, OXFORD, SCHUPP, ATKINS, KRATKY, McGEOGHEGAN, McNEIL, SWEARINGEN, PACE, NEWMAN, HODGES, TALBOY, McMANUS, SIFTON, LAMPE, SMITH (71), QUINN, HUMMEL, McDONALD, NICHOLS, PIERSON AND HARRIS (Co-sponsors).
4543L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 130, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to campaign contributions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 130, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 130.032, to read as follows:
130.032. 1. In addition to the limitations imposed under section 130.031, the amount of contributions made by or accepted from any person other than the candidate in any one election shall not exceed the following:
(1) To elect an individual to the office of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, or attorney general, two thousand dollars;
(2) To elect an individual to the office of state senator, one thousand dollars;
(3) To elect an individual to the office of state representative, five hundred dollars;
(4) To elect an individual to any other office, including judicial office, if the population of the electoral district, ward, or other unit according to the latest decennial census is under one hundred thousand, five hundred dollars;
(5) To elect an individual to any other office, including judicial office, if the population of the electoral district, ward, or other unit according to the latest decennial census is at least one hundred thousand but less than two hundred fifty thousand, one thousand dollars; and
(6) To elect an individual to any other office, including judicial office, if the population of the electoral district, ward, or other unit according to the latest decennial census is at least two hundred fifty thousand, two thousand dollars.
[....]
Campaign finance limits. The impact on society and Democracy if multimillionaires can't drop a few million dollars on a candidate or an initiative campaign? Priceless.
Any guesses about this one making it through the republican run General Assembly? Yep, less than none.
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES STILL (Sponsor), NEWMAN, McCREERY, McNEIL, McGEOGHEGAN, KIRKTON, SHIVELY, AULL, QUINN, CASEY, KRATKY, McDONALD, SCHUPP, SCHIEFFER, WALLINGFORD, CARLSON, PACE, OXFORD, McMANUS, MORGAN, PIERSON, RIZZO, FITZWATER, LASATER, HOLSMAN, BROWN (50), SWINGER, BLACK AND KELLY (24) (Co-sponsors).
5157L.02I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal sections 367.515, 408.100, 408.500, 408.505, and 408.510, and to enact in lieu thereof six new sections relating to consumer credit interest rates, with a penalty provision and a referendum clause.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
[....]
367.105. Any person making or offering a consumer credit loan shall contract for and receive interest and fees in accordance with sections 408.100, 408.140, and 408.170 and shall be subject to all provisions of such sections.
367.515. A title lender shall contract for and receive simple interest and fees in accordance with sections 408.100 and 408.140 and shall be subject to all provisions of such sections.
408.100. 1. It is the intent of the people of Missouri to prevent lenders, such as those who make what are commonly known as payday loans, car title loans, and installment loans, which have typically carried triple-digit interest rates as high as three hundred percent annually or higher, from charging excessive fees and interest rates that can lead families into a cycle of debt by:
(1) Reducing the annual percentage rate for payday, title, installment, and other high-cost consumer credit and small loans from triple-digit interest rates to thirty-six percent per year;
(2) Extending to veterans and others the same thirty-six percent rate limit in place for payday and title loans to active military families as enacted by the 109th United States Congress in 10 U.S.C. Section 987; and
(3) Preserving fair lending by prohibiting lenders from structuring other transactions to avoid the rate limit through subterfuge.
[....]
[emphasis in original]
Goodness knows, not allowing predatory lenders to exploit working people with triple digit interest rates will cause the Republic to collapse. At least, that's the republican line of thinking.
Senator Brian Nieves (r), nothing, if not consistent, filed SJR 45 on January 9th. The bill summary:
Missouri State Senate
Introduced
SJR 45 - Upon approval by the voters, this constitutional amendment prohibits the Missouri legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government from recognizing, enforcing, or acting in furtherance of any federal action that exceeds the powers delegated to the federal government.
The state also shall not recognize, enforce, or act in furtherance of any federal actions that: restrict the right to bear arms; legalize or fund abortions, or the destruction of any embryo from the zygote stage; require the sale or trade of carbon credits or impose a tax on the release of carbon emissions; involve certain health care issues; mandate the recognition of same sex marriage or civil unions; increase the punishment for a crime based on perpetrator's thoughts or designate a crime as a hate crime; interpret the establishment clause as creating a wall of separation between church and state; or restrict the right of parents or guardians to home school or enroll their children in a private or parochial school or restrict school curriculum.
The state is also required to interpret the U.S. Constitution based on its language and the original intent of the signers of the Constitution. Amendments to the U.S. Constitution shall be interpreted based on their language and the intent of the congressional sponsor and co-sponsors of the amendment.
The amendment also declares that Missouri citizens have standing to enforce the provisions of the amendment and that enforcement of the amendment applies to federal actions taken after the amendment is approved by the voters, federal actions specified in the amendment, and any federal action, regardless of when it occurred, that the general assembly or the Missouri Supreme Court determines to exceed the powers enumerated and delegated to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution....
....(2) Not recognize, enforce, or act in furtherance of the following:
(a) Federal actions restricting the right of private citizens to bear arms;
Guns. Check.
(b) Federal actions legalizing or funding abortions, or the destruction of any embryo containing human DNA from the zygote stage onward through all stages of development;
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES BRATTIN (Sponsor), KELLEY (126), SMITH (150), WALLINGFORD, DAVIS, McCAHERTY, LEACH, POLLOCK, SMITH (71), CURTMAN, JOHNSON AND LICHTENEGGER (Co-sponsors).
4751L.02I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 105, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to members of the general assembly.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 105, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 105.013, to read as follows:
105.013. 1. Every member of the general assembly shall be subject to random chemical testing of their urine during the legislative session for the purpose of determining drug content. The costs of such testing shall be paid by such member.
2. To be considered valid, chemical tests of the member's urine shall be performed according to methods and devices approved by the state department of health and senior services, and shall be performed by licensed medical personnel or by a person possessing a valid permit issued by the state department of health and senior services for this purpose.
3. A member testing positive for illegal drugs or drugs that have not been lawfully prescribed to such member shall immediately be removed from office and prohibited from running for any elective office for a period of two years.
4. For purposes of this section, "drug" means marijuana, any narcotic drug or controlled substance as defined in chapter 195, or the metabolite of any such substance.
Submitting to the qualified voters of Missouri an amendment repealing section 23 of article I of the Constitution of Missouri, and adopting one new section in lieu thereof relating to the right to bear arms.
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring therein:
That at the next general election to be held in the state of Missouri, on Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2012, or at a special election to be called by the governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of this state, for adoption or rejection, the following amendment to article I of the Constitution of the state of Missouri:
Section A. Section 23, article I, Constitution of Missouri, is repealed and one new section adopted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 23, to read as follows:
Section 23. That the right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or when lawfully summoned in aid of the civil power, shall not be questioned; but this shall not justify the wearing of concealed weapons. The right of every citizen to possess, purchase, reload, or manufacture ammunition and to possess, purchase, or manufacture mechanical parts or other articles essential to the proper functioning of arms shall not be infringed or the amounts limited.
[emphasis added]
Time's a wastin'. That appears to be the standard operating procedure and the motto of the republican run Missouri General Assembly.
Senator John Lamping (r) introduced legislation to cut back the legislative session:
SJR 29 Requires the legislative session to end in late March rather than mid-May, beginning with the 98th General Assembly
Sponsor: Lamping
LR Number: 4436S.02I Fiscal Note not available
Committee: General Laws
Last Action: 1/5/2012 - Second Read and Referred S General Laws Committee Journal Page: S64
Effective Date: Upon voter approval
Current Bill Summary
SJR 29 - Upon voter approval, the proposed constitutional amendment would require the legislative session to end in late March rather than the middle of May. The veto session is moved from September to June. These changes to the legislative process would begin with the 98th General Assembly, which starts in 2015.
You might want to start carrying one of these with you at all times - if you happen to have one.
The bill summary for SB 590 which was filed yesterday by Senator Will Kraus (r):
SB 590 Modifies the law relating to unlawfully present aliens.
Sponsor: Kraus
LR Number: 4556S.02I
Last Action: 1/4/2012 - S First Read--SB 590-Kraus
Calendar Position: 156
Effective Date: August 28, 2012
SB 590 - All public elementary and secondary schools shall determine whether enrolling students are born outside of the United States or are children of an unlawfully present alien at the time of enrollment by checking students' original birth certificates or certified copies thereof. If it is determined that a student was born outside of the United States or is the child of an unlawfully present alien, the parent or guardian shall notify the school of the actual citizenship or immigration status of the child with accompanying documentation.
The State Board of Education shall compile and submit an annual report to the General Assembly containing information regarding immigration classifications of enrolled students, numbers of participants in English as a second language programs, and the effects of education quality as a result of enrollment of unlawfully present aliens and the costs associated. Public disclosure of information which personally identifies a student shall be unlawful.
Upon any lawful stop, detention, or arrest, law enforcement shall determine the citizenship and immigration status of the person if there is reasonable suspicion that the person is an unlawfully present alien. If an alien is determined by the federal government to be unlawfully present, the law enforcement agency shall cooperate in the transfer of the alien into federal custody.
The act creates a Class C misdemeanor crime of willful failure to complete or carry an alien registration document if the person is unlawfully present and in violation of 8 U.S.C. 1304 or 8 U.S.C. 1306 which requires certain persons to carry alien registration documents, apply for alien registration, and be fingerprinted....
So, you think you don't have anything to worry about in this bill? Think again, from the bill:
....3. A law enforcement official or agency of this state or a county, city, or other political subdivision of this state may not consider race, color, or national origin in the enforcement of this section except to the extent permitted by the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Missouri....
My goodness, an actual American citizen without papers who doesn't speak Spanish could never be deported to another country by ICE, could they?:
....There are still many unanswered questions about how an African-American girl who speaks no Spanish is mistaken for a foreign national. Immigration officials are investigating....
The 2nd Regular Session of the 96th General Assembly started today in Jefferson City. Representative Dwight Scharnhorst (r) wasted no time wasting time by introducing a symbolic bill which will consume time and effort in the legislative process at the expense of pressing needs, like, oh, education, jobs, health care. Your republican run Missouri House spends time on this:
HCR 3 Submits to Congress a proposed federal balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution Sponsor: Scharnhorst, Dwight (093)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2012
LR Number: 4695L.01I
Last Action: 1/04/2012 - Introduced and Read First Time (H) Bill String: HCR 3
[emphasis added]
It's almost enough to make us disappointed that we missed the opening day of the session this year.
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES BRATTIN (Sponsor), BAHR, DAVIS, BERRY, CURTMAN, POLLOCK AND WHITE (Co-sponsors).
4748L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 9, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to federal holidays.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 9, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 9.015, to read as follows:
9.015. No state or local governmental entity, public building, public park, public school, or public setting or place shall ban or otherwise restrict the practice, mention, celebration, or discussion of any federal holiday.
[emphasis in original]
In case you're wondering, here are the Federal holidays for 2012, from the Office of Personnel Management:
SJR 37 Relating to meetings of apportionment commissions
Sponsor: Crowell
LR Number: 4678S.01I Fiscal Note not available
Committee:
Last Action: 12/14/2011 - Prefiled
SJR 37 - This proposed constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, provides that all meetings of any Senate or House apportionment commission, including any appellate apportionment commission, shall be public, and that such commissions shall be subject to general laws concerning open records and open meetings.
To amend chapter 338, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to pharmacies.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 338, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 338.255, to read as follows:
338.255. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no pharmacy licensed in this state shall be required to carry or maintain in inventory any prescription or nonprescription drug or device.
[emphasis added]
This wouldn't be about Plan B or things like that, would it?
Another interesting prefiled bill for the 2012 session of the Missouri General Assembly, from Representative Sue Allen (r). Voter registration and closed primary voting by party:
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES ALLEN (Sponsor) AND FLANIGAN (Co-sponsor).
4451L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal sections 115.135, 115.137, 115.155, 115.157, 115.163, 115.225, 115.249, and 115.637, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof nine new sections relating to primary elections, with penalty provisions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
[....]
4. Any person updating or changing such person's party affiliation as required under section 115.166 may update or change such party affiliation for the upcoming election at any time before the deadline for registration for such election established in this section. Any update or change to such person's party affiliation made after the deadline for registration established in this section shall be effective only for subsequent elections.
[....]
3. For all primary elections held after January 1, 2013, any person who is entitled to vote in such primary under this chapter shall be entitled to vote only the official primary election ballot of the political party designated in the person's voter registration. Any person attempting to vote or voting a primary election ballot of a political party other than that for which the person's designated party affiliation qualifies the person to vote shall be guilty of a class four election offense as provided in section 115.637.
[....]
3. Any person who fails to designate a party affiliation shall be registered without a party affiliation. The election authority shall notify the person by mail that the person has been registered without a party affiliation and that the person may change or update the person's party affiliation as provided in section 115.166.
[....]
115.166. Any person desiring to change or update such person's party affiliation shall notify the person's election authority with a signed written notice in the same manner as a change of address is filed under section 115.165.
115.225. 1. Before use by election authorities in this state, the secretary of state shall approve the marking devices and the automatic tabulating equipment used in electronic voting systems and may promulgate rules and regulations to implement the intent of sections 115.225 to 115.235....(5) Permits each voter in a primary election to vote for the candidates of [only one] the political party [announced by the voter in advance] designated by such voter in the person's voter registration as provided under this chapter...
[....]
(20) Voting or attempting to vote a primary election ballot of a political party other than that for which the person's designated party affiliation qualifies the person to vote.
[emphasis in original]
That last one makes no sense whatsoever. It must be a typo.
If this passes it'll eliminate one of the most fun enterprises in Missouri politics - crossing over to a contested republican primary to vote for the most outrageous wingnut.
And, it would end the rude practice of responding, when someone is pontificating on politics with the preface, "I've been a registered [name of political party] for [random number of decades]," with "No, you aren't, there is no voter registration by political party in Missouri." They really hate that. And it's really fun, too. Especially when it's in front of a large group of people.
The Appellate Apportionment Commission has placed Senator David Pearce (r) and Representative Mike McGhee (r), a declared candidate for the Senate, in the same district. Senator Bill Stouffer (r) is term limited out in 2012.
The map of the new 21st Senate District, including Carroll, Chariton, parts of Johnson, Lafayette, Livingston, Pettis and Saline Counties - from the Appellate Apportionment Commission.
Well, that's awkward.
CANDIDATE Date Established: 11/1/2005
Date Terminated:
COMMITTEE: MECID:C051254
MCGHEE FOR SENATE 5583 GRUBB RD
ODESSA MO 64076
[....]
TREASURER: VALETA A MCGHEE
[....]
DEP. TREASURER: VALETA A MCGHEE
[....]
CANDIDATE: MIKE MCGHEE
5538 GRUBB RD
ODESSA MO 64076
[....]
OFFICE SOUGHT: STATE SENATORDISTRICT 21
Date of Election:8/7/2012 Political Party:REPUBLICAN
What's a republican incumbent to do? The Appellate Apportionment Commission cut Representative Denny Hoskin's (r) base out from under him.
The map of the new 51st Legislative District, including the eastern half of Warrensburg, part of Pettis County, and the city of Marshall in Saline County - from the Appellate Apportionment Commission.
Denny Hoskins (r) lives approximately two and a half miles from the far southwest corner of the new 51st Legislative District. A district which, at close to fifty miles from corner to corner, includes a good chunk of Saline County and the city of Marshall in Representative Joe Aull's (D) old district. Representative Aull (D) cannot run again due to term limits.
Knob Noster, in eastern Johnson County and a significant contributor to Hoskin's margin in 2008 (a narrow victory with a recount), is now lumped in with Sedalia in the new 52nd Legislative District. On the other side, Warrensburg is cut in half, with the University of Central Missouri (and those presidential election year student voters in the dorms) in the new 54th Legislative District.
Let's take look at that new 51st Legislative District:
Appellate Apportionment Commission
House Redistricting Plan
Election Returns Data [pdf]
2002 through 2010 Merged, 2008 and 2010
November 30, 2011
District 51
% Democratic 02 to 10 58.5% % Republican 02 to 10 41.5%
% Democratic 2008 55.7% % Republican 2008 44.3%
% Democratic 2010 51.1% % Republican 2010 48.9%
Whoa. A 58.5% Democratic performing district, with a 51.1% performance in 2010 when Democrats didn't bother voting? 2012 won't be 2010.
And to further demonstrate that the Appellate Apportionment Commission has a sick sense of humor and is well attuned to karma, the Missouri Valley Community Action Agency is located in Marshall. Uh, oh.
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