It's that time again. On July 15th the second quarter 2010 campaign finance reports were due in at the Missouri Ethics Commission. We'll start with the 121st Legislative District which includes the cities of Warrensburg, Knob Noster and Holden in Johnson County.
Courtney Cole (D) speaking at a legislative candidate forum on Thursday night for the Johnson County Democratic Club in Warrensburg.
Courtney Cole, the Democratic Party candidate, filed her second quarter 2010 campaign finance report on July 15th:
Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report
Committe: COLE FOR HOUSE
ReportDate:
1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $32,429.26
2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $13,958.00
9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A - 8A) $47,927.26
15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $10,631.79
28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 - 27) $32,362.42
Courtney Cole's (D) campaign posted another video on YouTube promoting her campaign. This one documenting a great way to meet a lot of voters via the guerrilla campaign tactic of hosting a pool party (in Warrensburg on June 25th):
[Courtney Cole for State Representative]
Hi, this is Courtney Cole and I'm running for the House of Representatives in the hundred and twenty-first district. We're having a pool party tonight. This is my way of giving back to the Johnson County community for all the support that they've given me over the course of the year. So, thank you so much for your help with the campaign and let's have a great time!
[Do you like a candidate who gives back to her community?
Be sure to visit VoteCourtneyCole.com and make a splash by donating $10 now!
Produced by Cole for House, Laurie Squiric Treasurer
made in House Volunteer Labor
"Pool Party" by the Aquabats used by permission of the band]
By all accounts there was a big crowd.
I wish I had thought of this. Again, don't you just love a campaign that knows how to effectively use technology and social media?
Courtney Cole's (D) campaign posted an engaging video on YouTube promoting her door to door campaigning:
[Courtney Cole for State Representative]
Hi, I'm Courtney Cole, I'm running for the Missouri House of Representatives for the 121st District here in Johnson County, Missouri. And we are knocking on people's doors every weekday from six to eight and every weekend in shifts from ten to twelve, two to four, and six to eight. And we would love to have you come and meet our neighbors with us.
[To get involved with the campaign be sure to visit VoteCourtneyCole.com
Produced by Cole for House, Laurie Squiric Treasurer
made in House Volunteer Labor]
Ah, a campaign that knows how to use technology and social media. Nicely done.
Courtney Cole, the Democratic Party candidate in the 121st Legislative District, has started her concerted effort to walk door to door in the district in the process of engaging with voters one on one. The logistics of going door to door, from organizing volunteers, materials, targeting, walk lists, and just getting to the location takes discipline, focus, and commitment. Walking door to door is not an occasional deal for a successful campaign - it's a day in day out process, one that pays huge dividends come Election Day.
The first order of business before starting a day of walking door to door is to "cut the turf" - compile the list of registered voters in the area to be covered.
Teams get the list of neighborhood doors to knock (Courtney Cole, second from right).
This individual, running his produce stand next to the parking lot where everyone was gathering, was curious about what was going on. When I explained that Courtney Cole was a candidate for the House he asked, "Is she a Democrat?" I replied that she was. He said, "Good." Being a resident of Windsor, Missouri he doesn't live in the 121st Legislative District and won't be able to vote for her, though.
Last night I attended a fundraiser at the home of Jim and Kathy Jackson in Warrensburg for Courtney Cole, the Democratic Party candidate in the 121st Legislative District. State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) attended and spoke on Courtney Cole's behalf.
Missouri State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) (left), Lyle Farrand (center) and Courtney Cole (D) (right).
State Treasurer Cllint Zweifel (D):....Folk, folks, I gotta tell you, I am, I am so excited to be here for Courtney tonight....To see everybody out here with smiles on their faces, excited as I am about Courtney's race that, that she's going through right now. And the opportunity to elect somebody of her caliber for this district...
Kansas City - The Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal received the Newspaper of the Year Award from the Kansas City Press Club....
....Individual winners and their awards for The Star-Journal...
....Gold, Beat Reporting. This award for coverage of state government drew these comments from judges, "Great story on state rep owing taxes. Other stories also solid coverage of government."
Sincerely, congratulations to the folks at the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal. Even though we give them grief at times, we greatly appreciate their efforts and the vast improvement of their content and reporting since their previous management.
Courtney Cole, the Democratic Party candidate in the 121st Legislative District, issued a press release on job creation yesterday:
Courtney Cole Calls for Special Session on Jobs Bill and Tax Credits Urges Legislature to Pass Bi-Partisan Jobs Bill, Support the Ford Claycomo plant and quit playing politics with tax dollars
Warrensburg, MO -- Democratic candidate for 121st District State Representative Courtney Cole is calling on the legislature to remove political agendas and agree to a special session to focus on passing a badly needed jobs bill to put Missourians back to work.
Cole's request is after Governor Jay Nixon announced that he would be open to a special session if the legislature would guarantee it would be productive.
"Missouri has a 9.5 percent unemployment rate and small businesses are closing their doors every day. We cannot afford to lose more jobs.That is why today, I'm joining the bi-partisan call for the legislature to hold a special session focusing on a serious jobs bill that puts Missourians back to work and food on the table," said Cole.
Cole is calling for the legislature to support incentives to keep the Ford Claycomo plant here in Missouri, incentives for manufacturing and small business growth in rural areas, and a serious review of the recent findings in an audit completed by State Auditor Susan Montee regarding tax handouts.
The audit, released in April, found that the legislature underestimated tax credit giveaways by over $1 billion dollars.
"The legislature must pass a plan to bring in long-term, good paying manufacturing, agricultural and small business jobs for Missouri families throughout the state," said Cole. "We must remove politics out of who gets tax credits and allow Economic Development Director David Kerr to focus the necessary resources on attracting jobs. The partisan political games in Jefferson City have wasted millions of our hard earned tax dollars and kept too many people out of work. It's time for it to end."
....Cole, who has increasingly close ties to the Missouri democratic establishment, is using Nixon's Kansas City jobs speech to further the bond between her and the democratic minority. The Missouri Democratic Party is desperately trying to pick up seats in the Missouri House of Representatives after a dismal 2008.
However, in Cole's August 3, 2009 candidacy announcement, she immediately highlighted job creation....
....Cole signaled early on that job creation is her number one priority.
"...Cole, who has increasingly close ties to the Missouri democratic establishment..."
Uh, Courtny Cole filed as the only Democratic Party candidate in the 121st Legislative District. She is an elected member of the Missouri State Democratic Committee. Now, would you mind telling us, good correspondent of the Kansas City Religion & Politics Examiner, how "increasingly close" worked into your story? Just asking.
"...The Missouri Democratic Party is desperately trying to pick up seats in the Missouri House of Representatives after a dismal 2008..."
Uh, if the Democratic Party picked up seats in the Missouri House in the 2008 election you'd think that it was the republican party that had a "dismal" year in 2008. You'd think.
Representative Michael Frame (D):....And when looked up, when I turned up again he was almost nose to nose with me. And asking me if, if I had a, a problem, with some few other cuss words thrown in there as well, too. And, and do I have a problem, do I have problem. I told him he was, you know, to paraphrase, was, was way out of line. He really needs to step back...
"...with some few other cuss words thrown in there as well..."
The Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal printed the story in today's edition, quoting Representative Tim Flook (r):
5/17/2010 1:26:00 PM
A Dust-Up for Denny? Tempers or politics flare in final hours of session
Jack Miles
Editor
...."All Denny did was walk over and say, 'Hey, what's the problem with the bill? He had his hands in his pockets," Flook said, adding, "The whole thing was a joke."
Well, that sounds totally innocent, doesn't it?
Okay, the Star-Journal also quotes Representatives Frame (D), Burnett (D), and Skaggs (D), the latter relating the use of "curse words".
Old media presents equal and opposing viewpoints. I suppose all we can do for them is hope that someone caught the confrontation on audio and/or video.
You'd think someone would ask Representative Flook (r), when you were actually interviewing him, about how he managed to get across the floor of the House to so closely and definitively witness the exchange on the Democratic side of the chamber and how he could characterize the incident so differently from those three Democratic representatives. You'd think.
Wow, only in Warrensburg can two legislators disagree and it makes the news. Since my side of the story was not printed, I'll elaborate more here. Rep. Frame and others were yelling, making noises and snide comments from the back of the House Chamber during my presentation of SCR 31. As I prefer to talk face-to-face... with someone versus shouting and hiding in the "peanut gallery", I finished my closing remarks, went over to Rep. Frame and asked him if he had a problem with my bill as I could not help but hear shouting and yelling from the back of the chamber. Rep. Frame responded "Don't you square up to me!" to which I responded, "I've got my hands in my pockets, I'm just asking you a question." Rep. Skaggs and Rep. Burnett then jumped in and tried to escalate the situation by yelling remarks at me.
If Mr. Miles, Editor of the DSJ, was not friends with Rep. Skaggs this would have never even made the news.
I will continue to advocate for legislation important to my constituents and not be bullied by Rep. Frame or his accomplices.
Yesterday, while in the side gallery of the House covering the close of the legislative session I was made aware of a confrontation on the floor of the House during the previous day between Representative Denny Hoskins (r - noun, verb, CPA) and Representative Michael Frame (D-105).
On Thursday the House was considering SCR 31 on international education. Representative Hoskins (r) was the handler for the bill. From the bill summary:
SCR 31 - This resolution encourages students and faculty in Missouri to promote international education as part of curricular and extracurricular life at Missouri's colleges and universities.
This resolution is substantially similar to SCR 13 (2009) and to HCR 7 (2008).
[emphasis added]
Representative Michael Frame (D) at his desk on the floor of the House
on May 14, 2010 at the far side and back of the Democratic side of the aisle.
I interviewed Representative Frame yesterday:
Show Me Progress: Could you describe what happened with, Representative Hoskins on the floor yesterday?
Representative Michael Frame (D): Sure...and, yesterday there was a, a House, a resolution, for international students or international studies. We spent a great deal of time on it, which I found a bit odd with this time of the year, spending so much time on a, on a, you know, for a non-binding resolution. When he finished, when he, when he closed he said that, this is a very good resolution and I turned to one of my, colleagues and said, it's the best resolution in the universe, kind of making fun of what Representative [Bryan] Pratt [r] had claimed about the ethics bill, a day or two earlier. I didn't intend for him to hear that, but I guess he had heard it and, and there's a lot of this talking going on the floor. And while he was still on mic he said, come on over here and say that. Or something like that and, and I didn't, I just kind of ignored his, his invitation and began to reach down, and actually, I was going to vote in favor of it. And as I was looking at, at my screen I heard my colleague Representative [Trent] Skaggs say, "He's coming over here, he's coming over here." And I really didn't know, you know, what he was referring to, I did hear him say those words. And when looked up, when I turned up again he was almost nose to nose with me. And asking me if, if I had a, a problem, with some few other cuss words thrown in there as well, too. And, and do I have a problem, do I have problem. I told him he was, you know, to paraphrase, was, was way out of line. He really needs to step back. And Representative Skaggs and Representative [John] Burnett physically got between the two of us. And again informed him you really need to return to your other side. Burnett, there was a bit of an exchange there, Burnett said you [inaudible], you, you charged over here in a very physical way that was, you know, a bit intimidating and, and a little bit threatening. And you just need to back off. And, and I didn't see him charge over here, I'll take their word for it he did. I was looking at my monitor. But, informing him he needed to back off, back off. At that point some of his Republican colleagues came over and, and encouraged him to return to his side of the aisle...
Representative Denny Hoskins (r) in conversation on the floor of the House on May 14, 2010.
...Show Me Progress: Do you think that this is a symptom, one of the symptoms of, maybe, the environment?
Representative Frame: Yes. And, I, I think he's a frustrated legislator. I'm not sure about that. I, I'm not sure what it was. I don't know if he was having a really bad day or, or why it was. I, I really didn't think what I said, and again, it wasn't directed at him, but I don't know why he took such great offence to me calling his resolution the best resolution in the universe. I thought that would actually be a compliment, but, to tell you the truth, it wasn't directed at him, it was really more directed at Representative Pratt. But wasn't even talking with representative, I was actually talking with Representative Skaggs, but my comment was, was more directed at Pratt and just making a bit of fun. And he, he became very angry though and, and charged over at me. And like I said, when I looked up, it was nose to nose. I got to think that there was something else behind it. That it was a pretty, I won't say innocent, but, but a very casual statement that I made. I don't think it was any way majorly offensive enough that you would actually enter into some type of physical violence because of it.
....So the bill foundered. Frustrated, Democrats went to their trick bag and pulled out a little-used maneuver to force the bill out of committee without a vote and directly onto the House calendar.
Republicans, who are in the majority, didn't like that. And that led to last week's sudden flurry of activity around the bill by Republicans who, some said, were eager to punish Democrats for playing tricks with the bill....
Well, okay, but you neglected to mention this from Speaker Ron Richard (r) on January 6, 2010:
....Question: Senator Shields has proposed a ban on contributions from lobbyists during the session. Is that something that you would support?
Speaker Richard: I will support whatever comes out of our bipartisan committee. Whatever comes out.
Question: What is the advantage [inaudible] the ethics proposals [inaudible]?
Speaker Richard: Uh, I want to make sure that both sides have the ability to, uh, have a dialog. And we go to the House, the floor, for [inaudible], you know as well as I do there'll be several hundred amendments from all different sizes and shapes. Um, but I think that dialog is necessary and we'll have an open dialog and, uh, we'll get something to the Senate, uh, in a prompt basis....
"...I will support whatever comes out of our bipartisan committee. Whatever comes out..."
Question: Why is it a problem for the republican majority and a sign of Democratic Party partisanship to old media if there's discharge petition on a bill from a "bipartisan" committee which Speaker Richard said he would support? Just asking.
"...I want to make sure that both sides have the ability to, uh, have a dialog. And we go to the House, the floor, for [inaudible], you know as well as I do there'll be several hundred amendments from all different sizes and shapes. Um, but I think that dialog is necessary and we'll have an open dialog and, uh, we'll get something to the Senate, uh, in a prompt basis..."Well, that didn't go very well.
...As too often is the case with what should be a straightforward piece of needed legislation, the shameful bill that came out of the House is a perversion of ethics twisted by partisan politics to the detriment of good government.
And how did Representative Denny Hoskins (r - noun, verb, CPA) - in the 121st Legislative District, representing Warrensburg - vote on this bill?:
...On motion of Representative Jones (89), HCS#2 SB 844 was adopted by the following vote:
AYES: 087
Hoskins 121
[emphasis added]
"...the shameful bill that came out of the House is a perversion of ethics twisted by partisan politics to the detriment of good government..."
Courtney Cole, the Democratic Party candidate in the 121st Legislative District, filed her first quarter campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission today:
Committe: COLE FOR HOUSE
ReportDate:
1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $23,414.73
2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $8,365.00
9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A - 8A) $32,429.26
28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 - 27) $25,457.29
35. TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 29 + 30 + 31 - 32 - 33 - 34) $0.00
[emphasis added]
$8,365.00? That's a good fundraising quarter. She has consistently had impressive fundraising quarters.
Senator David Pearce (r) (left) and Representative Denny Hoskins (r) (right) speaking at a forum on the campus of the University of Central Missouri sponsored by the Faculty Senate.
On Friday afternoon Senator David Pearce (r) and Representative Denny Hoskins (r) spoke on the budget at a forum sponsored by the University of Central Missouri Faculty Senate. The legislators (their districts include the university) spoke in turn for approximately twenty minutes and then took questions for the remainder of the hour. There were about thirty-five to forty individuals in attendance.
Representative Denny Hoskins (r): ....I mean for goodness sake we even cut the personal chef of the Governor and that was a, only a, I think a forty thousand dollar cut and, uh, I, I still don't believe that, uh, the Governor's wife will be behind the, in kitchen, behind the grill and cooking meals for some of the different constituents they have there. But I think it, at least it would serve as a discussion point in order to see if, if maybe it would be more cost effective have meals catered or something like that....
....I think right now, with our budget crises and budget crunch, crunch I don't think that there's anything off the table. I think everything at least deserved to be discussed and vetted...
...trying to think outside the box, how can we raise revenue? One of the, one of the things that's been discussed in the Senate and over in the House is, uh, Internet, sales tax on Internet purchases. Um, right now we're supposed to pay, uh, any time you shop at the Gap or Bass Pro or anywhere else you're supposed to pay sales tax on that. Uh, as the, the system in Missouri. But, right now, I, we took a show of hands I bet a lot of us are not paying sales tax on that or use tax on that. And so, what this bill would do is basically just enforce the current law that we already have in order, um, because, it, it's, what, what it's doing is killing our retail, our brick and mortar shops around Warrensburg and, and the other cities because they don't, you have to pay sales tax when you go in there and so I think it's only appropriate that we would enforce the current laws that we have in order to pay sales tax on Internet purchases as well....
....Question: We're starting to see in some other state legislatures along with the process of cutting the budget, uh, a slow acknowledgment that revenues need to be increased. And there are some states that are starting to look towards tax increases. Any suggestion of that here in the state? Or, how bad would things have to get before you would see your colleagues thinking about raising revenue?...
From time to time someone will reply to a post via Twitter and I don't catch that reply right away. Sure enough, this evening I was checking for replies and, lo and behold, look what I found, from Representative Mark Parkinson (r):
"...If so, you are an idiot..." Heh. That wasn't very nice. But, that's okay, it's still really nice to know that Representative Parkinson (r) reads Show Me Progress.
Well, there was a tracker. That's indisputable. But Representative Parkinson (r) may have a point about that budget stuff since Representative Hoskins (r - noun, verb, CPA) couldn't even pay his taxes on time.
...A common, but perhaps unfortunate fact in politics today is that political parties use videographers, or "trackers," to record the political activities of candidates for offices...
Well, okay, but if trackers are "icky" and republican don't use them, the question remains:
...With this tracker stuff out in front of the public does that mean we won't be seeing any darkly lit shaky videos or grainy photographs along with shock headlines and disturbing music in cable television commercials in the 121st District before the November election? Just asking.
Update: Heh. Representative Parkinson (r) posted via Twitter:
@MBersin (d-noun, cellist-verb) smp is read to track the negative mentions of R's. The R with the most wins (it means we are effective). about 6 hours ago via web in reply to MBersin
Ah, I get it. There's a tie for first place in the mention department and someone will take the lead if they post more on Twitter.
Courtney Cole, the Democratic Party candidate challenging Denny Hoskins (r - noun, verb, CPA) in the 121st Legislative District, had a letter to the editor published in today's edition of the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal:
Courtney Cole
Candidate, 121st State Representative District
Now that candidate filing is over, I am truly honored to be officially running for state representative. I have been listening to the concerns of the people around the district, and I am convinced now, more than ever, it is time for a change.
These are tough times for all of us, and we need tough, serious-minded people representing our needs. I will fight to bring jobs and continued prosperity to Johnson County, instead of engaging in the negative political theater that is so common today. We deserve better than that.
As I travel all over Johnson County during this campaign I look forward to meeting everyone and sharing our views. I am energized and ready to earn the honor of serving the great people of Johnson County. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about our district.
....Did I whine and cry to the media when this happened to me? NO! It's a free country, I will always protect Freedom of Speech and our freedoms to be on PUBLIC land.
If she doesn't like having her picture taken, then maybe being an elected official is not a good fit for her. - HOW IRONIC!
There might be a little irony in there somewhere, just not in the way some think.
There was a curious letter to the editor from Representative Denny Hoskins (r - noun, verb, CPA) in yesterday's edition of the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal addressing the issue of election tracker(s) and one of his challengers, Courtney Cole, the Democratic candidate (Bill Wayne, a Libertarian, filed yesterday).
...I call on Ms. Cole to either substantiate each of her slanderous attacks or correct her record. Otherwise I will seek the appropriate legal remedy to address the slander she has introduced into this campaign.
Slander in a campaign? Legal remedy? If there were legal remedies for what gets said or printed between political rivals Bill Clinton would be wealthier than Bill Gates and the republican party would be (monetarily) bankrupt.
Does Representative Hoskins (r) recall what the Missouri Republican State Committee did in October 2008?
...A common, but perhaps unfortunate fact in politics today is that political parties use videographers, or "trackers," to record the political activities of candidates for offices...
If it's common in politics and someone says politicians do it is that defamatory? Just asking.
....Thus, we consider this case against the background of a profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open, and that it may well include vehement, caustic, and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials. See Terminiello v. Chicago, 337 U.S. 1, 4; De Jonge v. Oregon, 299 U.S. 353, [p271] 365.....
....Authoritative interpretations of the First Amendment guarantees have consistently refused to recognize an exception for any test of truth -- whether administered by judges, juries, or administrative officials -- and especially one that puts the burden of proving truth on the speaker. Cf. Speiser v. Randall, 357 U.S. 513, 525-526. The constitutional protection does not turn upon "the truth, popularity, or social utility of the ideas and beliefs which are offered." NAACP v. Button, 371 U.S. 415, 445. As Madison said, "Some degree of abuse is inseparable from the proper use of every thing, and in no instance is this more true than in that of the press."....
....Injury to official reputation affords no more warrant for repressing speech that would otherwise be free than does factual error....
....If neither factual error nor defamatory content suffices to remove the constitutional shield from criticism of official conduct, the combination of the two elements is no less inadequate....
....A rule compelling the critic of official conduct to guarantee the truth of all his factual assertions -- and to do so on pain of libel judgments virtually unlimited in amount -- leads to a comparable "self-censorship." Allowance of the defense of truth, with the burden of proving it on the defendant, does not mean that only false speech will be deterred. [n19] Even courts accepting this defense as an adequate safeguard have recognized the difficulties of adducing legal proofs that the alleged libel was true in all its factual particulars. See, e.g., Post Publishing Co. v. Hallam, 59 F. 530, 540 (C.A. 6th Cir. 1893); see also Noel, Defamation of Public Officers and Candidates, 49 Col.L.Rev. 875, 892 (1949). Under such a rule, would-be critics of official conduct may be deterred from voicing their criticism, even though it is believed to be true and even though it is, in fact, true, because of doubt whether it can be proved in court or fear of the expense of having to do so. They tend to make only statements which "steer far wider of the unlawful zone." Speiser v. Randall, supra, 357 U.S. at 526. The rule thus dampens the vigor and limits the variety of public debate. It is inconsistent with the First and Fourteenth Amendments.....
With this tracker stuff out in front of the public does that mean we won't be seeing any darkly lit shaky videos or grainy photographs along with shock headlines and disturbing music in cable television commercials in the 121st District before the November election? Just asking.
It appears that Representative Denny Hoskins (r - noun, verb, CPA) is a clueless pilgrim in the land of republican false equivalence. Here's a recent Facebook post from our intrepid pilgrim, taking on the corporate media powerhouse which is Show Me Progress:
Denny Hoskins IRONIC - I guess that is the best word I can use to describe my opponent. Her Treasurer's husband is a blogger for a Pro-Dem Ultra Liberal website and likes to follow me around and takes pictures and record my speeches. Numerous people at the County Courthouse also state that a young lady has been going through my personal and business financial records/history at the courthouse.
Did I whine and cry to the media when this happened to me? NO! It's a free country, I will always protect Freedom of Speech and our freedoms to be on PUBLIC land.
If she doesn't like having her picture taken, then maybe being an elected official is not a good fit for her. - HOW IRONIC!
Using all caps is the Internets equivalent of shouting.
You've got to be paying way too much for shoddy opposition research (or maybe it's free). Your information is out of date.
I don't necessarily like or dislike covering Denny Hoskins at public events, that just goes with the turf of blogging. I will say that it can sometimes be interesting. That's what we do, we cover politics and government in Missouri. We've been granted media credentials at campaign, political, presidential, and vice-presidential events.
"...Numerous people at the County Courthouse also state that a young lady has been going through my personal and business financial records/history at the courthouse..."
We didn't ask for the records that broke that story. Thanks for the suggestion, though, we'll file it for future reference. That's why they're called public records. Is Denny Hoskins saying that he's never been apprised of the public records concerning Jim Jackson or Courtney Cole? Just asking.
"...Did I whine and cry to the media when this happened to me?..."
Really, did you want to go so boldly on the record with that statement? Just asking.
State Representative Denny Hoskins (r - noun, verb, CPA) issued a video "capitol report" on the state budget via YouTube. The first term state representative is being challenged in the 2010 race for the seat in the 121st Legislative District by Democratic Party candidate Courtney Cole.
In the video Representative Hoskins (r) confirms that the republican majority in the House essentially punted to the Senate when it comes to making sufficient cuts or revenue enhancements to balance the state budget:
The transcript:
Representative Denny Hoskins (r): Hi, this is State Representative Denny Hoskins, proudly representing the citizens of the one hundred twenty-first district, as well as other citizens of Missouri. I'm standing before you in the House chamber where, where we've spent numerous hours this week debating on the House version of the budget.
When the governor submitted his budget in January of this year he submitted an unbalanced budget. And what we've had to do is go back and try and cut around five hundred million dollars in order to have a balanced budget for the next fiscal year which starts July first.
As I mentioned in previous capitol reports the budget has been the main focus and will continue to be the main focus until it is delivered to the, on, to the, on the governor's desk on May seventh.
Uh, some of the cuts that we were, that we had to make in order to have a balanced budget this year. We cut our own expense accounts, uh, for House members. We also cut five hundred thousand dollars out of the House, um, overhead account for some of our administration, um, personnel.
We ended up only cutting about two hundred and twenty-four million, but like what I've said, the budget process is, is a marathon, not a sprint. So we, between the House Budget Committee, which I served on, and out on the House floor we've cut about two hundred and twenty-four million out of the five hundred million that we, uh, need to cut in order to have a balanced budget.
After we third read and vote out the budget bills today, they will go over to the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which Senator Pearce is a member of, for debate in committee and out on their, and out on the floor. Uh, the Senate is going to have to make some cuts as well. And I believe that they have a duty and I, I know that they realize their duty in order to pa, uh, make those cuts in order to send, make those further cuts in order to send a balanced budget back to us where we both, both, the House and the Senate can vote those out.
You know in these tough economic times we here at state government, like I mentioned, you know we cut our own expense accounts, we cut five hundred thousand dollars out of administration. There's no easy cuts. We have trimmed around the edges all that we can. Um, I am happy to report that at least, as far as pre, pre-K through, uh, twelve education we were able to hold funding at, at the same amount that we were for last year. Unfortunately we were not able to fully fund the additional one hundred and five million to the foundation formula this year. But, when, in order to have a balanced budget and in order to make sure that we didn't have to close a prison or some other drastic measures that's one of the cuts that we had to make.
Well, I've told you all before, I'm a proud supporter of education and I think that it just seems, it was prudent and appropriate in this time to maintain the same amount of funding that we had last year for this next fiscal year.
If, as always, if you have any ideas or concerns, especially if you have any ideas on how to generate revenue and maintain a balanced budget, or if you do see some, um, fat in the budget where you think that we could make some cuts, please give myself a call, uh, or shoot me an e-mail.
There's are tough, like I said, it's tough economic times we're tightening our belts and there's no, there's no easy cuts right now. But, I was elected by you all in order to serve here and make those tough decisions and I'm proud to serve the one hundred twenty-first district. It's an honor to be your state representative and feel free to stop and say hi this weekend when I'm at home. Thanks a lot, have a great day.
It takes special talent to be in the House majority and see your amendment lose on a floor vote. It takes even more talent to have it happen twice in one day, on two votes in a row.
Using that criteria, our favorite Republican legislator Denny Hoskins (CPA/R-Warrensburg) can feel talented.
One Republican tactic to cut spending is to slice off random amounts from the budgets of directors and pretend that it adds up to something.
Knowing that, it's no surprise during the HB2008 debate that Ryan Silvey would propose cutting the General Revenue Fund contribution to the Director of the Department of Public Safety from 1,056,555 to 1,035,764. That passed on a voice vote.
Then Denny Hoskins proposed cutting it some more, all the way down to 979,305, and he lost, 76 to 75. Multiple Republicans voted and i'm sure good times were had by all.
Representative Denny Hoskins (r - noun, verb, CPA) was on the radio today complaining about mean people, or something:
....Representative Denny Hoskins: Well, one of the other things I wanted to talk about was just the, uh, article in last Friday's paper...
Marion Woods, KOKO radio: I saw that.
Representative Hoskins: ...talking about trackers.
Marion Woods: I saw that.
Representative Hoskins: Yes, yes, and, uh...
Marion Woods: Where did that come from anyway?
Representative Hoskins: I don't know. I, uh, think some people have active imaginations.
Marion Woods: [laughter]
Representative Hoskins: Is it [inaudible][crosstalk]...
Marion Woods: You have no tracker, do you?
Representative Hoskins: No, I, I have not hired any tracker. My campaign has not hired any tracker. [crosstalk]
Marion Woods: I didn't know there was such a thing as a tracker.
Representative Hoskins: Yes, you know, until I got into politics I didn't realize that there was, either. But, you know, back in two thousand eight when, um, you know, you had Ike Skelton running and, and you had, you know, other people. Now, even, you know if I'm at event with, uh, state Senator Stoufer or, or Vicky Hartzler...
Marion Woods: Um, hm.
Representative Hoskins: ...I mean there will be a tracker there. Uh.
Marion Woods: There will be.
Representative Hoskins: Yes, usually there'll be a tracker there videotaping them and taking pictures of, of everything they say. Um, you know, same thing goes for Ike Skelton. When he's around lots of times there's a, there's a tracker there. When Roy Blunt came through on his job's tour...
Marion Woods: Uh, huh.
Representative Hoskins: ...and was down at Heroes [Warrensburg restaurant] there was a tracker there that was recording and, and taking pictures.
Marion Woods: Is now, is that tracker from the other party from where you are?
Representative Hoskins: Lot.
Marion Woods: Is that the way that works?
Representative Hoskins: Lots of times. Lots of times it's from the other party. But, I have not hired any tracker to, to, I, I could, you know, care less about where Courtney is going [Woods: laughter] or when she's in Excelsior Springs and when she's here and...
Marion Woods: Yuh.
Representative Hoskins: So it, you know, it's one of my least priorities I guess I should say...
Marion Woods: [laughter]
[....]
Representative Hoskins: So, when, you know, articles come out in the paper and, you know, Courtney's says that I've stooped to some, having, following her, she's lying.
Marion Woods: Yeah.
Representative Hoskins: I'll call a spade a spade, she's lying. I'm not having anybody follow her...
[....]
Marion Woods: I, I, I never have understood that why, why, uh, why we have to have the dirt slinging and things like that that goes on. Uh, that doesn't.
Representative Hoskins: No it doesn't, it doesn't serve any purpose. But like I've said before, you know, this hundred twenty-first district has been a swing district. [crosstalk]
Marion Woods: Yuh.
Representative Hoskins: And we've been honorably represented by Republicans and Democrats. And it's the number one, um, due to that fact and, and the fact that I won by a hundred twenty-two votes this past time....
"...I don't know. I, uh, think some people have active imaginations..."
Uh, we were there. There was a tracker. We asked him. We photgraphed him.
SMP: ...So, are you a tracker or something?
Tracker: Uh, you could say that I guess...
In fact, he has a unique license plate:
...Tracker: You like the license plate? [In response to me photographing the back of the car.]
SMP: Actually? Interesting...
So, I suppose there must be some way to track that down. And if we did, we could check that identity against campaign payments to individuals to see who might be paying him. I mean, the tracker must at least be getting mileage, right? He did say he worked in politics:
...Tracker: Uh, yeah, I've been working in politics for a while...
And who is virtuous?
"...I, I, I never have understood that why, why, uh, why we have to have the dirt slinging and things like that that goes on. Uh, that doesn't...."
"...No it doesn't, it doesn't serve any purpose..."
Dirt slinging in politics? You think for some people it depends on the truth? Or who is doing it? Does anyone remember candidate Denny Hoskins complaining about this lie?:
Warrensburg, MO -- Democratic candidate for 121st District State Representative Courtney Cole is calling on the legislature to remove political agendas and agree to a special session to focus on passing a badly needed jobs bill to put Missourians back to work.
