Previously:

Yesterday, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C091145 02/18/2013 FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER Roy Pfautch 52 Portland Pl St Louis MO 63108 Civic Service Consultant 2/16/2013 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

They’ll always have the money they need, and more. Think of it as the definition of political symbiosis.

Previously:

Missouri General Assembly: it’s their world, the rest of us only get to live in it (February 18, 2013)

Another fetishist bill, introduced today:

HB 633

Specifies that any member of the general assembly who proposes legislation that further restricts an individual’s right to bear arms will be guilty of a class D felonyu [sic]

Sponsor: Leara, Mike (096)

Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2013

LR Number: 1733H.01I

Last Action: 2/18/2013 – Introduced and Read First Time (H)

[….]

And nobody has introduced a bill criminalizing stoopidty yet?

Today, in Jefferson City, at the state capitol:

A sign (right) on the window in Representative Eric Burlison’s (r) office.

The answer to everything.

At Belmont University, Bathroom Session #8, Jenny Wolfe and Peter Ferguson, Tori Kelly – “Confetti” Cover:

Previously:

HB 617: you are what you eat (February 16, 2013)

Yesterday, via Twitter:

Rep. Mark Parkinson ‏@markparkinson

@MBersin You forgot to mention Steve Webb (he feels neglected)…[….] 8:12 p.m. – Feb 16, 2013

Oh, but we did:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 617

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES PARKINSON (Sponsor) AND WEBB (Co-sponsor).

[….]

[emphasis added]

There is another (as Representative Parkinson (r) so helpfully pointed out):

HB 440 [pdf] — Sale of Cottage Foods

Sponsor: Webb

This bill allows a cottage food production operation to sell baked goods, canned jam or jelly, dried herbs, and dried herb mixes from its home without being subject to state health and food laws and regulations if it has an annual gross income of $50,000 or less. The operation is required to label all foods intended for sale with the name and address of the operation and a statement that the food is not inspected by the Department of Health and Senior Services or a local health department. The bill prohibits a cottage food production operation from selling any cottage foods through the Internet.

Why, the bills are practically identical. One was sponsored by a Democrat and co-sponsored by a republican. Then they switched places. Two separate bills saying the same thing introduced in the same session. Think for a minute about why that would be.

…and people are actually listening. The tenor of the conversation has changed substantially. Now it actually exists.

A bill, introduced in the Missouri General Assembly on February 7, 2013:

HB 494 [pdf] — Possession of a High Capacity Firearm Magazine

Sponsor: LaFaver

This bill creates the crime of possession of a high capacity firearm magazine, a class D felony, and specifies that a person commits this crime if he or she knowingly possesses, owns, uses, manufacturers, purchases, or sells a firearm magazine that is capable of holding 10 or more rounds of ammunition. No person will be prosecuted for possessing a high capacity magazine if it was in his or her possession prior to August 28, 2013, but may be prosecuted under any of the other provisions of the bill. The bill does not apply to any law enforcement officer if the possession, ownership, use, manufacture, purchase, or sale of a high capacity magazine occurs in the performance of his or her official duty.

Today, via Twitter:

Yael T. Abouhalkah ‏@YaelTAbouhalkah

And my comment on Lee Judge’s ‘American Sniper’: It made exactly the right point; we need fewer guns in this country, not more. 4:54 PM – 17 Feb 13

Editor’s Note

Valid point of Lee Judge cartoon has been distorted

February 17

By MIRIAM PEPPER

Kansas City Star Editorial Page editor

A week ago Saturday, Lee Judge drew a political cartoon on gun control. The idea for the cartoon came to him from the news. The honored “American sniper,” Chris Kyle, one of the nation’s best wartime shooters, was tragically gunned down by a troubled veteran whom he was attempting to help. Judge viewed the fact that Kyle became a gun victim as a direct contradiction to NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre’s much-publicized statement: “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”

Judge’s point: If a clear “good guy with a gun” can be killed by a gunman, can more good men with guns lessen violence….?

….Judge had every right to zero in on the disconnect between good men with guns and killings. I’m proud of his work, and I approved his cartoon for publication. I would do so again.

The night before the cartoon was published, I sent him a congratulatory note on an especially strong cartoon. I’m glad he heard from me before he was subjected to such hateful and uninformed vitriol.

If the NRA sends out a mailing and no one fears an F anymore, will it still make a sound?

A bill, introduced on Valentine’s Day:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 617

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES PARKINSON (Sponsor) AND WEBB (Co-sponsor).

0174H.01I   D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 196, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the sale of cottage foods.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

           Section A. Chapter 196, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 196.298, to read as follows:

           196.298. 1. As used in this section, the following terms shall mean:

           (1) “Baked good”, includes cookies, cakes, breads, Danish, donuts, pastries, pies, and other items that are prepared by baking the item in an oven. A baked good does not include a potentially hazardous food item as defined by department rule;

           (2) “Cottage food production operation”, an individual operation out of the individual’s home who:

           (a) Produces a baked good, a canned jam or jelly, or a dried herb or herb mix for sale at the individual’s home;

           (b) Has an annual gross income of fifty thousand dollars or less from the sale of food described in paragraph (a) of this subdivision; and

           (c) Sells the food produced under paragraph (a) of this subdivision only directly to consumers;

           (3) “Department”, the department of health and senior services;

           (4) “Home”, a primary residence that contains a kitchen and appliances designed for common residential usage.

           2. A cottage food production operation is not a food service establishment and shall not be subject to any health or food code laws or regulations of the state or department other than this section and rules promulgated thereunder for a cottage food production operation.

           3. (1) A local health department shall not regulate the production of food at a cottage food production operation.

           (2) Each local health department and the department shall maintain a record of a complaint made by a person against a cottage food production operation.

           4. The department shall promulgate rules requiring a cottage food production operation to label all of the foods described in this section which the operation intends to sell to consumers. The label shall include the name and address of the cottage food production operation and a statement that the food is not inspected by the department or local health department.

           5. A cottage food production operation shall not sell any foods described in this section through the internet.

[emphasis in original]

Up to $50,000.00 a year in production allowed from a home kitchen? That’s either a really, really busy operation or really expensive high end cupcakes.

“…A cottage food production operation shall not sell any foods described in this section through the internet.”

Damn, there goes our plan to monetize Show Me Progress.

“….A local health department shall not regulate the production of food at a cottage food production operation…

…Each local health department and the department shall maintain a record of a complaint made by a person against a cottage food production operation….”

Ah, observe and sort of report.

What are the odds of someone introducing a bill to deregulate Missouri’s cottage pharmaceutical production operations [pdf]?

Same tune, same fiddler, same band.

Previously:

HB 1708: because the General Assembly is actually a glorified school board (February 9, 2012)

A bill, introduced yesterday:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 616

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES BAHR (Sponsor), JONES (110), KOENIG, FUNDERBURK, SPENCER, LANT, SCHARNHORST, CURTMAN, BRATTIN, PARKINSON, FRAKER, MARSHALL, CRAWFORD, FITZWATER, JONES (50) AND DIEHL (Co-sponsors).

0394L.01I   D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 161, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the Common Core Standards Initiative.

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 161.855, to read as follows:

           161.855. Notwithstanding any other law, the state board of education shall not adopt, and the department of elementary and secondary education shall not implement, the Common Core State Standards developed by the Common Core Standards Initiative. Any actions taken to adopt or implement the Common Core State Standards as of the effective date of this section are void. Common Core State Standards or any other statewide education standards shall not be adopted or implemented without the approval of the general assembly.

[emphasis added]

It feels like junior high school, except with a lot more paranoia.

Missouri Core Academic Standards

About the Core Academic Standards

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The standards for English-language arts and mathematics, which were released June 2, 2010, were developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators and experts.

The standards:

   Are aligned with college and work expectations

   Are clear, understandable and consistent

   Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills

   Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards

   Are informed by other top performing countries so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society

   Are evidence-based

Standards? We don’t need no stinkin’ standards. It’s a trap!

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C010201 02/15/2013 SLAY FOR MAYOR St. Louis Cardinals, LLC 700 Clark Street St Louis MO 63102 2/15/2013 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Nothing from the Royals?

Previously:

Campaign Finance: meet me in St. Louis (January 28, 2013)

Two days ago via Twitter:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler ‏@RepHartzler

#Sequestration would not only put Americans out of their #jobs, but it threatens our #NationalSecurity: [….] 10:48 AM – 13 Feb 13

Apparently, this is now the only authorized form of corporate welfare in the republican economic policy pantheon.

From 2011:

Stutzman and Job Creators Caucus Propose Jobs & Growth Agenda

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Marlin Stutzman (IN-03) and three freshman members of the Job Creators Caucus today participated in the unveiling of the House Republican’s Plan for America’s Job Creators with Speaker Boehner, Leader Cantor and the entire GOP Leadership team.

“Government doesn’t create jobs,” stated Stutzman “Americans create jobs.  I appreciate the philosophy that our leadership has shown here, that we need to get government out of the way.”

[….]

Links to remarks from Speaker Boehner, and caucus members Rep. Ribble, Rep. Rigell, and Rep. Hartzler.

The Congressional Job Creators Caucus is made up entirely of freshman small business owners, and focuses on practical, legislative solutions that promote growth, expand our economy and create jobs. Current members of the caucus include: Rick Berg (R-SD), Diane Black (R-TN), Rick Crawford (R-AR), Robert Dold (R-IL), Stephen Fincher (R-TN), Bill Flores (R-TX), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Richard Hanna (R-NY), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Billy Long (R-MO), Reid Ribble (R-WI), Scott Rigell (R-VA), Bobby Schilling (R-IL), Steve Southerland (R-FL), and Marlin Stutzman (R-IN).

[….]

[emphasis added]

But, but, government doesn’t create jobs, right? Wait a minute, if government spending doesn’t create jobs, how would government spending cuts lose jobs? Just asking.

Before the last election:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r) and Rep. Joe Wilson (r) in Warrensburg on defense sequestration (September 18, 2012)

[…]

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) (left) and Representative Joe Wilson (r) (right).

[….]

Rep. Vicky Hartzler ‏@RepHartzler

#sequestration slated to raise unemployment by another percent. #MO would lose over 33k jobs. 4:45 PM – 18 Sep 12

Who knew that the defense budget was a stimulus plan for local economies?

[….]

Ah, yes, consistent cognitive dissonance.