Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C111150 04/11/2013 FRIENDS OF TOM SCHWEICH John Woodside 1201 Talbridge Way St Charles MO 63303 Scotsman Coin Co. Professional Numismatist 4/10/2013 $5,500.00

[emphasis added]

Brother, can you spare a dime?

Previously:

State Auditor Tom Schweich (r): having friends with really fat check books… August 16, 2011)

You don’t pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel or electrons by the terabyte (August 30, 2011)

Campaign Finance: catch me if you can (March 27, 2013)

Campaign Finance: catch me if you can – part 2 (March 31, 2013)

Campaign Finance: catch me if you can – part 3 (April 7, 2013)

Keeping up with the Koster (April 10, 2013)

Whimsy:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Give Nicolas Cage the Declaration of Independence.

Nicolas Cage deserves the Declaration of Independence. He is a National Treasure. Having stolen the Declaration once, he is clearly capable of doing so again, but chooses not to out of the kindness of his heart. He should be rewarded for his work as an actor and a historian by being given the Declaration of Independence.

Created: Mar 26, 2013

Issues: Arts and Humanities

Signatures needed by April 25, 2013 to reach goal of 100,000 97,686

Total signatures on this petition 2,314

Uh, it was a movie.

The other things:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

(April #1 of 6) STOP WHITE GENOCIDE! Halt MASSIVE third world immigration and FORCED assimilation in White countries!

Africa for Africans, Asia for Asians, White countries for EVERYBODY?

ALL White countries and ONLY White countries are being flooded with third world non-whites, and Whites are forced by law to integrate with them so as to “assimilate,” i.e. intermarry and be blended out of existence.

That’s genocide by U.N. definition:

“Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.”

We petition the President to end White Genocide in the United States, and to call for the end of White Genocide in Europe, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Supporting White Genocide is not anti-racist. It’s anti-white!

Anti-racist is a code word for anti-white!

—

For a Future with White Children

Berkeley STOP WHITE GENOCIDE petitions

Created: Apr 03, 2013

Issues: Civil Rights and Liberties, Human Rights, Immigration

Signatures needed by May 03, 2013 to reach goal of 100,000 99,756

Total signatures on this petition 244

There are five more petitions along that line.

244 people bothered to sign this? Unintentional irony:

T. M.

Powhatan, VA

April 10, 2013

Signature # 242

A bit of history for the irony challenged:

Powhatan, whose given name was Wahunsonacock, was the paramount chief of Tsenacomoco, a political alliance of Virginia Indians whose core six groups all settled along the James, Mattaponi, and Pamunkey rivers…..

Not really. Not quite yet.

State Auditor Tom Schweich (r) [file photo].

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C111150 04/10/2013 FRIENDS OF TOM SCHWEICH Rudy Farber 100 N Wood St Neosho MO 64850 Community Bank & Trust Chairman 4/9/2013 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Of course, State Auditor Tom Schweich’s (r) campaign will have all the money it needs. Whatever the office he’s running for in 2016.

Previously:

State Auditor Tom Schweich (r): having friends with really fat check books… August 16, 2011)

You don’t pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel or electrons by the terabyte (August 30, 2011)

Campaign Finance: catch me if you can (March 27, 2013)

Campaign Finance: catch me if you can – part 2 (March 31, 2013)

Campaign Finance: catch me if you can – part 3 (April 7, 2013)

There’s been lots written about why Missouri Senate Bill 26 is a bad idea (some examples:  here, here and here). Most obviously, it offers big tax savings to  corporations and other wealthy Missourians; these savings, however, would be partially paid for by raising sales taxes, eating up a disproportionately larger percentage of the income of poor and middle class folks and exacerbating income inequality. The remaining revenue losses would have to be made up by cutting services offered by the state. The problems with the proposal are obvious while the promised benefits are nebulous since plenty of evidence indicates that lowering or eliminating income taxes isn’t the boon to growth that the right claims it is (see, for instance here and here).

It’s pretty clear who benefits from this type of change and who doesn’t (hint: most of us don’t do so well), so Missouri GOP pols are attempting to justify this giveaway to cronies and corporate sponsors by inciting fears of a border war with Kansas, claiming that Missouri businesses will relocate to take advantage of the no-tax climate on the other side. While it is not at at all clear that there would be significant business flight, it is very clear that the resulting loss of revenue would wreak havoc on Missouri’s quality of life and, arguably, on overall prospects for increased economic growth.

SB26 obviously isn’t too smart from an economic perspective, but, not surprisingly, it may not be too smart politically either. The vaunted (by anti-tax GOPers, at least) Kansas experiment seems to be turning off voters there in large numbers:

Brownback has a negative -15 job approval rating, with 37% of Kansas voters approving and 52% disapproving of his performance as governor. 72% of moderates disapprove of his performance as well as 30% of Republicans and 66% of independents.

Brownback’s plan to phase out the state’s income tax is almost as unpopular as he is, with 48% of voters opposed and 37% supportive. 65% of moderates and 56% of independents oppose the plan. Even 34% of somewhat conservative voters and 28% of Republicans are opposed to the proposal to overhaul the income tax.

In Louisiana public disapproval has forced governor Bobby Jindal to jettison a similar, regressive tax proposal:

… Only 27 percent of Louisiana voters supported the plan in the latest SMOR poll versus a whopping 63 percent opposed. The idea didn’t even garner majority support among Republicans.

Also likely to be of interest to state GOPers who want to hang onto their legislative majority, Jindal’s overall popularity, like Brownback’s, is also tanking:

… . His approval rating plummeted to 38 percent in a poll last week by the non-partisan Southern Media Opinion & Research, down from 60 percent just a year ago. In an ominous sign for national Republicans, the immediate cause is a sweeping economic agenda with strong parallels to the House GOP’s latest budget.

It’s a funny fact that several of the governors who rode the Tea Party bandwagon to electoral success are alienating voters now that they are trying to enact the extreme right-wing economic policies espoused by the more cogent Tea-Partiers. Eight of the ten governors who are currently below sea level in terms of their approval ratings fall into this category. Perhaps there’s a lesson here for those among Missouri’s GOP lawmakers who have the requisite discernment to see it. Since they demonstrably don’t care about the public welfare – just consider their anti-Obamacare Medicaid expansion tantrum if you doubt this claim – perhaps self-interest might keep them from the type of folly embodied in bills like SB26.

 

Good question.

HB 42: first, they came for the black helicopters and I did not speak up (December 5, 2012)

[….]

From the Southern Poverty Law Center (March 14, 2012):

….In the world of far-right extremists, Agenda 21 is demonized as a sort of Trojan horse, part of a larger scheme to shatter Americans’ liberties and institute a totalitarian, one-world government known typically as the “New World Order.”

Of course, this bears no relation to the facts. Actually, the U.N. agreement is a rather benign, non-binding plan calling for governments to develop plans to meet current needs for natural resources without threatening the survival of future generations. It was adopted by 178 governments, including the U.S. under President George H.W. Bush, 20 years ago at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

But to the John Birch Society (JBS), one of the main groups promoting the conspiracy theory about Agenda 21, it represents the end of America as we know it. This is the same group, of course, that claimed President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a secret communist.

In a big win for this big lie, the Republican National Committee (RNC) in January passed a resolution condemning Agenda 21 and calling for policymakers to be made aware of its “destructive strategies for ‘sustainable development.'” The RNC voted to give copies of its resolution to all Republican members of Congress as well as to the party’s presidential and congressional candidates. It also recommended that the anti-Agenda 21 policy be adopted in the party platform at the 2012 convention….

The 2013 session looks like it’s going to be a clown show, consistently supplying new material for John Stewart and Stephen Colbert through May.

“…President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a secret communist…”

I didn’t know that Ike was a secret Communist. It just goes to show…

A bill, perfected by the Missouri House yesterday:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

[PERFECTED]

HOUSE BILL NO. 42

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ROWLAND.

0036L.01P        D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 1, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to prohibition on certain policies that infringe on private property rights.

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

           Section A. Chapter 1, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 1.370, to read as follows:

           1.370. 1. As used in this section, “political subdivisions” mean all state, county, incorporated city, unincorporated city, public local entity, public-private partnership, and any other public entity of the state, a county, or city.

           2. The state of Missouri and all political subdivisions shall not adopt or implement policy recommendations that deliberately or inadvertently infringe or restrict private property rights without due process, as may be required by policy recommendations originating in, or traceable to Agenda 21, adopted by the United Nations in 1992 at its Conference on Environment and Development or any other international law or ancillary plan of action that contravenes the Constitution of the United States or the Missouri Constitution.

           3. Since the United Nations has accredited and enlisted numerous nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations to assist in the implementation of its policies relative to Agenda 21 around the world, the state of Missouri and all political subdivisions are prohibited from entering into any agreement with, expending any sum of money for, receiving funds from, contracting services from, or giving financial aid to those nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations as defined in Agenda 21.

[emphasis in original]

The vote:

JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE

First Regular Session, 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

FORTY-SEVENTH DAY, MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2013 [pdf]

….On motion of Representative Rowland, HB 42 was ordered perfected and printed by the following vote:

AYES: 110

Allen Anderson Austin Bahr Barnes

Bernskoetter Berry Black Brattin Brown

Burlison Cierpiot Conway 10 Conway 104 Cookson

Cornejo Cox Crawford Cross Curtman

Davis Diehl Dohrman Dugger Elmer

Engler English Entlicher Fitzpatrick Fitzwater

Flanigan Fowler Fraker Frame Franklin

Frederick Funderburk Gannon Gatschenberger Gosen

Grisamore Guernsey Haahr Haefner Hampton

Hansen Harris Hicks Hinson Hough

Houghton Hurst Johnson Jones 50 Justus

Kelley 127 Koenig Kolkmeyer Korman Lair

Lant Lauer Leara Lichtenegger Love

Lynch Marshall Mayfield McCaherty McGaugh

Messenger Miller Morris Muntzel Neely

Neth Parkinson Pfautsch Phillips Pike

Pogue Redmon Rehder Reiboldt Remole

Rhoads Richardson Riddle Roorda Ross

Rowden Rowland Scharnhorst Schieber Schieffer

Shull Shumake Solon Sommer Spencer

Stream Swan Thomson Walker White

Wieland Wilson Wood Zerr Mr Speaker

NOES: 040

Anders Burns Butler Carpenter Curtis

Dunn Ellington Englund Gardner Hodges

Hubbard Hummel Kelly 45 Kirkton Kratky

LaFaver May McCann Beatty McDonald McKenna

McManus McNeil Meredith Mims Mitten

Montecillo Morgan Newman Nichols Norr

Otto Pace Pierson Rizzo Runions

Schupp Smith 85 Walton Gray Webb Wright

It’ll probably save time to have this convenient list when the United Nations black helicopters arrive to start moving people to gay marriage FEMA reeducation camps.

“…The 2013 session looks like it’s going to be a clown show, consistently supplying new material for John Stewart and Stephen Colbert through May.”

Yep, called it in December.

“…Every summer thousands of American school children make their way to Washington DC to see their government in action and visit the People’s House…”

Somehow, “you ruined our family vacation” doesn’t sound convincing as an argument for establishing budget priorities. A petition at the White House site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

reinstate the public tours of the White House. This is the people’s house and they deserve the opportunity to tour it!

The White House is also known as the People’s House because it belongs to the American people. Every year thousands of Americans have come to see where our president works. Every summer thousands of American school children make their way to Washington DC to see their government in action and visit the People’s House. Unfortunately, due to Congress’ inability to work with the president and pass a sensible budget the President has chosen to save money by stopping the tours of the White House, thus denying the American people the opportunity to see how their tax dollars have supported the Executive Branch of our government. Using the American people as a pawn in this budget fight is patently wrong and we request the immediate reinstatement of the tours of the White House.

Created: Mar 30, 2013

Signatures needed by April 29, 2013 to reach goal of 100,000 99,251

Total signatures on this petition 749

Uh, taxation is the price we pay for civilization. People might want to remember that the next time they plan their family vacation after voting to keep right wingnut obstructionists in office.

Previously:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): missing the point, again (March 6, 2013)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): a foolish consistency… (March 10, 2013)

….Think about that for a moment. EPA expenditures (of a relatively modest amount) which might ostensibly have a positive effect on the global environment (after all, we do live on the same planet) are bad, tours of the White House by foreign nationals are good….

Got it. Budget priorities.

Still another gun fetishist bill, filed last week:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 1022

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JONES (50).

2095L.01I    D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 571, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to liability for prohibiting concealed firearms on business premises.

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

           Section A. Chapter 571, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 571.124, to read as follows:

           571.124. 1. Any private business that displays signage which prohibits public invitees, business visitors, and employees from carrying a concealed weapon on the premises owned or occupied by such private business shall be liable for any injury or damages incurred by such public invitees, business visitors, and employees as a result of such prohibition if such public invitee, business visitor, or employee establishes by a preponderance of evidence that having access to a firearm may have prevented his or her injury or damage.

           2. Any private business that does not prohibit public invitees, business visitors, and employees from carrying a concealed weapon on the premises owned or occupied by such private business shall be immune from any liability arising from its decision to permit concealed weapons to be carried on business premises.

           3. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall mean:

           (1) “Business visitor”, a person who is invited to enter and remain on a premises for a purpose directly or indirectly connected with business dealings with the possessor of such premises;

           (2) “Public invitee”, a person invited to enter and remain on the premises as a member of the public for a purpose for which the premises is held open to the public.

[emphasis in original]

No immunity or immunity. Playing favorites.

Just read the bill. The absurdity is readily apparent.

Previously:

HB 162: Tenthers and guns, what could go wrong? (January 15, 2013)

HB 170: so much for “originalism” (January 16, 2013)

HB 276: Shootout at the K-12 corral? (January 27, 2013)

HB 350: “Nobody move suddenly, he’s got a duck and he knows how to use it.” (January 29, 2013)

HB 436: loonier than Wayne LaPierre at a press conference (February 5, 2013)

HB 420: when pie tins are outlawed, only outlaws will have pie tins (February 5, 2013)

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

HB 633: we really never do get out of junior high school (February 18, 2013)

HB 640: the devil is always in the details (February 20, 2013)

HB 640: ballots don’t kill people, people do (February 20, 2013)

HB 754: yet another double plus ungood gun fetishist bill (March 3, 2013)

HB 818: it’s gotta be another gun bill, the republican run General Assembly is in session (March 7, 2013)

HB 859: shuffling the ammo magazines on the Titanic (March 14, 2013)

HB 872: Why not just allow people to inherit it? (March 14, 2013)

A higher education bill, filled last week:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 1015

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES COOKSON (Sponsor) AND MIMS (Co-sponsor).

2208L.01I        D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 173, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to favoritism in higher education.

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

           Section A. Chapter 173, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 173.1410, to read as follows:

           173.1410. 1. Prior to September 1, 2014, each public institution of higher education within the state shall adopt a policy on student favoritism. The policy, which shall establish a procedure for addressing allegations of favoritism towards any given student, shall include but not be limited to the following:

           (1) A statement of the institution’s commitment to a nondiscriminatory educational environment;

           (2) A statement prohibiting favoritism of any kind;

           (3) Specific provisions discouraging or prohibiting relationships or environments that encourage favoritism;

           (4) A method for reporting an allegation of favoritism that allows allegations to be brought by any individual or any group; and

           (5) A method for resolving allegations of favoritism including determinations as to appropriate consequences for confirmed acts of favoritism.

           2. Upon implementation of a policy required under subsection 1 of this section, an institution shall uniformly and consistently apply such policy, make it easily accessible, and train campus leaders on the policy.

           3. The department of higher education may promulgate all necessary rules and regulations for the administration of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2013, shall be invalid and void.

[emphasis in original]

Where to begin? Okay. What’s the definition of “favoritism”?

“Wait, you’re favoring actual science in the evolutionary biology class. You can’t play favorites. Johnny Freshman only believes in ideological anti-science promulgated by know-nothings. You can’t play favorites on the exam and test the students on, you know, actually science.”

Micromanagement, it’s not just for rural school boards anymore.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: catch me if you can (March 27, 2013)

Campaign Finance: catch me if you can – part 2 (March 31, 2013)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C031159 04/07/2013 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Strong Garner Bauer, PC 415 E. Chestnut Expressway Springfield MO 65802 4/5/2013 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

On a steamroller.