Previously: Sen. Ed Emery (r): if you want Medicaid move to another state (May 19, 2014)

In the Missouri Constitution, in not one, but two places:

Missouri Constitution

Article I

BILL OF RIGHTS

Section 7

Public aid for religious purposes–preferences and discriminations on religious grounds.

Section 7. That no money shall ever be taken from the public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect or denomination of religion, or in aid of any priest, preacher, minister or teacher thereof, as such; and that no preference shall be given to nor any discrimination made against any church, sect or creed of religion, or any form of religious faith or worship.

Article IX

EDUCATION

Section 8

Prohibition of public aid for religious purposes and institutions.

Section 8. Neither the general assembly, nor any county, city, town, township, school district or other municipal corporation, shall ever make an appropriation or pay from any public fund whatever, anything in aid of any religious creed, church or sectarian purpose, or to help to support or sustain any private or public school, academy, seminary, college, university, or other institution of learning controlled by any religious creed, church or sectarian denomination whatever; nor shall any grant or donation of personal property or real estate ever be made by the state, or any county, city, town, or other municipal corporation, for any religious creed, church, or sectarian purpose whatever.

Senator Ed Emery (r) on higher education yesterday, via Facebook:

Ed Emery

[….]

“Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life.” – Harvard University Original Mission Statement, 1636

During this legislative session, as seen with passing both the student transfer bill and the Common Core bill, education was a top priority for the General Assembly. As the graduation season is upon us, many students will be preparing to head to college this fall.

During the session, we heard a higher education bill, which included performance funding – meaning that starting in 2016, a certain amount of state funding – based on performance – will be distributed, holding these schools accountable for the quality of education they provide. It is common for parents to be unaware of what their child is learning when they are away from home, but it is crucial that parents stay involved. In a recent report published by Phyllis Schlafly, she discusses the drastic shift on college campuses and the breakdown of traditional values among students. Schlafly makes some startling observations and passionate admonitions which are summarized below.

Before you send your child off to college, think for a moment about the quality of education you are getting for the $20,000-$50,000 a year. To get a glimpse into what your child will be learning, visit a university bookstore and browse through the required text books. Many of the history books give a one-sided perspective of the United States being a bully that is exploiting third-world nations and paints the Founders as racist slave owning elites who only declared their independence to preserve their own wealth and social status. Many text books describe big government as the only humane way in which a country can be ruled and claim that it is the duty of the government to provide for everyone, rather than protect their lives, liberty and property.

The problem is the way this information is being taught. If a student takes a history class in which they learn about Marxism, they may study and fulfill all of the requirements to pass without ever being challenged to think critically about the topic. For example, students learn about the ideas of Socialism and the basis on which it is built, but they seldom learn of the instances throughout history where this ideology has been tried and failed, from the pilgrims to Zimbabwe to the USSR. Schlafly’s research points out that at Columbia Teachers College, students learn that non-Socialist societies are the root cause of all violence.

Today on many campuses, students are given the opportunity to take a variety of classes including those on gender studies, many of which teach that the traditional roles of male and female are learned behaviors which can be changed if the person so chooses. In Schlafly’s report, she talks about a course at the University of Missouri-St. Louis that uses a textbook entitled Women’s Voices, Feminist Visions. She states that this textbook explains to students that heterosexuality only exists because of socially imposed stereotypes and homophobia, and has nothing to do with nature or morality. It teaches students that the oppression of minority groups is one of many ways for the majority to keep its special privileges. Frequently those expressing their own belief in traditional values are condemned as being ignorant or unaccepting. Even at the simplest levels, students are kept from expressing traditional ideas.

The outcry for “equality,” as opposed to exceptionalism on college campuses, has created a gross double standard. To teach traditional values or concepts is considered politically incorrect and students who want to live by these values find themselves persecuted. In Schlafly’s article, she describes a situation at Rollins College in Florida which recently ruled that Christian student clubs, who require student officers to be Christian, are in violation of the school’s “non-discrimination policy” and will not receive any university funds allotted to student organizations. Many often forget that most universities were founded as Christian learning institutions. Harvard’s original motto was “Truth for Christ and the Church,” and Yale University was originally founded to train Christian ministers. As you can see, today’s universities have exponentially strayed from this idea.

For many students, college can be a time in which their faith and values are tested. It is important as parents to help your student select a college carefully and to arm them with the tools they need to remain strong in their beliefs and values. Education forms the future. We cannot leave the future of Missouri or this great nation in the hands of the amoral education elite. Parents must take charge, and that requires involvement-not just in K-12, but in every institution that either forms or conforms the minds of our children.

“Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life.” – Harvard University Original Mission Statement, 1636

Uh, you do know that Harvard University was and still is a private, not state, institution, right?

“….During the session, we heard a higher education bill, which included performance funding – meaning that starting in 2016, a certain amount of state funding – based on performance – will be distributed, holding these schools accountable for the quality of education they provide. It is common for parents to be unaware of what their child is learning when they are away from home, but it is crucial that parents stay involved….” [emphasis added]

Uh, once an individual is eighteen years of age or older (achieving the legal age of majority) parents have no right to be involved:

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.”

[emphasis added]

And:

[…..]

Section 99.31(a)(8)  Prior Consent Not Required for Disclosures to Parents of a Dependent Student

The Secretary clarifies that educational agencies and institutions may disclose education records to the parents of a dependent student, as defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, without the student’s consent. An educational agency or institution may disclose education records to either parent of a dependent student, regardless of which parent claims the student as a dependent.

[….]

[emphasis added]

The language is permissive, not mandatory.

“…Schlafly’s research points out that at Columbia Teachers College, students learn that non-Socialist societies are the root cause of all violence…”

Uh, the Teachers College, Columbia University is a private institution:

Columbia University was founded in 1754 as King’s College by royal charter of King George II of England. It is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York and the fifth oldest in the United States.

Controversy preceded the founding of the College, with various groups competing to determine its location and religious affiliation. Advocates of New York City met with success on the first point, while the Anglicans prevailed on the latter. However, all constituencies agreed to commit themselves to principles of religious liberty in establishing the policies of the College….

“…In Schlafly’s article, she describes a situation at Rollins College in Florida which recently ruled that Christian student clubs, who require student officers to be Christian, are in violation of the school’s “non-discrimination policy” and will not receive any university funds allotted to student organizations….”

Rollins College?:

Founded in 1885 by New England Congregationalists who sought to bring their style of liberal arts education to the Florida frontier, Rollins is a four-year, coeducational institution and the first recognized college in Florida.

Uh, Rollins College is a private institution.

That “performance funding” thing in Missouri, from SB 492 [pdf]?:

[….]

….Each public four-year institution, each community college, and the state technical college shall utilize the five institutional performance measures it has submitted to, and that were approved by, the coordinating board for higher education as of the effective date of this act, for performance funding under sections 163.191, 173.1540, and 178.638.

[….]

[emphasis added]

Performance funding in SB 492 applies to public institutions in Missouri.

“….Many often forget that most universities were founded as Christian learning institutions….As you can see, today’s universities have exponentially strayed from this idea…”

Not according to the Missouri Constitution as it applies to public institutions in the state. Unless, of course, one has difficulties with reading comprehension and critical thinking.

Gee, the University of Missouri, St. Louis has a course that uses a textbook that Phyllis Schlafly and Senator Emery (r) don’t like. Apparently that qualifies the institution and its entire curriculum as enablers of heresy. Except it is a public institution, not one operated as an instrument of “Christian learning”.

“…We cannot leave the future of Missouri or this great nation in the hands of the amoral education elite…”

That says it all, doesn’t it?

Miracles never cease. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-4) and I finally agree on something. The issue is the generousity that Congress, fresh off a budget slashing spree, has taken when it comes to military spending. According to Vicky, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2015 gives “our men and women in uniform the tools and resources they need to protect our nation from current and emerging threats.” Amen – and then some. The bill passed by the House actually forces on the Pentagon things it explicitly does not want – to the tune of several billion (yes, billion) dollars of taxpayer money. Why would a lawmaker who claims she was elected ” to reduce wasteful spending,” be so enthusiastic abut such unabashed waste? The answer is obvious:

Pork-barrel politics, of course, seems to be the answer-pet projects that benefit influential constituents in a Member’s district are at the heart of these seemingly nonsensical failures to cut unwanted programs.

Keep in mind that Hartzler was also willing to cut SNAP benefits, a lifeline for many poor children, from the Farm Bill, while retaining the provisions that paid her wealthy family big agricultural subsidies. It’s clear that when conservatives talk about wasteful spending, it really depends on just whose ox is being gored. We all should keep the example of Hartzler and her special type of hypocrisy in mind when we hear talk about  how the government is “broke.” Nor is Hartzler the only Republican whose priorities are so lopsided. The GOP almost always seems to think that there’s more than enough in the cash jar when it comes to serving the special interests that are near and dear to their hearts.  

Governor Jay Nixon (D) announced today that he will vet SB 493:

Gov. Nixon announces that he will veto legislation that would have sent public dollars to private schools

May 23, 2014

Senate Bill 493 fails to address challenges resulting from existing transfer law and instead would create even more problems for students and families, Governor says

Jefferson City, MO

Gov. Jay Nixon today announced that he will veto legislation that would have diverted public, taxpayer dollars away from Missouri’s public schools and given that money to private schools without any accountability to voters.  In addition, the Governor said that this failed attempt to fix the current school transfer law would, in fact, result in further disruption for students in struggling school districts by eliminating the requirement that unaccredited school districts pay for transportation costs.

“Every child in Missouri deserves a quality public education, and that is why I am vetoing Senate Bill 493,” Gov. Nixon said. “Senate Bill 493 fails to address the challenges resulting from the existing school transfer law and instead, would create even more problems by allowing public funds to be used for private schools and pulling the rug out from under students who have transferred.”

Senate Bill 493 includes a provision that would allow public taxpayer dollars to be used to pay for private school tuition, a dangerous voucher scheme that would undermine the core principles and protections enshrined in Missouri’s constitution.

“Throughout the legislative session I repeatedly made it clear that any effort to send public dollars to private schools through a voucher program would be met by my veto pen,” Gov. Nixon said.  “The General Assembly ignored my warnings, and this veto will be the result.”

Senate Bill 493 would eliminate the requirement that unaccredited districts pay for the transportation costs of students.  This provision would negatively impact the hundreds of students and families who have already transferred to another school district with an understanding that their transportation costs would be paid.

Senate Bill 493 would also have allowed districts that receive students from unaccredited districts to discount the tuition paid for transfers in exchange for not having to include those students’ performance data for accountability purposes for up to five years.  The result of this provision would be to allow schools to not be held accountable for the education of these transfer students.

[emphasis in original]

Last fall the Missouri Republican Party sponsored the Midwest Republican Leadership Conference.  One of the headliners was Alan West. The chair of Missouri Republican Party said this about West:

“Some guys walk the walk and then are guys that talk the talk. Colonel West is that unique blend of both,” said Ed Martin, Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party. “He was a war hero, a conservative lawmaker, and is an American original.”

Martin continued, “Colonel West is the dynamic leader Republicans can learn a lot from. Midwest Republicans should run not walk to Kansas City!”

What can one learn from the good Colonel who retired from the Army for violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice in interrogating a prisoner?  More after the break.

Yesterday, the brave Colonel said the following about Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs in Iraq and was named to the Benghazi kangaroo investigation.

“I just don’t know where her loyalties lie,” West said of Duckworth, during a Wednesday night interview on “The Janet Mefferd Show.”

“You know, for her to have been a veteran, a wounded warrior for the United States Army, she should know that this is not the right thing,” West continued. “And hopefully, you know, she will remember the oath of office that she took as an Army officer and not the allegiance I guess she believes she has to the liberal progressives of the Democrat Party.”

It is good to know what we Missourians can learn from the brave Colonel: being named as a Democrat to a Congressional INVESTIGATION committee means you cannot possibly be a patriotic American even though you lost two legs fighting for America.

Remember this investigation is not political a and is only supposed to find the “truth” about Benghazi.

It is really important to know how absolutely insane the Missouri Republican Party is today when its leader praises the brave Colonel.

…or maybe, a delicious irony.

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C141055 05/22/2014 HANAWAY FOR GOVERNOR Citizens for a Stronger Missouri 7509 NW Tiffany Springs Pkwy Suite 300 Kansas City MO 64153 5/22/2014 $27,587.81

[emphasis added]

Well, that was a relatively short lived PAC:

C131183: Citizens For A Stronger Missouri

7509 Nw Tiffany Springs Parkway Suite 300 Committee Type: Political Action

Kansas City Mo 64153

(816) 584-9393 Established Date: 12/12/2013

  Termination Date: 05/22/2014

[emphasis added]

“Citizens for a Stronger Missouri” is no more. That’s an interesting address.

Let’s take a look at who gave them money during their brief existence:

CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOANS RECEIVED

CITIZENS FOR A STRONGER MISSOURI [pdf] 1/15/2014

Ann Wagner

313 St Andrews Ct

Ballwin MO 63011

US Government — US Representative

12/20/2013

$1,500.00

Raymond Wagner Jr

313 St Andrews Ct

Ballwin MO 63011

Enterprise Leasing — Vice President

12/20/2013

$1,500.00

Frederick Palmer

57 Fair Oaks Dr

St Louis MO 63124

Peabody Energy — Senior Vice President

12/16/2013

$5,000.00

[emphasis added]

That was from the January campaign finance report. There’s one more:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

CITIZENS FOR A STRONGER MISSOURI [pdf] 4/15/2014

Douglas Albrecht

16 Upper Ladue Rd

St Louis MO 63124

Bodley Group — Chairman

1/30/2014

$5,000.00

David Spence

7733 Forsyth Blvd

St Louis MO 63105

Argos Partners LLC

2/11/2014

$10,000.00

William Holekamp Revocable Trust

5 Barclay Woods

St Louis MO 63124

Holekamp Capital — President

2/11/2014

$10,000.00

Citizens for Ed Emery

P O Box 123

Lamar MO 64759

2/19/2014

$1,000.00

Warren Stemme

110 High Valley Dr

Chesterfield MO 63017

Self — Farmer

2/24/2014

$1,250.00

David Farr Trustee

1 Fair Oaks Drive

St Louis MO 63124

Emerson Electric — CEO & Chairman

3/31/2014

$10,000.00

Richard McClure

145 E Essex Ave

Kirkwood MO 63122

Unigroup — President

3/21/2014

$2,500.00

Unigroup Inc

One United Drive

Fenton MO 63026

3/21/2014

$2,500.00

[emphasis added]

Well, that is a very interesting, albeit small, group of people.

What did the spend all that money on?:

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

CITIZENS FOR A STRONGER MISSOURI [pdf] 4/15/2014

Axiom Strategies

1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy

Suite 85

Kansas City MO 64116

2/19/2014

Research $13,500.00

[emphasis added]

And that close out contribution to Catherine Hanaway’s (r) campaign:

EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE

CITIZENS FOR A STRONGER MISSOURI [pdf] 5/22/2014

C.Contributions Made

Hanaway for Governor

7509 NW Tiffany Springs Pkwy

Suite 300

Kansas City MO 64153

5/22/2014

$27,587.81

[emphasis added]

There’s that address again.

Could it be that that generous, albeit small, group of friends wasn’t very excited about the other republican gubernatorial candidates for 2016 and (maybe) commissioned some opinion research? Just asking.

And, whatever you do, you don’t ever pick a fight with Blue Girl. Really.

Today on Facebook, Representative Casey Guernsey (r) did just that:

Tammy Booth shared a link.

2 hours ago [….]

Why don’t all y’all up north ask Casey Guernsey and the rest of the math-challenged GOP dipshits you keep sending to Jeff (all I can figure is it’s a couple hundred miles from Bethany and Princeton so it gets the worthless fuckers out of your way) how the hell a tax break on fuel sold at marinas in the Ozarks helps YOU.

Freewheeling legislature puts Missouri in a hole

Casey Guernsey

Since you apparently know so much about this bill, why don’t you explain how this is a tax break?

about an hour ago

Think about that response for a second. A state representative trolling social media. Really? Methinks he doth protest too much.

Tammy Booth

It’s at the link:

” They granted a tax exemption for motor fuels used at marinas. They exempted sales taxes from transactions involving used manufactured homes and locally grown produce at farmer’s markets. Large commercial laundries got a tax break. So did fast food restaurants and power companies. Even Sprint Center patrons who get first dibs on tickets received a reprieve on sales taxes.

Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, estimated the total cost of the giveaways at $263 million to almost $500 million a year. The last-minute binge threw Missouri’s 2015 budget out of balance before the legislature even left town.”

about an hour ago

Casey Guernsey

I don’t read articles from tabloids – but I do know these bills. The motor fuel component you mentioned in your post is what I was talking about. While we certainly passed tax reform bills, I don’t expect any liberal to agree and frankly don’t care that they do. But if your going to make a wild eyed claim about how motor fuel tax refunds at the lake effects my constituents, I’m going to call you out for not knowing what your talking about. Again (for the second time) if you know so much about this bill, explain to me how this is a NEW tax break. I don’t care what the article says. If your going to make claims and tag me, I will call you out every time. So. Why don’t you try again.

about an hour ago · Edited

[emphasis added]

Interesting.

The Kansas City Star is a tabloid? Evidently, we never get out of junior high school.

Tammy Booth

Meanwhile, you and your ilk are determined to turn us into a third-world country and get our credit-rating cut like has happened in Kansas, you refuse to be bound by ethics or campaign finance laws and you cut taxes for the richest few (how many of YOUR constituents will get an appreciable tax cut? not very damned many, I know, I’m from up there) yet you won’t even entertain expanding Medicaid and insuring 300,000 of the state’s working poor.

Medicaid Expansion Creates Jobs, Grows Missouri’s Economy | Missouri Hospital Association

about an hour ago

Tammy Booth

The KC Star is a tabloid and I’m a stupid little girl, huh?

Nice chatting with you. Chump.

about an hour ago

Not a good decision on the part of Representative Guernsey (r).

Casey Guernsey

Simple answer Tammy. Anyone who makes more than 9,000 a year. As for finance laws, what in the world do they have to do with tax cuts? That’s quite the stretch there lol.

about an hour ago

lol. We really are in junior high school.

Uh, if someone in political life engages the public you can’t expect the public to defer discussion on any issues.

Maybe would should take a look at campaign contributions and lobbyist expenditures in Missouri and the correlations with tax legislation. Oh, wait…

Casey Guernsey

Exactly correct – tabloid drive-by reporting. I knew you couldn’t respond, it’s what happens every time liberals try to debate me on bills they only read about in an article from the star. I spent 5 months working in these bills and actually understand them. Meanwhile a reporter from the star copies and pastes the Governor’s press release and people lap it up as though they speak the gospel. I’ve seen it for about 11 years now. Better luck next time!

about an hour ago · Edited

Five months of his work got us this. That’s not particularly convincing…

Tammy Booth

Please. I don’t rassle with pigs. I get dirty and the pig likes it. Screw that. The folks I want to see this thread have already seen it. Toodles.

about an hour ago

Tammy Booth

Thanks for taking the bait tho — I really didn’t expect you to.

about an hour ago

Casey Guernsey

I’m sure you mean wrassle.

[….]

about an hour ago

Oooh, a “correction”!

Then a couple of right wingnut sycophants jumped in with responses. Those, in turn, were followed by:

Mark Matzeder

Unless things have been deleted from this thread, the name-calling began with Guernsey calling Tammy’s post “sixth grade level”. She never responded in kind. Yes, yes, I know she alluded to a well-known metaphor of “rasslin’ with pigs” (rassle and wrassle are BOTH nonstandard versions of wrestle), but no intelligent person would confuse a term used in a metaphor as an epithet.

49 minutes ago

Lynn Caldwell

Mr. Guernsey, all due respect, but if you’re going to resort to correcting someone’s spelling to make your point, be sure you’re clear on the difference between “your” and “you’re” first.

“But if your going to make a wild eyed claim about how motor fuel tax refunds at the lake effects my constituents, I’m going to call you out for not knowing what your talking about. ”

39 minutes ago

And then there was more pearl clutching about language from right wingnut sycophants.

To quote Blue Girl’s email tag:

If you can’t use profanity to describe an obscenity, when the fuck can you use it?  –Me

And the final response from Blue Girl:

Tammy Booth

Sorry to keep you all waiting…I had to feed my family.

Where is the line? No, a kid with a few tomato plants shouldn’t have to be encumbered with regulations, but a person with a 30-acre truck-garden shouldn’t be able to duck their responsibility. The taxes on fuel pay for our roads and the state patrol.

For the record, I don’t just read the papers, I read the bills, too. I also know which ones are strikingly similar to bills in other states because they are based on ALEC model legislation.

I’m concerned about the schools and the roadways that will deteriorate, thanks to the tax cut bill that passed over the Governor’s veto a couple of weeks ago, and the marina fuel tax cut just compounds that problem. I’m worried about the hospital in Bethany staying open. I’m worried about the school in Cainsville staying open. I’m worried about adequate law enforcement and all those trappings of civilization that are paid for with tax dollars.

Mr. Guernsey conveniently overlooked the key word in my tax cut query…”appreciable” and came back with his comment that folks making as little as $9000 would get a tax cut – yes, that is true. I am not math challenged, so I understand that the tax cut that someone who earns so little will get will not even amount to a tank of gas or couple of days worth of groceries. While their communities crumble. It makes no sense.

2 minutes ago

“Thanks for taking the bait tho — I really didn’t expect you to.”

You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind, you don’t pull the mask off that old Lane Ranger, and you don’t mess around with Blue Girl.

Heh. Don’t you just love social media?  

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C031159 05/21/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER The Simon Law Firm, PC 800 Market Street Suite 1700 Saint Louis MO 63101 5/19/2014 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

And because republicans are so enthusiastic about their current candidates for governor in 2016:

1:31 am Mon May 19, 2014

Luetkemeyer Getting Strong Encouragement To Jump Into GOP 2016 Field For Governor

By Jo Mannies

Missouri’s Republican field for governor in 2016 may be about to get more crowded, as some party activists are urging U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, to enter the race.

If he were to jump in, Luetkemeyer would face former House Speaker Catherine Hanaway, a Republican from west St. Louis County who already has declared her candidacy, and possibly state Auditor Tom Schweich, a St. Louis native who is running for re-election this fall with no major opposition….

….In Congress since 2009, Luetkemeyer said in a recent interview that he has been contacted by a number of Republicans who are asking him to take a look at a possible gubernatorial bid.

“It’s very flattering,” the congressman said, adding that he’s currently focused only on his own re-election bid this fall.

However, Luetkemeyer did not reject the idea of running for governor in 2016. “After the campaign, I’ll consider looking at it,” he said….

Out of the mouths of republicans…

Very interesting (via Missouri Secretary of State):

State Representative – District 110 Dennis Broadbooks (Republican)

GROVER MO 63040 Withdrawn 5/14/2014

12:15 PM

Due to the withdrawal of the only candidate for State Representative District 110, candidate filing for all parties is re-opened on Thursday, May 15 through Wednesday, May 21, 2014 for House District 110 (5 working days) (Section 115.361RSMo.)

[emphasis added]

Now this:

State Representative – District 110

Democratic Name Mailing Address Random Number Date Filed

Christine Alt 2132 FIDDLE CREEK RD

LABADIE MO 63055 5/21/2014

2:27 p.m.

Republican Name Mailing Address Random Number Date Filed

Kirk Mathews 18161 MERAMEC VISTA LN

PACIFIC MO 63069 5/15/2014

8:40 a.m.

And that would explain this (via the Missouri Ethics Commission):

C141324 05/19/2014 FRIENDS OF KIRK MATHEWS Mark Thom 534 Morel Court St Albans MO 63073 Business Consultant 5/18/2014 $5,001.00

C141324 05/19/2014 FRIENDS OF KIRK MATHEWS Joyce Wood P.O. Box 18 Bonne Terre MO 63628 Business Consultant 5/16/2014 $6,000.00

C141324 05/21/2014 FRIENDS OF KIRK MATHEWS Charlotte Lucas 1143 W 116th st Carmel IN 46032 retired 5/19/2014 $5,001.00

C141324 05/21/2014 FRIENDS OF KIRK MATHEWS Citizens for Schatz P.O. Box 92 Sullivan MO 63080 5/20/2014 $5,000.01

[emphasis added]

Now the republicans are gonna have to spend money. They’ll have all that they need.

Previously: Epistemic closure, still here, alive, kicking, though not quite screaming (August 7, 2013)

At noon today four individuals showed up at a Warrensburg meeting room for a constituent “listening post” conducted by a member of Representative Vicky Hartzler’s (r) district staff, Zack Brown. Once everyone had seated themselves around the table Mr. Brown asked if they had any questions or concerns. They did and they took the time to talk. The meeting lasted an hour.

Zack Brown, of Representative Vicky Hartzler’s (r) district staff, at a constituent “listening post” in Warrensburg on May 20, 2014.

The opinions voiced at the beginning of the hour long session were a catechism of right wingnut talk radio – when will impeachment of Obama happen, why was the Senate giving away our rights to the United Nations, what about the implementation of an international currency by July, and atmospheric engineering (chemtrails)? At around eighteen minutes the conversation turned to healthcare, Medicare, and Obamacare. Apparently death panels are still a concern. One person asked about the Obamacare enrollment numbers. Apparently they believe that the numbers are a wash – that is, roughly the same number of people lost their insurance as gained it through Obamacare. There was no mention of any differences in actual coverage standards.

At around forty minutes into the meeting immigration came up. It was an interesting context, though. Apparently if immigration reform takes place those individuals who benefit from it in California and Texas will make it next to impossible for any republican to ever win the presidency once they start voting.

The conversation then turned back to healthcare. When it comes to those who are presently uninsured one individual stated, “…There’s also a lot of government, what do you call ’em, uh, programs to help people who do not have insurance. So if you go in there and you have a catastrophic, um, incident you have access to government monies to pay that, especially hospitals, hospitals have that…” The conversation moved along a vein where, if it had continued, would have reached a logical conclusion that the personal mandate (from a personal responsibility standpoint) was the thing to do, though I don’t think they were aware they were going in that direction.

Apparently, Obamacare was set up to fail by Obama so we’d get a single payer system like the VA.

A few minutes later, out of the blue: “…John McCain, I think they ought to make him a Democrat.” “He’s already a RINO.” Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts isn’t very popular either.

Conservatism can’t fail, it can only be failed.

“Well, we’ve got a lot of problems, do we have any solutions?”

One solution offered – invest in infrastructure. Funny that.  

At around fifty-one minutes – Benghazi! Somewhat halfhearted, but still, Benghazi!

At fifty-three minutes – the cost of running congressional offices.

At around fifty-seven minutes – how do we get our astronauts back to the space station now that they Russians aren’t inclined to help out?

At around fifty-nine minutes –  “…Apparently a lot of Americans are being detained [by Homeland Security] randomly trying to come back into the country…” When did that start? Just asking.

Yep, epistemic closure is a powerful drug. America is a zero sum game – if someone else gets something that means you get less, or nothing at all. How did we get to this point?

Meanwhile, the 0.01% are laughing all the way to the bank.

Pennsylvania’s law banning same sex marriage and recognition of same sex marriages from other states was declared unconstitutional today.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

DEB WHITEWOOD, et al.,Plaintiffs,

v.

MICHAEL WOLF, in his official

capacity as Secretary, Pennsylvania

Department of Health, et al., Defendants.

1:13-cv-1861

Hon. John E. Jones III

….we hold that Pennsylvania’s Marriage Laws violate both the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Because these laws are unconstitutional, we shall enter an order permanently enjoining their enforcement. By virtue of this ruling, same-sex couples who seek to marry in Pennsylvania may do so, and already married same-sex couples will be recognized as such in the Commonwealth.

The issue we resolve today is a divisive one. Some of our citizens are made deeply uncomfortable by the notion of same-sex marriage. However, that same-sex marriage causes discomfort in some does not make its prohibition constitutional. Nor can past tradition trump the bedrock constitutional guarantees of due process and equal protection….

….Similarly, in future generations the label same-sex marriage will be abandoned, to be replaced simply by marriage.

We are a better people than what these laws represent, and it is time to discard them into the ash heap of history….

[emphasis in original]

Missouri’s ban is not long for this world.