“May [insert your preferred deity or higher power] bless and keep the Missouri House and their legislation – far away from us.”

This past week there has been flurry of really interesting prefiled bills from the republican majority in the House for the 2016 legislative session. A sampling of some of the winners:

HB 1794
Establishes the “All Lives Matter Act”, which changes the laws regarding the finding that life begins at conception
Sponsor: Moon, Mike (157)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2016
LR Number: 5277H.02I
Last Action: 12/11/2015 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 1794
[….]

Representative Mike Moon (r) is worried about a lot of things lately.

Tenther drivel, from Representative Tim Remole (r):

HB 1791
Specifies that any federal regulation or rule promulgated as a result of an executive order issued by the President of the United States must be declared invalid in Missouri and of no effect
Sponsor: Remole, Tim (006)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2016
LR Number: 5091H.02I
Last Action: 12/11/2015 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 1791
[….]

Right.

A pair of bills on guns from Representative Robert Cornejo (r):

HB 1765
Exempts firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition up to $1500 from attachment and execution
Sponsor: Cornejo, Robert (064)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2016
LR Number: 5163H.01I
Last Action: 12/11/2015 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 1765
[….]

And:

HB 1764
Requires a church or other place of worship to provide explicit notice that concealed firearms are not allowed on the property
Sponsor: Cornejo, Robert (064)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2016
LR Number: 4845H.01I
Last Action: 12/11/2015 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 1764
[….]

Does this mean if leave your attached gun on the collection plate you can take a $1,500.00 charitable deduction? Just asking.

Protecting the next generation from the outside world – Representative Kurt Bahr (r):

HB 1755
Specifies that parental liberty to direct the upbringing, education, and care of his or her children is a fundamental right not subject to infringement without demonstrating a compelling governmental interest
Sponsor: Bahr, Kurt (102)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2016
LR Number: 4258H.01I
Last Action: 12/11/2015 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 1755
[….]

Does the acquisition of critical thinking skills constitute a compelling government interest? Just asking.

Until the full text of Representative Shane Roden’s (r) bill becomes available we won’t be able to tell if he’s an “originalist” or not:

HB 1750
Specifies that the Pledge of Allegiance must be recited at least once per school day in schools supported by public funds
Sponsor: Roden, Shane (111)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2016
LR Number: 5230H.01I
Last Action: 12/11/2015 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 1750
[….]

We kind of like the original version from 1892.

Now, what on earth could have precipitated Representative Rick Brattin’s (r) punitive bill?:

HB 1743
Provides that any college athlete on scholarship who refuses to play for a reason unrelated to health shall have his or her scholarship revoked
Sponsor: Brattin, Rick (055)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2016
LR Number: 4679H.01I
Last Action: 12/11/2015 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 1743
[….]

Is that on any given Sunday or Saturday or Friday or just major religious holidays? Just asking.

And, what legislative session could go forward without an abortion restriction bill with an attention getting title? Apparently Representative Tila Hubrecht (r) won the republican caucus bill naming lottery:

HB 1714
Establishes the Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act
Sponsor: Hubrecht, Tila (151)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2016
LR Number: 5269H.01I
Last Action: 12/10/2015 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 1714
[….]

And, finally, a tiny bit of wishful thinking from Representative Caleb Rowden (r):

HB 1698
Establishes the Meet in Missouri Act to attract national conventions to Missouri
Sponsor: Rowden, Caleb (044)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2016
LR Number: 4582H.01I
Last Action: 12/09/2015 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 169[….]

Anyone think they’ll make a play to host Planned Parenthood’s next national meeting?

Folks, that’s your right wingnut controlled Missouri General Assembly in action. Protect us all.