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Monthly Archives: December 2016

The political year in pictures – 2016 – part 2

31 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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missouri, pictures, retrospective

The continuation of our retrospective.

A sign of things to come:

West central Missouri - July 8, 2016.

West central Missouri – July 8, 2016.

Crossing the state in August:

Chris Koster (D) - August 5, 2016.

Chris Koster (D) – August 5, 2016.

Chris Koster (D) in Columbia, Missouri – August 5, 2016 (August 6, 2016)

Chris Koster (D) – video by Jerry Schmidt – 8/5/2016 (August 6, 2016)

Chris Koster (D) in Columbia, Missouri – media questions – August 5, 2016 (August 6, 2016)

Speaking, meeting, and greeting in August:

Jason Kander (D) - August 14, 2016.

Jason Kander (D) – August 14, 2016.

Jason Kander (D) – Warrensburg – August 14, 2016 (August 14, 2016)

Ah yes, the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast:

Roy Blunt (r) at the State Fair Governor's Ham Breakfast - August 18, 2016.

Roy Blunt (r) at the State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast – August 18, 2016.

Trumpoids at the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast (August 18, 2016)

Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast – August 18, 2016 (August 19, 2016)

Cognitive Dissonance (August 19, 2016)

Hillary Clinton spoke at the National Baptist Convention in Kansas City on September 8, 2016:

Hillary Clinton in Kansas City - September 8, 2016.

Hillary Clinton in Kansas City – September 8, 2016.

Hillary Clinton (D) at the National Baptist Convention in Kansas City – September 8, 2016 (September 8, 2016)

Media narrative? What media narrative? (September 10, 2016)

Statewide candidates made their way across the state, sometimes with a trailing opposition campaign tracker.

Teresa Hensley (D) - September 10, 2016.

Teresa Hensley (D) – September 10, 2016.

Campaign Tracker: apparently a tie is now optional working attire (September 10, 2016)

Teresa Hensley (D) with Lafayette County Democrats in Odessa, Missouri – September 10, 2016 (September 12, 2016)

Campaign Tracker: Where’s Waldo? (September 12, 2016)

Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign opened its campaign office in Kansas City:

Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D), speaking to the media - September 26, 2016.

Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D), speaking to the media – September 26, 2016.

Hillary Clinton Campaign Headquarters Open In Kansas City – September 25, 2016 (September 25, 2016)

Emanuel Cleaver speaks at the Hillary Clinton Campaign Headquarters Opening In Kansas City – September 25, 2016 (September 26, 2016)

October is a time for statewide candidates to crisscross the state:

Jason Kander (D) - October 7, 2016.

Jason Kander (D) – October 7, 2016.

Jason Kander (D) in Warrensburg – October 7, 2016 – press availability (October 7, 2016)

Fall parades are part of the Missouri political landscape:

Symbolism. On so many levels.

Symbolism. On so many levels.

Everybody loves a parade (October 22, 2016)

What true believers spend their time on when your campaign doesn’t have a field operation and it doesn’t believe in GOTV (October 22, 2016)

A Democratic Party get out the vote rally in Kansas City on the Saturday before the election:

Jason Kander (D) speaking at a get out the vote rally in Kansas City - October 29, 2016.

Jason Kander (D) speaking at a get out the vote rally in Kansas City – October 29, 2016.

Judy Baker (D) – GOTV kickoff rally in Kansas City – October 29, 2016 (October 30, 2016)

Jason Kander (D) – GOTV kickoff rally in Kansas City – October 29, 2016 (October 30, 2016)

Chris Koster (D) – GOTV kickoff rally in Kansas City – October 29, 2016 (October 30, 2016)

Russ Carnahan (D) – GOTV kickoff rally in Kansas City – October 29, 2016 (October 30, 2016)

Mayor Sly James (D) – GOTV kickoff rally in Kansas City – October 29, 2016 (October 30, 2016)

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) – GOTV kickoff rally in Kansas City – October 29, 2016 (October 30, 2016)

Speakers on a university campus the week before the election:

Overflow crowd listening to Dr. Moussa Elbayoumy, Board Chair for the Kansas Chapter of CAIR, the Council on American–Islamic Relations, speaking in Warrensburg on the campus of the University of Central Missouri - November 2, 2016.

Overflow crowd listening to Dr. Moussa Elbayoumy, Board Chair for the Kansas Chapter of CAIR, the Council on American–Islamic Relations, speaking in Warrensburg on the campus of the University of Central Missouri – November 2, 2016.

The antidote to free speech is more free speech (November 2, 2016)

Two days after the election around 200 students held an ant-Trump rally on the campus of the University of Central Missouri. There were a few incidents perpetrated by individuals in opposition to the students.

Anti-Trump rally on the campus of the University of Central Missouri - November 10, 2016.

Anti-Trump rally on the campus of the University of Central Missouri – November 10, 2016.

A short early morning conversation (November 10, 2016)

Donald Trump (r) – expect this for the next four years (November 10, 2016)

These kids are all right (November 11, 2016)

Arrest announced in Warrensburg protest assault (November 14, 2016)

An anti-Trump protest in Kansas City on the Saturday after the election:

Resistance in Kansas City - November 12, 2016.

Resistance in Kansas City – November 12, 2016.

Anti-Trump rally in Kansas City today. (November 12, 2016)

Anti-Trump rally in downtown Kansas City – November 12, 2016 (November 12, 2016)

Anti-Trump rally in downtown Kansas City – November 12, 2016 – part 2 (November 13, 2016)

Anti Trump Rally Kansas City MO 11/12/16 Photos by Jerry Schmidt (November 13, 2016)

Anti-Trump rally in downtown Kansas City – November 12, 2016 – part 3 (November 13, 2016)

Anti-Trump rally in downtown Kansas City – November 12, 2016 – part 4 – Love Trumps Hate

Anti-Trump rally in downtown Kansas City – November 12, 2016 – part 5 (November 14, 2016)

Presidential Electors met at the capitol in Jefferson City. People showed up to let them know what they thought about Donald Trump:

“Make America Great Again” – Jefferson City – December 19, 2016.

Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Electors (December 16, 2016)

Have a Great Day! (December 19, 2016)

Previously:

Our top ten traffic posts for 2016 (December 29, 2016)

The political year in pictures – 2016 – part 1 (December 30, 2016)

Who will hold Eric Greitens hand?

31 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by willykay in Uncategorized

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Chief Operating Officer, COO, Eric Greitens.

I didn’t vote for Eric Greitens although he had a pretty good shtick. He promised to “shake things up” in Jefferson City and, God knows, the GOP political culture he’ll be heading up needs to be not only shaken up, but fumigated.

However, one doesn’t necessarily expect a novice to know how to go about effectively shaking things up. He calls himself an “outsider” which is probably true, but in his case seemed to be no more than a tacit acknowledgement that he didn’t know boo about how to be a big-time manager, which is what a Governor is. Shooting a big gun, or even running a charity just isn’t the same thing.

And Greitens evidently agrees that he is not up to he job he was hired to do. He’s going to hire a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to hold his hand and lead him along the governing path. According to senior advisor Austin Chambers (who, speaking of inexperience, is only 21 years old – but, hey, he’s a “savant,” or so they say):

“They [the COO] are an outsider who is coming in from the business world,” he said, adding that the person is from Missouri and may volunteer their services. “It’s an outsider who is going to come in and shake things up.”

Don’t assume from the plural personal pronoun and verb Mr. Chamber used that there will be more than one COO – I assume he was trying to avoid giving the gender of the appointee away. Or he just talks that way.

Anyway, it looks like we elected an inexperienced opportunist to the most important job in the state and he’s going to essentially delegate it to an unelected business person – somebody who’s so eager to get his/her hands on the state’s power steering mechanisms that he/she may even volunteer. It would be interesting, after the person is named, to learn if he/she is behind any of those great big loads of the folding green that Greitens pulled in. Or if he/she is closely associated with any of the local big political spenders. Of course, given the way campaign money is accounted for in Missouri, we may never know.

The editorial board of the EMissorian laid it all out way back in October when Greitens brought up his intention to hire a COO:

We have heard Eric Greitens, Republican candidate for governor, speak three times. With each appearance, his shallowness in knowledge of government was apparent. He lacks a clear plan on how he would face up to issues and work to solve problems.

We were floored when in a debate at Branson with his chief opponent, Democrat Chris Koster, the former Navy SEAL said if elected he would hire a Fortune 500 type of executive to be the chief operating officer for the state. Koster reminded him that the governor is the chief operating officer. That’s the governor’s job

To hire a COO gives the impression that he doesn’t want to be bothered with day-to-day operations. Would he spend time as governor preparing to run for the U.S. Senate or even president? Some years ago he reserved websites with his name as a candidate for president and also for U.S. senator.

So the new Missouri Governor, who rode Donald Trump’s coattails into office, is going to farm out the difficult and, no doubt, boring parts of the job just like The Donald seems poised to do. Is this a new trend in GOP political circles? We get a twofer, a front man and the power behind the throne?

But don’t worry. We are assured that the guy running the state is going to shake things up one way or another. The question is who’s going to be doing the shaking and to whom.

Dumping right wingnut mail on Sen. Claire McCaskill (D)

30 Friday Dec 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Axiom Strategies, Claire McCaskill, Donald Trump, Jeff Roe, mail, missouri, right wingnuts, Senate

Senator Claire McCaskill’s (D) Missouri constituents are getting mail from a right wingnut committee:

20161230-606a0030

"Paid for by Right Way Initiative, P.O. Box 27, Alexndria, VA 22313"

“Paid for by Right Way Initiative, P.O. Box 27, Alexndria, VA 22313”

It’s the usual right wingnut drivel in support of Donald Trump (r).

Right Way Initiative?

At the Federal Election Commission [pdf]:

CURRENT COMMITTEE INFORMATION
C90015801
Name: RIGHT WAY INITIATIVE INC.
Address: PO BOX 27, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22313
Treasurer Name:
Type: I – INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE – PERSON OR GROUP NOT A COMMITTEE
Designation: U – UNAUTHORIZED
Party:

It’s the same address as the mailing.

They sent a letter in response to a request for additional information from the Federal Election Commission on August of 2016:

August 2, 2016

Jessica Grainger
Campaign Finance Analyst
Reports Analysis Division
Federal Election Commission
999 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20463

Identification Number: C90015801

Reference: APRIL QUARTERLY REPORT (01/01/2016 – 03/31/2016), FILED 4/15/2016

Dear Ms. Grainger:

This response pertains to the Reports Analysis Division’s (“RAD”) Request for Additional Information (“RFAI”) dated June 28, 2016, concerning Right Way Initiative, Inc.’s April quarterly report filed on April 15, 2016.

The RFAI asserts that itemization is required for “each contributor who made a donation in excess of $200 used to fund the independent expenditure(s).” The cited regulation, however, requires the reporting of “[t]he identification of each person who made a contribution in excess of $200 to the person filing such report, which contribution was made for the purpose of furthering the reported independent expenditure.” 11 CFR section 109.10(e)(1)(vi). No contributions or donations accepted by Right Way Initiative, Inc. were solicited or received for the purpose of furthering the reported independent expenditures. Accordingly, no contributions or donations were required to be reported under the regulations cited in the RFAI.

With respect to 11 CFR section 114.10(f), that regulation applies only to “qualified nonprofit corporations.” Right Way Initiative, Inc. is not a “qualified nonprofit corporation.” Thus, the regulation is, by its own terms, inapplicable to Right Way Initiative, Inc.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions concerning this matter.

Sincerely,

Daniel Flynn
President

“….No contributions or donations accepted by Right Way Initiative, Inc. were solicited or received for the purpose of furthering the reported independent expenditures. Accordingly, no contributions or donations were required to be reported under the regulations cited….”

Alrighty then. We’re not going to find out who contributed money.

Right Way Initiative spent a chunk of change in support of or against some republican politicians in Ohio, including opposing the one who eventually won the special election for John Boehner’s vacated seat in Congress.

From the Federal Election Commission – reported on April 15, 2016:

SCHEDULE 5-E
ITEMIZED INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
FILING FEC-1063185

Committee: RIGHT WAY INITIATIVE INC.
To Address Expenditure Description Date of Public Distribution/Dissemination Support/Opposed Amount Extended Calendar YTD Per Election for Office Sought
ADVANTAGE INC 2300 CLARENDON BLVD SUITE 303 ARLINGTON, Virginia 22201 PHONE CALLS 03/11/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 6926.00 640363.50
ADVANTAGE INC 2300 CLARENDON BLVD SUITE 303 ARLINGTON, Virginia 22201 PHONE CALLS 03/12/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 9561.36 649924.86
ADVANTAGE INC 2300 CLARENDON BLVD SUITE 303 ARLINGTON, Virginia 22201 PHONE CALLS 03/12/2016 In OPPOSITION to WARREN DAVIDSON 6374.24 656299.10
ADVANTAGE INC 2300 CLARENDON BLVD SUITE 303 ARLINGTON, Virginia 22201 PHONE CALLS 03/13/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 9658.56 665957.66
ADVANTAGE INC 2300 CLARENDON BLVD SUITE 303 ARLINGTON, Virginia 22201 PHONE CALLS 03/13/2016 In OPPOSITION to WARREN DAVIDSON 6439.04 672396.70
ADVANTAGE INC 2300 CLARENDON BLVD SUITE 303 ARLINGTON, Virginia 22201 PHONE CALLS 03/15/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 21594.40 703491.10
AXIOM STRATEGIES 1251 NW BRIARCLIFF PARKWAY SUITE 85 KANSAS CITY, Missouri 64116 PRINTING / POSTAGE 02/26/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 17544.00 245910.00
AXIOM STRATEGIES 1251 NW BRIARCLIFF PARKWAY SUITE 85 KANSAS CITY, Missouri 64116 PRINTING / POSTAGE
02/29/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 17544.00 263454.00
AXIOM STRATEGIES 1251 NW BRIARCLIFF PARKWAY SUITE 85 KANSAS CITY, Missouri 64116 MECIA PRODUCTION / MEDIA PLACEMENT 02/29/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 14375.00 277829.00
AXIOM STRATEGIES 1251 NW BRIARCLIFF PARKWAY SUITE 85 KANSAS CITY, Missouri 64116 PRINTING / POSTAGE 03/02/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 17544.00 295373.00
AXIOM STRATEGIES 1251 NW BRIARCLIFF PARKWAY SUITE 85 KANSAS CITY, Missouri 64116 PRINTING / POSTAGE 03/04/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 17544.00 312917.00
AXIOM STRATEGIES 1251 NW BRIARCLIFF PARKWAY SUITE 85 KANSAS CITY, Missouri 64116 MEDIA PLACEMENT 03/06/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 10937.50 323854.50
AXIOM STRATEGIES 1251 NW BRIARCLIFF PARKWAY SUITE 85 KANSAS CITY, Missouri 64116 PRINTING / POSTAGE 03/08/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 38689.00 362543.50
AXIOM STRATEGIES 1251 NW BRIARCLIFF PARKWAY SUITE 85 KANSAS CITY, Missouri 64116 PRINTING / POSTAGE 03/09/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 50010.00 412553.50
AXIOM STRATEGIES 1251 NW BRIARCLIFF PARKWAY SUITE 85 KANSAS CITY, Missouri 64116 MEDIA PLACEMENT 03/13/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 9500.00 681896.70
DEL CIELO MEDIA LLC 1427 LESLIE AVENUE SUITE 102 ALEXANDRIA, Virginia 22301 MEDIA PLACEMENT 02/24/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 215866.00 215866.00
DEL CIELO MEDIA LLC 1427 LESLIE AVENUE SUITE 102 ALEXANDRIA, Virginia 22301 MEDIA PLACEMENT 03/11/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 220339.00 632892.50
FOUR CARD LLC 3788 RICHMOND AVENUE #1274 HOUSTON, Texas 77046 MEDIA PRODUCTION 02/24/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 12500.00 228366.00
FOUR CARD LLC 3788 RICHMOND AVENUE #1274 HOUSTON, Texas 77046 MEDIA PRODUCTION 03/11/2016 In SUPPORT of TIMOTHY DERICKSON 545.00 633437.50
Total of Itemized Independent Expenditures = 703491.12

[emphasis added]

Axiom Strategies. Heh.

$703,491.12. That’s a lot of money in support of the guy who lost the republican primary. And we have no idea where the money came from.

We’ll need to wait until January 15th to see what they spent in mail against Claire.

The political year in pictures – 2016 – part 1

30 Friday Dec 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

missouri, pictures, retrospective

It’s been another very interesting year for us.

2016 was an election year. That’s good for us. It helped us feed the content beast. The outcome of those elections were bad for everyone – in America and Missouri.

Over the course of the last year we covered a number of government and political events in Missouri (and elsewhere), in the process taking thousands of photographs. Most of them didn’t make it into the blog. Some of the things we saw and heard made us smile, made us think, made us gasp, made us hope, and made us despair.

We thought we’d provide a retrospective of some of the pictures and stories we consider to be memorable.

The Missouri General Assembly went into regular session in January.

In the Missouri House.

In the Missouri House.

Missouri General Assembly: opening of the 2016 legislative session (January 6, 2016)

Senator Jill Schupp (D): January 6, 2016 (January 7, 2016)

Rep. Stacey Newman (D): January 6, 2016 (January 7, 2016)

Missouri House and Senate Democratic Caucus Press Conference – January 6, 2016 (January 8, 2016)

Missouri Opening Session 2016 photos by Jerry Schmidt (January 12, 2016)

Candidates for state and local offices raised money to run.

Jessica Podhola (D) - January 21, 2016.

Jessica Podhola (D) – January 21, 2016.

Jessica Podhola (D) in the 11th Senate District – January 21, 2016 (January 21, 2016)

Jessica Podhola (D) – January 21, 2016 (January 22, 2016)

A, yes, the presidential primaries and caucuses.

Taking a selfie with Kansas City Mayor Sly James at the opening of Hillary Clinton's campaign headquarters in Kansas City - February 17, 2016.

Taking a selfie with Kansas City Mayor Sly James at the opening of Hillary Clinton’s campaign headquarters in Kansas City – February 17, 2016.

Hillary Clinton Campaign Headquarters Open In Kansas City – February 17, 2016 (February 18, 2016)

Bernie Sanders Campaign Headquarters Open In Kansas City – February 20, 2016 (February 20, 2016)

Bernie Sanders in Lawrence, Kansas - March 3, 2016.

Bernie Sanders in Lawrence, Kansas – March 3, 2016.

Bill Clinton in Springfield - March 11, 2016.

Bill Clinton in Springfield – March 11, 2016.

Bernie Sanders (D) in Lawrence, Kansas – March 3, 2016 (March 4, 2016)

Bill Clinton in Springfield, Missouri – March 11, 2016 (March 12, 2016)

Things to do in Kansas City on a Saturday night (March 13, 2016)

Keep Calm and Carry On – part 2 (March 16, 2016)

Impatient (March 19, 2016)

After the presidential primary in March statewide and local candidates made their way to county fundraising dinners across the state.

Jason Kander (D), speaking in Warrensburg on April 2, 2016.

Jason Kander (D), speaking in Warrensburg on April 2, 2016.

Johnson County Democratic Committee Kirkpatrick Dinner in Warrensburg – April 2, 2016 (April 3, 2016)

21st Senate District: ElGene Ver Dught (D) at the Kirkpatrick Dinner in Warrensburg – April 2, 2016 (April 3, 2016)

The long road in the Missouri Democratic Party delegate selection process continued in April at county mass meetings, then at congressional district conventions.

At the Democratic Party county mass meeting in Warrensburg - April 7, 2016.

At the Democratic Party county mass meeting in Warrensburg – April 7, 2016.

At the 4th Congressional District Democratic Party convention in Warsaw - April 28, 2016.

At the 4th Congressional District Democratic Party convention in Warsaw – April 28, 2016.

If you’re planning on a revolution it actually helps if you show up (April 7, 2016)

Just because I think you’re an idiot doesn’t mean I don’t like your candidate (April 9, 2016)

The 4th Congressional District Democratic Party Convention – Warsaw, Missouri – April 28, 2016 (April 29, 2016)

The end of the legislative session in Jefferson City in May was filled the triumphal wreckage which is the agenda of the right wingnut super majority.

Representative Tracy McCreery (D) – May 13, 2016.

Representative Tracy McCreery (D) – May 13, 2016.

HA 4 to HCS SS SCS SB 663: open season (May 12, 2016)

Missouri House – May 12, 2016 (May 12, 2016)

The end of the legislative session – May 13, 2016 (May 13, 2016)

CCS HCS SB 656: hypocrisy (May 14, 2016)

Governor Jay Nixon came to Warrensburg to sign a higher education bill. We asked him a few questions about vetoing “stand your ground” and voter ID.

Governor Jay Nixon in Warrensburg - June 16, 2016.

Governor Jay Nixon in Warrensburg – June 16, 2016.

Gov. Jay Nixon (D): on SB 656 (“stand your ground”) and HJR 53/HB 1631 (voter ID) (June 16, 2016)

The Missouri Democratic Party state convention held in Sedalia on June 18th was interesting, to say the least.

At the Missouri Democratic Party state convention in Sedalia - June 18, 2016.

At the Missouri Democratic Party state convention in Sedalia – June 18, 2016.

Your $27.00 won’t get you into heaven anymore (June 19, 2016)

Running for at-large delegate to the DNC (June 19, 2016)

At the Democratic Party state convention (June 20, 2019)

Previously:

Our top ten traffic posts for 2016 (December 29, 2016)

Let them eat cake – at the country club with Rep. Lyndall Fraker.

29 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by willykay in Uncategorized

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Country clubs, Lyndall Fraker, missouri, sales taxes, Tax exemptions, Tax policy

It seems that Missouri Rep. Lyndall Fraker (R-137) thinks that sales taxes are threatening the survival of Missouri’s country clubs. To hear him tell it, “it’s just really hitting some of these clubs really hard.” That’s why he’s proposing a sales tax exemption on initiation fees and dues for private country clubs. Rich folks can only handle so much luxury spending after all, and when you’ve put down a bundle on the private school for your kid and put a new Mercedes in the garage, you’ve got to cut down, right? And we’ve got to keep those vitally important country clubs chugging along somehow, don’t we?

To put Fraker’s concern about the plight of country clubs into perspective, the Pitch characterized him in 2015 as “as one of the more lobbyist-greased elected officials,” adding:

Given that he’s been plied with more gifts than a spoiled 10-year-old on Christmas Day, it’s easy to see how someone like Fraker would think that holding a legislative meeting for the House Utility Infrastructure Committee at a country club paid for by a utility industry association is perfectly fine.

[…]

Fraker seemed unfazed by the criticism, telling MissouriNet on Monday that the meeting was just an opportunity for committee members to take in some information from MEDA president Trey Davis.

“I posted it up as a regular meeting just so we would be transparent, so the public would know we don’t have bills to hear but we’re going to have an informative meeting, an introductory meeting for our first meeting and all the utility members of all the committees can meet one another and get to know each other and get to know Trey’s organization,” Fraker told MissouriNet.

Nice to know that Fraker wanted to be transparent about not being transparent. But at least we now understand why he thinks country clubs are so important. A solid operator’s gotta give his lobbyist constituency the type of surroundings they’re used to if he’s gonna make an impression and maximize the take.

There’s a more of that perspective stuff that might also be useful in this case. This tax exemption will decrease revenue dollar for dollar in a state where the current budget shortfall is somewhere in the neighborhood of $150 million dollars. That shortfall will probably grow even larger after a newly enacted GOP tax cut that will cost the state $600 million dollars over five years goes into effect. (In case you haven’t noticed, Missouri Republican lawmakers are going for the Kansas effect – bust the budget and decimate the state’s economy because they really want to believe, contrary to Parmenides, that something wonderful can come from nothing.)

To focus that perspective business just a little more, consider the fact that in 2013 Missouri got a C- grade on the state of its infrastructure from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Infrastructure includes roads, bridges, drinking water safety, levees, aviation systems, dams, school facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, inland waterways navigation systems, almost all of which are deteriorating and underfunded. Missouri schools are also seriously underfunded.

I could go on and on in the same vein – although Missouri may be doing better than Kansas, that’s not saying much. But, hey, Rep. Fraker’s got his priorities. Too bad they aren’t likely to benefit the people in his district.

Previously:

HB 276: because a private country club is exactly the same as charitable or veteran’s organizations (December 21, 2016)

HB 328: because a private tennis club is exactly the same as charitable or veteran’s organizations (December 27, 2016)

Help fight Trumpworld lies

29 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by willykay in Uncategorized

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Donald Trump, Journalism, Media, Political lies

Progressives woke up on November 9th to a world gone sour. Sure, we grieved for awhile but we almost immediately began thinking about how to resist the worst of what the Trump cabal promised to bring about. The good news is that there’s plenty that we can do. Specifically, Trump’s propensity for obvious lies offers all of us what will – sadly – likely be an ongoing opportunity.

We can inform ourselves and when media fails to sufficiently point out Big Orange’s mendacity, we can call them on it with whatever tools we may have, for example, send admonitory emails or make phone calls to the editor of our local papers, submit letters to the editor for publication, or use Twitter or Facebook to point out examples of lax reporting.

Greg Sargent points out examples of one type of the media failure I am referencing. He examined the headlines that greeted Trump’s effort to take credit for bringing Sprint jobs to the US – a move by Sprint that was announced in April of 2015 and that did not necessarily have anything to do with Trump (who also seems to have at times inflated the number of jobs from 5000 to 8000). With a few exceptions, most of the headlines obligingly repeated Trump’s claim although the body the articles may have suggested reasons to doubt its veracity .

Sargent suggests that in cases like this bit of unsupported braggadocio, “if the headline does not convey the fact that Trump’s claim is in question or open to doubt, based on the known facts, then it is insufficiently informative” or even “misleading” because many people simply “scan headlines without digging deeper into the stories and the factual details.” He suggests that care in constructing headlines is important because:

..  it’s obvious that Trump has adopted a strategy of actively trying to game such headlines in his favor. Trump’s claims about Carrier jobs staying in Indiana turned out to be significantly less rosy upon closer inspection. And remember when Trump falsely claimed credit for keeping a Ford plant here that was going to stay anyway? It really doesn’t take much to convey it in a headline when Trump’s claim is in doubt

Headlines are not the only place where media may mislead due to an overly casual approach to reporting. Recently, in a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article on newly proposed right-to-work-for-less legislation in Missouri, the reporter glibly stated that the legislation would make it unlawful to force workers to join unions, a blatantly misleading statement. Workers are not now required to join a union, although, if they enjoy the benefits of a union contract – from which they cannot by law be excluded – they must pay at least a portion of the dues paid by union members. Folks who receive benefits paid for by the actual union members are nothing more than free-loaders if they don’t pay their share of the cost.

Examples of such misrepresentation are rife and promise to be especially common as media struggles to deal with the serial-liar and champion deflector who will soon be President of the US. In fact, the failure to deal with his lies and the false narratives emanating from political propaganda outlets like Fox News and Breitbart.com may have significantly contributed to the fact we are now facing a walking, talking disaster like our new President-elect.

It becomes our obligation to point out problems in reporting and presentation of news when we notice them and to demand that journalists do better. Responding to the lies of the Trump mafia by refusing to let our media either inadvertently or intentionally perpetuate them is one of our first tasks. So, let’s get busy – if we are to be effective, there has to be lots of voices calling out Trump and other rightwing liars along with their media enablers.

*1st sentence of last paragraph slightly rewritten for clarity.

HB 300: gun humpers in the General Assembly want to hold everyone else hostage – redux

29 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

General Assembly, gun humpers, guns, HB 300, Mike Moon, missouri, right wingnuts

Another gun bill, pre-filed on December 20th:

HB 300
Provides that if a business enterprise posts to prohibit the possession of concealed firearms on the property, the posting entity assumes responsibility for the safety of a person permitted to carry a firearm if harmed on the property.
Sponsor: Moon, Mike (157)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2017
LR Number:
0735H.01I
Last Action:
12/20/2016 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 300
Next Hearing: Hearing not scheduled
Calendar: Bill currently not on a House calendar
[….]

The bill summary [pdf]:

HB 300 — BUSINESS LIABILITY FOR PROHIBITING FIREARMS
SPONSOR: Moon
This bill makes a business that posts signs prohibiting concealed firearms liable for injuries or damages sustained by individuals, who would otherwise be authorized to carry firearms, while on the premises of that business. By posting signs prohibiting firearms the business would assume a duty to defend its customers. The business would be held responsible for the intention or reckless conduct of third parties, including trespasser. The bill authorizes the injured individual to sue the business and if successful, recover attorneys’ fees, expert witness costs, and court costs. This bill is similar to HB 96 (2017) and HB 2663 (2016).

“…This bill is similar to HB 96 (2017)…” Ooh, with refinements. Because freshman right wingnuts shouldn’t have all the fun.

The bill text:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 300 [pdf]
99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MOON.
0735H.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 571, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to liability for concealed firearm exclusion in certain locations.

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 571.068, to read as follows:
571.068. 1. Any business enterprise authorized to post signs on property prohibiting the possession of a concealed firearm by a person authorized to carry a concealed firearm under sections 571.101 to 571.121 shall assume absolute custodial responsibility for the safety and defense of the endorsement or permit holder while such person is on the premises of the business enterprise and on any property owned by the business enterprise that the endorsement or permit holder is required to traverse in order to travel to and from the location where the endorsement or permit holder’s firearm is stored. The provisions of this section shall not apply to private property not used for commercial purposes or to private residences of any type. For purposes of this section, “business enterprise” means any business that sells or provides goods or services to the general public. 2. The responsibility of the business enterprise for the safety and defense of the endorsement or permit holder shall extend to the conduct of other invitees, trespassers, or employees of the business enterprise.
3. (1) Any firearm carry endorsement or permit holder who is injured, suffers bodily injury or death, incurs economic loss or expense, property damage, or any other compensable loss as a result of the conduct occurring on property where signs are posted prohibiting concealed firearms shall have a cause of action against the business enterprise posting such signs so long as such person is an invitee on such property. In addition to damages, such person shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, expert witness costs, and other costs necessary to bring the cause of action.
(2) The statute of limitations for an action under this subsection shall be two years from the date of the occurrence giving rise to the damages, loss, or injury.
4. Any notice or sign prohibiting concealed firearms on the property shall also contain language citing the provisions of this section and stating that any endorsement or permit holder on the posted property is under the custodial responsibility of the business enterprise.
5. To prevail in an action brought under this section, the plaintiff shall show by a preponderance of the evidence that:
(1) The plaintiff was authorized to carry a concealed firearm under sections 571.101 to 571.121 at the time of the incident giving rise to the action;
(2) The plaintiff was prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm on the property where the incident occurred because signs were posted prohibiting concealed firearms on the property;
(3) The property was not required to post signs prohibiting concealed firearms on the property by state or federal law but was posted by choice of the defendant; and
(4) The business enterprise’s prohibition on carrying concealed firearms or other arms was the proximate cause of the damages, loss, or injury suffered by the plaintiff.
6. This section shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purpose.

[emphasis in original]

Yep:

….Here’s what should and will probably happen if this moronic bill becomes law: Business owners who post “no guns” will require anyone with a gun (who is not a commissioned peace officer) who they will not allow to enter with that weapon to sign a legal waiver before they are allowed on their premises without the gun….

Previously:

HB 96: gun humpers in the General Assembly want to hold everyone else hostage (December 8, 2016)

Rep. Stacey Newman (D): about those guns… (December 12, 2016)

Our top ten traffic posts for 2016

29 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in meta

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

meta, missouri, retrospective, Show Me Progress

We wrote a lot of stories and posted a lot of photos in 2016. These were the posts which generated the most traffic during the last year:

1. Hillary Clinton Campaign Headquarters Open In Kansas City – February 17, 2016 (February 18, 2016)

A post on the opening of the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign headquarters in Kansas City for the Missouri primary in March. For the rest of the election year people used Internet searches to look for Hillary’s Kansas City headquarters. This story kept popping up in their searches.

Jackson County Executive Frank White at the opening of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign headquarters in Kansas City - February 17, 2016.

Jackson County Executive Frank White at the opening of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign headquarters in Kansas City – February 17, 2016.

2. Your $27.00 won’t get you into heaven anymore (June 19, 2016)

The goings on at the Missouri Democratic Party state convention in Sedalia. There were vapors from the revolution crowd, also in the comments.

At the Missouri Democratic Party state convention in Sedalia - June 18, 2016.

At the Missouri Democratic Party state convention in Sedalia – June 18, 2016.

3. HB 2610: Two years ago I couldn’t spell injinear, now I are one… (February 24, 2016)

Your right wingnut controlled Missouri General Assembly. This time, in a pique of self interest, someone introduced a bill that serving two years in the General Assembly qualified an individual to be an attorney or a Circuit Court Judge. Right.

4. Hillary Clinton – Harlem, New York – February 16, 2016 (February 16, 2016)

We ran the transcript of Hillary Clinton’s speech on race in Harlem, New York. Apparently it showed up on a lot of Internet searches.

5. How much does it cost to buy a state? (September 3, 2013)

A post from three years ago on St. Louis City/County consolidation and big dollar campaign contributions. Missouri and unlimited campaign contributions a big story? No, really?

6. HB 44, HB 78, HB 79, and HB 104: they ain’t gonna prevail no more (December 1, 2016)

The assault on working people and organized labor. Bills filed in the House to limit or eliminate prevailing wage on the first day of filing for the 2017 legislative session. It’s going to be a very long session for working people.

7. Hillary Clinton Campaign Headquarters Open In Kansas City (January 13, 2008)

From the first presidential campaign. People were looking for Hillary Clinton’s Kansas City headquarters for the 2016 campaign and stumbled upon this post from 2008.

8. Eric Greitens (r) – January 2016 Quarterly Campaign Finance Report – “Running for governor in which state?” (January 17, 2016)

The January 2016 quarterly campaign finance report for Eric Greitens’ (r) [ultimately successful] 2016 gubernatorial campaign. Most of his campaign contribution total came from out of state.

Contributions broken down by Missouri and out-of-state reported on Eric Greitens' (r) quarterly campaign finance report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission on January 15, 2016.

Contributions broken down by Missouri and out-of-state reported on Eric Greitens’ (r) quarterly campaign finance report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission on January 15, 2016.

9. If you’re planning on a revolution it actually helps if you show up (April 7, 2016)

Skepticism about the revolution after poor attendance at an April county mass meeting during the Democratic Party delegate selection process.

10. That’s our Claire – part 2 (August 20, 2016)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) needled Kellyanne Riefenstahl (r) for her previous Missouri campaign experience via social media.

Claire082016

Campaign Finance: how convenient – part 2

27 Tuesday Dec 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

campaign finance, HRCC, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission

In the Missouri Constitution:

Article VIII
SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS
Section 23
[….]
(12) Political action committees shall only receive contributions from individuals; unions; federal political action committees; and corporations, associations, and partnerships formed under chapters 347 to 360, RSMo, as amended from time to time, and shall be prohibited from receiving contributions from other political action committees, candidate committees, political party committees, campaign committees, exploratory committees, or debt service committees. However, candidate committees, political party committees, campaign committees, exploratory committees, and debt service committees shall be allowed to return contributions to a donor political action committee that is the origin of the contribution.
(13) The prohibited committee transfers described in subdivision (12) of this subsection shall not apply to the following committees:
(a) The state house committee per political party designated by the respective majority or minority floor leader of the house of representatives or the chair of the state party if the party does not have majority or minority party status;

[….]

[emphasis added]

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the House Republican Campaign Committee:

C091068 12/27/2016 HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, INC Fitzpatrick For House PO Box 701 Shell Knob MO 65747 12/27/2016 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Convenient.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: how convenient (December 26, 2016)

HB 328: because a private tennis club is exactly the same as charitable or veteran’s organizations

27 Tuesday Dec 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

golf, HB 328, Lynn Morris, missouri, private country club, sales tax, tennis

There is another.

A bill pre-filed today:

HB 328
Authorizes a sales tax exemption for initiation dues of certain not for profit clubs and groups
Sponsor: Morris, Lynn (140)
Proposed Effective Date: Emergency Clause
LR Number: 0980H.01I
Last Action: 12/27/2016 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 328
Next Hearing: Hearing not scheduled
Calendar: Bill currently not on a House calendar
[….]

With an emergency clause? Somebody have a pressing court reservation? Just asking.

The pertinent exemptions in the bill:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 328 [pdf]
99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MORRIS.
0980H.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To repeal section 144.011, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to sales and use tax exemptions, with an emergency clause.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 144.011, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 144.011, to read as follows: 144.011.
1. For purposes of sections 144.010 to 144.525 and 144.600 to 144.748, and the taxes imposed thereby, the definition of “retail sale” or “sale at retail” shall not be construed to include any of the following:
[….]
(13) Charges for initiation fees or dues to:
(a) Fraternal beneficiaries societies, or domestic fraternal societies, orders or associations operating under the lodge system a substantial part of the activities of which are devoted to religious, charitable, scientific, literary, educational or fraternal purposes; [or]
(b) Posts or organizations of past or present members of the Armed Forces of the United States or an auxiliary unit or society of, or a trust or foundation for, any such post or organization substantially all of the members of which are past or present members of the Armed Forces of the United States or who are cadets, spouses, widows, or widowers of past or present members of the Armed Forces of the United States, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual; or
(c) Any organization or club not open to the public whose articles of incorporation define it as a general not-for-profit corporation and whose purpose is to bring together and allow individuals to participate in and enjoy an activity including, but not limited to, a private country club, fitness club, golf course, golf club, swim club, or tennis club.
[….]

[emphasis in original]

If they don’t enjoy the activities do they still have to pay the sales tax? Just asking.

With an emergency clause. Think about that.

Previously:

HB 276: because a private country club is exactly the same as charitable or veteran’s organizations (December 21, 2016)

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