Category Archives: Missouri House

Rep. Peter Merideth (D): about that Sunshine Law…

09 Friday Aug 2019

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A release, yesterday, from Representative Peter Merideth (D):

State Rep. Peter Merideth
80th District
peter.merideth@house.mo.gov

For Immediate Release:
Aug. 8, 2019

Five months later, Schmitt hasn’t provided requested legal opinion
Attorney general shows pattern of protecting GOP officials in Sunshine Law cases

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – More than five months after state Rep. Peter Merideth submitted a request for a legal opinion from Attorney General Eric Schmitt regarding whether the Republican-controlled House of Representatives is violating state law and the Missouri Constitution by preventing public access to certain lawmaker records, Schmitt has yet to respond – even though his office promised to do so with 90 days.

Yesterday, State Auditor Nicole Galloway noted that Schmitt, a Republican, likewise has failed to timely act on a request she submitted on May 7 seeking the attorney general’s opinion on whether government entities can assert the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as justification to close portions of public documents that are open under Missouri’s Sunshine Law. Republican Gov. Mike Parson’s office recently invented the novel legal argument, which has been ridiculed by experts in open records law.

“Eric Schmitt has established an unfortunate pattern of looking the other way when Republican elected officials violate the law by shielding public records from public scrutiny,” said Merideth, D-St. Louis. “As attorney general, it is his duty to fight for transparency and protect Missourians. Instead he has chosen to protect officials of his own party and keep Missourians from holding their state government accountable.”

Merideth submitted his request for an attorney general’s opinion on March 7. Other than a same-day letter acknowledging receipt of the request and promising to respond to respond “within 90 days,” Merideth has received no further information from Schmitt regarding this issue.

“Missouri law requires the attorney general to issue legal opinions when requested by other elected officials,” Merideth said. “Eric Schmitt needs to do his job.”

Merideth’s original opinion request and the attorney general’s letter of acknowledgment are attached.

-30-

The original request for an opinion from Attorney General Eric Schmitt (r):

Request for Attorney General Opinion

1. Information about requestor: Representative Peter Merideth represents Missouri House District 80. He was first elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2016, reelected in 2018, and currently serves as a member of the 100th General Assembly.

2. Official capacity of requestor: Rep. Merideth is a duly elected State Representative serving the constituents of St. Louis City residing in Missouri House of Representatives District 80. He currently serves as a member of the 100th General Assembly, First Regular Session. His principal office is in Cole County, Missouri, in the Missouri Capitol building.

3. The question of LAW upon which I request your legal opinion is as follows: Does Rule 127 of the rules governing proceedings before the Missouri House of Representatives for the 100th General Assembly, as set forth in House Resolution 7, passed by the Missouri House of Representatives on January 15, 2019, violate Article III, Section 19(b) of the Missouri Constitution?

4. A complete statement of the FACTS giving rise to this question is as follows: Constitutional Amendment 1 (“Clean Missouri”) On November 6, 2018, 62 percent of Missouri voters approved Constitutional Amendment 1, also known as the “Clean Missouri” Amendment. Among its provisions, Constitutional Amendment 1 required all legislative records, defined broadly, to be subject to the state open meetings and records law, known as the Missouri Sunshine Law. Subsequent to its approval, Article III, Section 19 of the Missouri Constitution was amended to include subsection (b), which states: “Legislative records shall be public records and subject to generally applicable state laws governing public access to public records, including the Sunshine Law. Legislative records include, but are not limited to, all records, in whatever form or format, of the official acts of the general assembly, of the official acts of legislative committees, of the official acts of members of the general assembly, of individual legislators, their employees and staff, of the conduct of legislative business and all records that are created, stored or distributed through legislative branch facilities, equipment or mechanisms, including electronic. Each member of the general assembly is the custodian of legislative records under the custody and control of the member, their employees and staff. The chief clerk of the house or the secretary of the senate are the custodians for all other legislative records relating to the house and the senate, respectively.” House Rule 127 On January 15, 2019, the Missouri House of Representatives adopted House Resolution 7, which details the rules governing proceedings before the Missouri House of Representatives for the 100th General Assembly. House Resolution 7 included a new rule, Rule 127, “House Records,” which purports to grant Members of the Missouri House of Representatives the authority to close constituent case files, which it defined broadly, as well as records containing caucus strategy, which it did not define. The rule states: “Members may keep constituent case files, and records of the caucus of the majority or minority party of the house that contain caucus strategy, confidential. Constituent case files include any correspondence, written or electronic, between a member and a constituent, or between a member and any other party pertaining to a constituent’s grievance, a question of eligibility for any benefit as it relates to a particular constituent, or any issue regarding a constituent’s request for assistance.” Sunshine Request On March 2, 2019, Rep. Peter Merideth, who is currently an elected official in the Missouri House of Representatives, received two requests for legislative records pursuant to the Missouri Sunshine law. The first request specifically asked for emails purportedly, though likely fraudulently, sent to Rep. Merideth using his constituent’s email address. The second request specifically asked for emails, including attachments to said emails, sent from Democratic caucus staff and leadership to Rep. Merideth in regards to certain bills filed in 2018.

5. List each and every governmental entity involved in this request:
Rep. Peter Merideth The House Minority Caucus.

6. Which of the entities listed in response to Question 5 have attorneys paid with public funds? For each entity listed, attach a copy of the written legal opinion of each such attorney on the question involved herein. Rep. Merideth is represented in this matter by the House Minority Caucus Counsel, Casey Millburg. As an employee of the Missouri House of Representatives, Ms. Millburg is paid with public funds. Ms. Millburg’s written legal opinion on the question is attached.

7. State in detail how the question of law relates to your official position or to the discharge of your duties. Pursuant Article III, Section 19(b) of the Missouri Constitution, each member of the general assembly is the custodian of legislative records under the custody and control of the member, their employees and staff. As the custodian of such records for his office, Rep. Merideth is responsible for determining how to comply with Sunshine requests made for his office’s legislative records. Further, pursuant to this subsection, in doing so Rep. Merideth must comply with the provisions of the state’s open records laws. As a duly elected official serving as a Member of the Missouri House of Representatives, Rep. Merideth is also subject to the rules governing proceedings before the Missouri House of Representatives for the 100th General Assembly. As set forth in House Resolution 7 passed by the General Assembly on January 15, 2019, Rule 127 purports to give Rep. Merideth and all Members of the Missouri House of Representatives the power to determine whether or not to release constituent case files of the type at issue in Mr. Pedroli’s request in response to a Sunshine request for such records.

8. Is any litigation pending involving the issues raised in your opinion request? We are aware of no pending litigation involving the specific issues in this request.

9. If the answer to Question 8 is “yes” list the name of case, court in which it is pending and docket number of case: See above.

It ain’t exactly rocket surgery.

General Assembly – November 5, 2019 Special Elections

01 Thursday Aug 2019

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House

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Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

Today:

Governor Parson Calls Special Election for House of Representative Vacancies

August 1, 2019

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson called for a special election to fill four House of Representative vacancies due to the resignation of Representatives Brandon Ellington, DaRon McGee, Cora Faith Walker, and Bruce Franks Jr.

“We greatly appreciate the service of Representatives Ellington, McGee, Walker, and Franks to the State of Missouri,” Governor Parson said. “We will work quickly to fill these vacancies and ensure that all Missourians are represented here in the Capitol.”

[….]

The special election for the Missouri House of Representatives 22nd District (parts of Jackson County and Kansas City), 36th District (Kansas City), 74th District (St. Louis County), and 78th District (St. Louis City) will take place on November 5, 2019.

Representative Cora Faith Walker (D) [2017 file photo].

Representative Brandon Ellington (D) [2017 file photo].

Representative Bruce Franks, Jr. (D) [2018 file photo]

Rep. Dean Dohrman (r): making legislative and word salads

10 Monday Jun 2019

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

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Or, letting a lobbyist pull your puppet strings.

“…’A lot of people come with a lot of ideas. I talk to constituents, they may mention something to me, I look into it. There’s some reason the law is the way it is. We can or can’t proceed with their suggestion,’ Dohrman told The Star…”

What the hell does that even mean?

Representative Dean Dohrman (r) [2016 file photo].

It’s about HB 573 and SB 259 and gutting Title IX in Missouri – for someone with a personal agenda.

Yesterday in the Kansas City Star:

Saga of Missouri Title IX bills shows sway of lobbyists, dark money in state government

[….]

Toward the end of October 2018, McIntosh met with state Rep. Dean Dohrman, R-La Monte, a friend who would sponsor the House version of the bill. McIntosh followed up with Dohrman and his staff by sending a series of articles decrying what he called a lack of due process for those accused of sexual assault on campus.

[….]

For the next month, the McIntoshes and Dohrman’s legislative staff worked together to write the bill.

They exchanged drafts, with both McIntosh and his wife outlining provisions they wanted included. The bill was crafted such that the expulsion of McIntosh’s son could have been retroactively appealed to the board of commissioners that his mother presided over.

In an email to Dohrman last fall, a nonpartisan legislative analyst assisting with the bill said, “You should be aware that significant legal concerns are likely to be raised regarding this legislation.”

Dohrman said he didn’t involve himself in the details of the bill’s drafting.

“I put in some input here and there, of course, but that’s a complicated matter and I thought it was best for me to hear it out through the whole process before I put in my two cents, if you will,” he said. “It wasn’t a blind acceptance on my part.”

“When I get a bill that’s extremely complicated I kind of let the person work it out,” Dohrman told The Star in recent interview. “You know, and we had (legislative research) involved, and I was there of course. I just kind of let it work out to see where it went.”

Dohrman said that McIntosh’s involvement shouldn’t lead people to believe lobbyists write all laws.

“A lot of people come with a lot of ideas. I talk to constituents, they may mention something to me, I look into it. There’s some reason the law is the way it is. We can or can’t proceed with their suggestion,” Dohrman told The Star. “Lobbyists, of course, that’s their job, and they’re there more often, but it’s an open process, as it should be.”

[…]

“…It wasn’t a blind acceptance on my part…” Narrator: “It was.”

“…Dohrman said that McIntosh’s involvement shouldn’t lead people to believe lobbyists write all laws…” This one.

“…Lobbyists, of course, that’s their job, and they’re there more often, but it’s an open process, as it should be….” “Open process”. That’s laughable. We wouldn’t be reading about this sordid tale if the republican majority in the General Assembly had managed to gut CLEAN Missouri provisions about Missouri Sunshine Law access to legislative communications.

Previously:

HB 573: Why? Who? (March 9, 2019)

SB 259: Really? For what purpose? (March 11, 2019)

HB 573 and SB 259: Let the army of lobbyists go forth… (March 12, 2019)

HB 573 and SB 259: What took you so long? (March 12, 2019)

HCS HB 573: if you put marshmallows and sprinkles on a mud pie it’s still a mud pie (March 13, 2019)

“…political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Prize…” (April 24, 2019)

Our nation turns its eyes to Missouri

01 Saturday Jun 2019

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate, Resist

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For all the wrong reasons.

Pre 1973 2019 medical equipment.

Yesterday, from Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri:

ABORTION CARE WILL CONTINUE IN MISSOURI — FOR NOW
For Immediate Release: May 31, 2019

Court Blocks State’s Egregious Actions that would have Left Missouri as the First State Since 1974 Without a Health Center that Provides Abortion
Court Allows Health Center to Continue Services for Now — Sets Another Court Date

St. Louis – Today, the Circuit Court of St. Louis stepped in to protect the last remaining health center in Missouri that provides abortion — for now. The judge today issued a Temporary Restraining Order against the state of Missouri, allowing Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region (RHS) — the last remaining health center in Missouri that provides abortion — to continue to provide abortion for the time being. The ruling means that abortion services will continue in the state for now. The judge also set another hearing on Tuesday, June 4.

Statement of Dr. Leana Wen, President & CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
“Today is a victory for women across Missouri, but this fight is far from over. We have seen just how vulnerable access to abortion care is here—and in the rest of the country. We are glad that the governor has been prevented from putting women’s health and lives in danger—for now—and call on him to stop this egregious politicalization of public health in an attempt to ban all safe, legal abortion care in the state.

“We want our patients to know that we will never abandon the women of Missouri. We will keep fighting these attempts to end access to health care, to ensure all people can get the care that they need—no matter what.”

Statement of Dr. Colleen McNicholas, OB-GYN, Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region:
“This is a huge sigh of relief for the many patients who need access to safe, legal abortion in Missouri. The fight goes on. While temporary, we celebrate today, and tomorrow we go back to work to ensure access to abortion does not go dark at the last health center that provides abortion in Missouri. Planned Parenthood has served Missouri for more than 87 years and we aren’t going anywhere. While Governor Parson abandoned our patients, we will not. Our doors are open today, our doors will be open tomorrow, and we will fight to make sure all patients continue to receive the care they need and deserve.”

On Tuesday, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and RHS announced they expected the state health department to block services at the state’s last remaining health center that provides abortion by refusing to renew its license to provide abortion services — a move that would have left 1.1 million women of reproductive age in Missouri without a health center in their state that provided abortion.

RHS filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of St. Louis on Tuesday asking for a Temporary Restraining Order against the state’s egregious actions. Today’s ruling means that abortion services in Missouri are protected — for now.

It is not new for politicians in Missouri or elsewhere to use a combination of state laws and regulatory harassment to target abortion providers — in fact, Missouri already used similar targeting to block the only other health center in the state that provided abortions from continuing to do so in 2018. Last week, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bills, which bans abortion at nearly every stage of pregnancy and also adds more medically unnecessary abortion restrictions. Missouri’s long list of medically unnecessary restrictions are no longer just targeting clinics they are directly impacting patients and their right to evidence based healthcare free from harassment. Missouri’s demand that doctors perform invasive and medically unnecessary pelvic exams on patients is a clear indication that they have no regard for the wellbeing of their citizens. The medical literature is clear: restrictions including a 72-hour mandatory delay for patients accessing abortion that requires patients to make two trips to the health center, and demanding that abortion providers hold local hospital admitting privileges have no basis in science.

Already, 1 in 3 women of reproductive age lives in a state where abortion could be outlawed if Roe is overturned. That’s over 25 million people. While abortion bans impact everyone who can become pregnant, they hit people of color and those who are struggling to make ends meet the hardest — the people who already face barriers to accessing good health care. While those with wealth may be able to find a way around abortion bans, far too many people — especially those who already face racism, homophobia, and transphobia — will be left with no options at all.

###

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.

Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region provides options counseling, pregnancy testing, abortion care and other reproductive services for thousands of people in Missouri, Illinois and across the region each year. Our highly-trained physicians and medical staff provide expert care in a supportive setting, no matter what. [….]

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

From Governor Mike Parson (r):

Statement On Court Ruling Regarding Planned Parenthood’s St. Louis Facility
May 31, 2019

Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Parson issued the following statement after the 22nd Circuit Court of St. Louis, Missouri, issued a temporary restraining order:

“Following today’s ruling, the State will soon have the opportunity for a prompt legal review of our state health regulators’ serious health and safety concerns regarding Planned Parenthood’s abortion facility in St. Louis. We are committed to and take seriously our duty to ensure that all health facilities in Missouri follow the law, abide by regulations, and protect the safety of patients.”

Well, that was lame. “Shut it down” didn’t work, eh? Yet.

“Serious health and safety concerns”? Really. Okay. What are they? Why aren’t those concerns listed in this press release?

#resist

Previously:

HB 126 and HB 127: catering to their single issue base (December 3, 2018)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): Alabama, hold my beer… (May 15, 2019)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): New York is shorthand for what? (May 16, 2019)

Medieval (May 17, 2019)

Sen. Denny Hoskins (r): post session victory dance over any individal woman’s personal medical decisions (May 17, 2019)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): the 13th Century GOP in 21st Century America (May 20, 2019)

HB 126: the elephant in the womb (May 24, 2019)

HB 126: “…here for the ratio” (May 25, 2016)

Missouri: Medieval (May 28, 2019)

ACLU: Referendum Petition filed on HB 126 (May 28, 2019)

Women’s Health Care in Missouri – 1, Gov. Mike Parson (r) – 0 (May 31, 2019)

Women’s Health Care in Missouri – 1, Gov. Mike Parson (r) – 0

31 Friday May 2019

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate

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This afternoon:

Planned Parenthood Action @PPact
BREAKING: A state court just issued temporary relief to block Missouri from eliminating abortion access in the state. This ruling means that abortion services will continue in the state — for now.
[….]
1:24 PM – 31 May 2019

For now.

Previously:

HB 126 and HB 127: catering to their single issue base (December 3, 2018)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): Alabama, hold my beer… (May 15, 2019)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): New York is shorthand for what? (May 16, 2019)

Medieval (May 17, 2019)

Sen. Denny Hoskins (r): post session victory dance over any individal woman’s personal medical decisions (May 17, 2019)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): the 13th Century GOP in 21st Century America (May 20, 2019)

HB 126: the elephant in the womb (May 24, 2019)

HB 126: “…here for the ratio” (May 25, 2016)

Missouri: Medieval (May 28, 2019)

ACLU: Referendum Petition filed on HB 126 (May 28, 2019)

ACLU: Referendum Petition filed on HB 126

28 Tuesday May 2019

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate, Resist

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Pre 1973 2019 medical equipment.

Today:

ACLU-MO files Referendum Petition to stop MO’s anti-abortion law
May 28, 2019 – 12:45pm

Jefferson City – The ACLU of Missouri submitted a referendum petition to the Missouri Secretary of State to be approved for circulation.

This is the first step to bring Missouri’s anti-abortion law before the voters. The referendum will need to be certified for circulation and then over 100,000 signatures will need to be gathered to place the issue on the ballot. Once the signatures are submitted, the law cannot go into effect until a statewide vote has been made. A simple majority vote will veto the law.

Missourians oppose ending legal abortion. The Missouri General Assembly, trying to outdo the misguided and extreme examples of anti-abortion politicians in Alabama, Ohio, Georgia, and Kentucky, has made its intention clear: it wants to ban all abortion. Preventing Missourians from accessing abortion after eight weeks, before some even know they are pregnant, is unconstitutional and dangerous.

Abortion access is healthcare. HB 126, the law that will be put before Missouri voters, would criminalize doctors who perform abortions and force pregnant individuals to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term, including in cases of rape and incest and even if the pregnancy is not viable or is risky for the woman.

“Failing to protect the right to an abortion violates the individual freedom of Missourians. HB 126 runs counter to our shared belief in autonomy and it has devastating health consequences for Missourians who become pregnant,” said Sara Baker, legislative and policy director with the ACLU of Missouri.

Passing an eight week abortion ban is an example of government overreach and disregard for the constitutional rights of Missourians. The ACLU of Missouri will continue to explore all options to stopping HB 126.
“The Constitution gives pregnant individuals the right to make the decision whether to end a pregnancy,” said Tony Rothert, legal director of the ACLU of Missouri. “We will make sure that abortion remains legal in Missouri.”

HB 126 can be submitted to the voters for disapproval. In the Missouri Constitution:

Article III
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
Section 49

Reservation of power to enact and reject laws.

Section 49. The people reserve power to propose and enact or reject laws and amendments to the constitution by the initiative, independent of the general assembly, and also reserve power to approve or reject by referendum any act of the general assembly, except as hereinafter provided.

Article III
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
Section 52a

Referendum–exceptions–procedure.

Section 52(a). A referendum may be ordered (except as to laws necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, and laws making appropriations for the current expenses of the state government, for the maintenance of state institutions and for the support of public schools) either by petitions signed by five percent of the legal voters in each of two-thirds of the congressional districts in the state, or by the general assembly, as other bills are enacted. Referendum petitions shall be filed with the secretary of state not more than ninety days after the final adjournment of the session of the general assembly which passed the bill on which the referendum is demanded.

Article III
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
Section 52b

Veto power–elections–effective date.

Section 52(b). The veto power of the governor shall not extend to measures referred to the people. All elections on measures referred to the people shall be had at the general state elections, except when the general assembly shall order a special election. Any measure referred to the people shall take effect when approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon, and not otherwise. This section shall not be construed to deprive any member of the general assembly of the right to introduce any measure.

And in RSMo §116.

Previously:

HB 126 and HB 127: catering to their single issue base (December 3, 2018)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): Alabama, hold my beer… (May 15, 2019)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): New York is shorthand for what? (May 16, 2019)

Medieval (May 17, 2019)

Sen. Denny Hoskins (r): post session victory dance over any individal woman’s personal medical decisions (May 17, 2019)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): the 13th Century GOP in 21st Century America (May 20, 2019)

HB 126: the elephant in the womb (May 24, 2019)

HB 126: “…here for the ratio” (May 25, 2016)

Missouri: Medieval (May 28, 2019)

HB 126: “…here for the ratio”

25 Saturday May 2019

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate, social media

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Pre 1973 2019 medical equipment.

The sponsor of the anti-choice HB 126 took to social media last night, responding to a movie actor:

Nicholas B. Schroer @NickBSchroer
It’s called there’s an actual #CaptainAmerica for the unborn here in MO. Not just some on screen character. Missouri has a crew of #ProLife legislators speaking for our most vulnerable from womb to tomb. Our unborn deserve saving too, not just your on-screen characters #moleg
[….]
10:24 PM – 24 May 2019 from Lake St Louis, MO

Some of the responses:

So, you support expanding Medicaid? After all, babies who are born, as well as their mothers, need healthcare. And how about proper education? Are you going to ensure everyone has access to quality education?

Let’s talk about housing. After all, babies need a roof.

Or are you really only concerned about a political agenda, enforcing your views, as well as reducing women’s rights?

We’re gonna go with the second one.

“speaking for our most vulnerable from womb to tomb”
only when one enters the tomb immediately after birth.
Failure to support adequate policy otherwise. #moleg
The from-womb-to-tomb supporters are @MOLegDems.

We noticed that, too.

If that’s the case, then I expect our legislators to expand Medicaid, food stamps, etc. I also expect them to fund schools and raise the minimum wage. See, you really don’t mean “to tomb”. GTFO of my personal decisions and my body, Nicholas.

Narrator: “It was not the case. It never was.”

Cute, but we are an army of Captain Marvels, Nick. Bet.

We see what you did there.

Again, the term is #ForcedBirth.

a professional joker or “fool” at a medieval court, typically wearing a cap with bells on it and carrying a mock scepter. — @NickBSchroer this is the definition of jester.

Just stop with the “womb to tomb” thing. It’s clear that you don’t and it just sounds douchey. You haven’t stopped abortion; only safe abortions.

This makes no sense.

It never has.

To tomb? Have you seen Missouri statistics on maternal and infant mortality? These so called prolife legislators refuse to expand Medicaid or other services to care for those outside the womb.

He was trolling people with what he thought would be a clever little rhyme.

He has. He doesn’t care. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

That, too

I’m here for the ratio

Tomb?

I think you mean womb only there bro. Lets not pretend your policies do much for anyone but rich folks after that.

Bet you are against so-called “entitlement” programs, for the death penalty, support Trump… but yeah… all about this… FOH…

Are you going to increase the budgets for WIC, free/reduced school lunch programs, SNAP, etc. for all these children? I will wait right here…

Don’t hold your breath.

Like the tomb they will be placed in after they die in war bcuz they didnt get healthcare or an education w.o signing up as canon fodder bcuz their family couldnt plan their birth?

Iran.

“Our unborn” #rightwinghyperbole

Every conservative that talks about abortion sounds like a sociopath trying to say things to fit in [….]

Womb, sure. After that, they don’t seem to give a shit about anyone.

Who speaks for the woman?

At this point, not the woman.

Oh, sure. That’s why our infant/maternal mortality rates are so high. That’s why deaths of despair are rising. Sure, #moleg is full of super heroes..that’s why opioid addiction is so high. Yeppers, our reps think they are fabulous while the state craters.

It’s pretty ridiculous, isn’t it? They just care about forced pregnancy but don’t care about maternal or infant mortality.

Jeezus you’re desperate for attention.

Not not too much attention though. They passed the bill to strip women of their rights in the middle of the night. The governor signed the bill in a private ceremony. And he doesn’t even reply to Chris Evans—he quote tweets him.

They proved with their consensual rape and women lie nonsense that if they talk too much it’s bad for them. Now they’ll waste millions of our tax dollars paying lawyers to do their talking for them while the law gets shot down in courts.

Hey Nicholas, how about addressing the increasing maternal mortality rates in Missouri first…unless dead women is your thing?

Oh word? What are you doing for children after birth? Expanding Medicaid? Providing for family leave? Ensuring equality of education? Or…none of that? So maybe shut the hell about “womb to tomb”; you don’t care about children once they take a breath.

God, this is idiotic.

You sir, are a tool.

Womb to tomb? How’s that Medicaid expansion going? Universal pre-k? Paid family leave? Education funding? Are you addressing maternal mortality rates at all? What about the 400,000 foster kids? What exactly are you doing to protect the lives of the living?

Really Nic??? Are you will to start paying child support, insurance, and anything else it needs from the womb?? Yeah didnt think so asshat. Until you grow a uterus, zip it little man

Previously:

HB 126 and HB 127: catering to their single issue base (December 3, 2018)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): Alabama, hold my beer… (May 15, 2019)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): New York is shorthand for what? (May 16, 2019)

Medieval (May 17, 2019)

Sen. Denny Hoskins (r): post session victory dance over any individal woman’s personal medical decisions (May 17, 2019)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): the 13th Century GOP in 21st Century America (May 20, 2019)

HB 126: the elephant in the womb (May 24, 2019)

HB 126: the elephant in the womb

24 Friday May 2019

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate

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Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

Own it.

Pre 1973 2019 medical equipment.

Today, from Governor Mike Parson (r):

Governor Parson Signs House Bill 126 and Senate Bill 21

May 24, 2019

Jefferson City — This morning at the State Capitol, Governor Parson joined with House and Senate members and pro-life coalition leaders to sign House Bill 126. The bill was passed by super-majorities in both the House and the Senate.

“By signing this bill today, we are sending a strong signal to the nation that, in Missouri, we stand for life, protect women’s health, and advocate for the unborn,” said Governor Mike Parson. “All life has value and is worth protecting.”

HB 126, also known as the “Missouri Stands for the Unborn Act”, prohibits an abortion in a non-medical emergency past eight weeks of gestational age and ensures the protection of women’s safety. HB 126 prohibits an individual from performing or inducing an abortion solely because of a diagnosis of potential for Down Syndrome in an unborn child or because of the race or sex of the unborn child.

HB 126 contains an emergency clause that requires written notification of a parent or guardian by the custodial parent or guardian of consent for an abortion to be performed on a minor. The bill expands the definition of a pregnancy resource center for tax credit purposes to include facilities that provide assistance to families as well. In addition, this bill removes the sunset and cumulative tax credit cap beginning in FY 2021 and increases the pregnancy resource center tax credit from 50 percent to 70 percent beginning January 1, 2021.

The Governor encourages all Missourians to get involved in efforts to support life in their communities, whether that’s opening your family’s home to adoption to assist children in need, volunteering at your local pregnancy resource center, or joining with your faith community to provide the necessary support to help individuals choose life.

Governor Parson continued, “Thanks to decades of pro-life leadership, Missouri recently hit an all-time low for the number of abortions. We’ve gone from a high of more than 20,000 in our state, to now below 3,000. By working together, we can continue to assist more Missourians in choosing life.”

[….]

The reviews are in:

Danielle Spradley @dubbledutched
A society that would force a child that has been raped by a family member to give birth to her rapist baby is not a just society. #HB126 is a sick perversion of religion used for political theater. #StopTheBans
12:54 PM – 24 May 2019 from Jefferson City, MO

Hon Stacey Newman @staceynewman
As they gleefully throw women under the bus as mandated birthers.
[….]
2:16 PM – 24 May 2019

Crystal Quade @crystal_quade
My statement on #HB126
[….]
11:03 AM – 24 May 2019

Sean Soendker Nicholson @ssnich
HB126 is bad policy, done poorly. #moleg
12:13 PM – 24 May 2019

From the ACLU of Missouri:

ACLU of Missouri Condemns Governor Parson’s Decision to Ban Abortion at 8-weeks, Will Pursue All Options to Keep this Measure from Going into Effect
May 24, 2019 – 11:15am

Governor Parson’s decision to sign Missouri’s extreme anti-abortion bill into law today is a horrific blow to healthcare in Missouri. This measure will drastically limit the ability of Missourians to access safe, legal abortion care and endanger the lives of minors.

Missourians recognize the right to an abortion is protected under the U.S. Constitution. The Missouri Legislature, trying to outdo the misguided and extreme examples of anti-choice zealots in Alabama, Ohio, Georgia, and Kentucky, has made its intention clear: it wants to ban all abortion. Preventing Missourians from accessing abortion after eight weeks, before some even know they are pregnant, is unconstitutional and dangerous.
Abortion access is healthcare. This law would criminalize doctors who perform abortions and force pregnant individuals to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term, even if the pregnancy is not viable or is risky for the mother. This measure will also require minors seeking an abortion to notify both parents prior to their abortion, even though minors are already required to have the written consent of a parent or guardian. This disregards the risk to teens who have an abusive or absent parent and delays their care.

“With Governor’s Parson’s decision to sign HB 126, he joins the other out of touch Republican leaders who fail to protect the right to an abortion even in cases of rape and incest,” said ACLU of Missouri Legislative and Policy Director Sara Baker. “This legislation puts politicians in the exam room and challenges the basic autonomy of Missourians. It is unconstitutional, and it must be stopped.”

Passing an eight week abortion ban is an example of government overreach and disregard for the constitutional rights of Missourians. The ACLU of Missouri will explore all options, including litigation, to block the law from going into effect.

“The Constitution gives pregnant individuals with their doctors the right to make the profoundly important and personal decision whether to terminate a pregnancy,” said Tony Rothert, Legal Director of the ACLU of Missouri. “Despite this political stunt, we will make sure that abortion remains legal in every state.”
Without further action, HB 126 will become law on August 28, 2019.

Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri @PPMO_Advocates
Let’s be clear: This bill does absolutely nothing to protect women’s health.

It is an extreme and dangerous ban on safe, legal abortion. #StopTheBans #MoLeg
[….]
11:40 AM – 24 May 2019

Previously:

HB 126 and HB 127: catering to their single issue base (December 3, 2018)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): Alabama, hold my beer… (May 15, 2019)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): New York is shorthand for what? (May 16, 2019)

Medieval (May 17, 2019)

Sen. Denny Hoskins (r): post session victory dance over any individal woman’s personal medical decisions (May 17, 2019)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): the 13th Century GOP in 21st Century America (May 20, 2019)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): the 13th Century GOP in 21st Century America

20 Monday May 2019

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate, social media

≈ 19 Comments

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Pre 1973 2019 medical equipment.

Last Friday, via Twitter:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
Congratulations to the Missouri legislature for passing the most #ProLife legislation in the nation. Now more children will have a chance to live & women will have the support they need to bring their pregnancies to full term. #lifeisgood
5:29 PM – 17 May 2019

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) [2018 file photo].

Some of the responses:

You come from a generation of women who fought for the rights stripped from us today.

A generation that pioneered economic independence for women.

A generation I admire. But you are not those women.

You are a reason I’m less free than I was yesterday.

#2020iscoming

The law covers medical expenses for the mother right? And if the infant is born with special needs their medical expenses are covered as well as special education? Because you care so much?

Uh, that would be a “no”. There could be an offer of a hot meal, though.

What are you going to do about the fact that missouri has one of the worst maternal death rates? Did you know in the bootheel there isn’t a maternity ward within 100 miles? How will you save women?

There’s a special place in Hell for women who enjoyed the protection of Roe for their entire childbearing years, and then try to deny it to other women after they hit menopause.

Women will die because of this law.

This is not ProLife legislation. It is pro-birth . Pro-life means you support all aspects of a life through education, health care, sensible gun laws and the mental health anguish of being raped. I hope you plan to support legislation to help ALL children!

I will no longer follow you. How can you approve of women’s rights being taken away???

She always has, opposed the equal rights amendment and her voting score for civil rights is very very low.

You’re not pro life. You’re #antichoice so you really think women will continue to vote for you?

Shame on you

Grateful I am no longer represented by a woman who doesn’t stand up for reproductive rights, but so sorry for my friends and family who remain in her district and that I won’t be there to vote her out of office. Once again disgusted by @RepHartzler.

Thanks for passing sharia law, Vicky. I’ll remember this. We all will.

U will ensure any rapist will pay child support & counseling for PTSD, right?

The mother will immediately be eligible 4 state aid as she is a household of @ least 2 @ 8 weeks if income level qualifies, right?

Finally, she can immediately claim 8 week old on her taxes, right?

Vicky please keep your shitty religion out of our politics.

What support? Missouri has kicked off over 60, 000 children from Medicaid since January 2018? You think it’s great to force rape or incest victims to birth their assaulters child. What if you knew in advance one of these babies were gay or trans, would you want them aborted?

2 things: 1) ur legislation will backfire when women start dying from backyard abortions & 2) where r the $’s coming from for FOOD STAMPS?

Oh but they’re cutting food stamps and CHIP.

We are embarrassed by this assault on the freedom of women to make their own choices in their moral life, whatever those decisions are. One more example of government inserting itself in the personal moral life of individuals in a heavy handed way. You are NOT our moral compass.

What part of the legislation supports women to bring their pregnancies to full term? MO has one of the highest maternal death rates in the country and the MO GOP has done nothing about it. Last year 50,000 MO children lost Medicaid coverage and the MO GOP did nothing.

I refuse to normalize your pride in taking women back to the dark ages. Shame on you

Says the woman who wasn’t at all bothered that children were being taken from their families and put in cages. You have a strange definition of pro-life, Congresswoman.

Vicky, who, exactly, is going to support women throughout their entire pregnancy?
What programs are in place in MO to assist the children impregnated by their incestuous fathers?
What programs are in place in MO to assist the female raped who is unfit to be a mother?

How do women have support? What in the law gave them support? How does this help them?

What an embarrassment you are.

Does this bill provide access to pregnant mothers without health insurance for prenatal care too?

I am ashamed to know you’re my parents’ rep and would have been mine had I chosen to stay (I left because of people like you). Your constituents do NOT want this, and you are openly & illegally defying settled precedent. SHAME ON YOU VICKY HARTZLER.

Until they’re born to starve or suffer from a curable disease because the little freeloaders are #Socialists.

There you go.

Previously:

HB 126 and HB 127: catering to their single issue base (December 3, 2018)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): Alabama, hold my beer… (May 15, 2019)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): New York is shorthand for what? (May 16, 2019)

Medieval (May 17, 2019)

Sen. Denny Hoskins (r): post session victory dance over any individal woman’s personal medical decisions (May 17, 2019)

Medieval

17 Friday May 2019

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

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Yesterday evening, appropriated from someone’s social media post:

Michael Bersin @MBersin
Breaking News: Alabama Accuses Missouri of Stealing Its Idea About Becoming a Medieval Theocracy.
7:36 PM – 16 May 2019

Missouri House at the close of the legislative session – May 13, 2016 [file photo].

The right wingnut republican controlled Missouri General Assembly just pushed Alabama out of the news:

House Communications @MOHOUSECOMM
The House has truly agreed to and finally passed HB 126 (To establish the “Missouri Stands for the Unborn Act” that places new limits on abortion) with a vote of 110-44.
[….]
12:02 PM – 17 May 2019

And there’s an emergency clause:

House Communications @MOHOUSECOMM
The emergency clause for HB 126 (To establish the “Missouri Stands for the Unborn Act” that places new limits on abortion) passes with a vote of 109-46.
[….]
12:10 PM – 17 May 2019

“….Section C. Because of the need to protect the health and safety of women and their children, both unborn and born, the repeal and reenactment of section 188.028 of this act is deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, peace and safety, and is hereby declared to be an emergency act within the meaning of the constitution, and the repeal and reenactment of section 188.028 of this act shall be in full force and effect upon its passage and approval.”

It would be fitting for the republican caucus to throw wire hangers at the conclusion of the session.

Pre 1973 2019 medical instruments.

Previously:

HB 126 and HB 127: catering to their single issue base (December 3, 2018)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): Alabama, hold my beer… (May 15, 2019)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): New York is shorthand for what? (May 16, 2019)