Category Archives: Missouri House

Not well

01 Monday Feb 2021

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Not well at all.

Today from the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri:

Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Western District of Missouri
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, February 1, 2021

State Lawmaker Indicted for Stem Cell Fraud Scheme, Illegally Distributing Prescription Drugs
[….]
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An elected Missouri state representative has been indicted by a federal grand jury for a fraud scheme in which she made false claims about a supposed stem cell treatment marketed through her clinics in southern Missouri, and for illegally providing prescription drugs to clients of those clinics.

“This defendant abused her privileged position to enrich herself through deception,” said U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison. “The indictment alleges she lied to her patients and she lied to federal agents. As an elected official and a health care provider, she deserves to be held to a high standard. This grand jury indictment exposes her deception and holds her accountable for her actions.”

Patricia “Tricia” Ashton Derges, 63, of Nixa, Missouri, was charged in a 20-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. The indictment was unsealed and made public today following Derges’s self-surrender and initial court appearance.

This investigation began as a result of false or misleading statements made by Derges in April 2020 to a Springfield television station regarding her potential use of stem cells to treat COVID-19. Derges was elected in November 2020 as a Missouri state representative in District 140 (Christian County). Derges, who is not a physician but is licensed as an assistant physician, operates three Ozark Valley Medical Clinic locations in Springfield, Ozark, and Branson, Mo.

“We place our hope and our trust in health care providers and government officials,” said Timothy Langan, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Kansas City. “The defendant’s actions are not only a betrayal of that trust, but her actions erode the very core of our confidence in a system we rely on. Derges vowed to do no harm as a health care professional and was elected to serve the people, not deceive them. She used her position for personal gain and damaged the public’s trust.”

“Medical professionals who knowingly abuse their power by prescribing medications, without ensuring they are for legitimate medical purposes, take advantage of the public’s trust,” said Inez Davis, St. Louis Division Diversion Program Manager for the Drug Enforcement Administration. “With the support of our enforcement partners, DEA will investigate to the maximum extent of our ability to ensure these individuals are prevented from risking lives within our communities.”

“Ms. Derges knowingly provided false information and made false claims about the medical treatment she was providing, and these falsehoods may have significant consequences for the patients she served,” said Curt L. Muller, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “We will continue to hold accountable individuals who abuse their positions of power to prey on unsuspecting individuals.”

Wire Fraud Scheme

The federal indictment charges Derges with eight counts of wire fraud related to five specific victims (identified by their initials).These five victims were among those who lost a total of nearly $200,000 in the fraud scheme, which lasted from December 2018 to May 2020.

During this time, Derges exclusively obtained amniotic fluid, which she marketed under the name Regenerative Biologics, from the University of Utah. Derges advertised Ozark Valley Medical Clinic as a “Leader in … Regenerative Medicine,” including stem cells, and marketed her “stem cell” practice through seminars, media interviews, and social media. The federal indictment cites an August 2019 seminar in which Derges told her audience that the amniotic fluid she used in her stem cell practice was a “stem cell shot” and that it contained “mesenchymal stem cells.” According to the indictment, Derges made similar claims in personal consultations.

In fact, however, the amniotic fluid Derges administered to her patients did not contain mesenchymal stem cells, or any other stem cells. The amniotic fluid she obtained from the University of Utah was a sterile filtered amniotic fluid allograft (a tissue graft comprised of human amniotic membrane and amniotic fluid components derived from placental tissue). The amniotic fluid allograft was “acellular,” meaning it did not contain any cells, including stem cells.

Despite being told that the University of Utah’s amniotic fluid allograft was “acellular” and did not contain mesenchymal stem cells, Derges allegedly continued to tell her patients and the public that the amniotic fluid allograft contained stem cells.

Derges administered amniotic fluid, which she falsely claimed contained stem cells, to patients who suffered from, among other things, tissue damage, kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Lyme disease, erectile dysfunction, and urinary incontinence. In an April 11, 2020, Facebook post Derges wrote of amniotic fluid allograft: “This amazing treatment stands to provide a potential cure for COVID-19 patients that is safe and natural.”

The University of Utah sold its amniotic fluid allograft to Derges for approximately $244 per milliliter and $438 for two milliliters. Derges charged her patients $950 to $1,450 per milliliter. In total, Derges’s patients paid her approximately $191,815 for amniotic fluid that did not contain stem cells.

The Controlled Substances Act

The federal indictment charges Derges with 10 counts of distributing Oxycodone and Adderall over the internet without valid prescriptions.

The indictment alleges that Derges, without conducting in-person medical evaluations of the patients, wrote electronic prescriptions for Oxycodone and Adderall for patients and transmitted them to pharmacies over the internet.

Because none of the assistant physicians whom Derges employed at Ozark Valley Medical Clinic could prescribe Schedule II controlled substances, the indictment says, it was the standard practice of the assistant physicians to see a patient and later communicate to Derges the controlled substances they wanted her to prescribe to their patients. Derges, allegedly without conducting an in-person medical evaluation of the patients, wrote electronic prescriptions for the patients and transmitted the prescriptions over the internet to pharmacies.

False Statements

The federal indictment charges Derges with two counts of making false statements to federal agents investigating this case in May 2020.

Derges allegedly told agents that the amniotic fluid allograft that she used in her practice contained mesenchymal stem cells, which she knew was false. Derges also allegedly told federal agents that she had not treated a patient for urinary incontinence with amniotic fluid allograft, which she knew was false.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Assistant Physician

Derges is not a physician but is licensed as an assistant physician. An assistant physician is a mid-level medical professional in the state of Missouri. Under Missouri law, medical school graduates who have not been accepted into a residency program but have passed Step 1 and Step 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination may apply to become an assistant physician. State law mandates that assistant physicians practice pursuant to a collaborative practice arrangement with a licensed physician.

Derges obtained her medical degree from the Caribbean Medical University of Curacao in May 2014 but was not accepted into a post-graduate residency program. Derges was licensed as an assistant physician by the state of Missouri on Sept. 8, 2017.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Kempf. It was investigated by the FBI, Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and the DEA. [….]

In the Missouri House:

Representative Tricia Derges, a Republican, represents Christian County (District 140) in the Missouri House of Representatives. She was elected to her first two-year term in November 2020.

In addition to her legislative duties, Derges is a medical doctor and entrepreneur. [….]

In 2017, she was awarded the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award in Washington, D.C. – the Nobel Peace Prize for community service. [….]

Wait, you were trying to cancel the true results of an election

14 Thursday Jan 2021

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

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81,283,485 votes.

Justin Hill (r), a member of the right wingnut cult of the victim:

The Lincoln Project
@ProjectLincoln
Sucks to be an insurrectionist.
[….]
4:21 PM · Jan 14, 2021

Some of the comments:

You just knew Missouri state rep Justin Hill would finally get the praise he deserves.

Calling it ‘cancel culture’ when good people refuse to stand silently by while you work to destroy the country allows you to pretend that you didn’t wreck your own life.

Your life is still wrecked, though.

They are always the victims. Always. An entire political movement built partially on a refusal to take personal responsibility for anything, to feel constantly ignored, put upon, persecuted. They are addicted to feeling like victims.

What he is referring to as ‘cancel culture’ is more accurately ‘consequences culture.’ In other words, your actions, who you support, and what you say have consequences, and sometimes they may not be to your liking. This is also called “adult culture.”

What happened to personal responsibility?

Bhahahahaha
Snowflake!

Cancel Culture is the GOP wanting to cancel the election and disenfranchise millions of voters.

Why should this be surprising to this guy? I wouldn’t knowingly do business with a Nazi, a KKK member, etc. You either believe in markets & capitalism or you don’t. The market is solving the problem. Now let’s hope this post goes viral and he loses even more business.

We feel for you, snowflake.

“Cancel culture” is a funny way of spelling “consequences of actions.”

I’m not understanding the correlation. How is firing your insurance agent for insurrection “cancel culture”?

You take the ride, you pay the price.

It’s almost as if siding with insurrectionists to overthrow the legitimate government of the United States makes you unpopular or something. That’s so unfair.

I’m old enough to remember when people like that used to complain that the problem with society today is that young people today are growing up without rules and consequences.

He literally took part in trying to cancel the votes of 81,283,485 people, 51.4% of votes cast.

Who would want to do business with an American traitor?

Cancel culture? Maybe simply principled customers with freedom to choose where they spend their money.

It’s not cancel culture. It’s called accountability.

There are consequences to be seditionist. You’ll just have to live with them.

You made your choice, buddy.

One of my favorite sayings:
“You can have anything you want in life, as long as you’re willing to pay the price.”

Hope you enjoyed your trip to DC.

And on and on.

HCR 10 and HCR 11

12 Tuesday Jan 2021

Posted by in Josh Hawley, Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

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Today in the Missouri House of Representatives:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION
House Concurrent Resolution No. 10 [pdf]
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MERIDETH.
1790H.01I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk

WHEREAS, on January 6, 2021, violent insurrectionists incited by President Donald J. Trump did storm and briefly occupy the United States Capitol in a lawless attempt to block Congress from formalizing President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory and illegally keep President Trump in office; and

WHEREAS, United States Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri was a leader of the effort to overturn the Electoral College results of several states won by President-elect Biden; and

WHEREAS, in that role Senator Hawley did repeat and amplify false claims of fraud in those states that have been rejected by more than 60 state and federal courts across the nation due o the complete lack of any evidence; and

WHEREAS, Senator Hawley’s efforts to disenfranchise millions of voters and overturn a lawful and legitimate election demonstrates an animosity toward democracy and the American system of government; and

WHEREAS, in a sickening display of political self-interest Senator Hawley issued a campaign fundraising appeal as the insurrectionist mob was making its way to the Capitol; and

WHEREAS, as the attack on the Capitol was getting underway, Senator Hawley was photographed showing support for the insurrectionists; and

WHEREAS, Senator Hawley’s actions in promoting demonstrable lies did further incite and inflame the insurrectionists; and

WHEREAS, after the insurrection had been quelled, Senator Hawley did continue repeating the lies about election fraud and resumed his efforts to overturn the lawful and legitimate election results; and

WHEREAS, five people died as a result of the Capitol insurrection, including U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick; and

WHEREAS, more than 50 police officers sustained injuries during the insurrection; and

WHEREAS, Senator Hawley has expressed more remorse over the loss of his book deal than he has over those deaths and injuries or the actions he took that helped create the conditions that made them possible; and

WHEREAS, Senator Hawley, upon being being sworn into office in 2019, did take a solemn oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic;” and

WHEREAS, Senator Hawley has violated that oath; and

WHEREAS, since the events of January 6, Senator Hawley has faced widespread condemnation throughout Missouri and the country for his role in encouraging the worst assault on the U.S. Capitol since the War of 1812; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of all elected officials and citizens to strongly reject sedition and insurrection:

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of Representatives of the One Hundred First General Assembly, First Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby urge Senator Josh Hawley to immediately resign from the United States Senate for inciting sedition and violent insurrection against the government and people of the United States in violation of his oath of office; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for Senator Hawley.

The seditionist:

Josh Hawley (r) [2016 file photo].

And:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION
House Concurrent Resolution No. 11 [pdf]
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ELLEBRACHT.
1778H.02I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk

WHEREAS, the members of the House of Representatives of the State of Missouri together with the members of the Senate of the State of Missouri roundly condemn violent and destructive demonstration of all kinds; and

WHEREAS, the violent acts and crimes of property destruction that occurred in cities across the United States over the past year have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law that local and state law enforcement agencies have had the power to pursue; and

WHEREAS, the state of Missouri and its residents universally believe that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere; and

WHEREAS, the members of the One Hundred First General Assembly were collectively horrified by the disgraceful and craven acts of certain individuals who, on January 6, 2021, violently and seditiously invaded the Capitol of the United States of America in an effort to disrupt and possibly altogether prevent the certification of the count of the Electoral College votes, and in so doing committed various and sundry criminal acts; and

WHEREAS, the criminal acts engaged in by those individuals resulted in shame and embarrassment of the people of Missouri, as yet uncalculated property damage, and, most tragically, the loss of five human lives:

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of Representatives of the One Hundred First General Assembly, First Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby strongly and most emphatically request that the President of the

United States refrain from pardoning, providing amnesty, commuting sentences, or offering any other relief or excuse from liability for any of the criminal acts that occurred on the Capitol grounds and inside the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, and that those individuals be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law that federal law enforcement agencies have the power
to pursue; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for distribution to the Office of the President of the United States of America, the Office of the Attorney General of the United States of America, the Office of the Pardon Attorney for the United States Department of Justice, and the members of Missouri’s congressional delegation.

Our times.

Previously:

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – town hall in Warrensburg – Press Q and A – August 17, 2017 (August 17, 2017)

What passes for a flatbed truck at “…Yale, I think, or Harvard, one of those, one of those fancy ones…” (August 16, 2018)

Josh Hawley (r): throwing shit against the wall to see if anything sticks (December 30, 2020)

Josh Hawley (r): ladders and rakes (December 30, 2020)

Ladder Climbing 101: by the book (December 31, 2020)

Burning bridges (December 31, 2020)

Sedition, sedition…sedition (January 2, 2021)

What it is, is sedition… (January 3, 2021)

If you can’t stand the heat, trample people on your way to a live mic (January 3, 2021)

Nothing much going on. Why do you ask? (January 3, 2021)

The third Senator from Virginia (January 5, 2021)

Fascist pig (January 6, 2021)

What hath Josh Hawley (r) wrought? (January 6, 2021)

Josh Hawley (r): Dumbass (January 7, 2021)

Sedition is bad for business (January 11, 2021)

So that’s how this Twitter machine works…

31 Thursday Dec 2020

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Jason Kander (D) [2016 file photo]

It starts:

Jason Kander @JasonKander
True: Don’t worry dad we always come back.

This generation of #ChiefsKingdom so spoiled!
12:57 PM · Dec 27, 2020

That seemed to irritate Mr. Potter.

Don Rone @rone_don
Replying to @JasonKander

Who cares

7:41 PM · Dec 27, 2020

Bah, humbug, it is.

Some of the responses:

Hey Don,

Your profile says you’re a proud grandpa. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt (though it’s not mine to give) and say you didn’t know he was quoting his son.

Be a human and apologize. Show your grandkids how a stand up guy behaves.

Happy New Year.

Mr. Rone, if your grandkids are handling your tweets, you ought to inform them this type of response (“Who cares”) is petty and rude. At a minimum, whoever is tweeting these zingers should at least use punctuation. I’m left wondering who is “Who” or is it WHO?

He must have been a terrific teacher

You do, Don

Howdy, Don. I care. And apparently over 700 people who liked Jason’s tweet care. For context: That’s equivalent to more than half of the followers you have accumulated since Joining Twitter over six years ago. Take a page from the wife of your party’s leader… Be Best.

You seem nice, especially for a former teacher and pround grandpa.

Don,

I don’t know you but judging by your Twitter account, you seem like the kind of scum who needs to be voted out.

Apparently you do…cranky old bastard

Nice response to a kid. What’s your next act? Kicking a puppy?

Good grief crusty ol guy.

You sound like a great state rep…rude and pointless.

You’re an ass.

Are you 10 years old? Good hell dude, you’re ancient…. grow up.

Republicans are spiraling past the point of no return. They’re all throwing temper tantrums like little children because they’re cult leader lost.

Representative Rone’s (r) biography at the Missouri House of Representatives web site:

Rep. Donald Rone Jr., a Republican, represents New Madrid County and parts of Scott, Mississippi, and Pemiscot Counties (District 149) in the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to his first two-year term in November 2014.

Prior to his legislative duties, Rep. Rone was an accounts manager for FMC Corporation, Agriculture Solutions. He also spent time as a farmer and as a teacher for Matthews and Portageville High Schools. Rep. Rone has served as Mayor of Portageville Missouri and New Madrid County Public Administrator. Rep. Rone served in the Missouri National Guard.

Rep. Rone is a 1963 graduate from Portageville High School. He received his BS degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 1968.

Rep. Rone is a member of the First Church of God in Portageville. He is a lifetime member of the NRA, member of Delta Wildlife and National Wild Turkey Federation, a 32nd degree Mason, and served on the University of Missouri Delta Center Advisory Board for 30 years. Rep. Rone also currently serves on the board of the St. Francis Levee District of Missouri.

Born December 21, 1944 in Cape Girardeau, Rep. Rone currently resides in Portageville…

Heh. Be best.

This morning:

Jason Kander @JasonKander
A Republican elected official clumsily trolling my 7 year old son on twitter seems like the appropriate way to wrap 2020.
[….]
8:29 AM · Dec 31, 2020

Save it, print it, frame it, nail it to the schoolhouse door

29 Tuesday Dec 2020

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

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This morning:

Jess Piper @EnglishTeach07
Here’s what I know after years in public education: teachers will be blamed for any perceived lack of learning during this pandemic. It’ll be “unions” or “lazy teachers” or “low standards”.

It won’t make any sense, but it never does.
8:23 AM · Dec 29, 2020

Exactly this.

Previously:

Jess Piper (D) in the 1st Legislative District – the time is now (November 22, 2020)

Right wingnuts throw shit against the wall to see if it sticks

10 Thursday Dec 2020

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

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In Jefferson City, of course. What else is new?

At the end of the special session, reportedly signed on to by sixty-six republicans:

HR 2
Confirms the Missouri House’s lack of faith in the 2020 election results
Sponsor: Hill, Justin (108)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2020
LR Number: 1241H.03I
Last Action: 12/10/2020 – Referred: Special Committee on Government Oversight(H)
Bill String: HR 2
[….]

The resolution text:

SECOND EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
House Resolution No. 2
100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BYREPRESENTATIVE HILL.

1241H.03I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk

WHEREAS, the President of the United States has immense enumerated powers and serves as both the head of the executive branch of government of the United States and as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, the election of the President of the United States should be free and fair in order to preserve the legitimacy of the government, avoid constitutional crisis, and promote the general welfare of the people of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the legislatures of the states are delegated primary responsibility to ensure that free and fair elections for the office of the Presidency of the United States are held under Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States which allows each state to appoint presidential Electors in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct; and

WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States is authorized under Amendment XII of the Constitution of the United States and the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to independently evaluate whether or not free and fair elections have occurred and to uphold the fundamental principle that the laws governing elections that are enacted by the legislatures of the states prior to the election are fully complied with during the election process; and

WHEREAS, historically low absentee ballot rejection rates occurred in the 2020 election despite the overwhelming new and unprecedented use of absentee ballots and mail in votes by many different persons and organizations; and

WHEREAS, a razor thin margin favoring Biden was reported in the days after election day in many swing states including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada and political analyst Robert Barnes observed that Trump would win the election if any historical absentee ballot analysis process and rejection rate was assumed;

WHEREAS, statistically abnormal vote counts were reported in numerous states late on election night and the Biden-to-Trump ratio in reporting was 90 percent or more for some batches of votes;

WHEREAS, the manifest lack of any absentee ballot and mail in ballot oversight by unelected election administrators shows that the laws passed prior to election day were likely ignored and violated in numerous ways and that this violation was of significant magnitude to change the results for the election of the President of the United States; and

WHEREAS, in Pennsylvania 23,000 absentee ballots have impossible return dates, 86,000 absentee ballots are questionable, 50,000 votes held on 47 USB cards are missing in Delaware County, and signature matching for mail in ballots has been rendered impossible by the destruction of ballot envelopes; and

WHEREAS, in Georgia, Matt Braynard’s Voter Integrity Project estimates that 20,312 nonresidents cast ballots, there is video evidence of the statistical anomalies that occurred when Biden overtook President Trump with 89 percent of the votes counted, and for 53 different individual batches of votes counted, Biden led by the same 50.05 to 49.95 percent margin in every single batch; and

WHEREAS, a full and fair investigation of the election results, including analysis of absentee and mail in ballot samples for compliance with state election law, is necessary to ensure a free and fair election and should be conducted by Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada:

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of Representatives of the one Hundredth General Assembly, Second Extraordinary Session, hereby have no faith in the validity of the results of the 2020 presidential election reported by the states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if a full and fair investigation is not completed, that the United States Congress sitting in joint session refuse to accept electoral votes for the office of President of the United States from the states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for each house of the United States Congress.

These people really are that stupid.

Uh, Robert Barnes (whatever non-entity he is) is not the arbiter of any election in this country.

Uh, Matt Braynard (whatever non-entity he is) is not the arbiter of any election in this country.

Previously:

Uh, the job description says Missouri (December 9, 2020)

A party in disarray (December 10, 2020)

HB 61: He left something out

03 Thursday Dec 2020

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How convenient.

Prefiling of bills for the 2021 session of the Missouri General Assembly started on December 1st.

A bill, HB 61, introduced by Representative Adam Schnelting (r):

HB 61
Establishes the “Missouri Religious Liberty Act”
Sponsor: Schnelting, Adam (104)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2021
LR Number: 0887H.02I
Last Action: 12/01/2020 – Prefiled (H)
Bill String: HB 61
Next House Hearing: Hearing not scheduled
Calendar: Bill currently not on a House calendar

The bill text:

HOUSE BILL NO. 61 [pdf]
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BYREPRESENTATIVE SCHNELTING.
0887H.02I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 1, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the Missouri religious
liberty act.

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

Section A. Chapter 1, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 1.810, to read as follows:

1.810. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Missouri Religious Liberty Act”.

2. During states of emergency declared under the provisions of chapter 44 or orders made with the powers granted under section 192.020, neither the state nor any of its political subdivisions shall impose restrictions upon religious houses of worship with the intent to make, or the effect of making, religious services impractical. Emergency declarations and orders shall not prohibit religious services that are held on private property.

3. The provisions of subsection 2 of this section shall not apply to emergency evacuation orders involving imminent danger from flooding, fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, terrorist threats, civil unrest, or hazardous material incidents that apply generally to the area where the religious house of worship or the residences of its members are located. Once the imminent danger has passed, religious services shall be allowed to resume.

Those religious houses of worship shall not be prohibited from resuming services once removed from the imminent danger.

Zombie apocalypse.

Representative Adam Schnelting, a Republican, represents St. Charles County (District 104) in the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to his first two-year term in November 2018.

In addition to his duties as a legislator, Schnelting is a Realtor, a licensed minister and former pastor. He currently serves in the Missouri Army National Guard. Additionally, Schnelting has owned his own small business.

Schnelting is a former member of the Missouri State Defense Force and State Guard Association of the United States and is also actively involved with the National Rifle Association, Missouri Right to Life, American Center for Law and Justice and the Missouri Society for Military History.

Schnelting, whose family came to America in 1628, is a 7th generation Missourian and a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Schnelting attended State Fair Community College, Oklahoma Wesleyan University and Rhema Bible College. He obtained his degree in Christian Ministry from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and also has a degree in Political Science. [….]

Interestingly, some families came to America in 1619.

Jess Piper (D) in the 1st Legislative District – the time is now

22 Sunday Nov 2020

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This afternoon:

Jess Piper @EnglishTeach07
Hi, my name is Jess and I’m running for HD1 in Northwest MO. I’ve been told I can’t win, but I don’t play to lose—ever. I’m a mom, teacher, rural Missourian, and a fighter. I believe every Missourian deserves representation.
[….]
1:06 PM · Nov 22, 2020

I believe in fully-funded schools in Missouri. I will fight for teacher salaries across the state and especially those in rural areas that are hard hit by teacher turnover. Rural kids deserve great schools and rural teachers deserve a livable salary.

I believe in common sense gun laws. I believe 2A. I am a gun owner and will fight for the rights of gun owners while understanding the responsibility that comes with ownership. We need universal background checks and safe storage requirements.

I believe in healthcare for all Missourians. I will fight for rural healthcare systems and make sure that all Missourians have access to affordable and quality healthcare. This starts with Medicaid expansion and keeping kids on the Medicaid role.

I will listen to and fight for all Missourians—our children, our seniors, our neighbors. Can you help me kickstart my campaign today with a donation? I’m so excited—help send me to Jeff City. Thank you!

The time to start for 2022 is now.

The party of Abraham Lincoln…

17 Tuesday Nov 2020

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This morning, from a member of the right wingnut majority party in the Missouri House of Representatives:

That’s what John Wilkes Booth said before his horse fell on him and broke his leg.

Rep. Tony Lovasco (MO-64) @tonylovasco
Sic semper tyrannis…
[….]
10:28 AM · Nov 17, 2020

Meanwhile, in St. Charles County, Missouri:

In Lincoln County, Missouri:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
Lincoln County Health Department Warns of Increasing COVID-19 Cases Lincoln County Health Department (LCHD) reported a record of 75 new COVID-19 cases in 1 day on October 30th. The trend has continued, with staff being overwhelmed with incoming cases.

As of 3 p.m. November 12th, 2020, the total number of cases in Lincoln County is currently at 1,738 (confirmed and probable). This is 690 cases added since October 9th. Yesterday, the 7-day rolling average of cases added per day was at 40, which is double the average of 20 per day on October 9th. According to the Missouri Show Me Strong dashboard, the current 7-day positivity rate in Lincoln County is 34.67%. The universal goal for positivity rate is 10% or less. Lincoln County has also added 12 deaths in the past month, increasing from 3 to 15. Sadly, LCHD expects this number will continue to rise in the coming weeks. [….]

They voted for him:

State of Missouri – General Election, November 03, 2020
Unofficial Results
as of 11/17/2020 12:32:10 PM

State Representative – District 64 23 of 23 Precincts Reported
Tony Lovasco Republican 15,903 68.856%
Aaliyah Bailey Democratic 7,193 31.144%
Total Votes: 23,096

County Tony Lovasco, REP Aaliyah Bailey, DEM

Lincoln 5,748 1,820
St. Charles 10,155 5,373

Cognitive dissonance writ large.

A resignation in the Missouri House

16 Monday Nov 2020

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

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Rep. Kip Kendrick (D) [2019 file photo].

Today:

RESIGNATION ANNOUNCEMENT

As I complete my six years in the Missouri legislature, I have made the difficult decision to forego my final term in the Missouri House of Representatives. Instead, I will join Senator-elect Greg Razer (D-Kansas City) as his Chief of Staff. While this was a difficult decision to make, I am confident it is the right decision and I am excited about this opportunity. Allow me to explain my decision.

I have served six years in a super-minority party to which I remain committed. With my focus on the state’s budget, my attention to crafting policies that push our state forward, and my desire to forge relationships built on trust, I feel strongly that I have been an effective representative for the 45th District. I am very proud of my work expanding access to telehealth services, which has proven critical during the pandemic. I am proud of my six years’ work on the Budget Committee, and for the 3.5 years serving as the Ranking Minority Member, delving into the state’s budget and finding ways to appropriate funding for our shared priorities.

Mostly, I am proud of my work helping constituents navigate state government. As important as it is to affect state policy, working with the people of the District has been the most rewarding part of the job. The relationships I have developed across the District, the city of Columbia, and Boone County have made me a better person and a better representative.

Serving in a super-minority has been very challenging, but it has not prevented me from finding ways to be effective. I have focused my time and energy on opening new pathways for communication, while building trust inside the Capitol and across the three branches of government in order to have a seat at the table and impact public policy. In the age of term limits, the seat that I have worked hard to attain and honor to the very best of my ability is two short years from being pulled out from under me.

Term limits, especially when reduced to eight years in Missouri’s House and Senate, work against good governance and do nothing to improve it. Speaking from direct experience, it has taken me six years to earn the respect needed to be an effective member of a super-minority and to feel confident in my ability to serve in this important role. The state budget alone requires years of experience in order to fully understand its complexity. The six years that I have taken to study and dissect the budget, to understand its implications and ramifications, will have been lost because of term limits, forcing yet another newly elected representative to repeat the process, without ever having gained an in-depth understanding or achieved the necessary expertise and continuity to craft sound budgetary policy. The lack of institutional knowledge by elected officials in the House is obvious. We train up members of the General Assembly only to indiscriminately kick them out the door as they hit their stride. This is not good for democracy and it is not ideal for effective governing.

In order to continue to build on the foundation I have built over the last six years and ensure my continued ability to impact policy in Missouri, I am humbled to accept the offer made by Senator-elect Razer to serve as his Chief of Staff. Senator-elect Razer and I have worked together for the past four years in the Missouri House. We have shared interests in policy and priorities. Senator-elect Razer is a True Son of the University of Missouri and he was literally Truman the Tiger. It is important to me that he will continue to be a champion for higher education, especially for Mizzou. Undoubtedly, we will have policy disagreements from time to time, but rest assured that I will do my best to advise him in continuing to make decisions that are in the best interest of Missouri.

It has been my absolute honor to serve my constituents as representative of the 45th District. I know my decision will upset some, and I understand. But I ask that you please know my decision is made in good faith as a way to continue the work that I started six years ago. I am no less committed today than at the beginning of my first term to serving the people of Missouri. I hope to return to elected office in the future, if the voters agree. Now, I am ready to become Chief of Staff for Senator-elect Razer and work hard for Missourians in a new way.

There’ll be a special election.

Less than two weeks ago:

State of Missouri – General Election, November 03, 2020
Unofficial Results
as of 11/16/2020 10:51:08 AM

State Representative – District 45 21 of 21 Precincts Reported
Kip Kendrick Democratic 11,613 100.000%
Total Votes: 11,613

County Kip Kendrick, DEM
Boone 11,613

No opposition back then.