Category Archives: Missouri Senate

Voter Suppression Я Us

15 Sunday Feb 2026

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

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Rick Brattin (r) [2025 file photo].

Speaking of nuts…

Rick Brattin for Missouri
[February 14, 2026]

The same party who for the past decade couldn’t even define what a woman was, and let lunatic men into girls locker rooms are now claiming that showing an ID to vote is an attack on women…? NUTS!
#SAVEAct

There is no mercy in some of the responses:

If I were an elected I would not choose to toil my days away fighting with people online about non-existent problems I’ve made up in my head.
I would spend time with people I loved and listen to my community without speaking to learn and grow as a person.
The only thing stronger than hate is love.

yes but Rick won’t do that because his heart is filled with Christian hate. There is no capacity for love in his world, other than for white nationalist people who fit inside his circle.
There’s no God in the universe, that would support his version of Christian hate. But he remains ignorantly, unaware and proud of it.
thank you for standing up against the bigotry, racism, misogyny, and xenophobia of this man and others.👍👍

but he’s obsessed with other people’s genitals and sex lives, so he has to have an outlet…

I 100 % agree with you!!! I’m tired of the disinformation and falsehoods that he and others from that party spews. I want elected officials to work to improve lives not be decisive!!

I’m confused?? Are you promoting having “nuts”? Seems like it.

It appears so. What a strange Valentine’s post.

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What do you call an act that will increase the work load for women disproportionately over men? You wanna make it so ALL US citizens need to carry a passport or their broth certificates, marriage certificates and any divorce decrees to prove citizenship(regardless of name change) then it will be equal. Otherwise yeah. It affects women more and gives us even MORE to do and potentially includes a poll tax.

Rick Brattin for Missouri
You have to have this stuff in order to drive to your polling location, open a bank account, write a check, do your taxes and so on and so forth. It’s your responsibility to have your affairs in order, ID is required for women to buy a firearm to protect themselves, should we eliminate that requirement?

This is an outright voter suppression bill, and you know it is-I have voted for 40 years and have yet to see anyone who was not registered vote-including undocumented immigrants. This an outright poll tax-o you believe Immigrants go to polling places pretending to be someone, then when the real voter shows up, what happens? though some cities allow noncitizens to vote on some local elections. Experts have long insisted that noncitizen voting is a rare problem. Voter roll audits before the 2024 elections in Georgia found only 20 registered noncitizens out of 8.2 million registered voters statewide. Republicans are deliberately timing the change in voter rules before consequential midterm elections.
Republicans will stop at nothing to interfere with the 2026 midterms — including leveraging ICE to gain access to sensitive voter information or pass their anti-democratic SAVE Act,”

sure and if you can’t realize that this is a time and energy tax on women that men don’t have and how that will affect women getting to the polls you live in a world defined by your male privilege. Be open to listening to women about their experiences.

NO! I use a driver’s license to open a bank account—I have NEVER used a passport. Cut the maga BS crap. You know how I also know that passports are not required—my late mother never had one—and she had multiple accounts. I need a driver’s license now to vote and have done so for three decades! You Republicans are trying to obfuscate the facts.

no did you read the bill. I need my DL thats to do those things. And my DL is not acceptable proof of citizenship only residency.

Look in the mirror.

And yet, men will not need to have any of this to register to vote. THAT IS THE POINT.

Actually, it’s nothing like those examples you site, because you don’t have to show multiple forms of ID. We already are required to show identification to vote. You are adding more documents to prove citizenship. Not to mention, illegal voting is minuscule. This law is directed at keeping people that don’t vote Republican out of the polls.

there it is. Can’t come up with a reasoned response so defaults like a robot to a stupid prompt “wUT iS A WomAn?” Idiot.

I absolutely do not have to have my (with official seals) birth certificate, marriage license, any divorce papers, or even a ‘Real ID’ to open a bank account, do my taxes, write a check, or open a credit account.
Why are you lying? Is that a GOP thing?
It is absolutely a poll tax which goes against the US Constitution. But the GOP wants to destroy that. How do I know? Their actions and their words.

that’s your response to legitimate concerns. Are you a child? My preteen is a kinder human.

are you serious? Are you a child? Are you going to say “your mom” or 6/7 now? My God, how embarrassing!

I used my driver’s license to get a bank account. No other document required.
True, I had to gather several documents recently for real ID, but since I did that, please explain why it’s not good enough to register to vote?
I have all the documents now but getting them in a timely way wasn’t easy nor without financial cost. I’ve encouraged every woman I know getting married since this nonsense came out, including my own DIL, not to take their husband’s name.
Too much bureaucracy from the party of smaller government required.

you keep forgetting the poll tax part. Either you dont know the constitution or you cherry pick the parts you like.

where do you bank at that doesn’t require an ID? Poll tax? Now you are grasping for straws.🤡

So now you’re going to shame women who choose to change their last name? Interesting.
Anyway, a marriage license isn’t on the list of acceptable forms of additional identification in this bill. Surely you read the actual bill and are not just regurgitating nonsense from “politicians” like Mr. Brattin, right? Right??

You don’t have to have a birth certificate with your married name on it or a passport to do those things. A lot of fools in your party are actually pushing for no ids to buy firearms. You are just straight up lying to people’s faces here and it’s just embarrassing.

not one of those items including the Missouri Real Id prove citizenship. All of those items prove identity, not the same and you know it.

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Women have been changing their names on ID’s for decades. It’s never been a problem. In fact, I went to the courthouse yesterday and got a copy of my birth certificate and both marriage licenses just in case I decide to get Real ID. It took less than 10 minutes. I absolutely don’t know why women think this is something that married women haven’t been doing all along. I can only guess that someone told them they needed to be mad about it and pretend it was something new and difficult to do. As a women, It’s embarrassing that women act so uneducated and helpless about something they’ve been doing for decades. It’s actually the men who probably have no idea of how to go about changing their name. Embrace it as a teaching moment for them.

This has been another edition of My Circumstances and Experiences Always Apply to Everyone Else.

how nice for you. I had to drive 6 hrs RT and take time off my then hourly job to get mine or wait 6-10 weeks; my state of birth doesn’t have centralized records. I had to drive another 5 hr RT in a different direction to get my marriage licenses. I was finally able to spend some $$ to get multiple certified copied. Not everyone can do that.
Just because something is easy for you doesn’t mean it is for everyone.

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It’s about federal overreach into states.
It’s about the constitution.

Rick Brattin for Missouri
There are parameters placed on federal elections, for instance the ADA and others, all of which have been held constitutional. You have to show ID, prove citizenship, and get a federal background check in order to exercise another constitutional right if I’m not mistaken?

What about the sections of the United States Constitution that outline how voting works?
There are not that many states that don’t require ID. I don’t have an issue with ID. I have an issue with federal government overreach.
We watched the federal government call states to tell them to ignore their constitutions and gerrymander in the middle of a decade. More government overreach.
Missourians are adamantly opposed to Fed government overreach and that’s why we let the politicians use millions of our tax dollars every year to tell the federal government to stay out of our business. We elect representatives who don’t bow down to the demands of the federal government. Why aren’t you doing that?

Rick Brattin for Missouri
The constitution requires that the election is held by the individual states , not that parameters of the election cannot be placed to ensure that rampant fraud from one state can cancel out the voices of other states. Just like the aforementioned ADA requirements to ensure easy access, but ensuring that only citizens vote across the nation or that blanket voter fraud isn’t occurring by simple presentation of ID isn’t some onerous overreach by the feds

Where is the mass voter fraud? The GOP spent millions of dollars, audited, states, etc. Mike Lindell drove his company into bankruptcy, trying to prove it. Media agencies did not prove the fraud they said happened. This involves thousands of investigators desperate to prove massive voter fraud and putting thousands of hours into trying.
Years ago Ken Paxton of Texas started offering $1 million to prove Trump lost due to fraud and he still has the money.
This is a push to nationalize elections under the false pretense of mass voter fraud.
Many states have implemented new voting restriction since 2020. The federal government should be happy with that and mind their own business.

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lying, liar says what? Go grift somewhere else.

If you make people pay for it, it’s illegal. If the government already knows who is and isn’t a citizen, why doesn’t the government provide its citizens a voter id? Nobody would ever argue against that. But, of course, that would not lead to the voter suppression that the gop so desperately desires!

Lots of fraud in Missouri, huh? Only way I can explain your multiple re-elections. Thankfully, those days are over now.

Heh.

The only fraud is whatever gerrymandered district you represent.

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That’s a stupid Charlie Kirk talking point. Why do you concern yourself so much with other’s genitals?

Rick Brattin for Missouri
Says the party of slavery, segregation, Jim Crow, eugenics, mass murder of children. Cool talking point bro

Stop obsessing over others genitals, bro.

Haven’t seen a President from that party put a Black couple’s faces on ape bodies, though, so that’s kind of a weird talking point, bro.

how are you this big of an idiot?? 😂

You forget the entire chapter in middle school history class that covers party switch? Or are you being disingenuous on purpose? We aren’t stupid

Kids, don’t fall asleep in school.

You do realize that eventually the two parties basically switched sides on these subjects, don’t you? Democrats are now the party of freedom and upholding the Constitution. Of ensuring equal rights for all. Republicans are concerned with controlling everyone who doesn’t fit their idea of white and Christian. Although for them this includes a leader who is orange, degrades women, assaults women, makes fun of the disabled, commits fraud and grift to enrich himself daily, illegally imprisons immigrants and citizens, and protects child sex predators. I am a PROUD Democrat!

Someone didn’t finish reading their history book…

I wonder why the Trump administration wants to take down signs explaining the history of slavery. Must be because they are big Democrats!

Apparently he missed the 1960s history of LBJ signing the Civil Rights Act and The Voting Rights Act followed by the Nixon Southern Strategy in 1968. Perhaps he didn’t read Project 2025. Oh well.

quick! back at the time of the Civil war, were Republicans liberal or conservative in their ideology?

says a man who clearly doesn’t know history.

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Well it is, who were the ones who changed last names that now don’t match birth certificates-WOMEN!!

Rick Brattin for Missouri
Uh, you don’t change your name on your birth certificate…ever… this is standard operating procedure for marriage for a century. Lol

Uh…

just stop. Isn’t there something that you can lecture about for men?

Can you read? She is saying when you change your last name, it no longer matches your birth certificate.
You made a poor argument, and now you are trying to argue with people because your reading comprehension skills are non-existent. Hilarious.

are you purposefully being obtuse?? My birth certificate has my birth name. Since I am a married woman since 1981, my birth certificate does not match my driver’s license which has my marriage name. This seems like you either don’t understand how it worked for women or you don’t give a darn, or you’re drunk on orange koolaid. If you are unable to represent all Missouri citizens, especially women, you should resign!!

Dear Rick:
Might I suggest more reading comprehension.
Fact: women who get married change their last names to match their spouse. This would not be the same as the name on their birth certificate. Unless of course; they marry themselves.

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The only people the “save” act will prevent from voting are American Citizens who have been legally voting for decades. Non-citizens already don’t vote in our elections. So this addresses a problem that doesn’t exist.

We’ve been sharing bathrooms with trans people for decades. Why it’s suddenly an issue is beyond me.

Stop relying on rhetorical fallacies to make your arguments.
Last time I checked, most men don’t change their last name when they get married. So, yes, it would disproportionately affect women in a negative way.

It isn’t just an ID. We already do that in MO. This is a poll tax, and absolutely will disenfranchise voters. Y’all really should think about this…more Democrat voters than Republican voters are passport holders.

Why is the trump administration ordering public libraries to stop processing passports?

Make it more difficult to get a passport, no passport, no voting. Simple.

Imagine the guy who doesn’t respect the votes of women. Wants to further make it more difficult for them to vote with the save act.

hiya. Missouri voter here. I had my original (1960s) birth certificate. Because the seal was no longer raised ( 60 year old paper, you know?) I had to obtain an replacement from my birth state. I had to pay expedited fee, since I didn’t expect my original to be refused.
Had my marriage certificate, social security card, utility bill ( a little tough in these days is e-payments) and the previously mentioned ORIGINAL birth certificate.
$60 for new certificate.
It’s a poll tax to keep women from voting.

My original ” birth certificate” was considered a registration of birth and had to pay the town for an embossed birth certificate but then my driver’s license didn’t match my birth certificate so I had to bring in my marriage certificate. All so I could pay the DMV for an enhanced license. Then I had to pay again to get a passport ID for citizenship. 🤔am I legal now? Was i illegal before? 😆

Is this your campaign platform? Is this your agenda? Is this your message? Is this your pledge of service to your constituents? Is this what you bring to the table?

Yes. This has been another edition of Short Answers to Simple Questions.

Rick Brattin ~ you are very mis-informed about women & name changes…..let me state a fact for you. I was adopted, I do not have an official Birth Certificate & my original Birth name is on it along with my biological parents names. Let me stress again…..I was adopted & given a new name, my lifelong name until I married, once, twice, three times. How many names is that? I have a Real ID on my driver’s license. I had to produce paperwork to get that. Now explain to me, what do I use to vote. I have voted for all of my adult life by producing my driver’s license. To force me to procure additional ID to vote or pay for that procurement is a poll tax. You know it & I know it. Believe me, many of us seniors do not have the money to acquire a passport. Again, if we do & pay for a passport, that is a poll tax. Missouri needs to focus on the REAL problems this state has rather than trying to belittle women.

The SAVE Act is voter suppression. Pure and simple. Voter fraud has been proven, again and again, to be negligible. The numbers affected by the SAVE act would be considerable. This is the polar opposite of election integrity. An un-American perversion of our electoral system. Even if the obstacles are not insurmountable, they remain obstacles. Some people, inevitably, will fail to surmount them. Result: the electorate is distorted far more than by the minuscule amount of fraud that exists. Shame on everyone who supports this bs.

Tell us you don’t know how the constitution works……

Curious what any of that has to do with serving Missouri?
You make up issues to find solutions to things that aren’t really problems. You followed the party script perfectly.

What a crayon eater.

Paste, too, probably.

Rick Brattin (r) [2013 Show Me Progress file photo].

Rick Brattin’s (r) favorite whine…

21 Wednesday Jan 2026

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

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Rick Brattin (r) [2025 file photo].

Rick Brattin for Missouri
[January 21, 2026]

When you see all of these mass protests that the left is doing nationwide, just realize these yayhoos are being paid, their transportation provided in nice comfy expensive charter buses, and pallets of food miraculously arrive for them. Their signs are printed and distributed to them upon their arrival, and their organizer gives them their barking orders on what they are supposed to do.
This isn’t grassroots, they are like extras on a mass movie set and by law they should probably all have to register as lobbyists.
[….]

Democracy, meh.

Some of the responses:

That is a bold face lie. I’m not sure what is worse, that you are intentionally lying to your constituents or that you are stupid enough to believe the people that are feeding you that line of bull.

Rick, it’s ironic that you do not respond to phone calls, messages or mail when we need to talk with you about issues but you have chosen this issue to spout falsehoods. First communication from you!

Are you really so stupid you believe what you’re saying? Wait don’t answer that lol. Retired grandma here. Not paid. We drove, but know many of the people on those busses, not paid either. Please, continue to talk your bs. There really are this many people who are willing to stand up and speak out to save our democracy…and it’s growing every single day.

Rick Brattin (r) [2013 file photo].

Hey Mr. Brattin! I am one of your constituents (not by choice), and I drove 2 hours to come have my voice (as well as 3 other constituents voices) heard today! I didn’t get paid. But what I did get was the satisfaction of getting to talk to other constituents who are just as unhappy as I am that you can’t seem to do your job without infringing on the Missourians rights who have plainly voted on measures they want.
You serve the people. I am sure you will be reminded of that once your term ends.

Local man baffled by the idea of “organizing”. More at 11

Lol if we’re being paid to protest where’s my check?

Gee, and here I am always protesting for free. You’re a ridiculous person Brattin.

Rick here is a liar. I do it all for free. My friends do it all for free.

I bought three new Mercedes with mine

Heh.

LOL. Bro posted a picture of buses and some snacks and somehow is convinced of some massive protestor conspiracy. Top notch work 🙄

all you idiots wear the same red hats

Heh.

And China makes them. 😂

yeah. We all go to the same places for our signs and organize in advance genius. Are you people really this stupid???

Yes. This has been another edition of “Short Answers to Simple Questions”.

Lol! I got paid for protesting the same day I got my Doge check 😂😂😂

Oh they got snacks!
I love snacks!

Do they pay more than ICE?

wow. and to think I’ve been doing it on my own time free of charge. Can you dig a little deeper and get some more info so I can sign up and get paid? Thanks bro

How much do they get paid?
Is it under the table?
Does it have benefits and 401k?

I’m looking for the one that provides healthcare coverage!

What is sad about your post Is that you really believe it?

he’s an idiot OR he thinks voters are idiots

exactly. What’s worse? That he’s a liar or just stupid? 🤦‍♀️

like for real…they just blindly believe whatever they see on Fox “news”. 🤦‍♀️

Is this a parody account?😆😆😆

Sadly, no.

Stop. I was there today. Drove myself, ate a lovely lunch at Arris Pizza and drove home.

No, we just know how to organize against fascism.

water cannons – every military base has at least one xtra — hose em down

Think about that one for just a second.

Such mature language to call them yahoos, Rick. There’s an awful lot of people protesting on their own dime. How about you do your job instead of creating posts like this.

I bet the guy in the bathrobe in the Minneapolis snow was being paid. You guys are ridiculous. 😆😆😆

Children shouldn’t have access to the internet. Please be quiet while adults are talking.

That’s a pretty brash statement. I am sure there are still some of us who feel strongly about exercising our first amendment rights without it being for monetary gain. Those of us from the 60’s and 70’s understand that.

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Keep calling this out, Senator Brattin

he’s not calling it out. He’s making it up. Don’t be fooled. The left isn’t paying fake protestors. We are terrified and our of at what this country is becoming and if you don’t see it, it’s because you are choosing not to see it. Facism is sneaky. This country is not great when our own citizens are scared of our own government. Do better

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And the moon is made of cheese.

You’re confusing this with J6. And the buses paid for by the wife of Clarence Thomas.

There’s that.

Hey so who do I call to get my check? And back pay since I’ve never gotten one for any of the protests I’ve attended? Oh and who reimburses me for the supplies I purchased to make my signs? Ya know since they provided printed ones… 🙄

Then it should be easy to go undercover and get proof and receipts yeah? Go on and do it. Show us clown.

Oh hell no, I protest for free!

Yeah, with all these trump tariff and doge checks, plus the protest checks, I’m shocked the economy isn’t doing better

Heh.

It’s always amusing to see that Republicans think liberals get paid to do things…mainly because the Republicans could never imagine having something so meaningful that you’d fight for it for free. Classic projection and sidestep. You think the libs do it because that’s the only way you’d do it. Some folks just believe in human rights and the sanctity of human life and liberty. Ask yourself which is more Christlike, you won’t be seeing it in the mirror.

The fact that so many people protesting this administration is inconceivable to you and others is mind boggling. Tells me that you are not in touch with the concerns of your constituents. (Also, those pictures do not “prove” a point.)

Is this a 1099 gig?

Heh.

So difficult for maga to imagine caring about others or something other than themselves 🤭🤔

Why is it so hard for people to understand that folks hate trump for free? And why has there never been proof of payments? And why hasn’t maga ever went undercover to blow up the whole deal??… you guys are hilarious…lmao

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There should be a law requiring identification of paid protesters. We can start with a general law that states all acts of protest with “x” number of people require a permit. If a permit is not provided then protesters are not allowed to inhibit public traffic or neighborhoods.

Keep trying to take away the 1st amendment. That will definitely win you cucks the midterms 🤣

Geez, almost like no one ever thought of that…oh wait, Russia and China beat you to it.

should that same law require a group of masked men with weapons shouting demands also identify who they are?

We see what you did there.

“Stop the ICEholes”

Good thing the 60s didn’t depend on you.

So you’re for small government, right?🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

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Special kind of stupid aren’t you.

Are you okay? I’m seriously worried about your brain or your soul but either way you might want to get it checked 😬

Dude, are you dumb?

Dunning-Kruger. Stupid people don’t know that they’re stupid.

Is that what you really believe? If it is, I’m really sorry for you.

You are remarkably stupid.

Are you merely stupid? Or are you huffing spray paint? Either way, when idiocy goes to $50 a barrel, you’re Saudi Arabia.

Tell us you are an idiot without telling us you are an idiot.

Wow. You are clearly as ignorant as they come, a liar, or both. Which is it? People protest you and your cronies because you are…well, as stated in the previous sentence, both. We don’t get paid to stand up to your lies and bad policies.

Just say you’re a moron. Takes much fewer words.

Just a lot of people dont like Nazis.

It’s freaking awesome that Republicans have not once came up with the idea to “pose as an agitator, get paid big bucks with delicious snacks, expose all with Sean Hannity.” Like either (A) ya’ll are completely delusional and half the country suffering from what you call “TDS” really does hate the man that much to freely protest, or (B), you folks must be all tied as the absolute worst board game players in the history of mankind.

Arrest them all.

Never heard of the Constitution, slept through school.

Senator Rick Brattin for Missouri, your post is indicative of your inability to comprehend that there are things so important like our country and our form of government we don’t have to be paid to stand up for them.
In addition your post is indicative of the worry that you and your fellow unfit for office Republicans are feeling. You underestimated the resolve, integrity, ethics, and intelligence of “We the people”

There’s that.

You are some kind of stupid.

Same old tired lies. Nobody has to pay us to stand up for human rights. To fight for the rights of human beings, who are also citizens, to not be taken out in a Minnesota winter barely clothed at almost 60 years old. To not be shot in the face. To not have to do CPR on their 6-month-old because they were tear-gassed. Why is it beyond your comprehension that anyone would have to be paid to be a decent human being with empathy for others? We have been here before, and you’re on the wrong side of history.

Rick why didn’t you come out of your office and actually speak with us? We are Missouri voters who gladly attended for free. I spoke at the rally. But when a group of constituents went to speak to our senator after the rally he literally ran out of his office and hid from us. You might be more in tune with your constituents if you weren’t locked in your office taking creepy aerial photos of buses and lunches.

Does it make you sad that you’re just another Republican puking up lies? If you want people to listen to you, maybe you should try listening to the voters. It’s a 2 way street.
We have enough liars in the government. We need people who will tell the truth.
How do I know you’re lying? Because if there were any truth to this, you would sign up and have video of all of this happening, not a couple pictures that show nothing. Not only that, you’d have a check stub proving that these people are being paid.
Without any of that, you’re just a cog in the propaganda machine. I mean, I get why you have to believe those lies… because otherwise you’d have to accept the fact that so many people disagree with you and don’t like you… if you’re right, you can stay the course no matter what your voters think. Doesn’t make you right though, just bad at your job.

Campaign Finance: friendship

09 Sunday Nov 2025

Posted by in campaign finance, Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

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Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C211706 11/08/2025 Friends of Melanie Stinnett Melanie Stinnett 3928 S Meadowbrook Ave 3928 S Meadowbrook Ave Springfield MO 65807 State of Missouri State Representative 11/7/2025 $200,000.00

[emphasis added]

Well, you gotta start somewhere.

Rick Brattin (r) and Brandon Phelps (r) – Chamber of Commerce “Coffee & Concerns” – Warrensburg, Missouri – October 9, 2025

09 Thursday Oct 2025

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

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[left to right] Brandon Phelps (r), Rick Brattin (r), Bruce Uhler.

Rick Brattin (r – 31st Senate District), Brandon Phelps (r – 54th Legislative District), and Warrensburg Mayor Bruce Uhler attended and spoke at “Coffee & Concerns” – a community event hosted by the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce – on Wednesday morning. Around fifty individuals were in attendance.

Rick Brattin (r).

A moderator from the Chamber of Commerce started with questions for the panel, then opened up questions from those in attendance. The event lasted over an hour and a half.

The complete audio:


.
A question from the audience:

Question: …One of my children has a severe disability. So, my question is going to be asking about how will you, um, make sure and, and a specific plan to insure that we are fully funding our schools, especially in those areas of special education. Um, I fear, based on a previous answer you gave, even as the vice-chair of the Education Committee, that you think our schools have more money than we do. Um, and I can tell you that is not the case. Um, so I am curious how you will insure that we are fully finding our schools, not leaving local districts to cover the gap, and how will you make sure we are not diverting funding away from our public schools, uh, via vouchers?

Rick Brattin (r): Why…I’m just like you, I mean, my, I have a daughter that’s a severe dyslexic. I’ve had to privately pay for years and years of tutoring [….] out of my pocket. Uh, and it has been, you know, transformative to be able, but it’s, it’s a life long deal, but I have to, to continually invest in my, my daughter’s capability to be able to flourish. Uh, and I think every student should have that capability. And that’s why I, I’m perplexed at the, the, the opposition to vouchers. You know, why, why I’m paying out of pocket for something that, that yes, if we’re sending taxpayer dollars, why shouldn’t I be able to have that allotment to be able to go to pay for the education that I know my kid is going to be able to flourish in? Uh, instead of walking into a, a type of school system that, uh, is, is a one size fits all approach?

Question: And our taxes pay for public schools. [crosstalk] That cover all students.

Rick Brattin (r): Well, your taxes, our taxes pay for the education of our students. Uh, it doesn’t state that it’s required that it’s public schools. Now we’ve set up that frame work but that doesn’t mean that the legislature and the people don’t want, uh, the capability to go elsewhere if they’re not receiving a good quality education. I mean, look at Kansas City, St. louis, even Lee’s Summit area that I represent a, a portion of. Where they’re at, at twenty, thirty percent, uh, proficiency rates in their readings and math. What are we supposed to do there? Continue to spend money and send our kids there to, to abysmally fail? I, I think it’s a detriment to our students. And especially those that are dyslexic, uh, or have other, uh, disabilities that are totally going under the radar because the school district just, uh, honestly has policies in place that, uh, allow them to be able to, to not be caught.

Well, Congressman Eric Burlison [r – MO 7] is a perfect example. He’s a great friend of mine. His daughters actually through a school district in, in Springfield were, both of them were diagnosed through the school district with dyslexia. The school district opted not to tell the parents. And not to even do anything to, uh, to remedy, trying to help fix their, the, the dyslexia. Until they took them out, got their private, uh, testing done and then the school district after they, actually, caught that they did the testing and refused to, to give that data to the parents, uh, the school district just basically said that they just, you know, uh, didn’t have to. [laugh] And so, I mean, not all school districts are acting in, in good faith and that’s where I think giving the individual parent that capability to take their money, uh, and, and educate their kids where they see fit. Like I had to pull my kids out of, of, Pleasant Hill. Uh, Uh, the public school district and now they’re going to Summit Christian Academy, it’s a private school, and, and they’re, they’re learning well beyond, uh, the, their years of what they would have received, uh, when, when they were at, it’s a, a public school. [….]

Question: Senator, this is not answering my question.

Rick Brattin (r): But, I, I’m just explaining that, that I saw that the school was failing my student and my kids and I had to pull out [crosstalk]…

Question: So you come from a place of privilege where you’re able to pull your children out [crosstalk]…

Rick Brattin (r): I, I make thirty-five thousand dollars a year [crosstalk] as a state senator. I’m not a [crosstalk]…

Question: In, a community like this doesn’t have the access to other schooling systems or, or abilities to send children [crosstalk] to those other places…

Rick Brattin (r): But that’s what it, that’s what [crosstalk] I, if, if we have the systems and processes in place to where we allow the student, uh, the money to follow the student I guarantee you that that will rise up. But when we have a, a monopoly system in education that doesn’t allow for it, of course you’re not gonna have [crosstalk]…

Question: It’s not a monopoly, it’s public education, thank you, senator.

Rick Brattin (r): well it is a monopoly because your taxpayer dollars are forced to go there and regardless if your student is actually even going to that school district. I’m still sending my money to Pleasant Hill School District and I’m paying for my kid’s education as well, on top of the tutoring for my daughter. So yes, I’m paying twice and it’s wrong and people that can’t afford it, they’re trapped. So, I, I’m the chair of Education [Missouri Senate Committee] and this is one of those things that I am emphatically for, is making sure these, these funds follow the student so they can get out of these trapped areas.

Voice: That’s bullshit.

Voices: All right, all right.

Rick Brattin (r): Hey, if you have a great school district then, then you have nothing to worry about. Nothing to worry [crosstalk]…

Question: If you fully fund it.

Rick Brattin (r): It, it is fully funded. At fourteen thousand dollars per pupil, it is funded….

Rick Brattin (r): …Now, as for the separation of church and state, that is nowhere in the Constitution. In fact the, the right to, to freedom of religion is in the Constitution. Uh, the first public education book in the United States is the New England Primer. I highly advise you to go to, to Amazon or Google or, or Ebay, whatever, and purchase a copy and see if separation of church and state of the first ordained public education book was was not religious. I assure you it wasn’t. That, that was not the case. Uh, so this, we, we’ve gotten to this place in America where all the sudden if, if money is utilized to educate students can’t in [inaudible] of faith. I, I think is absolutely the antithesis of America. Uh, we look at things like evolution being forced upon in all public education. Well, that’s, that’s a religion of science that, that’s been adopted and is forced upon the kids. Uh, and, and we’re funding that. I mean, so, to, to say that there’s not that, that aspect of it, it’s already occurring in public education. It’s just the, the secular, uh, world view which the Supreme Court ruled is a religion is, is what the dominant, uh, religion is of, of the school districts. But again, I am not and I do not want to attack the schools. I just want to make sure that, that parents have that capability, ’cause they know what’s best for their kids. Now, do all parents know, there is some crummy parents, there’s some parents that don’t care about their kids, I mean it, and that, that is terrible but, but, we try to do everything we can do with, and, and to make sure that they, they know that. And that’s, that’s my part in it is making sure that they have that capability, uh, to have access to all, uh, educational opportunity as possible. Now, again, we may differ in how and what that looks like, but I assure you I’m not an enemy trying to dismantle everything. I just, I just want there to be a level of competition that makes us all better. I mean, we, we educate and bring up our children to be competitors in every aspect and every realm of life. And then when we talk about vouchers all the sudden it’s, oh we can’t have any level of competition and so on and so forth. I just think that’s, uh, that’s a huge disservice….

[Note: The New England Primer was first published in Boston between 1687 and 1691. Extant copies date from 1727. All well before there was a United States of America.]

[Note: Amendment I – “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” – U.S. Constitution

I Section 6. “….That no person can be compelled to erect, support or attend any place or system of worship, or to maintain or support any priest, minister, preacher or teacher of any sect, church, creed or denomination of religion…” – Missouri Constitution

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

Warrensburg Mayor Bruce Uhler.

Brandon Phelps (r).

Brandon Phelps (r): …Just on a, just on a side note, just something, uh, that was mentioned, and actually, I’ve said this before, maybe it gets mentioned quite often. Um, and, and I can’t speak for the senator, but I imagine that I am. We as legislators listen to you significantly more than you can possibly imagine. The problem is, and I told this to a group a while back, that just because maybe we have voted in a manner that you don’t agree with doesn’t mean that we didn’t understand the legislation. It doesn’t mean that we didn’t listen to constituents. It doesn’t mean that, uh, perhaps, if we haven’t met with you, it doesn’t mean that we’ve met with nobody. Um, and, uh, I discussed this with a group a while back that they just, I think they loved probably ninety-five percent of the things that I voted on and the way that I voted, but there were a few things they just simply didn’t like. And they asked me on those things they didn’t like, they said, well, why didn’t you listen to the people? Why didn’t you read the legislation? How come you didn’t, how come you didn’t understand and educate yourself on the legislation? And I said, so, wait a minute, let me get this clear. So on all the things that I voted in the manner that you like, you assumed I did educate myself. You assumed I did speak to the people. You assumed I did listen to the constituency. But on the three that you didn’t like, you assumed I didn’t read those bills. You assumed that I didn’t listen to constituency, and so I want you all to understand that believe it or not, while we are together right here, and for many of you this is the first opportunity, but for many of you it is not. These events, for me at least, I don’t know about for the senator, um, and so everybody knows, and I, I’m a first year legislator. I will tell you that I was actually just stunned that when session ended how many of these events started getting put on my calendar. I will tell you it’s almost daily. Uh, and when the superintendent told you that we spoke, um, a week and a half ago, we did, for two hours. We, we’ve had an opportunity to speak multiple times. During session he came to my office and we had a long conversations. But, that is that way with everybody. I just would ask people, number one, I want you to understand me. I’m gonna listen to you. I’m gonna hear you. I am going to research. But I would also ask that you don’t make the assumption that if I have not agreed with you on a hundred percent of the issues a hundred percent of the time that I just don’t listen. Because that’s not fair. Because we have thousands, tens of thousands of phone calls and emails. And I actually would tell people that’s one of the things I actually, I, I, I think, I think I told the mayor this, um, I know I told [….] this. That’s one of the things I love most about the job. I’m getting a free education when people come in and share their thoughts and concerns with me. They don’t always agree with me and I don’t always agree with them. But I do listen, I do research, and I do understand that we will not agree one hundred percent of the time on one hundred percent of the issues. It’s not possible. Uh, many of these events I go to, the people in the room, some of them in the room contacted my office or contacted me personally with one opinion, while other people in the room contacted me with another. I actually think that’s what makes us great. I actually believe that you are not supposed to agree with me on everything. And I am not supposed to agree with you on everything. I actually believe that that is what we want to see. Because your competing ideas with my competing ideas make us all better people. I can learn from you. And you can learn from me. But I would only say that that is possible when we have enough open mind to assume that the legislator making the vote didn’t just do it willy-nilly. Perhaps the legislator was listening and did have the info. And at the end of the day we’ve got to vote yes or we’ve got to vote no or we could take the coward’s way out and we could just go for a walk down the Capitol and not be there. I’m always there, I’ve always voted. My door in my office, uh, there are some that are open all day, there are some that are closed during the day. Mine’s never been closed. Uh, and I will tell you, these events, like I say, I, I bet I’ve been to a hundred now since the session ended in May. So we’re listening and I want you to know we’re listening and if you call me I will listen. And if you want to meet, I will meet and we will talk. Because I value it, I really do. I, I just really think that we need to share ideas and I am willing to accept the fact that you’re idea may be better than mine. My idea may be better than yours. But when I vote please don’t make the assumption that I only voted based on my ideas and I did it without any other input….

“…But I do listen, I do research, and I do understand that we will not agree one hundred percent of the time on one hundred percent of the issues. It’s not possible…”

Previously:

HB 291: keping misooree stoopit (January 5, 2013)

Rep. Rick Brattin (r): cdesign proponentsists (February 10, 2013)

Hey Brandon Phelps (r), we hear you’re afraid of church ladies (September 18, 2025)

HB 1: Gerrymander this

09 Tuesday Sep 2025

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

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“Gerrymander This”

The right wingnut controlled Missouri General Assembly is proceeding with the gerrymandered early redistricting of Missouri’s congressional districts at the behest of Donald Trump (r). Fascists gotta Fascist:

103rd General Assembly, 2nd Extraordinary Session
HB 1 Creates provisions for redistricting federal congressional seats
Sponsor: Deaton, Dirk (159)
Proposed Effective Date: Varies
LR Number: 3344H.01P
Last Action: 09/08/2025 – Perfected (H)
Bill String: HB 1
[….]

Some of the submitted testimony to the Special Committee on Redistricting:

I oppose this power grab in an already gerrymandered state. Missouri overwhelmingly opposes the state passing harmful legislation and overturning voter approved bills. Embarrassing. History will not look kindly.

Gerrymandering is intentionally taking away the voice of the people. If we are a democracy, the voice of the people should be heard. Just as with our last election, our legislature has proven they do not care about their constituents or our votes. They only want power and control. Stop this nonsense, and start passing reforms to help everyday citizens.

I oppose this attempt to further marginalize the voices of non-Republicans in the state of Missouri. There is no moral or democratic reason for this mid decade redistricting. It is apparent that the Republican lawmakers are willing to silence the voices of Missouri citizens to follow the orders handed to them by a corrupt federal government.

This is an UNCONSTITUTIONAL call for gerrymandering. It is a blatant attempt to take away representation for Democratic voters. Democratic voters account for 40% of the vote in the state and already only have 25% representation. This will further dilute that representation to only 12%. This is anti-democratic!

There is no reason to redraw congressional districts; gerrymandering is unconstitutional and serves only to suppress the vote. There is no other legitimate and valid purpose. There is no compelling government interest that justifies this action. This is an arbitrary action that interferes with the fundamental rights of all citizens, regardless of political party.

Can we not bootlick a person in the Epstein files please? This is a distraction from the very real fact our sitting president was close friends with a pedophile…a pedophile and a rapist. And you scurry to do his bidding. Gross and embarrassing.

Members of the Committee,

I submit this testimony in opposition to the Governor’s proposed redistricting map. Article III, Section 3 of the Missouri Constitution establishes both the standards and the timing for redistricting.

First, Missouri’s Constitution makes clear that redistricting occurs only once every ten years following the U.S. Census, or if a court strikes down an existing plan. We are currently in the middle of the 2020 Census cycle, and no court has invalidated our maps. Attempting to redraw districts now has no constitutional basis and would directly conflict with the provisions of Article III.

Second, the Constitution requires that districts achieve partisan fairness and competitiveness. A map designed to guarantee a 7–1 congressional split grossly misrepresents Missouri’s statewide vote patterns, where Republicans typically receive about 57% of the vote and Democrats about 41%. Such an outcome would almost certainly exceed the 15% wasted-vote threshold and fail the responsiveness simulations required by our Constitution.

Finally, the Constitution requires that redistricting be carried out by the independent bipartisan citizens commission (or the judiciary if the commission fails), not by the General Assembly in special session. For these reasons, the mid-cycle timing, the fairness violations, and the improper process, I respectfully urge you to reject the Governor’s proposed map.

Thank you for your consideration.

I find it truly appalling and disheartening that the state I have called home for over 40 years is seeking to essentially negate the voices and will of 40% of its tax-paying citizens. It’s truly a travesty. No taxation without representation. I sincerely object as an American.

Supporting the out of schedule redrawing of congressional districts is a violation of the people of Missouri’s rights. This clearly an undemocratic attempt to prop the next election in favor of one party.

I stand in strong opposition to the redistricting plan proposed by Governor Kehoe and the Missouri Republicans. This legislation would leave Kansas City without meaningful representation, a clear violation of both the Missouri Constitution and the United States Constitution. The GOP received 58% of the statewide vote, yet they are attempting to take 7 of 8 congressional seats—87.5% of the representation. That is not democracy, it is gerrymandering. This plan will not survive constitutional scrutiny, and the inevitable litigation will waste millions of taxpayer dollars. Kansas Citians deserve representation, not disenfranchisement.

HB1 is a blatant attempt to redraw Missouri’s congressional map with no transparency, no public input, and no regard for the people it impacts. Maps should reflect real communities—not political calculations—but this proposal is nothing more than partisan and racial gerrymandering that silences voters in the 5th Congressional District and beyond. Redrawing maps mid-cycle is political gamesmanship that erodes trust in our democracy. Every person deserves to be heard, counted, and fairly represented—and HB1 denies Missourians that fundamental right by letting politicians choose their voters instead of voters choosing their representatives.

Redrawing Missouri’s district maps to heavily favor Republican voters, instead of representing a fair mix of how the Missouri populace actually votes is undemocratic and an insult to all voters of this great state. Coupled with the fact that Missouri’s current leadership does not want to abide by voter-passed initiatives, this new map is entirely self-serving and designed to make a stronghold where the people will never get a say again. The voters should choose its representatives, NOT the other way around.

This gerrymandering effort must not be allowed to move forward. Furthermore, if this map passes without a quorum, it is illegal and should be stricken.

I urge the committee to reject HB 1, the so-called “Missouri First Map,” an illegal and anti-democratic proposal designed to silence voters by rigging Congressional district maps solely for political leverage in advance of the 2026 elections.

The proposal would break up Kansas City and combine metro Kansas City with farmers over 250 miles away on the Illinois/Iowa border – making it harder for all of these communities to be fairly represented. Seven out of eight congressional districts would go to Republicans, even though Democrats make up about 40% of Missouri’s voters.

The Missouri Constitution says that Congressional redistricting only occurs every 10 years after the census. This accounts for population shifts to ensure that everyone’s vote counts. Missouri already did so after the most recent census — and rejected a 7-1 map like the proposal in front of you today. Redrawing lines mid-decade to split up voters’ ability to elect candidates of their choice violates our constitution.

Let’s be clear – this is about politicians choosing their voters, not voters choosing their representatives. And that’s just anti-democratic. This proposal is nothing more than an attempt to rig the 2026 elections before a single vote is even cast – at the behest of Washington DC, and at the expense of real Missourians.

Missourians across the political spectrum oppose this mid-decade redistricting. This proposal would silence hundreds of thousands of Missourians – pitting people against one another and breaking up communities instead of creating a system that works for everyone. Missouri lawmakers: Please stand up for your constituents and reject this effort to rig the district lines and split up our local communities.

Missouri is the show-me state. Please show your constituents and all Missourians that you care about their ability to make their voices heard fairly and reject this proposal.

As a voter, it is my constitutional right to be able to vote in my district without corrupt politicians and special interference groups interfering with my rights. Any and all involved in this scheme is openly anti-democracy and should be ashamed.

I urge the committee to reject HB 1, the so-called “Missouri First Map,” an illegal and anti-democratic proposal designed to silence voters by rigging Congressional district maps solely for political leverage in advance of the 2026 elections.

Missouri has had a Kansas City-based Congressional District since at least 1885, when a former Kansas City Mayor was elected to the post. Now Donald J. Trump, Governor Mike Kehoe and the GOP supermajority in Jefferson City want to break us up, destroying our traditional 5th Congressional
District and splitting Kansas City into 3 districts. We have been ably represented by Emanuel Cleaver II, another former Kansas City Mayor, since 2005. We cannot allow our community to be divided in an unprecedented mid-decade partisan gerrymander.

The plan developed is, of course, unconstitutional. “Districts shall be contiguous and as compact as may be.” This is not true of the GOP map, which spreads a portion of Kansas City into far west and southwest Missouri, comprising vast swaths of of rural areas, while the other district stretches beyond central Missouri into areas north and east of Columbia.

Communities shall be preserved. In this plan, they are not. One of Kansas City’s smallest and most diverse State House Districts would be in three Congressional Districts, not coincidentally dividing Kansas City’s sizable Latino Community.

Districts should follow political subdivision lines and split counties and county segments shall be as few as possible. In this plan, Jackson County is intentionally divided into three Districts, diluting the interests of our community in all three.

My home would be in the new 4th District, while 2 miles away, my neighbors east of Troost Avenue would be in the 5th, which includes Jefferson City and parts northeast of Columbia. The decision to utilize Troost Avenue is not coincidental- the GOP has intentionally utilized the disgraced ‘dividing line’ between Black and white Kansas City, enforced during the decades of de jure and de facto segregation.

This is a most cutting and offensive affront, especially to generations of civil rights leaders who have sought to tear down this Troost Avenue barrier.

Of course, using divisive boundaries like Troost Avenue immorally divides the City’s sizeable Black community, perpetuating segregation and the marginalization of minority and progressive communities.

This decision is wrong, morally bankrupt and, given the majority’s fealty to the whims of the President, likely to be rubber stamped by the General Assembly.

Kansas Citians will see you in court, and likely at the Ballot Box, to stop this illegal and unconstitutional GOP power grab!

The proposed redistricting plan will do nothing to further fair, free elections in the state of Missouri and will simply serve to hurt all Missourians by disenfranchising those in areas that have historically elected Democrats and also by reducing the incentives for Republicans in ‘safe’ districts to listen to their constituents as their districts are seen as even less competitive than they already are.

This power grab is unconstitutional, undemocratic, and unacceptable. The Missouri Constitution is explicit: redistricting happens after the Census, once per decade. There is no provision for redrawing maps “whenever it suits you.” To divide Kansas City, dilute Black and urban representation, and rig outcomes is a betrayal of your oath and an assault on the rights of every voter in this state.

I submit this testimony in opposition to HB 1. You are undermining the very values that US Democracy is built on by moving this bill forward. I’m embarrassed by this blatantly illegal power grab from our elected officials. You do not want this to be your legacy from your time in office.

Missouri has overturned the will of the people time and time again, and it’s time this ends. Missouri republicans are in the back pocket of a convicted felon, rapist, and authoritarian. I strongly oppose H.B. 1 and any other attempt to redraw Missouris congressional map before the 2026 midterm election. This will rob voters of their rights. This will rob the 40% of Missourians who vote democratic ticket. Voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around.

I am against anything against the well being of the working class

Missouri maps should not be determined by the President of the United States. This bill is an attempt by the majority party to pick their voters which is an undemocratic attempt to preserve the congressional majority in Washington. Listening to the hearing today, it’s clear there is no legitimate reason to change maps other than aquiesing to President Trump. We are not blind.

Representatives should be chosen by the voters and should actually work in the interests of voters. Communities don’t want this. We are tired of people not working in the best interests of people, but for themselves. As a veteran I am embarrassed of these leaders.

What in the world do you all think you’re doing?! It is only legal to redistrict immediately following a census. I’m not sure why you all think you make adjustments at the whim of an authoritarian president. I vehemently oppose this bill. The world is watching the US democracy collapse; Missouri does not have to contribute even more to its inevitability!

Elected officials should represent all constituents who reside in the state. I fear there will be a time that the state is turned into a battleground as it swings back and forth between parties rather than honoring one person one vote representing all of the people. Missouri is a state with priorities that differ region to region. All of the regions should be represented by people who can and will represent them. This attempt to silence opposing views is anti-democratic and anti-American. It diminishing the state.

I don’t support this. You should not either.

I could list all the reasons why redistricting Missouri in the manner is wrong. But you know them all
already.

I could call you out on the fact that this is a blatant power grab. But you know this, and you know we
know.

I could speak on all the ways you openly lie to your constituents and yourselves, because you’ve seen the playbook where lies are rewarded with power. You know.

I could state facts that are irrefutable regarding how your continued support of flawed policy and radically unpopular and undemocratic ideas are tearing apart our economy, our communities, our democracy, and our peace. You know.

And with all your knowledge and all your facts, you will bend the knee to the same bad ideas. Showing no leadership or moral compass. Digging the hole that has kept you from facing your constituents ever deeper.

But many of us were raised by the golden rule. To love thy neighbor. That people faught, marched, and died for equal rights, equal protections, equal say, freedom, and democracy.

Your vote to pass redistricting in Missouri just proves everything they say about you. That you can’t win without cheating. That you are in office for your own self interest. That you believe Missouri communities are not deserving of representation. And that there’s just absolutely and unequivocally people in this state that you don’t care about. Well that’s not true, you care enough to take their vote and their voice.

You’ll probably vote to pass this, pat yourselves on the back and bask in the glow of dollars thrown your way. And for a moment you will rest in what you’ve done. But one thing I know, you will all crumble to the consequences of these actions. You will lose family, friends, coworkers, respect, community, and at some point the power you sold your soul for.

I hope this moment in time, and the disgust you reap upon yourselves is worth it.

This is illegal and unconstitutional. It is totally a racist, political power grab to attempt to steal representation from the voters of District 5. It is our governor’s attempt to please President Trump. This is not democratic. Elections must be won fairly, or we risk becoming a facist country. This is wrong! Please do not allow it.

I am vehemently opposed to this unconstitutional attempt to redraw Missouri congressional districts to disenfranchise voters who do not support the Trump agenda. The Republican Party claims to be the party of small government but have proven time and time again that they are only interested in serving the elite and capitulating to the requests of Donald Trump. These attempts to redraw districts mid-decade illustrate how unpopular the Republican agenda is and makes it crystal clear that they feel they can only win elections by cheating. Missouri republicans have lost their moral compass and sold their souls to Donald Trump and the billionaire class. Missouri has significant issues that need to be addressed, but instead of focusing on solutions to address our impending budget crisis, lack of resources in rural areas of the state and the hundreds of foster children sleeping in offices every year due to a shortage of appropriate foster homes, the governor and legislature have decided once again to prioritize Donald Trump over the best interest of Missourians.

Restricting and changing the Missouri constitution denies Missouri voters our voice. You were elected to serve the people, and now you are rigging our state to serve a power hungry elite who could care less about strengthening our communities. This is the opposite of servant leadership. Is this the legacy you want to leave for the citizens of Missouri?

This is clearly designed to cheat fair elections. If you want votes, then promote policies that voters want. This administration has twice voted to overturn the will of the people with the right to body autonomy and health insurance coverage and now proposes to silence our voices altogother by suppressing our votes . If you don’t want a democracy, move elsewhere.

When we decide whether people deserve representation or land deserves representation, it will be only the corrupt who choose land. The history of this country is time and again, power being given to land owners over Slaves, over women, over immigrants. Time and again, history has sided with individuals. Be on the right side of history.

Please do not disenfranchise us further. I would like to feel like my vote matters. This is extremely deceptive since you are already not respecting what we voted for back in November. This is absolutely unacceptable.

[….] I am a lifelong Missourian speaking today in opposition to House Bill 1 (HB 1), introduced on September 3, 2025, which creates provisions for redistricting Missouri’s federal congressional districts.

Why I Oppose This Bill

1. It risks undermining fair representation.

Redistricting inherently shapes how and whose voices are heard. Without transparent, impartial criteria, HB 1 could enable partisan maps that prioritize political advantage over democratic representation. Missourians deserve maps drawn with integrity, not political gain.

2. It is out of the political norm.

Traditionally, redistricting is handled in regular order with an expectation of broad consultation and balanced input. To take up a bill of this magnitude in a rushed special session, without clear public demand, signals a departure from established norms. This sets a troubling precedent for how we govern and undermines the legitimacy of the process.

3. It lacks meaningful public input and community-centered criteria.

Fair redistricting should prioritize preserving communities of interest, geographic continuity, and voter cohesion. HB 1 is silent on these standards, making the process disconnected from the people it impacts and further eroding public trust.

4. Unchecked redistricting decisions foster political polarization.

When district lines are drawn to favor one party, elections become less competitive, and elected officials feel less accountable to all constituents. Missouri needs leaders who represent diverse voices, not legislators insulated by heavily gerrymandered districts.

What Missourians Deserve Instead

Independent redistricting commissions structured to prevent self-dealing and ensure maps serve the people rather than insiders

Clear, publicly available criteria, including respect for communities of interest and geographic compactness

Open, participatory processes with accessible hearings and meaningful opportunities for citizen feedback

For redistricting to reinforce democracy, it must be rooted in transparency, fairness, and public involvement, not in political maneuvering.

Conclusion

I respectfully urge you to oppose HB 1. Missouri deserves a redistricting process that protects fairness
in representation, transparency in decision-making, and public trust in government. To pass this bill
now, in this way, would be both harmful and outside the norms of responsible governance.

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,
[….]

Opposition in the thousands. But the right wingnut super-majority in the Missouri General Assembly won’t listen.

Salus populi suprema lex esto – “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.”

Campaign Finance: Melanie (r) has a friend

02 Tuesday Sep 2025

Posted by in campaign finance, Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C211706 09/02/2025 Friends of Melanie Stinnett Melanie Stinnett 3928 S Meadowbrook Ave Springfield MO 65807 State of Missouri State Representative 9/2/2025 $200,000.00

[emphasis added]

Must be nice.

Running for the Missouri Senate in 2026.

Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern – Lafayette County Democrats – Higginsville, Missouri – August 9, 2025

10 Sunday Aug 2025

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

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Yesterday evening Lafayette County Democrats held their annual fundraising dinner and pie auction in Higginsville. Democratic Party office holders and party officials spoke at the event.

Missouri State Senator Maggie Nurrenbern (D):

Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern.


.

Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern (D): ….It has been a very tough year for Missouri Democrats. But here’s the deal, this is not new to us. And if we’ve learned one thing, it’s how we stand up, fight back, and get organized. This, Missouri Democrats have a long tradition of standing up against the republican bullies. And we’re not gonna stop now.

When republicans tried to strip power from labor unions by forcing down our throats ‘right to work for less,’ What did we do? We stood up, we band together, and we defeated Prop. A. [applause] When republicans refused to give Missourians access to life saving health care through Medicaid expansion Missouri Democrats banded together, passed Medicaid expansion, and you know what? Gave these rural hospitals the lifeline they needed to stay afloat and save lives. [applause] When Missouri republicans took away the right to our very bodily autonomy we gathered together, gathered thousands of signatures all across this state, and we passed Amendment 3 to reclaim our rights. [applause] But the headlines aren’t new to you and they’re not new to me.

We know that here in the Missouri General Assembly that they continue to try and erase you. To erase your voice and your vote….

Previously:

Lafayette County Democratic Dinner and Pie Auction – Higginsville, Missouri – August 9, 2025 (August 10, 2025)

Rep. David Tyson-Smith – Lafayette County Democrats – Higginsville, Missouri – August 9, 2025 (August 10, 2025)

Rep. Ashley Aune – Lafayette County Democrats – Higginsville, Missouri – August 9, 2025 (August 10, 2025)

More money than sense

23 Wednesday Jul 2025

Posted by in campaign finance, Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

≈ 1 Comment

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C253563 07/23/2025 Lori Rook for Missouri Lori Rook 2048 South State Highway J Springfield MO 65809 Attorney 7/22/2025 $100,000.00

At the campaign website:

100% Pro-Life
I believe life is precious, begins at conception, and should be protected at all costs.

So, the death penalty is out and everyone should have access to affordable and accessible health care?

Defend the Second Amendment
We should protect what our forefathers fought for at all costs.

The 14th Amendment not so much?

Eliminate Personal Property Tax & Income Tax
Taxes are out of control and they need to be eliminated.

Tariffs are good, though?

Stop Eminent Domain
Eminent domain is theft, and we must stop this abuse of power.

That’s on someone’s radar?

Fight for Our Veterans
We must improve care for all veterans and provide better support for those facing PTSD.

But without the VA?

Protect Missouri Land
Missouri land should be owned by Missourians, or at least Americans.

You might want to chat with Eric Schmitt (r) about that.

Secure Missouri Elections
We cannot allow another rigged election to take place like what happened in 2020!

So, no one in Missouri was actually elected in Missouri in 2000? Do tell.

Deport Illegals
STOP THE INVASION — deport deport deport!

Your papers, please.

Stand Against the Woke Agenda
We must protect our children from the rabid leftists.

The chronic wasting Fascists, not so much.

Wait, wait, don’t tell us:

Election Results
Official Election Returns
State of Missouri – Primary Election, August 06, 2024, Tuesday, August 6, 2024
As announced by the Board of State Canvassers on Monday, August 26, 2024
[….]

State Treasurer (3566 of 3566 Precincts Reported)

Cody Smith Republican 97,029 14.7%
Andrew Koenig Republican 135,828 20.6%
Lori Rook Republican 127,970 19.4%
Vivek Malek Republican 273,930 41.5%
Tina Goodrick Republican 19,115 2.9%
Karan Pujji Republican 6,124 0.9%

Party Total 659,996

Third in a field of six.