This morning, from the Missouri Senate Majority Leader:
Caleb Rowden @calebrowden
Due to a number of positive COVID-19 cases among members and staff, the Missouri Senate will postpone action related to the special session until after the Thanksgiving holiday. 1/2 #MOLeg 10:36 AM · Nov 16, 2020
Caleb Rowden @calebrowden
This decision was not made lightly and, although disruptive, is in the best interest of protecting members, staff, and the public. 2/2 #MOLeg 10:36 AM · Nov 16, 2020
What? Something, something, [mumble] maybe you all should have worn masks and kept some physical distance?
Some of the responses:
You really can’t make up the level of ignorance coming from some of these rural red state legislators. “#COVID19 is just a far left hoax but because we all have it we can’t work.”
Surely you can just follow @GovParsonMO guidance for schools? I mean, if everyone was wearing a mask, no need to quarantine even if you were exposed to a positive case, right? Who cares what the CDC says.
@calebrowden check with your Governor as to how to proceed. I believe he thinks this action would be unnecessary if y’all wore masks (now).
Maybe you and your idiot Republican friends will start taking this seriously!
The irony goes even deeper. The subject of the special session?:
The proposed legislation provides liability protection relating to a declared state of emergency for health care providers, manufacturers, businesses, schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations, among others.
“Since the start of COVID-19, our health care providers have gone above and beyond to respond to COVID-19 and provide exceptional care in an unprecedented and rapidly changing environment,” Governor Parson said. “Many other organizations across the state have also been instrumental in our response efforts, including manufacturers, businesses, churches, and schools, just to name a few.” [….]
Yeah, this one’s pinning the irony meter all the way over.
Judy Baker (D) has an ad on the air in the 19th Senate District:
In times like these every Missouri family needs good healthcare
at a price they can afford.
As the director of a major healthcare group I managed over six hundred doctors. I reduced cost and improved access to health care for mid-Missouri families.
I’m Judy Baker. As your senator I won’t take money from insurance or drug companies and I’ll never let them deny you healthcare because of a pre-existing condition.
Because when it comes to your family I’ll always be on your side.
“Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.” – Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (1689 – 1755)
A bill, introduced in the current special session of the Missouri General Assembly:
SB 9 – This act creates the offense of unlawful traffic interference if, with the intention to impede vehicular traffic, the person walks, stands, sits, kneels, lays, or places an object in a manner that blocks passage by a vehicle on any public street or highway.
This offense is a Class A misdemeanor if a person blocks a public street for the first violation and a Class E felony for any subsequent violation.
This offense is a Class E felony if a person blocks an interstate highway.
This offense is a Class D felony if a person blocks a street or highway as part of an unlawful assembly.
Some details:
[….] (2) “Unlawful assembly”, two or more persons who meet for the purpose of violating any of the criminal laws of this state or of the United States.
Do meetings in offices in the capitol building qualify? Just asking.
2. A person commits the offense of unlawful traffic interference if, with the intention to impede vehicular traffic, the person walks, stands, sits, kneels, lays, or places an object in such a manner as to block passage by a vehicle on any public street, highway, or interstate highway. [….]
In Warrensburg, Missouri on May 31, 2020:
When you can’t hear or see dissent than there is no First Amendment.
One of the cruelest characteristics of the coronavirus epidemic is that it strikes fear in the hearts and minds of many causing them to ask for comfort and protection from the God they believe in. And at the same time this virus has made a church service one of the most deadliest places to be in. The combination of singing in close quarters and decreased ventilation is nothing short of a petri dish (or cell plate) for viral growth.
Observed infection rates can be astronomical. In Washington State, a choir practice of 60 individuals who practiced social distancing resulted in 45 infections, 3 hospitalizations and 2 deaths….
Wear a damn mask. And while you’re at it, wear some damn gloves.
Stay Home. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Good luck to us all.
#FlattenTheCurve
The final vote to override Governor Jay Nixon’s veto of SB 509. Representative Jeremy LaFaver (D) (left) – bearing witness, Representative Keith English (center) – casting the 109th vote necessary for the override, and Representative Ron Hicks (r) (right) – his escort on and off the House floor. May 6, 2014.
….Moreover, the revenue triggers in the legislation only apply until the tax cuts are fully phased-in. After that time, under the legislature’s own estimates, there would be at least $620 million less in general revenue available each and every year, regardless of whether revenue collections are going up or down. In addition, the legislation’s annual cost would continue to grow above the legislature’s $620 million annual estimate because the income bracket adjustments in the bill for increases in the consumer price index would continue indefinitely. See Section 143.011.3. This provision alone would result in an additional $128 million in annual revenue reductions ten years after the legislation is fully phased-in, increasing each year in perpetuity….
That was then, this is now:
Governor Mike Parson @GovParsonMO
Between now and June 31st, we are estimating an over $500 million shortfall.
We have had to take a hard look at our budget and make some very difficult decisions. 3:11 PM · Apr 1, 2020
Judy Baker (D), candidate for 19th Senate District, speaking in Sedalia, Missouri on January 25, 2020.
Lindsey Simmons, a Democratic Party candidate in the 4th Congressional District, held a campaign meet and greet event, including area and statewide candidates, in Sedalia yesterday evening.
Judy Baker (D): [….] …So I want to talk tonight about three chronic conditions that Missouri has.
The first one is, we have chronic health system failure. But what that is, is, we’ve talked about Medicaid expansion, it’s largely that. U. Medicaid expansion has two things, two big things going on with it. First of all, this, uh, administration in Missouri has kicked off over a hundred thousand children off of health care. That’s children, people. And then last week they bragged about that because they did that there is more money in the budget. And my opponent [Caleb Rowden (r)] has even said, well, because we have, we were able to do that then, you know, we might be able to give more money to education. Pitting children against their own education. How egregious is that?
Uh, and then secondarily in health care we have the money people have talked about. And I’m gonna give you a number. When we say that we’ve sent our taxpayer dollars to Washington, D.C. and we have not, we have not seen it come back because it’s been going to Illinois, and Kansas, Iowa, uh, because they all took, uh, Medicaid expansion. Even Kansas has worked a deal to do that.
It’s a big number. And it’s with a B. It’s one point eight billion dollars a year that we don’t bring back to Missouri. Every, every, every single report and study that’s been done on Medicaid expansion has shown that state revenues go up, average wage goes up. Who would like a raise? Yeah, all of us would like a raise. Uh, they way to do that is to actually do Medicaid expansion. Chronic health system failure at the hands of the current Republican leadership.
The second is chronic unfairness. Chronic unfairness, both in the country and in our state. Rising inequality, we have the highest inequality in the last fifty years. That means people are working harder and getting less. And people at the top are doing quite well, thank you very much. Less than fifty percent of Americans can even have enough at the end of the month to put anything away in saving accounts. So when they say, oh, well, you know, our 401K is doing okay, most people don’t have a 401K, thank you very much. So, chronic unfairness…
Judy Baker (D): …My opponent has worked against the, uh, Proposition Four minimum wage. So, we have, we have got to do something about that chronic problem.
And then lastly, number three, chronic political disempowerment. You all know what I mean by that, I’m having a lot of shaking heads. It means gerrymandering, it means too much money in politics, it means that one person, one vote has been diluted, particularly in Missouri.
My opponent just reported his numbers for fundraising in the fourth quarter. And it was practically all PAC money. I have real people in my report giving ten and fifty and hundred and fifty and two hundred dollars at a time. And I’m very, very proud of that. We’re not gonna win on having the most money, but we’re gonna win on having the best money. [applause]
Chronic political disempowerment. We are now governing by ballot. Do you all know what I mean by that? Missourians, whatever they want and the legislature won’t give us, which is a lot of things, we have to go to the ballot for. Like minimum wage, raising the minimum wage. Like, right to work, defeating right to work. And having fair labor practices in this state. And Clean Missouri. To get money out of politics, we had to take it to the ballot. And now to have adequate health care for our children and our citizen and our working families, we have to take it to the ballot. Why do we have to do that? Because our representatives don’t represent us anymore. They represent large interests and whoever gives them the most money…
Judy Baker (D): …So, the most important thing that you all want to hear from me tonight is how are we gonna win. Senate 19. What’s my name again? [voices:] “Judy Baker.” Judy Baker. And what’s my district? [voices:] “Senate 19.” Senate 19. It’s Columbia, Booneville, and all those areas around there.
How do we win? We barely lost this seat in 2016. We should have won this one. Tis is our seat and we’re gonna take it back. I have already [applause], yes. How are we gonna win? I already won this seat once. I told you I ran for State Treasurer in that year 2016, when I ran, if you take out just Senate 19 I actually won the district in 2016. And then Claire McCaskill won it in 2018. So, 2020, Judy Baker’s taking it back. [applause]
Clean Missouri, Clean Missouri, where we take money out of politics and we get rid of gerrymandering. Clean Missouri passed in my district, Senate District 19, with seventy-one percent of the vote. I’m telling you, right now, Caleb Rowden (r) has a problem. And that problem’s name is: [voices:] “Judy Baker.” That is right. Judy Baker is coming to get him. The train is coming through and we’re gonna take him down.
And we’re gonna show them what real representation looks like.
I can’t thank you all enough for being here tonight and supporting Democrats.
We have a webite, uh, we could use some funds. Uh, but mostly, I want you to support the host of the party tonight and thank her very much for allowing us to come and be here. [applause]
Last thing. When we win this in November, believe it or not, for Columbia and Booneville in Missouri this will be the first female state senator in those counties. [applause]
SECOND REGULAR SESSION SENATE BILL NO. 715 [pdf]
100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR BURLISON.
Pre-filed December 1, 2019, and ordered printed.
ADRIANE D. CROUSE, Secretary. 3039S.01I
AN ACT
To repeal section 536.037, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to state enforcement of federal regulations.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 536.037, RSMo, is repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 1.360 and 536.037, to read as follows:
1.360. 1. To ensure that the powers reserved to this state under Amendment X of the Constitution of the United States are protected and to ensure that the federal government does not encroach on this state’s status as an independent sovereign in a federal system of governance, all federal rules and regulations promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency shall be subject to approval by the general assembly as set forth in subsection 5 of this section.
2. No department or agency of this state shall enforce any rule or regulation promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency within the borders of this state unless the enforcement of such regulation is approved by the general assembly as set forth in subsection 5 of this section.
3. No rule or regulation promulgated on or after August 28, 2020, by any department or agency of this state in conjunction with the enforcement of any rule or regulation promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency shall be enforceable unless such rule or regulation is approved by the general assembly as set forth in subsection 5 of this section.
4. Any existing rule or regulation promulgated before August 28, 2020, by any department or agency of this state in conjunction with the enforcement of any rule or regulation promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency that is in force and effect after August 28, 2020, shall be subject to review by the committee on administrative rules, established under section 536.037. The committee shall determine whether such rule or regulation shall continue to be enforced and shall make a recommendation thereof to the general assembly. The general assembly shall review all such rules and regulations referred to it by the committee and shall approve or disapprove of the continued enforcement of such rules or regulations. No such rule or regulation that the general assembly disapproves shall be enforceable unless and until the rule or regulation is again referred to the general assembly by the committee of administrative rules and then approved by the general assembly. Any such rule or regulation that the general assembly approves shall continue to be enforced unless such rule or regulation is repealed by the agency or department.
5. No rule or regulation promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or any rule or regulation promulgated by any department or agency of this state in conjunction with the enforcement of any rule or regulation promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, shall be effective in the state until the general assembly, within the first sixty calendar days of the regular session immediately following the promulgation of such rule or regulation, by concurrent resolution, approves such rule or regulation.
[….]
4. The committee shall review all rules and regulations promulgated before August 28, 2020, by any federal agency or by any state agency in conjunction with the enforcement of any rule or regulation promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency that are in force and effect on August 28, 2020, and determine whether such rules and regulations should continue to be enforced under section 1.360. In its review the committee may take such action as it deems necessary, which may include holding hearings. The committee shall refer all reviewed rules and regulations to the general assembly with a recommendation of whether such rule or regulation should be enforceable. Any citizen of this state may request the review of any specific rule or regulation promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the committee shall review such rule or regulation.
Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the 33rd Senate District campaign by current one-term Representative Karla Eslinger (r):
C180037 12/10/2019 KarlaEslingerForSenate.com Karla Eslinger 24602 State Hwy 95 5651 county road 830 Wasola MI [sic] 65773 State of Missouri Represenative [sic] 12/9/2019 $150,000.00
