Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins (r) [January 2014 file photo].

Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins (r) sent out his constituent legislative update this morning. He ended it with a comment about the last week:

[….]

House Elects a New Speaker

Immediately upon convening on Friday, Speaker of the House John Diehl resigned his position and the body unanimously elected Representative Todd Richardson Speaker of the House.  Following a front-page story, the House GOP caucus determined that we would accept the choice of Speaker Diehl to resign his leadership position and his seat.  Speaker Richardson will be a wonderful leader and I look forward to serving with him.

Uh, did he say the front page story was the reason for accepting the resignation? Or was it the inappropriate behavior? Just asking.

Previously:

Ruh, roh… (May 13, 2015)

What? We’re all what? May 13, 2014)

A big Diehl in Jefferson City (May 14, 2015)

No Diehl in Jefferson City (May 14, 2015)

A new leaf? (May 15, 2015)

John Diehl’s precipitous retirement (May 15, 2015)

Speed of lightning, roar of thunder, Sweet Polly Purebred would probably agree.

The Missouri House continues to devote its time to important legislation designed to address pressing matters of public interest. A bill, introduced today by Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins (r):

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 723 [pdf]

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE HOSKINS.

1762H.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 10, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to the designation of

the state dogs.

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

Section A. Chapter 10, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto two new sections, to be known as sections 10.112 and 10.113, to read as follows:

10.112. The dog known as “Old Drum”, whose death became the subject of an 1870 Missouri Supreme Court case and the delivery of a famous speech as the closing argument to the case known as the “Eulogy to Old Drum”, is designated as the historical dog of the state of Missouri.

10.113. The dog known as “Jim the Wonder Dog” is designated as Missouri’s Wonder Dog.

[emphasis in original]

Hoping the Missouri General Assembly will address serious challenges absent distractions is about as futile as trying to herd cats.

Tonight there is a Art Walk in my town. I went out to see what was happening and met my representative in Jefferson City, Denny Hoskins.  He will be the next Speaker Pro Tem.

I have wanted to ask him for awhile the contradiction between his position on being pro-life and his opposition to Medicaid Expansion.

Our brief exchange below the fold.

We know each.  He was going to his office, so I knew the conservation would have to be brief.

I began by confirming he is “pro-life”.  He responded that he is.

I then asked: Isn’t Medicaid expansion pro-life?

He said no.

I responded to that “no” by asking incredulously “Isn’t providing health insurance to the working poor pro-life?”

As he goes into his office he says with an ironic tone, “I thought Obamacare will save us all.”

I noted “Medicaid Expansion is Obamacare.” He repeated what he said.

I have no idea whether he is really so stupid that he doesn’t know Medicaid expansion is an important component of Obamacare or not.  He will be one of the leaders in the Missouri House.

Given how quick his response came, I suspect he is.  

Whatever his intelligence is, it seems Republicans like him will do nothing in Missouri to expand Medicaid and help Obamacare be a success.

 

Right…

Via Twitter from Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins (R):

Denny Hoskins, CPA ‏@DLHoskins

Discussed #moleg education funding priorities w/ @UCentralMO board of governors today. I wish @GovJayNixon wouldn’t have vetoed $101k 4 UCM! 12:17 PM – 19 Sep 2014

And a succinct reply:

John L. Davidson ‏@jdavidsonlawyer

@DLHoskins @UCentralMO maybe you shouldn’t have voted for all those irresponsible tax cuts. 2:41 PM – 19 Sep 2014

It’s called chutzpah.

Gee, show up to a University of Central Missouri Board of Governors meeting and commiserate with them over those terrible cuts which you facilitated?

Except, they didn’t buy it the last time:

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) to UCM on HB 253: I don’t care, I’d rather be the new Speaker Pro Tem (August 24, 2013)

[….]

Marvin “Bunky” Wright, President, University of Central Missouri Board of Governors:  ….Uh, the board has discussed at great length this whole situation. You can refer to it as a difference in philosophy, frankly, I don’t care what you refer to it as. Uh, this board has got responsibility of this University. And I’ve seen President Ambrose, the faculty, the staff, everybody cut to the core budgetwise in the last three years. Uh, the last thing we need is a further crunch because of political differences. There isn’t any political difference when it comes to higher education when we’ve got responsibility. And we would ask that the two of you [Rep. Hoskins and Senator Pearce], uh, do not support the position of overriding this veto. I mean, we can’t sit back and wonder who’s right or wrong, because some money’s gonna go by the wayside. And whatever it is is gonna hurt us. So, you know, we would ask you to support this University which is in your district and the people. We think we’re one of the best universities in the state. I happen to think it is the best. A lot of it is due to the help of people like you. And we’re asking you again, and I’d like to go on record for this board as requesting that you support us, uh, in this override session. We appreciate you coming in very much. If you ever have any questions, why, give us a call. We’ll try to answer them.

Representative Denny Hoskins (r): Thank you.

[….]

Fool them once, shame on you. Fool them twice, can’t get fooled again.

Today, via Twitter, from Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins (r):

Denny Hoskins, CPA ‏@DLHoskins

I 2 want justice in Ferguson.However,I believe U R innocent until proven guilty & want Gov. Nixon 2 believe the same [….] 9:26 AM – 20 Aug 2014

There was also a link to a Fox News story.

Responses from a constituent:

Bob Yates ‏@OldDrum

@DLHoskins Is it a capital crime to be walking in the middle of a street? 5:39 PM – 20 Aug 2014

Bob Yates ‏@OldDrum

@DLHoskins U are just as upset by the Ferguson police saying Brown stole some cigars + showing the video, but that was not Y B. was stopped. 5:42 PM – 20 Aug 2014

Was that last response ironic? Nah, couldn’t be.

Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins (r) [file photo].

Governor Jay Nixon (D) issued a veto of SB 509 on Thursday with a detailed rebuttal of the dogma contained in the bill.

Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins (r) defended SB 509 with the usual platitudes in a press release issued along with his weekly e-mail “Capitol Report”:

NEWS

From the Office of

Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins

54 District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 1, 2014

[….]

Governor Nixon Vetoes SB 509

JEFFERSON CITY- On May 1st, the afternoon of his deadline to take action on Senate Bill 509, Governor Nixon announced his veto of the legislation. This bill would help Missouri citizens and businesses alike by providing broad-based tax relief.

The Republican majority in the Missouri Legislature has consistently worked toward reducing the tax burden and has rallied around Senate Bill 509. By simplifying the bill and keeping the scope to income taxes they eliminated many concerns that divided the party with previous tax cut legislation, allowing them to provide a unified front against Governor Nixon’s assaults.

“I have consistently and vocally endorsed reducing the tax burden in Missouri, and Senate Bill 509 is no different,” said Hoskins. “I am disappointed Governor Nixon chooses to play political games instead of engaging in productive policy discussions about tax relief. I am confident our Republican majority will be able to stick together and overturn the veto on this measure, which would incentivize economic growth and keep more money in the pockets of hard-working Missouri families.”

Governor Nixon did not deliver notice of his veto before the General Assembly adjourned for the week, preventing them from immediately taking the measure up for a veto override. The veto override of Senate Bill 509 will likely be taken up for consideration next week.

“…I am disappointed Governor Nixon chooses to play political games instead of engaging in productive policy discussions about tax relief. I am confident our Republican majority will be able to stick together and overturn the veto on this measure, which would incentivize economic growth and keep more money in the pockets of hard-working Missouri families…”

A few excerpts of what Governor Nixon (D) actually said in his veto (Go, read the whole thing):

“…This unaffordable, unfair and potentially dangerous legislation will…provide extraordinary benefits to the few with little for the many…”

“…Moreover, a two-year delay before the tax cuts take effect contradicts the economic argument advanced by proponents that immediate tax relief is needed in order to stimulate economic growth…”

“…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…”

“…A special carve-out like this rewards tax avoidance without concomitant economic activity and makes our tax code less efficient without any empirical evidence that it would improve our economy…”

“…No legislation that gives two taxpayers with identical incomes – one who happens to own a business and one who happens to work at one – such drastically different tax treatments can be called fair…”

“…the General Assembly not once, but twice in just over four pages of legislative text eliminated the reference to an income tax for individuals with taxable income in the top tax bracket….”

“…This means that lawmakers must enact laws, not merely ideas for a court to one day mold into something workable. The words on the page are what matter, for those are the words that guide the conduct of Missourians. The test is not what individual legislators say they meant – the test is what the words actually say…”

“…it could be years from now before the court upon which legislators have pinned their hopes determines whether a taxpayer is correct that his or her income tax was eliminated by this bill…”

“…Although by the time most of the legislators who voted for this bill will no longer be in the General Assembly, it will nonetheless be their handiwork that lies in wait to undermine the fiscal foundation of our state…”

“…Risking the long term fiscal stability of the state, our perfect AAA credit rating, funding for our education system, and the future of our economy on what a judge might someday do is an unconscionable dereliction of duty, a disservice to the people of Missouri, and one in which I will not be complicit…”

That would be the equivalent of “let’s use water on the crops”.

And the right wingnut republican controlled General Assembly consistently replies: “Because Brawndo’s got electrolytes.”

Previously:  

New Missouri Rule: if the governor governs right of center you can’t call him a “liberal” (July 1, 2013)

Bill signing Kabuki (July 12, 2013)

Rep. Chris Kelly (D): HB 253 – “I’d like to know what your opinion is.” (July 19, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): probably not gonna sustain the Governor’s veto of HB 253 (August 19, 2013)

Sec. of State Jason Kander (D) to Texas Gov. Rick Perry (r): You forgot about that Medicaid thing? (August 23, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) to UCM on HB 253: I don’t care, I’d rather be the new Speaker Pro Tem (August 24, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): your constituents know what you’re doing to them (August 26, 2013)

HB 253: Because those dissolute leeches at the public trough should shut up, that’s why! (August 28, 2013)

Missouri Democratic Party on HB 253: Yes, yes, let’s talk about Texas Gov. Rick Perry (r)…. (August 28, 2013)

AG Chris Koster (D) to Speaker Jones (r) on HB 253: you all certainly made a mess of things… (August 29, 2013)

Speaker Tim Jones (r) and HB 253: hone your legal analytical skills litigating birth certificates (August 30, 2013)

HB 253: any way you slice it (September 11, 2013)

HB 253: Watch out – It’ll be baaaaaaaaaack (September 11, 2013)

SB 509: once more, with feeling (April 17, 2014)

SB 509: “….We’d like to think that most of them are not simpletons….” (April 18, 2014)

SB 509: Governor Jay Nixon (D) strikes back (April 22, 2014)

SB 509: dueling on Twitter (April 22, 2014)

SB 509: Would you like some whine with your bill? (April 23, 2014)

SB 509: strange gyrations (April 23, 2014)

The Missouri GOP, Evel Knievel and political stuntsmanship (April 24, 2014)

SB 509: the folks back home ain’t buying what they’re selling (April 24, 2014)

SB 509: in a wingnutshell (April 28, 2014)

SB 509: the folks back home ain’t buying what they’re selling – part 2 (April 29, 2014)

SB 509: thank the FSM (or the deity of your choice) for Kansas (May 1, 2014)

SB 509: veto it is (May 1, 2014)

SB 509: Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) Veto (May 2, 2014)

SB 509: That’s a mighty interesting legal citation you got there… (May 2, 2014)

“…folks that take the different perspective about investment would say, again, in the lesser of two evils there’s still evil…”

Previously: SB 509: the folks back home ain’t buying what they’re selling (April 24, 2014)

University of Central Missouri President Charles Ambrose held an open campus forum on Monday afternoon on the subject of the state higher education budget. The forum lasted three quarters of an hour. President Ambrose took questions and comments from the campus audience made up of staff, faculty, and administrators.

University of Central Missouri President Charles Ambrose speaking at a campus forum on the state higher education budget – April 28, 2014.

Excerpts of President Ambrose’s forum remarks:

University of Central Missouri President Charles Ambrose: ….As of right now, uh, the, uh, the Senate has kind of gone across party lines and we have communicated clearly, uh, to [Senator] David Pearce [R] that as a university community we’ve done all that we can, uh, to create efficiencies and cut costs and save money and hold costs down and so we would have to actively oppose any bill that has the risk of taking money out of general revenue and disrupting funding for higher education. The Missouri School Board [President], uh, looked him directly in the eye and told him the same thing….

….The one difference between us and Kansas is, uh, they [the Missouri general Assembly] can’t change this law once it’s passed, uh, without, uh, basically going to the people. Uh, and, so, it’s a little bit more, uh, self-fulfilling in, in terms of impact where the, the Kansas legislature can go back and, and by an act of legislature reverse that tax policy….

….You know, uh, I’ll, I’ll be very direct with you. Uh, it’s been, uh, especially disheartening in this session, because there is a lot of great things happening, uh, in the state. The economy actually seems to be taking somewhat of a, a positive turn. And if government, I know we hear this on the national level, but if government would decide, uh, maybe just some strategic thinking about what’s most important and how we can maybe get there together we wouldn’t be having these kinds of conversations. Uh, but that’s just not gonna be the case in, in this session….

….I will tell you this, uh, that Senator [David] Pearce [R] believes that thus current bill [SB 509] under consideration is a lot less impactful than… [HB] 253. And he’s also afraid that we could end up with something a lot more onerous than what we’ve, that’s currently being considered. Now, uh, folks that take the different perspective about investment would say, again, in the lesser of two evils there’s still evil…

The University of Central Missouri campus is in the districts of Representative Dean Dohrman (r), House Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins (r), and Senator David Pearce (r), all who voted for SB 509 and who will all likely vote to override any veto by Governor Jay Nixon (D).

Previously:

New Missouri Rule: if the governor governs right of center you can’t call him a “liberal” (July 1, 2013)

Bill signing Kabuki (July 12, 2013)

Rep. Chris Kelly (D): HB 253 – “I’d like to know what your opinion is.” (July 19, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): probably not gonna sustain the Governor’s veto of HB 253 (August 19, 2013)

Sec. of State Jason Kander (D) to Texas Gov. Rick Perry (r): You forgot about that Medicaid thing? (August 23, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) to UCM on HB 253: I don’t care, I’d rather be the new Speaker Pro Tem (August 24, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): your constituents know what you’re doing to them (August 26, 2013)

HB 253: Because those dissolute leeches at the public trough should shut up, that’s why! (August 28, 2013)

Missouri Democratic Party on HB 253: Yes, yes, let’s talk about Texas Gov. Rick Perry (r)…. (August 28, 2013)

AG Chris Koster (D) to Speaker Jones (r) on HB 253: you all certainly made a mess of things… (August 29, 2013)

Speaker Tim Jones (r) and HB 253: hone your legal analytical skills litigating birth certificates (August 30, 2013)

HB 253: any way you slice it (September 11, 2013)

HB 253: Watch out – It’ll be baaaaaaaaaack (September 11, 2013)

SB 509: once more, with feeling (April 17, 2014)

SB 509: “….We’d like to think that most of them are not simpletons….” (April 18, 2014)

SB 509: Governor Jay Nixon (D) strikes back (April 22, 2014)

SB 509: dueling on Twitter (April 22, 2014)

SB 509: Would you like some whine with your bill? (April 23, 2014)

SB 509: strange gyrations (April 23, 2014)

The Missouri GOP, Evel Knievel and political stuntsmanship (April 24, 2014)

SB 509: the folks back home ain’t buying what they’re selling (April 24, 2014)

SB 509: in a wingnutshell (April 28, 2014)