From the Missouri court system:

SC92282 – SXR BOB JOHNSON, ETAL, REL V ROBIN CARNAHAN,RES (E-CASE)

Date Filed: 01/23/2012 Location: SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI

Case Type: AP Writ of Prohibition Disposition: Case Disposed- By Order

From the docket entries:

SC92282 – SXR BOB JOHNSON, ETAL, REL V ROBIN CARNAHAN,RES (E-CASE)

01/26/2012   Case Disposed- By Order

  PER CURIAM ORDER ISSUED. SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT. CAUSE DISPOSED BY PER CURIAM ORDER. ORDER: MOTION TO WAIVE THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 84.22(A) SUSTAINED. UPON CONSIDERATION OF THE PETITION, AND FINDING THIS CASE, UNLIKE STATE EX REL. TEICHMAN VS. CARNAHAN, NO. SC92237, DECIDED JANUARY 17, 2012, INVOLVES DISPUSTED ISSUES OF FACT, THE PETITION IS DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO FILING A DECLARATORY JUDGMENT ACTION IN THE APPROPRIATE CIRCUIT COURT TO RESOLVE THE FACTUAL ISSUES IN DISPUTE IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO PEARSON V. KOSTER, NO. SC92200, DECIDED JANUARY 17, 2012. UPON THIS MATTER BEING FILED IN THE CIRUCIT COURT, THAT COURT SHALL EXPEDITE THIS MATTER TO ENSURE A PROMPT DECISION IN THIS ELECTION CASE. SEE PEARSON V. KOSTER AND STATE EX REL. TEICHMAN VS. CARNAHAN.

Translation: This ain’t like the Senate redistricting which we threw out and we ordered them to start over. If you want to do so, file it in District Court. If this case is filed in that venue that court shall move quickly.

The parties in the case:

SC92282 – SXR BOB JOHNSON, ETAL, REL V ROBIN CARNAHAN,RES (E-CASE)

JOHNSON , BOB , Relator

BRAY , JOAN , Relator

GERLING , GEOFF , Relator

OTTO , BILL , Relator  

NETH , MYRON , Relator  

SALTER , KIT , Relator

SALTER , CATHY , Relator    

WORTHINGTON , JAMES , Relator  

NICHOLS , MARY FONTANA , Relator  

STEINMETZ , KURT , Relator

OSMAN , DAN , Relator

HOLLIGER , ROBERT , Relator  

HOLLIGER , WILLA , Relator  

COX , JEFF , Relator  

CARNAHAN , ROBIN , Respondent     represented by     MORGAN , JEREMIAH JOSEPH , Assistant Attorney General

STATE OF MISSOURI , Intervenor     represented by     LAYTON , JAMES ROBERT , Assistant Attorney General

Any bets on the start of filing for office being on time?

Previously: Holmes Osborne (D) on Occupy Wall Street (October 27, 2011)

Holmes Osborne (D) who ran against Mike McGhee (r) in the 122nd Legislative District in 2010 and is an announced candidate for the House in 2012 held a fundraiser in Warrensburg this evening. Mike McGhee (r) is term limited out of the House (and currently a candidate for the Senate). The Legislative District boundaries have yet to be determined in the redistricting process. There should be a decision on that within the next few weeks.

Nevertheless, serious candidates have to be well established in their fundraising and campaign planning if they hope to be successful in the election which will take place less than a year from now. Even if they don’t yet know the boundaries of their district.

Holmes Osborne (center) at his campaign fundraiser in Warrensburg.

Holmes Osborne was introduced by Representative Joe Aull (D) who praised his intelligence and his commitment to public service. Mr. Osborne then spoke about the current state of the General Assembly and the challenges currently facing Missouri. Jobs, the economy, public education, and infrastructure were a few of the issues he addressed which were areas of interest for those at the event. There was a lengthy discussion among those present about the distressing propensity of the current General Assembly to spend time on distractions rather than address those big issues facing the state.

These type of events at this stage of a campaign allow a candidate to spend more time in substantive conversation with supporters and voters. As the campaign gets closer to the election those opportunities become less frequent as the demands of door to door and get out the vote take over.  

Because absolutely no one is concerned about unemployment.

Previously: Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): antidisestablishmentarian (October 31, 2011)

….The next thing you know Congress will be wasting its time reaffirming that “In God We Trust” is a motto. Oh, wait…

The important work must take precedence over everything else:

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 816

     H CON RES 13      2/3 YEA-AND-NAY      1-Nov-2011      6:55 PM

     QUESTION:  On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree

     BILL TITLE: Reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States and supporting and encouraging the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions

—- YEAS    396 —

Carnahan

Clay

Emerson

Graves (MO)

Hartzler

Long

Luetkemeyer

—- NAYS    9 —

Cleaver

—- ANSWERED “PRESENT”    2 —

—- NOT VOTING    26 —

Akin

[emphasis added]

This resolution was so useless that an ordained minister voted against it. There were only eight other profiles in courage out of four hundred thirty-three, no others from Missouri.

From the Missouri House of Representatives Communications Office:

….[5:40] Obviously this is not a economic climate that is going away anytime soon. So we need to take a very strong and hard look at what we can do as a state. And unfortunately we’re in the minority so we don’t necessarily get to drive the legislative agenda. But you can rest assured, as I told you all on the first day of session, as I told you when we broke for Spring recess, and as I told you at the end of session and I told you every time we’ve been in here, first and foremost we need to talk about two things in this state. One, jobs, getting people back to work, and making sure that we have an educated work force to fill the jobs that we do create. Those two things moving forward are the most important. We can do nothing else and those two things two things need to get done. Unfortunately we’ve wasted now way too much time talking about it but not doing anything….

At what cost to the taxpayers?:

Missouri special session cost reaches $280,000

The price tag for Missouri’s special legislative session has reached nearly $280,000, KMOX reports. Figures from the 159-seat House show members have racked up more than $233,000 in per diem and mileage expenses. The 34-member Senate has incurred more than $46,000 of expenses for per diem, mileage and staff costs….

Not to mention the jobs situation in this state, too.

The stand alone repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” has passed the U.S. House:

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 638

H R 2965      YEA-AND-NAY      15-Dec-2010      5:24 PM

QUESTION:  On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment with an Amendment

BILL TITLE: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010

—- YEAS    250 —

Carnahan

Clay

Cleaver

—- NAYS    175 —

Akin

Blunt

Emerson

Graves (MO)

Luetkemeyer

Skelton

Breaking News: House passes “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal

….This is “an imposition of somebody’s social agenda,” said Rep. Todd Akin, R-Missouri. It’s an “eclipse of reason, an eclipse of common sense….”

I wonder if they think teh gay is contagious? Or just bigotry?

There’s nothing new under the sun:

“….going concerns, accustomed through many years to the present system” of segregation, “no experiments should be tried…at this critical time….”

“…The Army is not a sociological laboratory; to be effective it must be organized and trained according to the principles which will insure success. Experiments to meet the wishes and demands…for the solution of their problems are a danger to efficiency, discipline and morale and would result in ultimate defeat…”

Social agenda? Where have we heard that before?

RBH via Twitter:

Dem Minority Leader votes thru history: Pelosi 150/Shuler 43 (10), Pelosi 177/Ford 29 (02), Gephardt 150/Rose 50 (94) #cantwaitfor2018     about 6 hours ago  via web  

At Balloon Juice:

Can We Give Them The Attention They Now Deserve

…There was a closer and more contentious vote for best Halloween costume in the 5 year old division in my hometown a few weeks ago. Can we now please ignore these political incompetents? And could they now start acting like Democrats?

At the Great Orange Satan:

Nancy Pelosi elected House Democratic Leader, 150-43

…Nancy Pelosi was elected House Democratic Leader by the overwhelming margin of 150-43. This is a crushing, more than 3-1 defeat for her Blue Dog challengers. It’s even a bigger margin than Dick Gephardt’s post-1994 victory of 150-58. No matter how much press attention Blue Dogs got with their whining, it didn’t get them many votes…

Because obstructing the Democratic Party agenda and then losing a big chunk of your own “blue dog” caucus entitles you to repeat your disastrous strategery on a larger scale?

As if the opposition has a say:

I endorse Nancy Pelosi for Minority Leader.     12:22 PM Nov 5th  via Mobile Web  

House GOP gives Pelosi’s reelection a standing ovation!     about 6 hours ago  via ÜberTwitter  

Why should Democrats care what the republicans in the House think of Nancy Pelosi?

Yeah, yeah, we know, we didn’t get any photos in the Senate.

Representative Beth Low (D-39) speaking against ant-choice legislation for the “millionth time”.

Representative Low did not file for re-election and will not return to the House. Instead, she has taken a position as director of the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition.

The ubiquitous right wingnut anti-choice bill, with the usual results.

A typical end of session scene on a representative’s desk on the floor of the House.

“…There is a constant hubbub of conversation and activity taking place barely below the debate and action on the floor…”

Representative Jason Holsman (D-45) in debate on the House floor.

The ceiling of the House chamber – photo taken during a recess.

Representative Jason Kander (D-44) during debate on ethics reform legislation.

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) in conversation in a side gallery.

Is that, can it be? Yes, the stenographer in the press gallery above the dais!

We’ve been told that the Capitol press corps says we’re not allowed on that turf. Heh. That’s an interesting story for another day.

I drove an hour and a half through steady rain and arrived at the Capitol a little after 9:15 a.m. I made my way to the House Communications Office and checked in with the director. Shortly before the start of the day’s session he escorted me to one of the side galleries on the floor and later introduced me to one of the doorkeepers.  I set up my camera on a tripod and then watched and photographed the proceedings.

Representative Luke Scavuzzo (D-124) (center, seated) in conversation on the House floor while other representatives (standing in the background) wait to be recognized by the Speaker.

Over the course of the day I was able to have a number of brief conversations with representatives and longer conversations with others. At this point in the session votes can come fast and furious. There is a constant hubbub of conversation and activity taking place barely below the debate and action on the floor.

Representative Mary Still (D-25) (center, standing at microphone) in debate on the “sexually oriented businesses” bill – HCS SS SCS SBs 586 & 617.

HCS SS SCS SBs 586 & 617 [pdf] on “sexually oriented businesses” was originally sponsored by Senator Matt Bartle (r). A earlier iteration of this bill in a previous session was killed in a House committee and those circumstances have been the subject of a federal investigation and grand jury.

The tally on one of several votes on the “sexually oriented businesses” bill – HCS SS SCS SBs 586 & 617.

Curiously, during today’s proceedings (and reportedly during yesterday’s, too), debate on the “sexually oriented businesses” bill was not subjected to a previous question vote (a parliamentary procedure designed to end debate and move to a vote) as quickly as other bills.

Speaker Ron Richard on the dais (center, right) and Minority Leader Paul LeVota (D-52) on the floor (right, standing). The press gallery is directly above the dais.

Previously:

Kander (D) and Flook (r): ethics reform legislation in Jefferson City (December 14, 2009)

Kander (D) and Flook (r): ethics reform legislation in Jefferson City, part 2 (December 15, 2009)

Kander (D) and Flook (r): ethics reform legislation in Jefferson City, part 3 (December 16, 2009)

Kander (D) and Flook (r): ethics reform legislation in Jefferson City, part 4 (December 22, 2009)

Representative Jason Kander (D): Missouri ethics reform pop quiz (March 15, 2010)

Representative Jason Kander (D), via Twitter, on the state of ethics reform legislation today in Jefferson City:

I’m in House Rules committee where they are finally discussing the ethics bill. Will they send it to the floor?     about 4 hours ago  via Echofon  

Delaying a bipartisan ethics bill to make it partisan is exactly the kind of politics I hoped to avoid this year.     about 4 hours ago  via Echofon  

Rules cmmte is ground zero for the “cold feet” illness sweeping the Capitol. Ethics reform heads back to cmmte. Absurd.     about 4 hours ago  via Echofon  

Despite obstacles such as today, we’ve gotten pretty far on ethics reform. Redoubling my efforts in the last 3 wks of session.     about 1 hour ago  via HootSuite  

Tony Messenger of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, via Twitter:

According to @jasonkander, House rules committee sent ethics bill back to its House committee. Doesn     about 4 hours ago  via TweetDeck  

Oops, didn’t finish typing. Doesn’t bode well for ethics bill.     about 4 hours ago  via TweetDeck  

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

From the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor:

Great punch line: “…Yep, there’s an act cleaning up the last eight years…”