Tag Archives: Misouri

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): jump on that publicity stunt bandwagon

08 Sunday Oct 2017

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Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].

Today, from Representative Vicky Hartzler (r), via Twitter:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler‏ @RepHartzler
I applaud VP @mike_pence for standing for our, our military, & our country by not supporting those who take a knee rather respecting same.
3:44 PM – 8 Oct 2017

Some of the comments reacting to Representative Hartzler’s (r) cheerleading for Mike Pence’s publicity stunt:

In other words? You don’t understand the First Amendment either. Resign.

A photo op ordered by racist leader. Do u know why people are kneeling Vicky? Do u care? Or is big lobby $ more important than 1st amend?

It was a publicity stunt that cost taxpayers thousands of dollars. So, thanks for wasting my money to try and make your party look cool

Morally Bankrupt Pence Stages Fake Outrage. No Comments on KLAN RALLY. Vicky, You can;t wrap everything in patriotism.

If anything it’s you & the right who are being disrespectful by brining the flag, anthem, and military into a debate they have nothing to…
…to do with. You’ve hijacked legitimate peaceful, silent protest & made it about patriotism and race. Shameful, transparent, irresponsible

You are not a serious person. Tweeting on this subject is not helping anyone. It’s an embarrassing fundraising tweet.

how do you feel about the wasted tax payers money btw?

Constitution mean much to you?

He wasted taxpayer money on a flight for a pre-planned political stunt. And you support that? You are truly horrible.

You should focus on WHY ppl are taking a knee. Some of it has to do with our white supremacist govt & ppl like yourselves who are hateful.

58 people were murdered and 500 more shot on the streets of an American city last week, and this is what you’re concerned with?

Paid protester < real protester

Protesting injustice is supporting the flag twit, I spent time in a combat zone, you?

You misunderstand & intentionally misconstrue the purpose of kneeling. Reason has always been to protest police violence and racism.

So Mike Pence can exercise his 1st Amendment right, but athletes can’t? How does this work, exactly?

And as usual you’re missing the point. These athletes taking a knee aren’t protesting the military. You’re being obtuse.

It was a stunt that Doltard J Trump put him up to, all fake patriotism down to years old picture he tweeted. Y’all say nothing about racism

You are unfit for office if you don’t understand the constitution and the right to protest. Delete your account & resign.

You are a fake patriot ignoring the injustices that are suffered under the “protection” of law enforcement. The VP wasted taxpayers money.

Why would you voluntarily inject yourself into an already failing stunt?

In 1943, in a time of war, no less:

WEST VIRGINIA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ET AL. v. BARNETTE ET AL., 319 U.S. 624
“….If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us….”

High or petty.

Rep. Ann Wagner (r): a “town hall” means you invited the town

29 Tuesday Aug 2017

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She didn’t.

Representative Ann Wagner (r) today, via Twitter:

Ann Wagner‏ @RepAnnWagner
Kicking off my townhall in Chesterfield at RGA! Thanks to the 300 Missourians for attending!
2:57 PM – 29 Aug 2017

Some of the responses:

This is not a townhall. They are at work. Perhaps you could hold a real town hall w/ constituents. How can u represent us if u ignore us?

Why wasn’t this event open to the public? Your constituents in the 2nd (including me) weren’t able to attend. That’s not a Town Hall!…
It’s not even listed on your webpage. But you sure do have a very visible picture of you next to Trump!

You could have spoken to a much larger crowd if this event were open to the public. It’s not a “town hall” when the “town” is not invited.

Ann you’re better than this …

I am a registered voter in Chesterfield. How did you announce you were holding one? By carrier pigeon? Mine got lost in the “air” mail.

This is not a town hall so quit lying! Ask Sen. McCaskill to give you lessons on town halls for all people not just who you want to attend!

And again, this is a rep that thinks they have nothing to worry abt in 2018. #voteannout2018

So you’re going to brag about it on twitter, but where was the announcement?
– a voting constituent

“Thanks to my captive audience of RGA employees. They’ll sign up to hear anyone speak to get a little time away from their desks!”
Fixed.

Speaking to workers in the the middle of a work day is not a townhall #coward

How many times have I called and asked for a town hall? Where was this publicized? Why wasn’t I invited?

Hey Ann! Talked to your staff – why didn’t you let them know you had a Town Hall. They were Clueless!

.@RepAnnWagner hosting an “invitation-only” meeting…2nd District Constituents not invited. This was not a public event. #NotOk

A TH is where constituents have the opportunity to stand up in a public meeting and question you on issues; not A$$-kissing private events.

Real town halls are publicized and open to all. This is no more a town hall than Harlem Globetrotters vs NJ Generals is a basketball game.

That’s not a townhall according to American political tradition. It is not an open event.

Nope. #notatownhall. Why are you afraid of your constituents?

Fake News! How do you call a staged private event with paid attendees a town hall? Did you you answer staff-planted Q’s with relative ease?

At 3pm on a Tuesday? And why was I not aware? I’ve been asking.

3 words
Bogus…town…hall…

That is not a Town Hall, that is a chamber event you were invited to.

If it’s not open to the public, it’s NOT a town hall, Congresswoman.

But Ann, you didn’t invite the townsfolk to your Town Hall!

Didn’t want to face your constituents? Phony town hall. Can you say BS???

And on and on…

Previously:

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

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – town hall in Warrensburg – August 17, 2017 (August 18, 2017)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r) – about those constituent meetings (August 23, 2017)

America’s fourth largest city is flooding and this is what he’s fixated on

27 Sunday Aug 2017

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This morning, from Donald Trump (r):

Donald J. Trump‏ @realDonaldTrump
I will also be going to a wonderful state, Missouri, that I won by a lot in ’16. Dem C.M. is opposed to big tax cuts. Republican will win S!
8:15 AM – 27 Aug 2017

Sociopath. And that’s being generous.

Previously:

Donald Trump is coming soon to a city near you (August 26, 2017)

Sen. Roy Blunt (r): Guess who’s coming to town? (August 27, 2017)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): owning Trumpcare

10 Friday Mar 2017

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From Charles P. Pierce at Esquire:

Paul Ryan Doesn’t Know How Insurance Works
But he’s got his sleeves rolled up, so watch out.
[….]
I had thought that the burlesque comic opera The Agony of Paul Ryan, Genius had closed on the night in 2012 when Joe Biden laughed the zombie-eyed granny starver off the stage during their debate. (That was the night that Ryan demonstrated that he knew it snowed in Afghanistan in the winter.) But I had not reckoned with his many fanboys among the kept political press. He ascended to become Speaker of the House, largely because nobody else wanted the job after John Boehner got kicked to the curb by the crazy people.

Now he is out there pimping the dungheap that is the new healthcare reform bill as though Mitch and Murray from downtown were lighting his pants on fire. He even lost the suit coat and broke out the PowerPoint on Thursday. It was like watching something on cable access late at night, or a flop-sweaty rookie substitute teacher, and it was hilarious—except for the parts where people will lose their health insurance and die, of course. And this is what he said and, peace be unto Dave Barry, I am not making it up, either:

Paul Ryan said that insurance cannot work if healthy people have to pay more to subsidize the sick.

This is literally how all insurance works. If someone’s house burns down, some of your fire insurance money goes to help that person rebuild. If someone gets sick, some of your premium, healthy person, goes toward that person’s coverage. Increasingly, I have come to believe that Paul Ryan is a not particularly bright creature from another world…

Paul Ryan doesn’t actually believe that. He believes that his party’s right wingnut base doesn’t know any better. And probably a number of members of his caucus.

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) [2015 file photo].

You Tweet it like this, you own it:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler‏ @RepHartzler
#Obamacare has failed. I’m looking forward to repealing & replacing w/ a patient-centered solution.
[….]
2:08 PM – 9 Mar 2017

Some of the responses:

@RepHartzler #fakenews, you’re looking forward to Paul Ryan’s #Wealthcare that’s just a tax cut for the wealthy.

@RepHartzler You have failed. You have failed to listen to your voters. #wewillremember #doyourjob #trumpcare #crookedVicky #neverTrump

@RepHartzler prove that your solutions would provide more coverage at better rates than existing plan.

Maybe it’ll eventually trickle down.

@RepHartzler Kicking people off healthcare makes you happy?

[….] @RepHartzler Yeah Vick, kicking ppl off of healthcare makes you happy??

Evidently.

@RepHartzler I’ll be glad when we can vote you out in 2018.

There aren’t going to be any open public town halls in the 4th Congressional District with the current representative anytime soon. Like probably never again.

Previously:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): just checking (February 20, 2017)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Well, you asked. (February 21, 2017)

You think Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) has been smiling a lot this week? (February 23, 2017)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): just a slight indication of what an open public town hall in the district would be like (February 26, 2017)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): before that Russian thing happened today (March 2, 2017)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): get used to it (March 8, 2017)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): get used to it

08 Wednesday Mar 2017

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The republicans in Congress have revealed Trumpcare. They’ve laid an egg.

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].

Via Twitter on Monday, from Representative Vicky Hartzler (r):

Rep. Vicky Hartzler‏ @RepHartzler
Folks all across my district are being hindered by high insurance costs. We can and should do better. #RepealAndReplace
5:29 PM – 6 Mar 2017

Some of the responses:

@RepHartzler If u support the GOP draft bill I just reviewed, u r soooo out of a job come Nov 6, 2018 and it’ll be Hell between now n then

@RepHartzler If that bill is what u meant by “access to health care”, u r totally out of touch w/ your constituents. Oh wait no town halls

@RepHartzler With respect, ma’am, how would you know if you never meet with people from your district?

@RepHartzler I’m in your district, and you have never held a town hall or spent time with your constituents that I can tell.

Hey @RepHartzler – how does screwing them over with HSA plans help them out at all? Oh right, it doesn’t. The replacement is a J-O-K-E

@RepHartzler Meet with the “folks” in your district sometime, you liar.

@RepHartzler do you think HSA’s are a fair or realistic solution for the people of Cass County? Do you know our average household income?

@RepHartzler Better? The new GOP bill favors young and wealthy over elderly and poor. How is that better? Hope you’re ready for a fight.

@RepHartzler, this plan will let ppl die and make rural hospitals fail.

@RepHartzler How will insurance costs go down for those who need it most?

@RepHartzler Once again you leave out the people in your district that ACA helped. LIES MATTER! Read your Bible about them

@RepHartzler Where is the CBO score, which shows cost and how many will lose their insurance and lives? You are not a Christian

@RepHartzler you sure don’t know your district

@RepHartzler The people of Boonville would like to invite you for a townhall on the subject. You name time and place.

That ain’t gonna happen.

Previously:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): just checking (February 20, 2017)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Well, you asked. (February 21, 2017)

You think Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) has been smiling a lot this week? (February 23, 2017)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): just a slight indication of what an open public town hall in the district would be like (February 26, 2017)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): before that Russian thing happened today (March 2, 2017)

Crocodile Tears

17 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor

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Caleb Rowden (r) [2016 file photo].

Caleb Rowden (r) [2016 file photo].

Governor Eric Greitens (r) has ordered significant budget cuts, with higher education taking a significant hit. Over the years the republican controlled General Assembly has cut back the possibilities of revenue, creating a death spiral of diminishing revenue and continuous cuts in public investment.

Via Twitter from Tony Messenger at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

messenger011717

Tony Messenger ‏@tonymess
‘Nobody was more disappointed about what happened yesterday than I was,’ says Sen. @calebrowden on @EricGreitens higher ed cuts. #moleg
2:37 PM – 17 Jan 2017

On May 6, 2014 the republican controlled General Assembly overrode then Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) veto of SB 509, an ill conceived bill which further exacerbates these same budgetary shackles and insures the Kansasfication of Missouri.

Then Representative (now Senator) Caleb Rowden’s (r) disappointment over the hits the University of Missouri (in his district) would take wasn’t evident (r) on May 6, 2014 when he voted [pdf] (Journal of the House, 1578) to override Governor Nixon’s veto.

Spare us the tears.

Previously:

SB 509: the moment when all hope for the future of Missouri died (May 6, 2014)

Gov. Jay Nixon (D) vetoes SB 656

27 Monday Jun 2016

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Governor Jay Nixon (D) vetoed SB 656 this morning:

Gov. Nixon vetoes no training, no background check, no permit concealed carry
June 27, 2016
Senate Bill 656 would have eliminated requirement that individuals obtain training, education, a background check and a permit in order to carry a concealed firearm

Jefferson City, MO – Gov. Jay Nixon today vetoed Senate Bill 656, which would have eliminated the current requirements that individuals must obtain training, education, a background check and a permit in order to carry a concealed firearm in Missouri. The bill would have allowed individuals, including those from other states, to legally carry a concealed firearm even though they have been denied a permit because their background check revealed criminal offenses or caused the sheriff to believe they posed a danger.

The Governor will be discussing his veto during an address this morning to hundreds of law enforcement officers from around the state at the Missouri Police Chiefs Association annual conference.

“Here in Missouri, responsible gun ownership and support for the Second Amendment are strongly held values. These values are part of who we are, and a tradition we pass from generation to generation,” said Gov. Nixon. “As Governor, I have signed bills to expand the rights of law-abiding Missourians to carry concealed and am always willing to consider ways to further improve our CCW process. But I cannot support the extreme step of throwing out that process entirely, eliminating sensible protections like background checks and training requirements, and taking away the ability of sheriffs to protect their communities.”

Since 2003, Missouri law has set forth a process for obtaining a concealed carry permit. This well-established process requires classroom and range training, as well as a background check and review by the sheriff, before an applicant can obtain a concealed carry permit.

Under this well-established process, sheriffs have also appropriately rejected many individuals’ applications and those decisions have been upheld by courts on appeal.

In his veto message, Gov. Nixon provided examples of individuals who could automatically carry a concealed weapon under this law who cannot do so today, including individuals who have pled guilty to a felony and received a suspended imposition of sentence; individuals who have been convicted of misdemeanor assault; and individuals with two or more misdemeanor drug possession convictions.

“I cannot support a system that would ignore a determination by the chief law enforcement officer of a county that an individual is a danger to the community and should not be authorized to carry a concealed firearm,” said the Governor in his veto message. “Allowing currently prohibited individuals to automatically be able to carry concealed would make Missouri less safe.”

The Governor’s concerns echo those voiced by law enforcement agencies, including theMissouri Police Chiefs Association (MPCA), representing 600 members statewide, and the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, which represents 6,400 law enforcement officers across the state.

In a letter to the Governor, Missouri Fraternal Order of Police President Kevin Ahlbrand wrote, “Make no mistake, we are staunch supporters of the Second Amendment. We feel, however, that the enactment of SB 656, specifically the allowance of giving anyone not currently prohibited from possessing a firearms, the ability to carry a concealed firearm without a permit, will cost not only citizen lives but will also be extremely dangerous to law enforcement officers.”

“The Missouri Police Chiefs Association is concerned for the safety of citizens and officers, through the loss of the balance that has existed in Missouri relating to the carrying of concealed weapons for the past several years, and the language in SB 656 that will even allow those persons convicted of crimes to use a verdict that includes a suspended imposition of sentence (SIS) to legally carry a concealed weapon,” said MPCA President Chief Paul Williams. “During a time that balanced approaches and solutions are needed more than ever to face increasing challenges, there is no need to create an imbalance, and potentially decrease the safety of citizens and police officers alike, through such a profound change in Missouri’s concealed carry law, which has served this state well over the past several years.”

[….]

By they way, there’s that other piece of right wingnut stupidity in the bill – “stand your ground”.

Previously:

CCS HCS SB 656: hypocrisy (May 14, 2016)

Gov. Jay Nixon (D): on SB 656 (“stand your ground”) and HJR 53/HB 1631 (voter ID) (June 16, 2016)

Gun crazy (June 25, 2016)

This times 32,283* (June 27, 2016)

Sound familiar?

06 Monday Jul 2015

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Transparency when it comes to public business doesn’t appear to be in vogue anymore.

This past week in Wisconsin:

Sweeping secrecy is big mistake

July 03, 2015 10:31 am

Republicans are supposed to be suspicious of big government.

Instead, the GOP leaders who run the Legislature’s budget committee want citizens to trust state government with sweeping secrecy.

No thank you.

The full Legislature should reject the Joint Finance Committee’s sneaky attempt Thursday night to exempt state lawmakers from Wisconsin’s open records laws….

[….]

….Aren’t Republicans supposed to favor responsibility? Apparently, Wisconsin Republicans do not.

Among several troubling passages inserted into the state budget Thursday night is this doozy: “No provision of the state’s public records law that conflicts with a rule or policy of the Senate or Assembly or joint rule or policy of the Legislature applies to a record that is subject to such rule or policy.”

In other words, state lawmakers do what they want, when they want – and taxpayers will be in the dark….

[….]

Meanwhile, in Missouri:

Missouri judge dismisses lawsuit over open Senate committee meetings

Lawsuit claimed lawmakers must allow filming of meetings

5:52 PM CDT Jun 30, 2015

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -A Missouri judge dismissed Tuesday an advocacy group’s lawsuit that challenged restrictions on filming Missouri Senate committee meetings.

Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem dismissed the petition brought by Progress Missouri, which claimed decisions by Senate committee chairmen to prohibit filming by the group violates the state’s open meetings law. The liberal advocacy group also said the prohibition infringes on its freedom of speech and association.

The state’s Sunshine Law allows public bodies to establish guidelines on recording to minimize disruption, but the lawsuit said Progress Missouri’s filming wouldn’t have been disruptive. Senate rules state that cameras may be allowed with the permission of the committee chairman “as long as they do not prove disruptive to the decorum of the committee….”

[…]

Sunshine ain’t bustin’ out all over.

The stalwart courage of old media in Missouri is inspiring:

Jason Hancock ‏@J_Hancock

Progress Missouri challenges state Senate on Sunshine Law (via @krcg13) [….] 4:19 PM – 23 Jun 2015

We asked:

Michael Bersin ‏@MBersin

@J_Hancock @KRCG13 So, KRCG was denied permission to film a Senate hearing in the past and they’re not a party to the lawsuit? Why not? 4:31 PM – 23 Jun 2015

Interestingly, there was no response.

Previously:

Because asking politely for people to comply with the law always seems to work out so well (April 15, 2015)

On the wrong side of history and technology (April 20, 2015)

Campaign Finance: organized labor always looks after working people – part 2

24 Thursday May 2012

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Previously: Campaign Finance: organized labor always looks after working people (May 21, 2012)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C111126 05/24/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR RESPONSIBLE LENDING Communications Workers of America 501 Third St NW Washington DC 20001 5/24/2012 $15,000.00

C121010 05/24/2012 GIVE MISSOURIANS A RAISE CWA District 6 Political Educ Committee 10733 Sunset Office Dr Suite 201 Saint Louis MO 63127 5/24/2012 $15,000.00

[emphasis added]

For raising the minimum wage and capping the interest on payday loans.

Would you expect anything else?

Campaign Finance: organized labor always looks after working people

22 Tuesday May 2012

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Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C121010 05/21/2012 GIVE MISSOURIANS A RAISE Service Employees International Union 1800 Massachusetts Ave Nw Washington DC 20036 5/21/2012 $15,000.00

C111126 05/21/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR RESPONSIBLE LENDING Service Employees International Union 1800 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington DC 20036 5/21/2012 $15,000.00

[emphasis added]

For raising the minimum wage and capping the interest on payday loans.

Would you expect anything else?