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) sent out his weekly legislative session report today:

Denny Hoskins, CPA

Speaker Pro Tem

Missouri House of Representatives

District 54

[….]

Capitol Report

April 24, 2014

….Governor Nixon has consistently tried to scare Missourians away from reducing the tax burden and chose to cherry picked a phrase in this bill and twisted it to fit his deceptive messaging. The Governor contends SB 509 will eliminate the top tax bracket, but his opinion has been dismissed by former Missouri Supreme Court Justice Ray Price and the Missouri Society of CPAs who agree the bill will require the tax tables to be redrawn and not eliminate the entire tax bracket as the Governor says….

[emphasis in original]

Who’s doing the dismissing?:

Nixon says Republican tax cut bill would cost Missouri billions

April 22, 2014 11:30 pm  •  By Virginia Young

….[House Majority Floor Leader] Diehl [r] cited a legal opinion by former Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice William Price, who was asked to review the bill by Dempsey. Price concluded that Missouri courts would find that the 5.5 percent tax rate would apply to all incomes over $8,000 even after the reduction is fully implemented. Price is Diehl’s law partner at Armstrong Teasdale, a St. Louis law firm….

[emphasis added](hat tip to Bob Yates)

Fancy that.

The lead editorial in today’s Warrensburg Daily Star Journal takes issue with SB 509:

Mo. tax cut bill ill-considered; veto necessary

….What lawmakers meant to pass is, understandably, a source of concern. But what [Governor] Nixon said they actually passed is an unmitigated catastrophe….

….The trouble is, what lawmakers wrote is not abundantly clear. What they wrote is questionable legally, and therefore dangerous fiscally.

When the fate of the state is at stake, lawmakers should be scrupulous in what they write, and in how carefully they read. They should allow debate that answers questions, something the House did not allow. No matter the intent or ultimate legal decision regarding, Senate Bill 509 looks like sloppy lawmaking and that is not a good for Missouri….

….Anyone who would vote to override a veto of HB 509 risks plunging Missouri into a financial abyss from which there may be no way out.

The home town newspaper isn’t buying what Representative Hoskins (r) is selling. Fancy that.

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)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C111221 03/28/2014 COMMITTEE TO ELECT DEAN DOHRMAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE Citizens for Hoskins PO Box 118 Warrensburg MO 64093 3/28/2014 $5,001.00

[emphasis added]

No Democrats filed in the 54th Legislative District against incumbent Representative (and Speaker Pro Tem) Denny Hoskins (r). Representative Dean Dohrman (r), legislative yes man and freshman representive, who narrowly won the 51st Legislative District seat in an open race with Gary Grigsby (D) in 2012 is facing a rematch in 2014. The 51st and 54th are neighboring districts.

The end result? Denny Hoskins (r) is free to prop up Dean Dohrman’s (r) campaign coffers since Representative Hoskins won’t have to spend any appreciable amount of money on his reelection effort.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Grigsby (D) and Dohrman (r) in the 51st Legislative District – 3rd Quarter 2013 (October 16, 2013)

Campaign Finance: the race in the 51st Legislative District is going to be quite interesting (January 1, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Grigsby (D) and Dohrman (r) in the 51st Legislative District – 4th Quarter 2013 (January 20, 2014)

Previously:

HB 436: loonier than Wayne LaPierre at a press conference (February 5, 2013)

National Firearms Act (NFA)

….Firearms subject to the 1934 Act included shotguns and rifles having barrels less than 18 inches in length, certain firearms described as “any other weapons,” machineguns, and firearm mufflers and silencers….

Uh that would be sawed off shotguns, fully automatic machineguns, and silencers.

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

[TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED]

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 436

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1204S.04T          2013

AN ACT

To repeal sections 21.750, 571.030, 571.101, 571.107, 571.117, and 590.010, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof fourteen new sections relating to firearms, with a penalty provision.

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

[….]

3. (1) All federal acts, laws, orders, rules, and regulations, whether past, present, or future, which infringe on the people’s right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 23 of the Missouri Constitution shall be invalid in this state, shall not be recognized by this state, shall be specifically rejected by this state, and shall be considered null and void and of no effect in this state.

           (2) Such federal acts, laws, orders, rules, and regulations include, but are not limited to:

           (a) The provisions of the federal Gun Control Act of 1934;

           (b) The provisions of the federal Gun Control Act of 1968…

[….]

[bold emphasis in original, underline emphasis added]

In the Journal of the Missouri House for May, 8, 2013:

[….]

2273 Journal of the House [pdf]

On motion of Representative Funderburk, SCS HCS HB 436, as amended, was truly agreed

to and finally passed by the following vote:

AYES: 116

Allen Anderson Austin Bahr Bernskoetter

Berry Black Brattin Brown Burlison

Cierpiot Conway 10 Conway 104 Cookson Cornejo

Cox Crawford Curtman Davis Diehl

Dohrman Dugger Elmer Engler English

Entlicher Fitzpatrick Fitzwater Flanigan Fowler

Fraker Frame Franklin Frederick Funderburk

Gannon Gatschenberger Gosen Grisamore Guernsey

Haahr Hampton Hansen Harris Hicks

Higdon Hinson Hodges Hoskins Hough

Houghton Hubbard Hurst Johnson Jones 50

Justus Keeney Kelley 127 Koenig Kolkmeyer

Korman Lair Lant Lauer Leara

Love Lynch Marshall Mayfield McCaherty

McGaugh McKenna Messenger Miller Moon

Morris Muntzel Neely Neth Parkinson

Pfautsch Phillips Pike Pogue Redmon

Rehder Reiboldt Remole Rhoads Richardson

Riddle Roorda Ross Rowden Rowland

Scharnhorst Schatz Schieber Schieffer Shull

Shumake Smith 120 Solon Sommer Spencer

Stream Swan Thomson Torpey Walker

White Wieland Wilson Wood Zerr

Mr Speaker

NOES: 038

Anders Barnes Butler Carpenter Colona

Curtis Dunn Ellinger Ellington Englund

Hummel Kirkton Kratky LaFaver May

McCann Beatty McDonald McManus McNeil Meredith

Mitten Montecillo Morgan Newman Nichols

Norr Otto Pace Peters Pierson

Rizzo Runions Schupp Smith 85 Swearingen

Walton Gray Webb Wright

PRESENT: 000

ABSENT WITH LEAVE: 009

Burns Cross Gardner Haefner Kelly 45

Lichtenegger Mims Molendorp Webber

Representative Diehl declared the bill passed.

Speaker Jones resumed the Chair.

[….]

[emphasis added]

Yes, you got that right. A veto proof majority in the Missouri General Assembly voted to nullify federal prohibitions of sawed off shotguns, fully automatic machineguns, and silencers.

Forget seersucker. It looks like scratchy gray wool uniforms are back in vogue. [That sarcastic reference to the last serious nullification disagreement which was settled almost 150 years ago came from someone else on the Internets.]

There’s even more right wingnutty goodness in HB 436:

….6. Any official, agent, or employee of the United States government who enforces or attempts to enforce any of the infringements on the right to keep and bear arms included in subsection 3 of this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor….

[emphasis in original]

Oh, that’ll cost a lot of money to litigate all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

It looks like Representative Dean Dohrman (r) has earned his keep.

And Representative Denny Hoskins (r) is running for a leadership position:

Denny Hoskins, CPA

Missouri House of Representatives

District 54

Capitol Report

May 10th, 2013

[….]

….I am pleased to officially announce my candidacy for Speaker Pro Tem of the Missouri House of Representatives. As you may, or may not know, Rep. Jason Smith, current Speaker Pro Tem, is running for the vacant Congressional seat in Missouri’s 8th district. I believe I have the experience, character, and conviction needed to fill the position. Speaker Pro Tem is selected by a vote of my House colleagues, many of whom have already expressed their support of my candidacy….

[….]

Heh. Service is its own reward.    

Legislative Redistricting: Denny Hoskins (r) – from the 121st to the 51st (December 4, 2011)

….Representative Denny Hoskins (r) will probably move into the 54th Legislative District….

In today’s Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal, front page, side bar, below the fold:

Hoskins runs in 54th

…After discussions with friends and backers, Rep. Denny Hoskins confirmed he will run in the new 54th District….

[emphasis in original]

Political self preservation once again triumphs over residence.

Previously: 54th Legislative District: January 2010 campaign finance reports

Democrat John Bullard and republican Jeanie Lauer are the candidates who filed for the open seat race for the 54th Legislative District in Jackson County:

State Representative – District 54

Democrat

JOHN BULLARD JR BUCKNER MO 407 2/23/2010

Republican

JEANIE LAUER BLUE SPRINGS MO 428 2/23/2010

John Bullard (D) filed his first quarter campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 15th:

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committe: CITIZENS FOR JOHN BULLARD

ReportDate:

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $38,504.30

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $925.44

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $39,647.03

15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $4,399.03

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $29,296.81

35. TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 29 + 30 + 31 – 32 – 33 – 34) $250.00

[emphasis added]

Okay, this appears to have been a quiet fundraising quarter. Then again, that’s a nice cash on hand total.

Let’s take a look at the contributions:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: CITIZENS FOR JOHN BULLARD

Report Date: 04/15/2010

CWA District 6 Political Educ Committee Saint Louis, MO 02/19/2010 $300.00

And, there are small dollar contributions from individuals.

The expenditures:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committe: CITIZENS FOR JOHN BULLARD

ReportDate: 04/15/2010

B. ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES ALL OVER $100 AND ALL PAYMENTS TO CAMPAIGN WORKERS

Actblue Technical Services Cambridge, MA 02/15/2010 Contribution Fees $1.98

Actblue Technical Services Cambridge, MA 02/26/2010 Contribution Fees $0.20

Actblue Technical Services Cambridge, MA 03/05/2010 Contribution Fees $0.60

Almar Printing Kansas City, MO 03/26/2010 remittance envelopes $362.55

City Credit Union Independence, MO 03/15/2010 $0.40

NGP Software, Inc. Washington, DC 01/04/2010 Bank Fees $90.32

NGP Software, Inc. Washington, DC 02/03/2010 Bank Fees $30.00

Mostly fundraising.

Republican Jeanie Lauer filed her first quarter campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 12th:

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committe: CITIZENS FOR JEANIE LAUER

ReportDate:

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $6,272.56

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $2,855.00

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $9,127.56

15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $2,748.05

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $6,379.51

35. TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 29 + 30 + 31 – 32 – 33 – 34) $0.00

Okay, there’s not a significant amount of fundraising going on here either. And the cash on hand doesn’t look so good in comparison.

Let’s see where the money came from:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: CITIZENS FOR JEANIE LAUER

Report Date: 4/12/2010

M.A.C. Corporation Blue Springs, MO 2/5/2010 $200.00

OOIDA Grain Valley, MO 3/22/2010 $500.00

13. TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSONS GIVING $100 OR LESS $1,130.00

OOIDA? Ah, the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association.

Let’s take a look at those expenditures:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committe: CITIZENS FOR JEANIE LAUER

ReportDate: 4/12/2010

A. EXPENDITURES OF $100 OR LESS BY CATEGORY

Fund Raising Refreshments $56.33

Secretary of State – Filing Fee $50.00

B. ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES ALL OVER $100 AND ALL PAYMENTS TO CAMPAIGN WORKERS

Kwik Copy Blue Springs, MO 3/5/2010 Printing $524.41

Kwik Copy Blue Springs, MO 2/1/2010 Printing $94.47

Well, this race appears to be a little quiet on the fundraising and expenditure fronts. That’s gonna change.

Democrat John Bullard and republican Jeanie Lauer are candidates currently raising money in the open seat race for the 54th Legislative District. The district encompasses Blue Springs in Jackson County. The current occupant, Gary Dusenburg (r) is term limited out.

Previous election results in the district:

Official Election Returns

State of Missouri General Election  – 2008 General Election

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

State Representative – District 54 – Summary

Precincts Reporting 27 of 27

Dusenberg, Gary REP 12,934 61.0%

Matzeder, Mark D. DEM 7,630 36.0%

Foster, Bobby LIB 626 3.0%

Total Votes   21,190

Official Election Returns

State of Missouri General Election  – November 2006 – General Election

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

State Representative – District 54 – Summary

Precincts Reporting 29 of 29

Dusenberg, Gary REP 9,184 60.2%

Matzeder, Mark DEM 6,078 39.8%

Total Votes   15,262

Official Election Returns

State of Missouri General Election

Tuesday, November 02, 2004

State Representative – District 54 – Summary

Precincts Reporting 30 of 30

Dusenberg, Gary REP 15,995 100.0%

Total Votes   15,995

Official Election Returns

State of Missouri General Election  – 11/5/2002

Tuesday, November 05, 2002

State Representative – District 54 – Summary

Leavitt, Troy DEM 5,238 41.8%

Dusenberg, Gary REP 7,287 58.2%

Total Votes   12,525

Official Election Returns

State of Missouri General Election

Tuesday, November 07, 2000

State Representative – District 54 – Summary

Costigan, Dennis DEM 7,302 38.9%

Lograsso, Don REP 11,450 61.1%

Total Votes   18,752

2002, an off year election, was the most competitive. At least the Democratic candidate in 2006 and 2008 kept several thousand Democratic voters from voting for a republican by giving them an alternative.

John Bullard filed his fourth quarter campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on January 15th:

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committe: CITIZENS FOR JOHN BULLARD

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $33,544.33

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $4,650.00

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $38,504.30

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $28,857.42

[emphasis added]

Okay, those are good numbers. Let’s look at where the money came from:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: CITIZENS FOR JOHN BULLARD

Report Date: 01/15/2010

Ameristar Casino Kansas City, Inc. Kansas City, MO 12/02/2009 $150.00

Ameristar Casino St. Charles Saint Charles, MO 12/02/2009 $150.00

Citizens for Mike Talboy Kansas City, MO 12/28/2009 $300.00

Committee to Elect Jeff Roorda Barnhart, MO 12/30/2009 $400.00

Working Families for Missouri Independence, MO 12/20/2009 $1,000.00

And there are contributions from individuals (some attorneys) and organized labor.

Jeanie Lauer (r) filed her fourth quarter campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on January 7th:

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committe: CITIZENS FOR JEANIE LAUER

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $737.56

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $5,535.00

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $6,272.56

15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $2,022.84

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $4,249.72

[emphasis added]

Not as much, eh? And there’s that relatively high “burn rate” again.

Let’s see where the money came from:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: CITIZENS FOR JEANIE LAUER

Report Date: 1/7/2010

Beco Properties Blue Springs, MO 10/09/2009 $1,000.00

Blue Springs Ford Blue Springs, MO 11/24/2009 $250.00

Colonial Nursery Blue Springs, MO 11/06/2009 $500.00

12. TOTAL ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSONS GIVING $25 OR LESS $130.00

13. TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSONS GIVING $100 OR LESS $2,855.00

[emphasis added]

There’s going to have to be a lot of catching up before there’s parity. But then again, doesn’t it seem that republican candidates always have the money they need by the end of the cycle?