A bill, filed yesterday by Representative Kurt Bahr (r):

SECOND REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 2113

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE BAHR.

6366L.01I   D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 160, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the administration of statewide assessments.

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

           Section A. Chapter 160, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 160.521, to read as follows:

           160.521. For school years 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17, the department of elementary and secondary education shall not require the administration of any statewide assessment by electronic means.

[emphasis in original]

It would appear that telegraphy is not a viable option anymore.

Previously:

HB 2091: micromanaging readin’, ‘ritin’, an’ ‘rithmatic (March 6, 2014)

A bill, introduced today:

HB 886

Authorizes the General Assembly to remove any department director or deputy director if it determines that the removal is necessary for the betterment of the public service

Sponsor: Bahr, Kurt (102)

Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2013

LR Number: 2087H.01I

Last Action: 3/25/2013 – Introduced and Read First Time (H)

[….]

Heh. I bet that’s a really interesting story.

In 2010 about 20% of eligible Missouri voters went to the polls. Not surprisingly, a majority of that 20% were the foaming at the mouth Tea Partiers and other like-minded souls who were all riled up by anti-Obamacare agit-prop of organizations like Freedom Works and Americans for Prosperity (not to mention the simple fact of the first black president). One of the results of that election was that a crop of impenetrably hard-right pols were introduced into the Missouri legislature.

As a result, the real work of government has been left to patronage groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which supply anti-union, anti-education, anti-environmental “model” legislation that best serves their anti-worker, anti-tax, corporate purposes. Since such corporate groups are so willing to do the hard work for them, the junior Representatives have been free to ride their favorite hobby horses into the legislative arena. Most recently we’ve seen bills to combat the non-existent threat of Sharia law and bills that the promote hard-currency schemes of paranoid gold-bugs – oh, and don’t forget the bill that would allow bullies to torment gay classmates with impunity.  

Now State Rep. Kurt Bahr (R-19) has married the desire to carry water for the corporatocracy with the 10th amendment fetishism of many of those on the right-wing fringe. Well in advance of the Supreme Court’s decision about the constitutionality of Obamacare, this former intern of U.S. Rep. Todd Akin (R-2) (says it all, doesn’t it?) has introduced HB1534 which asserts that if anybody in Missouri tries to implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare), they will be subject to criminal charges. Bob Priddy at the MissouriNet Blog sums up Bahr’s position:

So let’s see if we understand Rep. Bahr. He has sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution of the United States says there are three separate and co-equal branches of government, legislative, executive, and judicial. Rep. Bahr argues that a legislature in one of the 50 states can make a judicial ruling as it affects only the people of that state. (The PP&ACA is so unconstitutional that anyone implementing any part of it is a criminal.) It appears he should start getting ready to issue warrants because some parts of the Affordable Healthcare Act already are being implemented in Missouri.

Wouldn’t you know that, first-time around, the rampaging GOP nullifiers in the House passed this piece of idiocy 109-41. Details of the debate, including some very amusing audio, can be heard here. It’s worth reading (and listening to); Rep. Chris Kelly aptly sums up the Democrats’ frustration with Bahr’s thick-headed embrace of nullification, declaring that “this is breathtaking in its contempt for the Constitution of the United States.”

Bahr’s last (first? middling?) stand also works well with the goals of the mostly anonymous corporate types who finance organizations like ALEC. Ed Quillen of the Denver Post has argued that the rabid anti-Obamacare frothing of politicians like Bahr is just another facet of the attack on workers that the corporate elite is waging through their GOP proxies. Writing about why the GOP is doing little to actually promote job creation, but lots to benefit “job-creators,” he states that Republicans aren’t just stepping on the brakes because they want our Democratic president to fail:

When it comes to jobs, there’s more to the story than the normal political desire to defeat someone of the other party. Republicans like employers, those noble “job-creators” vexed by bureaucracy and regulation. They don’t like workers.

If jobs are hard to come by, then employers have more power, just as it’s a lot easier to say “take this job and shove it” if you know they’re hiring down the street. That’s another reason Republicans want to keep unemployment high.

This also helps explain the Republican resistance to universal health care. If you must rely on your employer for health insurance, that helps keep you in your place, and your employer literally has power of life and death over you.

Bahr’s spite-fueled legislative tantrum directed at the ACA may be feel-good medicine for those who are inclined to constitutional posturing, but it is also intended to insure that it is the unfettered market – that is to say, employers, and ultimately, the corporatocracy – that will have the ultimate power over our lives. Quillen correctly observes that the model that the right embraces is that of the Deep South where the Republican “oligarchs”:

… want “a compliant, poorly educated, low-wage workforce with as few labor, workplace safety, health care, and environmental regulations as possible.

Dare I mention that, when it comes to the legislative crop of 2010 we get a do-over this November?

 

Oh, brother:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 549

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES BAHR (Sponsor), RUZICKA, DIECKHAUS, JONES (89), HIGDON, GATSCHENBERGER, LASATER, McNARY, CONWAY (14) AND KELLEY (126) (Co-sponsors).

1018L.01I                                                                                           D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

Relating to motor vehicle mileage taxes.

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

           Section 1. No global positioning system or other technology that identifies and records a person’s location at all times shall be used to monitor mileage traveled by any motor vehicle on any road, highway, or street in this state for the purpose of imposing any tax on the mileage traveled by such motor vehicle.

[emphasis in original]

Maybe we should use GPS technology to track the progress of the state budget and job creation initiatives in the Missouri General Assembly.

What is it with the republican caucus? They feed stupid bills to freshman legislators and hope that by throwing everything against the wall maybe something will stick? That’s some legislative strategery and agenda.

The 19th Legislative District seat is up this November in an open race.

Candidate List

State of Missouri General Election

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

State Representative – District 19

Simmons, Matt DEM   OFallon, MO

Bahr, Kurt REP   OFallon, MO

The seat was previously held by a spokesperson for employment at national junk food chain stores as a solution to hunger.

The Democratic Party candidate, Matt Simmons, has television ads running:

Update: a newer version of the ad.

Matt Simmons (D): Hi, I’m Matt Simmons. It’s time to stop playing partisan politics and start seeking sensible solutions to critical issues we face here in the State of Missouri. You deserve a no nonsense voice in Jefferson City representing you with honesty and integrity. I won’t be a puppet on a string for corporate and special interests. That’s tearing this country apart. I’m Matt Simmons and I appreciate your vote on November the 2nd.

Announcer: Do the right thing. Vote for Matt Simmons November 2nd.

“…You deserve a no nonsense voice in Jefferson City…”

If he wins this election his representation will probably give the voters in the 19th Legislative District whiplash.

Matt Simmons filed his third quarter campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission: on October 11th:

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committe: CITIZENS FOR MATT SIMMONS

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $0.00

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $3,730.00

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $3,730.00

15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $9,370.11

25. MONEY ON HAND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (INCLUDING FUNDS IN DEPOSITORY, CASH, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND ALL OTHER INVESTMENTS) $28,652.76

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $23,012.65

[emphasis added]

Like many campaigns this one has reset the “previously reported” clock after the primary.

Let’s take a look at some of the contributions:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: CITIZENS FOR MATT SIMMONS

Report Date: 10/11/2010

Electrical Workers Voluntary Political St. Louis MO 09/20/2010 $500.00

Sprinkler Fitters Local 268 Political Ed & Leg. Committee St. Louis MO 09/20/2010 $300.00

UFCW Local 655 Elect Political Fund Ballwin MO 09/21/2010 $500.00

Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 533 Voluntary PAC Kansas City MO 09/30/2010 $500.00

There are small dollar individual contributions and contributions from organized labor (working people!).

The expenditures:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committe: CITIZENS FOR MATT SIMMONS

ReportDate: 9/30/2010

A. EXPENDITURES OF $100 OR LESS BY CATEGORY

schnucks $21.81

shop n save $22.13

starbucks $25.90

schnucks $37.27

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

Minuteman Press St. Charles MO 09/03/2010 printing $672.32

Minuteman Press St. Charles MO 09/03/2010 printing $1,590.68

cbs out door St. Louis MO 09/03/2010 bill board $7,000.00

The republican candidate, Kurt Bahr, filed his third quarter campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on October 14th:

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committe: BAHR FOR STATE REP

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $0.00

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $4,083.94

6. IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $1,732.00

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $5,815.94

25. MONEY ON HAND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (INCLUDING FUNDS IN DEPOSITORY, CASH, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND ALL OTHER INVESTMENTS) $2,314.11

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $2,625.17

35. TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 29 + 30 + 31 – 32 – 33 – 34) $3,271.93

[emphasis added]

The contributions:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: BAHR FOR STATE REP

Report Date: 10/12/2010

Elect Cynthia Davis OFallon MO 08/30/2010 $55.00

Mark Parkinson St. Charles MO 63303 State of Missouri Representative 08/30/2010 $100.00

NFIB – Missouri Safe Trust Washington DC 08/30/2010 $500.00

Chuck 4 State Rep Lake St. Louis MO 08/30/2010 $330.00

[emphasis added]

There are some small individual contributions, a few PACs and contributions from other republican campaigns.

The expenditures:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committe: BAHR FOR STATE REP

ReportDate: 10/15/2010

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

Sprint Store OFallon MO 08/30/2010 Phone Equipment $90.00

Bottoms Up BrewhouseOFallon MO 09/01/2010 Fundraiser $275.00

King Strategic Communications Gahanna OH 09/07/2010 Push Cards $1,429.00

OFallon Chamber of Commerce OFallon MO 09/16/2010 Membership $220.00

OFallon Chamber of Commerce OFallon MO 09/16/2010 Golf Tournament $125.00

OfficeMax OFallon MO 09/21/2010 Office Supplies $65.80

Graphic Printing and Signs  St. Peters MO 09/27/2010 Signs $1,144.88

Lowes St. Peters MO 09/29/2010 Sign Supplies $18.26

High Way Media OFallon MO 09/28/2010 Printing $271.93

Sprint DALLAS TX 9/13/2010 Phone Services $143.82

Sprint DALLAS TX 9/14/2010 Phone Services $156.52

Walgreens O’Fallon MO 9/21/2010 Stamps $26.40

Our Lady’s Inn Defiance MO 9/28/2010 Campaign Event $25.00

Beer? Golf Tournament. Chamber of Commerce. Signs.

And look who’s in another Matt Simmons campaign ad:

Update: a newer version of the ad.

Matt Simmons (D): I’m Matt Simmons. Unlike my opponent I believe public education is the foundation of our children’s lives. When I’m elected I’ll make sure public schools are fully funded and that all children receive a quality education.

Kurt Bahr (r):…[inaudible] been a home schooler and being a father of two home schools I plan to be, you know, the lobbyist for home schooling at Jeff City.

Announcer: Do the right thing. Vote for Matt Simmons November 2nd.

Yep, that’s Cynthia Davis (r) [:24] on the left.