In the past week (or so) at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C001135 12/10/2014 A BETTER MISSOURI WITH GOVERNOR JAY NIXON Davis, Ketchmark, McCreight, & Ivers PC 11161 Overbrook Road Suite 210 Leawood KS 66211 12/9/2014 $10,000.00

C001135 12/18/2014 A BETTER MISSOURI WITH GOVERNOR JAY NIXON Southwestern Bell Telephone, L.P., d/b/a AT&T Missouri One AT&T Center, Room 4200 St Louis MO 63101 12/16/2014 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

It ain’t chess, but still…

A press release from the office of Governor Jay Nixon:

Gov. Nixon agrees with alternative interpretation of appropriation authority offered by legislative leaders, making special session unnecessary

December 1, 2014

Jefferson City, MO

Gov. Jay Nixon today announced that a special session will not be necessary after agreeing with an alternative interpretation of current appropriation authority offered by legislative leadership.  Consistent with this reading of the law, the Governor will be using existing appropriations for the State Emergency Management Agency in HB 2008, Section 8.290 to fund the ongoing operations of the Missouri National Guard and the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Ferguson and the St. Louis region.

“We have an obligation to the people of Missouri and to the law enforcement officers and citizen-soldiers who are working tirelessly to protect them,” said Gov. Nixon.  “This interpretation of the law will allow these essential public safety operations to be funded without the need for a special session.”

The appropriation language in Section 8.290 has been traditionally interpreted as limited to the use of matching grants and exclusively for the expenses of the State Emergency Management Agency. Costs resulting from civil unrest are not eligible for federal reimbursement under a federal disaster declaration.  

However, in a letter to all senators, Senate Appropriations Chairman Sen. Kurt Schaefer wrote that the state could use the $12.5 million appropriation in Section 8.290 for costs incurred during an emergency.  “After researching this issue and discussing it with appropriations staff, I can find no apparent reason why the Governor cannot use this appropriation for either the Guard or Patrol given that he has declared a state of emergency in responding to Ferguson,” Schaefer wrote.

In a joint statement today, the House and Senate leadership have indicated they agree with this interpretation, saying “they believe the governor currently has the resources and authority to spend the necessary dollars to provide security to the communities of Ferguson and greater St. Louis.”

The Governor’s agreement with this interpretation negates the need for a special session for the expenses of the National Guard and the Highway Patrol in providing enhanced security in Ferguson and the St. Louis region.

If the republicans all agree they can’t complain later, right?

Previously: Gov. Jay Nixon: special legislative session – Ferguson (November 29, 2014)

In the last week at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C001135 11/13/2014 A BETTER MISSOURI WITH GOVERNOR JAY NIXON Carey & Danis LLC 8235 Forsyth Boulevard FL. 11 Saint Louis MO 63105 11/12/2014 $15,000.00

C001135 11/20/2014 A BETTER MISSOURI WITH GOVERNOR JAY NIXON Peabody Investments Corp. 701 Market Street Saint Louis MO 63101 11/18/2014 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Who knows?

Governor Jay Nixon signed an executive order today activating the Missouri National Guard:

Missouri National Guard to support law enforcement efforts in the event of unrest in the St. Louis region, Gov. Nixon announces

November 17, 2014

Jefferson City, MO

Gov. Jay Nixon today signed an executive order activating the Missouri National Guard to support law enforcement during any period of unrest that might occur following the grand jury’s decision concerning the investigation into the death of Michael Brown.  The Governor said the Guard will provide support for law enforcement’s objectives of maintaining safety and protecting constitutional rights.

“As part of our ongoing efforts to plan and be prepared for any contingency, it is necessary to have these resources in place in advance of any announcement of the grand jury’s decision,” Gov. Nixon said. “These additional resources will support law enforcement’s efforts to maintain peace and protect those exercising their right to free speech. The National Guard is well-suited to provide security at command posts, fire stations and other locations as well as perform other functions that will free up law enforcement officers to remain focused on community policing and protecting constitutional rights.”

Gov. Nixon’s executive order also establishes that the Missouri State Highway Patrol, St. Louis County Police Department and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department will operate as a unified command to keep members of the public safe and protect property, while allowing citizens to exercise their constitutional rights.  Under the executive order, the St. Louis County Police Department will have command and operational control over security in the City of Ferguson in areas of protests and acts of civil disobedience, should such activities occur.

“All people in the St. Louis region deserve to feel safe in their communities and to make their voices heard without fear of violence or intimidation,” said Gov. Nixon. “Public safety demands that we are fully prepared for any contingency, regardless of what the St. Louis County grand jury or the U.S. Department of Justice decides.”

The St. Louis County prosecutor has said publicly that an announcement of the grand jury’s decision will be made later this month. The United States Department of Justice, which is conducting both civil and criminal investigations of the death of Michael Brown, has not announced when its investigations will be concluded.

“Our department, like other police departments in the region, has a full time job keeping our neighborhoods safe.  We are used to working with other agencies in times of necessity,” said St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Sam Dotson. “Having the support of the National Guard available will enable local officers to continue to respond promptly to calls for service.”

“We have taken tremendous strides over the past three months, as our officers have undergone thousands of hours of additional training and reached out to build strong relationships across the community,” said St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar. “These additional resources will enhance our ability to achieve our key responsibilities: keeping the public safe, protecting property and enabling people to exercise their constitutional rights.”

Requests from local law enforcement for duties to be performed by the Guard will be handled through the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

“These past three months have been challenging for our community but we have come together in many measurable ways,” said Captain Ron Johnson, commander of Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop C. “The power of communication within the community has allowed us to take steps toward peaceful change that demonstrate the true character of North County. The availability of the National Guard will ensure that law enforcement has the resources to protect three things vital to our community: public safety, property and the constitutional rights of all.”

The Missouri National Guard has been deployed a total of 32 times since 2001 to assist local communities with emergency preparedness and response, from shoring up levees during floods to providing security following the Joplin tornado. The Guard will be commanded by Brigadier General Gregory Mason, a retired 30-year veteran of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

[….]

A few day ago many sources reported on the efforts of the Missouri KKK to get in on the Ferguson action. The white-robed bubba contingent promised that “we will use lethal force as provided by Missouri Law to defend ourselves.” Some racist thugs propose to bring guns to counter the perceived threat posed by folks who are fired up by a long history of police brutality and are declaring that they won’t take it anymore. Anybody surprised by this turn of events?

On the same note, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports today that Ferguson protestors are gearing up for the furror that will probably errupt when the grand jurry issues what many expect will be a white-washing of Darren Wilson’s role in the shooting of Michael Brown. Acording to the report, one faction is exhorting protesters to “pack side arms.” So, if anybody takes this advice to heart, more guns will be added to the lethal mix. I expect that the protestors, with considerably more justification than the KKKers, also claim that they’re concerned with self-defense – and given the over-reaction that the relatively minor episodes of violence in Ferguson have inspired, it’s  hard to deny the force of the sentiment.  

The KKK types are citing Missouri law to justify their rush to the shootout at the OK Corral. While the Missoouri Revised Statutes, Section 563-031, that they cite does attempt to spell out when one may legally defend oneself with lethal force, it doesn’t – on my reading at least – seem to justify folks who are absolutely not threatened by the protests to show up, wave their guns, and fan the flames. But it’s easy for sanctimonious dimwits who want to assert their dominance and pretend that they speak for “the good people of St. Louis County of all races, colors and creeds” to misinterpret such laws with potentially disastrous consequences.

And as for any protestors who may “pack” sidearms, I think that concealed and open carry are now legal, right? While I suspect that Missouri’s very permissive gun laws were intended to enable white folks who have an exaggerated fear of African-Americans rather than angry African-American protestors, the law doesn’t make those distinctions.

Anybody who is surprised by these developments hasn’t been around the proverbial block too many times. The upshot is that we live in a state where laws have been written to encourage mayhem. The sad thing is that I suspet that these laws owe their existence in part to the fear and loathing that lots of white folks feel towards their black fellow citizens.

And it’s the various traditionally entrenched manifestations of that fear and loathing that has created the Ferguson situation in the first place. Now we’ve got Big Daddy Jay Nixon shaking  his finger at protestors and telling us all to hell with police brutality, he won’t tolerate any rioting black folks. Nor should he, but, when he’s addressing the community shouldn’t he at least give a nod of the head to the abuses that left people so angry that they take to the streets? And shouldn’t he let folks like the KKK know that he won’t tolerate any ugly, self-proclaimed “sleeping giants” who want to use Ferguson as an excuse to sling their lethal cudgels? I was visiting in California when I heard Nixon’s speech on the topic and I, a white, middle aged woman, felt like he was waving a red flag meant to incite a currently quiescent bull. No wonder the KKK feels empowered.

And while I’m at it, I haven’t seen a thing in the Post-Dispatch about the KKK’s threats. Did I just miss it? Did they not report on it because it’s potentially inflamatory? But why then did they report on the protestors who “stated plans to ‘make a few fires to stay warm’ – but without the need for firewood.” That isn’t inflamatory (no pun intended)? That doesn’t excite people like the KKK?  If the story is fit to print, print both sides.

Edited slightly for clarity.    

The sarcasm forecast is still high:

Top Conservative Cat ‏@TeaPartyCat

Gov. Jay Nixon: “Violence will not be tolerated after the Michael Brown jury decision. Except by police of course; that doesn’t count.” 6:05 PM – 11 Nov 2014

It’s money, but still, significant campaign contributions can be overshadowed by even larger contributions. Today Rex Sinquefield dropped a total of a million dollars between two republican statewide candidates who are running in 2016. There were other campaign contributions of note by other individuals and entities to other entities.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: making a choice (October 15, 2014)

Campaign Finance: now we know where the rest of the million dollars went (October 15, 2014)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C091068 10/15/2014 HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, INC Vicky Hartzler For Congress PO Box 30080 Columbia MO 65205 10/14/2014 $20,000.00

[emphasis added]

It’s what happens when a republican incumbent in Congress doesn’t feel the need to take her opponent seriously.

And, Senator Claire McCaskill (D) continues to contribute significant money to the Missouri Democratic Party.

C000960 10/15/2014 MO DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE Claire McCaskill 1940 Spring House Dr St Louis MO 63122 United States Senate 10/15/2014 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

That’s $490,000.00 since February, $200,000.00 in October (so far).

Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) committee has been chipping in, too.

C000960 10/15/2014 MO DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE Nixon For Missouri PO Box 143 Jefferson City MO 65102 10/15/2014 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

That’s $75,000.00 in October (so far)

A blast from the past:

C141545 10/15/2014 MISSOURIANS FOR RESPONSIBLE AND BETTER GOVERNMENT Missourians for Matt Blunt Inc. PO Box 695 Jefferson City MO 65102 10/14/2014 $110,546.34

[emphasis added]

Well, it’s all in the family:

C141545: Missourians For Responsible And Better Government

Po Box 695 Committee Type: Political Action

Jefferson City Mo 65102

[….] Established Date: 10/03/2014

  Termination Date:

Treasurer Deputy Treasurer

Andrew Blunt

931 Wildwood Dr #201

Jefferson City Mo 65109

[….]

[emphasis added]

What can they be up to? Just asking.

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C000960 10/09/2014 MO DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE Claire McCaskill 1941 Spring House Dr St Louis MO 63122 United States Senate 10/9/2014 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

That’s $440,000.00 since February, $150,000.00 in October (so far).

And:

C000960 10/09/2014 MO DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE Nixon for Missouri PO Box 143 Jefferson City MO 65102 10/9/2014 $25,000.00

C000960 10/09/2014 MO DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE UFCW Local 655 Elect Political Fund 300 Weidman Rd Ballwin MO 63011 10/9/2014 $20,000.00

[emphasis added]

Everyone is in.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: there is a difference (October 6, 2014)

Campaign Finance: even more (October 2, 2014)

Campaign Finance: All in the family (July 28, 2014)

Campaign Finance: join the party (February 19, 2014)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C001135 09/27/2014 A BETTER MISSOURI WITH GOVERNOR JAY NIXON Platinum Health Care Inc. 7444 Long Avenue Skokie IL 60077 9/26/2014 $23,883.05

[emphasis added]

Blimps are for billionaires.

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.