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Tag Archives: Amendment 1

Gov. Mike Parson (r): “Will of the voters”? What’s that? Never heard of it.

23 Sunday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri Governor

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Amendment 1, governor, Mike Parom, redistricting reform

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

In November – Amendment 1, including redistricting reform – via the Missouri Secretary of State web site:

State of Missouri – General Election, November 06, 2018
Official Results
As announced by the Board of State Canvassers on November 30, 2018

Constitutional Amendment No. 1
3256 of 3256 Precincts Reported

YES 1,469,093 62.021%
NO 899,613 37.979%

Total Votes: 2,368,706

[emphasis added]

By 569,480 votes and 24.042 percentage points.

Uh, that’s a mandate.

Today:

KMBC @kmbc
Missouri governor wants repeal of new redistricting law [….]
3:13 PM – 23 Dec 2018

Why not? Ignore the will of the voters. It’s the republican way.

Not if CLEAN Missouri has voters to motivate over this (and they certainly do):

Sean Soendker Nicholson @ssnich
Amendment 1 passed in a landslide [checks notes] 47 days ago.

#moleg #mogov
[….]
11:22 AM – 23 Dec 2018

Welcome to Missouri.

SB 132: I’ve got secrets I want to keep

10 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Amendment 1, CLEAN Missouri, Ed Emery, General Assembly, lobbying, missouri, Missouri Sunshine Law, SB 132

Because lobbyists shrivel up when exposed to sunlight?

A bill, prefiled in the Missouri Senate by Ed Emery (r), which would broaden disclosure exemptions in the Missouri Sunshine Law for members of the General Assembly:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 132 [pdf]
100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY SENATOR EMERY. Pre-filed December 1, 2018, and ordered printed.
ADRIANE D. CROUSE, Secretary.
0625S.02I

AN ACT

To repeal section 610.021, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the closure of certain records.

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

Section A. Section 610.021, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 610.021, to read as follows:

610.021. Except to the extent disclosure is otherwise required by law, a public governmental body is authorized to close meetings, records and votes, to the extent they relate to the following:

[….]

(25) Any record maintained in the office of a member of the general assembly that is related to a constituent of the member; and
(26) Any record maintained in the office of a member of the general assembly, an employee of either house of the general assembly, or an employee of a caucus of either the majority or minority party of either house that contains information regarding proposed legislation or the legislative process, however, nothing in this subdivision shall allow the closure of a record that has been offered in a public meeting of a house of the general assembly, or any committee thereof.

[emphasis in original]

We wouldn’t want anyone to figure out who’s been pushing those ALEC cut and paste bills on the Missouri General Assembly now, would we?

Campaign Finance: the work is never done

05 Wednesday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance, Resist

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Amendment 1, campaign finance, campaign finance reform, CLEAN Missouri, lobbying reform, missouri, redistricting reform, Resist

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C161298 12/05/2018 CLEAN Missouri Action Now Initiative 1717 West Loop S Houston TX 77027 12/4/2018 $36,000.00

[emphasis added]

Because the forces of dark money in politics never rest.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: the smell of fear (November 21, 2018)

Pass the dutchie from the right hand side… (November 29, 2018)

Gerrymander – illustrated

17 Saturday Nov 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Amendment 1, CLEAN Missouri, gerrymandering, missouri, Missouri House, redistricting reform

Prompted by a Twitter post, we took a look at the statewide vote for the Missouri House of Representatives as currently reported via the Missouri Secretary of State.

We fired up the spreadsheet software and entered the vote by party for all 163 legislative districts.

The distribution of votes (statewide) by party for the Missouri House of Representatives – November 2018

The statewide vote totals:

Republican – 1,272,938
Democratic – 999,426
Independent – 757
Libertarian – 15,750
Green – 2,733
Constitution – 406
Write-in – 171

Libertarians, you gave it the good old college try. Greens, really? There are that many people on the left in Missouri when faced with an obvious binary difference who decide, instead, to choose purity? Independents? Given old media memes you probably thought there were a lot more of you than you are. Democrats, keep chasing those “Independent” unicorns. Constitution Party, bless your hearts.

The distribution of seats by party in the Missouri House of Representatives – 2019 Session

So, the Republicans go into the 2018 legislative session with 116 seats in the House, Democrats with 47. We will all see the results of that distribution when bills for the 2019 session are prefiled in December.

Right to get paid less, anyone? Anyone?

Previously:

Gerrymander (November 16, 2018)

Chutzpah

27 Saturday Oct 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Amendment 1, campaign finance, campaign finance reform, CLEAN Missouri, code, Ethics Reform, flyer, lobbying reform, parade, redistricting reform, Rex Sinquefield

“…the classic “legal” definition of chutzpah…a person who kills his parents and pleads for the court’s mercy on the ground of being an orphan…”

The Rex Sinquefield funded right wingnut Missourians First PAC opposed to the CLEAN Missouri ethics initiative on the November ballot must really think peepul frum Misooree our stoopit.

From a Missourians First flyer distributed at this morning’s parade in Warrensburg:

Who is behind Amendment 1

Clean Missouri is an organization that is funded by out of state billionaires; including hundreds of thousands of dollars from San Francisco billionaire George Soros, who bankrolls liberal politicians like Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton, and former Enron billionaire John Arnold.

They are funneling millions of dollars in secret dark money through the most extreme special interest groups in the country to change our Missouri Constitution for partisan gain.

Uh, what’s “San Francisco” code for? Just asking.

Maybe the George Soros text could have been done in a Yiddish font, just for the enhanced effect.

Who paid for the flyer?

Uh, last time anyone checked Rex Sinquefield was a billionaire.

And what does the CLEAN Missouri initiative intend?:

Require that legislative records be open to the public by ensuring that the legislature operate under the same open records law as other public entities in Missouri

Require politicians to wait two years before becoming lobbyists after the conclusion of their final legislative session

Eliminate almost all lobbyist gifts in the General Assembly by banning any single gift worth more than $5 — that means no more steak dinners, expensive booze, junkets or sports tickets. This rule would eliminate more than 99% of the lobbyist gift giving happening in Missouri.

Lower campaign contribution limits for state legislative candidates to limit the influence of big money and lobbyists in state government.

Establish new campaign contribution limits for General Assembly candidates— $2,500 for state senate, and $2,000 for state house.

Limit the ability of individuals and organizations to circumvent caps by counting money from single-source committees towards totals for original, actual donors.

Stop legislative fundraising on state property.

Ensure that neither political party is given an unfair advantage when new maps are drawn after the next census by asking a nonpartisan expert to draw fair legislative district maps, which would then be reviewed by a citizen commission.

Add fairness and competitiveness as required criteria for new district maps

Protect the political power of minority communities against vote dilution

Ask an independent state demographer to lead on technical work in creating district maps, instead of entrusting political appointees to do all of that work

2018 = 1984

19 Friday Oct 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Amendment 1, campaign finance reform, CLEAN Misouri, Ethics Reform, initiative, lobbying reform, missouri, Missouri First, redistricting reform, Rex Sinquefield, signs

War is peace.

Freedom is slavery.

Ignorance is strength.

Clean is dirty.

The right wingnut funded Missourians First has signs opposed to Amendment 1 springing up all over like mushrooms. And mushrooms grow in…

And bullshit is always bullshit.

Does anyone think the people who put these signs up on their property really know who paid for them?

Missourians First is the pop up committee (established on August 10, 2018) funded with $200,000.00 from Rex Sinquefield which is opposed to the CLEAN Missouri intiative (Amendment 1) for ethics, campaign finance, lobbying, and redistricting reform on the November ballot.

On October 11, 2018 Missourians First filed a Limited Activity (under $500.00 for the period) quarterly campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Let’s see, Missourians First (really, Rex Sinquefield at this point) is adamantly opposed to a constitutional amendment that will:

Require that legislative records be open to the public by ensuring that the legislature operate under the same open records law as other public entities in Missouri

Require politicians to wait two years before becoming lobbyists after the conclusion of their final legislative session

Eliminate almost all lobbyist gifts in the General Assembly by banning any single gift worth more than $5 — that means no more steak dinners, expensive booze, junkets or sports tickets. This rule would eliminate more than 99% of the lobbyist gift giving happening in Missouri.

Lower campaign contribution limits for state legislative candidates to limit the influence of big money and lobbyists in state government.
Establish new campaign contribution limits for General Assembly candidates— $2,500 for state senate, and $2,000 for state house.
Limit the ability of individuals and organizations to circumvent caps by counting money from single-source committees towards totals for original, actual donors.
Stop legislative fundraising on state property.

Ensure that neither political party is given an unfair advantage when new maps are drawn after the next census by asking a nonpartisan expert to draw fair legislative district maps, which would then be reviewed by a citizen commission.
Add fairness and competitiveness as required criteria for new district maps
Protect the political power of minority communities against vote dilution
Ask an independent state demographer to lead on technical work in creating district maps, instead of entrusting political appointees to do all of that work

That would explain a lot.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: we’re not surprised (October 9, 2018)

Campaign Finance: we’re not surprised

09 Tuesday Oct 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Amendment 1, campaign finance, campaign finance reform, CLEAN Missouri, Ethics Reform, lobbying reform, Missori Ethics Commission, redistricting reform, Rex Sinquefield

Self interest.

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the entity opposed to the CLEAN Missouri ethics reforms on the November ballot:

C180581 10/09/2018 Missourians First Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Lane Westphalia MO 65085 The Show Me Institute President 10/9/2018 $200,000.00

[emphasis added]

You’d think he’d spend $10,000,000.00, but then, that would be really ironic.

C180581: Missourians First
Committee Type: Campaign
Po Box 7971
Columbia Mo 65205
Established Date: 08/10/2018

Ballot Measure History
Ballot Measures Election Date Subject Support/Oppose

Amendment 1 11/06/2018

Ballot Title: Shall The Missouri Constitution Be Amended To: •Change Process And Criteria For Redrawing State Legislative Districts During Reapportionment; •Change Limits On Campaign Contributions That Candidates For State Legislature Can Accept From Individuals Or Entities; •Establish A Limit On Gifts That State Legislators, And Their Employees, Can Accept From Paid Lobbyists; •Prohibit State Legislators, And Their Employees, From Serving As Paid Lobbyists For A Period Of Time; •Prohibit Political Fundraising By Candidates For Or Members Of The State Legislature On State Property; And •Require Legislative Records And Proceedings To Be Open To The Public?

Oppose

[emphasis added]

They’re opposed to ethics reforms. Fancy that.

Amendment 1 – Recount

27 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

2014, agriculture, Amendment 1, missouri, recount, Right to Farm

From the Missouri Secretary of State:

[….]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

[….]

Kander Announces Recount on Statewide Ballot Measure

Jefferson City, Mo. – Secretary of State Jason Kander today announced a statewide recount of Constitutional Amendment 1, which appeared on Missouri’s August 5th primary election ballot, has been requested.

Kander’s office has created a webpage (www.sos.mo.gov/elections/Amendment1) to make the recount process more transparent and accessible to Missourians. The page will be updated daily at 3 p.m. to show the recount schedule established by the local election authorities, each local election authority’s report of findings, and a summary of recount results. The office will also train a team of staff members that can be dispatched throughout the state if assistance is requested. Per state statute, the recount will be supervised and certified by the secretary of state’s office no later than September 15.

“My goal is to set the standard for an open, transparent and fair recount process,” Kander said. “Recounts are in place to both ensure the integrity of elections and give Missourians confidence in the results, which is why I put an emphasis on new transparency measures.”

According to state law (RSMo 115.601), recounts are not automatically triggered, but must be requested by a registered voter whose position on the ballot question was defeated. Statewide races are only eligible for a recount when results are separated by less than one half of one percent of total votes cast. Of 996,672 votes cast on Constitutional Amendment 1, there were 499,581 “yes” votes and 497,091 “no” votes, with a difference of 0.24 percent.

The recount was requested by Wes Shoemyer on behalf of Missouri’s Food for America. Constitutional Amendment 1 will be represented by Dan Kleinsorge on behalf of Missouri Farmers Care.

Local election authorities will determine the date and time for recounts to take place in their respective counties, and a bipartisan team of election judges will conduct the process. Media may be present to observe the proceedings.                                    

– 30 –

Previously:

Campaign Finance: $110,000.00 for something they really care about (January 3, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Food fight! (May 28, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Because, across Missouri, family farms are being supplanted by… (June 24, 2014)

Campaign Finance: as if yard signs were actually a cash crop for actual farmers… (June 28, 2014)

Utilizing the First Amendment to challenge our oppressive corporate overlords… (July 2, 2014)

Joe Maxwell – “No” on Amendment No. 1 (July 8, 2014)

Campaign Finance: egg money (July 9, 2014)

Campaign Finance: opposing useless law (July 25, 2014)

Right to farm: read the small print and between the lines (July 25, 2014)

Pinch me, I must be dreaming – Cynthia Davis gets it right on Amendment 1 (July 30, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Big agriculture money keeps pouring in for Amendment 1 (July 31, 2014)

Baker Creek Seed Company – Vote “No” on Amendment 1 (August 3, 2014)

Senator Paul LeVota (D) on Amendment 1 (August 4, 2014)

After all that corporate money this is the best that they can do on Amendment 1? (August 6, 2014)

Who has an agenda?

10 Sunday Aug 2014

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

2016, Amendment 1, Chris Koster, governor, Jason Kander, missouri, Right to Farm, stenographer, Steve Kraske

There’s a blurb by the stenographer on Attorney General Chris Koster and some fallout on Amendment 1 in the Kansas City Star:

Steve Kraske: Chris Koster hits his first speed bump on the road to Missouri governor

By STEVE KRASKE

The Kansas City Star

08/08/2014 3:42 PM

….In recent days, two longtime party leaders – former lieutenant governor Joe Maxwell and former state senator Joan Bray – have questioned Koster’s bona fides for the state’s highest office….

….Bray and Maxwell, known for his work on elderly and children’s issues, pointed to Koster’s public support of the controversial “right to farm” amendment that appears to have narrowly passed. Critics, including Maxwell, called the amendment a sellout to corporate and foreign interests.

Koster backed the “right to bear arms” amendment that passed with National Rifle Association backing but that many Democrats opposed. Koster has long enjoyed NRA support….

Bad Democrat, bad, bad Democrat.

Dude, the speed bumps have always been there.

Here’s the thing. As one Democrat told me a long time ago [paraphrased], “There are maybe eight thousand party activist Democrats who vote in the primary. There are several hundred thousand other voters who cast ballots in that same party primary.”  

Interestingly, the stenographer didn’t bother to mention this:

4:15 pm Fri August 1, 2014

Kander Joins Koster In Backing ‘Right To Farm’ Amendment

By Jason Rosenbaum

Secretary of State Jason Kander is throwing his supporting behind the so-called “right to farm” amendment. Friday afternoon Kander’s office sent out a statement indicating that he will vote for Amendment 1….

….”I served with Jason in the Legislature, and expected more from him,” said [Wes] Shoemyer, the president of the anti-Amendment 1 group Missouri’s Food for America….

Here’s another thing. The Democratic Party statewide candidates we get are not always the Democratic Party statewide candidates we want. In the end the choice in November 2016 is probably going to be between the Democratic Party nominee we have and a right wingnut republican. I may not be particularly thrilled about it, but I know how I’ll vote.

After all that corporate money this is the best that they can do on Amendment 1?

06 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

2014, Amendment 1, ballot initiative, missouri, Right to Farm

Not particularly decisive, via the Missouri Secretary of State::

UnOfficial Results

as of 8/6/2014 4:49:49 AM

Constitutional Amendment 1 3898 of 3898 Precincts Reported

YES 498,751 50.127%

NO 496,223 49.873%


Total Votes: 994,974

By 0.254%. What a waste (dual reference intended).

Previously:

Campaign Finance: $110,000.00 for something they really care about (January 3, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Food fight! (May 28, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Because, across Missouri, family farms are being supplanted by… (June 24, 2014)

Campaign Finance: as if yard signs were actually a cash crop for actual farmers… (June 28, 2014)

Utilizing the First Amendment to challenge our oppressive corporate overlords… (July 2, 2014)

Joe Maxwell – “No” on Amendment No. 1 (July 8, 2014)

Campaign Finance: egg money (July 9, 2014)

Campaign Finance: opposing useless law (July 25, 2014)

Right to farm: read the small print and between the lines (July 25, 2014)

Pinch me, I must be dreaming – Cynthia Davis gets it right on Amendment 1 (July 30, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Big agriculture money keeps pouring in for Amendment 1 (July 31, 2014)

Baker Creek Seed Company – Vote “No” on Amendment 1 (August 3, 2014)

Senator Paul LeVota (D) on Amendment 1 (August 4, 2014)

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