The second regular session of the 97th General Assembly commenced at noon today in Jefferson City.

Architectural detail in the Missouri capitol building.

Expectations for any legislative accomplishment or any significant bipartisan agreement during this session have already been low.

Representative Chris Kelly (D) – the first member on the floor before the start of the session.

Speaker Timothy Jones (r) partisan remarks to the House pretty much insured that there’s not going to be any progress on legislation on a number of issues. Medicaid anyone?  

Speaker Timothy Jones (r) addressing the House.

State Auditor Tom Schweich (r) watches the proceedings in the House from a side gallery.

Representative Jill Schupp (D).

Rep. Vicki Englund (D).

Representative Chris Kelly (D).

“The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law” – noble sentiment, rarely accomplished.

And definitely not in this session of the General Assembly.

The mood throughout the day could only be described as subdued.

A detail from the Thomas Hart Benton painting in the House Lounge.

Representative Jill Schupp (D), 88th Legislative District, representing most of Creve Coeur and Olivette, and parts of Ladue, Frontenac, Town & Country and Chesterfield, is a candidate for the 24th Senate District seat currently held by John Lamping (r). The 24th Senate District encompasses part [pdf] of St. Louis County. The third quarter 2013 campaign finance reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission paint an interesting picture.

Representative Jill Schupp (D), candidate in the 24th Senate District. [file photo]

The overall numbers, first, for John Lamping (r), the incumbent:

REPORT SUMMARY

LAMPING FOR SENATE [pdf] 10/15/2013

2. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $4,500.00

18. Total Contributions Made This Period $3,000.00

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $7,790.94

34. Total Indebtedness at the Close of This Reporting Period $20,000.00

[emphasis added]

Oh, my. What could explain those dismal numbers?:

Schupp Jumping In State Senate Race; Lamping Unsure Of Plans

Posted by Gregg Palermo (Editor) , June 06, 2013 at 09:30 PM

….Lamping himself said he would make a decision no later than Thanksgiving about his own plans. His daughter has been training as an elite-level gymnast in Blue Springs, MO since May 2011….

….If his daughter stays on an upward current trajectory as a gymnast, he said he’s not likely to run for re-election….

That could be part of it. So could this:

Official Election Returns

State of Missouri General Election November 2, 2010 General Election

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

As announced by the Board of State Canvassers

on Tuesday, November 30, 2010

State Senator – District 24 Precincts Reporting 124 of 124

Fraser, Barbara DEM 30,493 49.9%

Lamping, John T. REP 30,619 50.1%

Total Votes 61,112

Uh, yep. Having right wingnut colleagues driving the agenda in the General Assembly probably doesn’t help in the 24th Senate District when it comes to reelection campaigning.

The overall numbers for Jill Schupp (D):

REPORT SUMMARY

SCHUPP FOR SENATE [pdf] 10/15/2013

2. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $70,780.00

8. Total All Receipts This Election $210,970.26

10. Expenditures made by cash or check this period $8,432.33

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $177,583.38

34. Total Indebtedness at the Close of This Reporting Period $10,497.54

[emphasis added]

There is a difference.

Let’s take a look at the contributions. First, for John Lamping (r):

CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOANS RECEIVED

LAMPING FOR SENATE [pdf] 10/15/2013

The Boeing Company PAC

1200 Wilson Boulevard

Arlington VA 22209

7/31/2013

$500.00

Noranda Aluminum Inc

391 St Jude Industrial Park

New Madrid MO 63869

7/5/2013

$1,500.00

Anheuser Busch Companies

One Busch Place

St Louis MO 63118

8/9/2013

$2,500.00

11. TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED AT FUND-RAISERS AS REPORTED INLINE 8 ON FORM CD1A $0.00

12. TOTAL ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSON GIVING $25 OR LESS $0.00

13. TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSONS GIVING $100 OR LESS $0.00

14. TOTAL IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSONS (NOT COMMITTEES) GIVING $100 OR LESS $0.00

[emphasis added]

That’s it.

You know, the aluminum and beer connections among the contributors sort of makes sense.

Some of the contributions for Jill Schupp (D):

CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOANS RECEIVED

SCHUPP FOR SENATE [pdf] 10/15/2013

11. TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED AT FUND-RAISERS AS REPORTED INLINE 8 ON FORM CD1A $0.00

12. TOTAL ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSON GIVING $25 OR LESS $0.00

13. TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSONS GIVING $100 OR LESS $3,839.00

14. TOTAL IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSONS (NOT COMMITTEES) GIVING $100 OR LESS $0.00

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

IUPAT

7234 Parkway Dr

Hanover MD 21076

7/9/2013

$1,000.00

Mary P. Wochner

5526 Remington Villas Ct

St. Louis MO 63129

Retired

7/17/2013

$150.00

Stuart Hoffman

204 Hibler Oaks Dr.

St. Louis MO 63141

CPA

7/23/2013

$180.00

Barry Aycock

407 S East Street

Parma MO 63870

Farmer

7/28/2013

$5,001.00

Joan Bray

7166 Pershing Ave

St. Louis MO 63130

Retired

8/2/2013

$200.00

Susie and Stan Edelstein

12321 Woodline Drive

St. Louis MO 63141

Retired

8/9/2013

$100.00

Barbara Fraser

581 Stratford Ave

St Louis MO 63130

Retired

8/21/2013

$125.00

MO Senate Democratic Campaign Committee

PO Box 7319

Columbia MO 65205

9/19/2013

$2,500.00

Planned Parenthood Votes

4251 Forest Park Ave

St. Louis MO 63108

9/20/2013

$1,000.00

Claire McCaskill

PO Box 30077

St. Louis MO 63130

United States — Senator

9/23/2013

$500.00

Joseph C. Kleeman Memorial Democratic PAC (JoePAC)

520 S. Brentwood Blvd

St. Louis MO 63105

9/25/2013

$5,000.00

[emphasis added]

You get the picture.

There’s a definite difference.

Previously:

Jill Schupp and John Lamping on Medicaid: A study in contrasts (October 16, 2013)

Jill Schupp interview today (May 21, 2012)

Jill Schupp: “How I spent my summer vacation” (December 19, 2010)

Rep. Jill Schupp (D): going door to door, on the General Assembly, on Courtney Cole (D) (August 18, 2010)

Jill Schupp’s Suitcase Full of Hope (February 18, 2008)

In the past week, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C131081 09/13/2013 SCHUPP FOR SENATE Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC One Court St. Alton IL 62002 9/12/2013 $10,000.00

C081066 09/14/2013 CLINT ZWEIFEL FOR MISSOURI Simmons Attorneys At Law One Court Street Alton IL 62002 9/12/2013 $10,000.00

C031159 09/14/2013 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC One Court Street Alton IL 62002 9/13/2013 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

They must have a thing for sanity.

Or, the thought of a Governor Ed Martin (r), a Governor Tom Schweich (r), or a Governor Brian Nieves (r) scares the crap out of them.

But that’s redundant, isn’t it?

We journeyed to Jefferson City this morning, checked in at the House Communications Office and then set up our still cameras in a side gallery. Over the course of the morning session we had conversations with Representatives Joe Aull (D), Jason Kander (D), Chris Kelly (D), Jill Schupp (D) and Mary Still (D). Representative Denny Hoskins (r) crossed the aisle and we had a lengthy conversation in the side gallery about redistricting and its aftermath, the budget, revenues, and HB 1229.  

Speaker Steve Tilley (r) at the dais.

Stained glass above the press gallery and dais in the House chamber.

Representative Jill Schupp (D-82).

Old media in the press gallery above the dais. There’s a lot of space up there, but not very many people occupying it anymore.

 One gets the feeling that the paradigm has been changing and it isn’t finished just yet.

Debate across the aisle.

Representative Stephen Webber (D-23).

Representative Mary Still (D-25).

Minority Floor Leader Mike Talboy (D-37)(left) and Speaker Steve Tilley (r)(right) in conversation at the back of the House chamber.

After the noon recess in the House we encountered American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Communications Workers of America (CWA) members with signs marching to the Capitol steps. After a few cheers the union members were instructed to leave their signs in a pile for collection before the went into the building. Later in the afternoon we encountered small groups in the halls  and offices speaking to individual members of the House.

Which side are you on? Which side are you on?

As the AFSCME, CWA and SEIU members gathered in front of the steps Representative Mark Parkinson (r) was exiting the building. We greeted each other and had a pleasant enough conversation. Apparently, Representative Parkinson believes public workers should be happier then they are.  

The 96th Missouri General Assembly went into session yesterday in Jefferson City. New members were sworn in, leadership was elected, and business has started in Jefferson City.

One of the first orders of business was the election of the Speaker of the House. The minority (Democrats) nominated representative Mike Talboy (D-37).

Representative Mike Talboy (D-37), the new House Minority Leader.

Given the overwhelming republican majority in the House Representative Talboy rose to speak on his nomination (remarks as prepared):

The Missouri House has tough work ahead of it, so I won’t take up everyone’s time with a long speech.

Missourians and their families are struggling and we must work to fix this situation. The No. 1 priority of both parties this year must be to preserve and create jobs to help restore our state’s economy.

However, in our efforts to make Missouri more “business friendly,” we must avoid being anti-worker.  

While it is often said that businesses create jobs, it is really consumers who create jobs, because they are the ones who choose to buy the goods and services that make it possible for businesses to exist.

Policies that purport to help businesses by reducing wages ultimately hurt businesses, because it means hard-working Missourians have less money in their pockets to spend.

Education is the foundation for success and economic growth in our state.

We must take steps to make sure we do not decimate our education system to ensure we have the educated workforce to fill the jobs we create.  Investment in education is critical in attracting new businesses and the expansion and retention of existing businesses in Missouri.

Republicans have the numbers in the House to do whatever they want on virtually every issue.

For our part, House Democrats will do our best to keep the majority accountable and work together to find solutions for these challenging times facing Missourians.

Although the majority party has increased power, it comes with increased responsibility.

All of Missouri will be watching the decisions House Republicans make. And ultimately they will be held responsible for those decisions.

House Democrats will offer concrete and realistic ideas to put Missourians back to work and create new jobs in our state. We stand ready to move Missouri forward and we are ready to go to work.  

I am honored and humbled to be nominated as Speaker of this esteemed body, however, I respectfully decline this nomination.

Representative Steve Tilley (r) was elected Speaker by acclamation.

Representative Jill Schupp (D-82) in conversation with colleagues on the House floor before the start of the session.

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) starts the proceedings of the House.

Members of the House take their oath of office.

Speaker Steve Tilley (r) addresses the House.

Previously:

Teabaggers, and nullification, and the cult of the lost cause, oh my! (January 5, 2011)

Teabagger rally at the state capitol: when astroturfing lobbyists speak, they listen… (January 5, 2011)

Jill Schupp told me how she spent her summer vacation: campaigning for other Democrats running for state rep. Amid all the tedium of door knocking and phone calling, she did have some excitement–one harrowing moment. She and some other campaigners were leaving a parish picnic where at least a thousand people had gathered and where they had been campaigning for Cyrus Dashtaki. The car (Schupp wasn’t driving) suddenly speeded up on its own while the driver had it in reverse. It went downhill backwards through a parking lot, through an area where lots of people were walking, through another parking lot and finally down a hill where it ran into a fence. No one was hurt, all of the pedestrians managed to get out of the way, no other cars were damaged. But Schupp realized “sort of the risk that I was putting people in by just taking them around the state to do this.” The people with Schupp were rooting extra hard for Dashtaki to win because they had–and she laughed as she said–“sure been through a lot of trouble to help him.”

Unfortunately, Dashtaki was another of the fine candidates who did not prevail. As was Carl Thompson, who was running to replace term limited Rachel Bringer. Bringer, a rep who studied issues carefully, had taken it upon herself to get the freshman Democrats together each session so that she could bring them up to speed on what was happening and answer their questions. Schupp will miss Rachel Bringer, and now that seat won’t even be filled by the man that Bringer had high hopes for.

Among those Schupp helped who did get elected is Susan Carlson, who will be taking Rachel Storch’s place. Schupp characterized Carlson as “a wonderful, a brilliant attorney” who will do a superb job. Another success was Clem Smith. Schupp and some of her friends–as well as her parents–made phone calls for Smith in the primary. He was running in a safe Democratic district to replace Don Calloway, who gave up that seat to run for the senate.

This brief video will give you the flavor of some of the other races Schupp talked about: Jeanne Kirkton’s, Rebecca McClanahan’s, Courtney Cole’s, and Kelly Schultz’s.

Schupp ended her summer of campaigning for other candidates by holding a fundraiser at her house in Creve Coeur. It was well attended. Democrats, who came to listen to and shake hands with Nixon, Montee, Zweifel, and Koster, donated almost $110,000. Which, along with all the other donations Democratic candidates garnered, still meant that the Ds were way outspent.

But Schupp doesn’t blame our bad year on money woes alone. She stresses that Democrats did not work hard enough to get out a positive message. On both the state and national levels, we could have stressed the values we believe in and emphasized the disaster that stimulus funds averted. And we should have trumpeted the advantages of health care reform on the jobs front. Once national health care gets put into place in our state, not only will more people get much needed care, but more people will be employed. There will be new jobs available for health care providers as well as in the ancillary businesses that spring up to support the providers. Schupp is excited about that and thinks Democrats should have claimed their bragging rights.

But Democrats didn’t have that unified message. As a result, there will be the Heinz 57 in the House this session: 57 Democrats to 106 Republicans. Those Dems will need to be unified, she says. She has some ideas about how to achieve that. More on that later.

Representative Jill Schupp (D) came to Warrensburg late this afternoon to accompany Courtney Cole (D), the Democratic Party candidate in the 121st Legislative District, going door to door. We had an opportunity to speak with Representative Schupp about the past legislative session, the needs for the future in the General Assembly, and Courtney Cole before they embarked to knock on doors and talk to voters.

Representative Jill Schupp (D) and Courtney Cole (D) going door to door in Warrensburg on behalf of Courtney’s campaign for the 121st Legislative District seat.

Show Me Progress: When you dealt with the, just this legislative session this, this past year, uh, what have been some of the, uh, frustrating things, positive things that you encountered?

Representative Jill Schupp (D): Well, some of the frustrating things include the fact that we as a legislature spent a lot of time on, uh, resolutions. Things that really at the end of the day don’t have an impact, they have no legislative teeth, they, in essence, have no meaning. So the party in charge, the majority party, took us through an agenda that at the end of the day doesn’t do much to help the people in the State of Missouri.

SMP: Did that, did that get in the way of business, the important business that needed to be done?

Representative Schupp: Well, absolutely it did. It takes up time on the floor, it takes up people’s energy, and it kept us away from things that are really critical, particularly now, like job creation and economic development. And I don’t think the legislature did a great job on those things this year…

In the midst of the activities involved in sending out walk teams volunteers at headquarters place signs in the windows.

Representative Jill Schupp (D) at the Johnson County Democratic Committee headquarters.

…SMP: Well, we had heard that they spent very little time on, on the job creation legislation that was, was put forward.

Representative Schupp: That’s exactly right. You know, there are only so many legislative hours available between January and May. And when you spend time on things that don’t matter or things like a, um, what I would call a scam ethics bill, what you’re doing is taking valuable resources, valuable time away from the people of this state and from what they deserve in terms of what the legislature needs to accomplish on their behalf.

SMP: And ultimately the Governor had to call a special session to deal with some of that and that ended up costing the state money.

Representative Schupp: It does cost the state more money and it’s unfortunate that we needed to do that. And, you know, it’s, it all gets back to setting the agenda, what the agenda is and what the hope the outcome will be, particularly in these difficult economic times. We need to be focused on jobs, on education, on making sure that our limited resources are used well. You need people like, like Courtney Cole who’s gonna come in and say, I’m a teacher, I know how to get to the heart of the issues, I know how to look at these things, I know how to condense them, I know how to look creatively in terms of what we as a state need to do to move us forward. And she’s gonna bring forward some real legislation as opposed to some of the sham and scam things that have gone on in the past. And I believe, seeing Courtney and knowing Courtney, she’s gonna use our time well, help us use our time well in the legislative session.

[….]

SMP: So, in general terms, what does the General Assembly need to address in the coming session?

Representative Schupp: Well, the General Assembly, you know, one of the difficulties that we have now in the state and across the country is our budget situation. We need to make sure that we are tightening our belts, finding dollars wherever we can, to insure that the people of Missouri are taken care of, but that the budget remains intact and balanced and we will do whatever we need to do that. Again, we need creative voices and new ideas. So, so top job is make sure that, that we stay within our, within the means that we have.  And second of all, and next in line, and tying into that is job creation. There is no question that there are way too many people in our state out of work. We need to support and help find jobs. And whether those are jobs that tie into environmental issues, to health care issues, to, um, training, and, you know, we go back again to Courtney who works in the education environment.  Both she and her husband, she’s a high school teacher, he’s a college professor. Um, educators are helping craft our future by making sure that our kids graduate with good education, they’re smart, the come up with new ideas, they’re entrepreneurs. Courtney also has a background in small business. And what we know from all the research is that small business is the way to build an economy again and the way to get people back to work, one small business at a time. So, in the state to, to live within our means we’re gonna be able to do that through job creation and through education. And I think Courtney is a great person to come forward and help us figure out ways to solve the issues that we, that we face.

SMP: Great. Well, thank you very much for your time.

Representative Schupp: Thank you so much…

Getting the walk teams ready to go door to door…

When Rep. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, won election last fall to her first term in the House, her predecessor, Sam Page, advised her to be on the floor whenever it was in session, learning the ropes. She and three other progressive freshman women from St. Louis spoke to the West County Dems on Monday, and she commented on his advice:

So I think each one of us actually were among the few who were always on the House floor, always paying attention, trying to not only hear the debate but follow the processes. And I think it served each of us well.

Even if they paid attention, though, Jeanne Kirkton says they were lucky if they could keep from being caught flat footed.

Hmm. Reminds me of the way congressional Republicans kept the pharmaceutical bill open on the House floor into the wee hours of the night till they could twist enough arms to pass their bad legislation.

The Dems got Congress back not too long after that fiasco, and–with redistricting looming after the next election–2010 is the year it has to happen in Missouri.

Did freshman Democratic representatives Margo McNeil, Florissant, and Jill Schupp, Creve Coeur, even serve in the same legislature this year? It doesn’t sound like it when they describe their committee experiences. They and two other freshman Democratic women from the St. Louis area–Vicki Englund, South St. Louis County, and Jeanne Kirkton, Webster Groves–spoke Monday at the West County Dems meeting about the committees they served on. McNeil loved the Health Care committee she served on because it actually got some useful legislation passed.