Tag Archives: HR 2

HR 2: Getting there in a hurry blues

15 Tuesday Dec 2020

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Yesterday’s embarassment:

HR 2
Confirms the Missouri House’s lack of faith in the 2020 election results
Sponsor: Hill, Justin (108)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2020
LR Number: 1241H.04C
Last Action: 12/15/2020 – Referred: Rules – Legislative Oversight(H)
Bill String: HCS HR 2
Next House Hearing: Hearing not scheduled
Calendar: Bill currently not on a House calendar

Date Jrn Pg Activity Description
12/10/2020 H 91 Offered (H)
12/10/2020 H 91 Referred: Special Committee on Government Oversight(H)
12/14/2020 Public Hearing Completed (H)
12/14/2020 Executive Session Completed (H)
12/14/2020 HCS Voted Do Pass (H)
12/15/2020 HCS Reported Do Pass (H) – AYES: 6 NOES: 3 PRESENT: 0
12/15/2020 Referred: Rules – Legislative Oversight(H)

They actually held a hearing yesterday, with Rudy Giuliani on ZOOM, and six of them voted for this.

A transcript of a portion of the hearing:

[….]
[Representative] Peter [Mereidith (D)]: To inquire

Ross: Proceed

Peter [Mereidith (D)] : Thank you. I’m not sure where to look because I’m not sure where you are seeing us.

You mentioned that this hasn’t really played out in court, but 59 judgess across the country have now rejected your claims challenging this election. You did say that you don’t think any of them have ruled on the merits. I want to point to a Pennsylvania judge that said “Free, fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy. Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here.” Now that was 3rd circuit judge, Stephanos Bibas, who was appointed by Donald Trump and wrote for an unanimous panel of three judges all appointed by Republican presidents.

Meanwhile, you’ve railed on GA and fraud there, who of course has a Republican legislature and a Republican SOS. The SOS certified the results and has emphatically said that all of these claims that you’re making are completely bogus and has even said that he’s been pressured by republicans like you to find excuses to invalidate valid ballots.

Now, GA also filed a court filing that said “This election cycle, GA did what the constitution empowered it to do. It implemented processes for the election, it administered the election in the face of logistical challenges brought on by COVID and confirmed and certified the election results. Again and again and again.”

Even William Barr said the Justice Department “has uncovered no voter fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome on the election.” He said, ”There’s been one assertion that would have been systemic fraud and that would be the claim that machines were programmed essentially to skew the election results.” (I think we’ve heard a little about that today.) “And the DHS and the DOJ have looked into that and have not seen anything to substantiate that.”

Now, we’re talking about 6 Secretaries of State in these states, 2 of them are republicans, have all certified the results. And 6 legislatures, 5 of them GOP controlled, have all gone ahead and appointed their electors. But you want us to ask congress to overturn all those states with even William Barr agreeing that no evidence of fraud, despite thorough investigation, exists.
So my question is, All are these republicans lying? Are they complicit? Are they incompetent?

Rudy [Giuliani (r)]: Instead of getting so upset and angry, what I’d ask you to do is to calm down. And to just take a look at the video tape from Fulton County on November the…

Peter [Mereidith (D)]: Now respectfully Mr. Mayor, I won’t be calm with people trying to overthrow the results of an election and seeking to ignore the votes of 6 states of Americans.

Ross in background: Gentleman, you’re time has expired.

Rudy [Giuliani (r)]: speaking unclearly in background

Peter [Mereidith (D)]: So I think that we’re right to be upset by this action here today and about your spreading of misinformation and lies that are inflaming things across our country at a time when we need to move on and accept the results of an election. Thank you.

Ross: Representative Merideth your time has expired.

Rudy [Giuliani (r)]: Obviously, you have no interest in truth. All you have in interest in is lecturing me –

Peter [Mereidith (D)](over Rudy): I have no interest in more and more lies from you.

Rudy [Giuliani (r)]: Cutting me off in the middle of my answer –

Peter [Mereidith (D)]: I am tired of your lies. America is tired of your lies.

Ross: Representative Merideth your time has expired!

Peter [Mereidith (D)]: And they are dangerous, sir. They are dangerous.

Rudy [Giuliani (r)]: and you are very dangerous because you are covering up massive voter fraud..

Ross: Ok, further questions.

Peter [Mereidith (D)]: Yea, me and the Republican legislatures and Republican SOS, we all came together on this didn’t we?
Gavel banging

Ross: Representative Merideth, that’s enough. Further questions?

Rudy [Giuliani (r)]: Why don’t you try to calm down….and act like a gentleman if that’s at all possible.
[….]

Comity is never an antidote to Fascism.

Decision matrix.

Previously:

Right wingnuts throw shit against the wall to see if it sticks (December 10, 2020)

“No, no, not yet. Not until me and Harvey get the rules straightened out.” “Rules? In a knife fight? No rules!” (December 14, 2020)

“No, no, not yet. Not until me and Harvey get the rules straightened out.” “Rules? In a knife fight? No rules!”

14 Monday Dec 2020

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, social media

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See also: Clown Show

This evening the right wingnut controlled Missouri House held a hearing on the presidential election in other states.

Their star wtness:

Right wingnut Rudy Giuliani (r) testifying remotely via ZOOM in a Missouri House hearing – December 14, 2020

Wait, what?

Kip Kendrick @Kip_Kendrick
Replying to @SarahUnsicker
I’m searching the House Rules where I guess it states that you must be an East Coast Elitist in order to testify.
6:15 PM · Dec 14, 2020

Rep. Peter Merideth @PeterforMO
Over and over again, Giuliani referring to tapes that have already been completely vetted and debunked by officials in those states on both sides of the aisle. Referring to anecdotes of fraud that have been proven made up. Lie after lie.
6:34 PM · Dec 14, 2020

Missouri House Democratic Caucus @MOLegDems
Rep. @PeterforMO to Rudy Giuliani: “I am tired of your lies.” #moleg
6:21 PM · Dec 14, 2020

In Missouri, December 14, 2020. Go figure.

Previously:

Right wingnuts throw shit against the wall to see if it sticks (December 10, 2020)

Right wingnuts throw shit against the wall to see if it sticks

10 Thursday Dec 2020

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

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In Jefferson City, of course. What else is new?

At the end of the special session, reportedly signed on to by sixty-six republicans:

HR 2
Confirms the Missouri House’s lack of faith in the 2020 election results
Sponsor: Hill, Justin (108)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2020
LR Number: 1241H.03I
Last Action: 12/10/2020 – Referred: Special Committee on Government Oversight(H)
Bill String: HR 2
[….]

The resolution text:

SECOND EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
House Resolution No. 2
100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BYREPRESENTATIVE HILL.

1241H.03I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk

WHEREAS, the President of the United States has immense enumerated powers and serves as both the head of the executive branch of government of the United States and as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, the election of the President of the United States should be free and fair in order to preserve the legitimacy of the government, avoid constitutional crisis, and promote the general welfare of the people of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the legislatures of the states are delegated primary responsibility to ensure that free and fair elections for the office of the Presidency of the United States are held under Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States which allows each state to appoint presidential Electors in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct; and

WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States is authorized under Amendment XII of the Constitution of the United States and the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to independently evaluate whether or not free and fair elections have occurred and to uphold the fundamental principle that the laws governing elections that are enacted by the legislatures of the states prior to the election are fully complied with during the election process; and

WHEREAS, historically low absentee ballot rejection rates occurred in the 2020 election despite the overwhelming new and unprecedented use of absentee ballots and mail in votes by many different persons and organizations; and

WHEREAS, a razor thin margin favoring Biden was reported in the days after election day in many swing states including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada and political analyst Robert Barnes observed that Trump would win the election if any historical absentee ballot analysis process and rejection rate was assumed;

WHEREAS, statistically abnormal vote counts were reported in numerous states late on election night and the Biden-to-Trump ratio in reporting was 90 percent or more for some batches of votes;

WHEREAS, the manifest lack of any absentee ballot and mail in ballot oversight by unelected election administrators shows that the laws passed prior to election day were likely ignored and violated in numerous ways and that this violation was of significant magnitude to change the results for the election of the President of the United States; and

WHEREAS, in Pennsylvania 23,000 absentee ballots have impossible return dates, 86,000 absentee ballots are questionable, 50,000 votes held on 47 USB cards are missing in Delaware County, and signature matching for mail in ballots has been rendered impossible by the destruction of ballot envelopes; and

WHEREAS, in Georgia, Matt Braynard’s Voter Integrity Project estimates that 20,312 nonresidents cast ballots, there is video evidence of the statistical anomalies that occurred when Biden overtook President Trump with 89 percent of the votes counted, and for 53 different individual batches of votes counted, Biden led by the same 50.05 to 49.95 percent margin in every single batch; and

WHEREAS, a full and fair investigation of the election results, including analysis of absentee and mail in ballot samples for compliance with state election law, is necessary to ensure a free and fair election and should be conducted by Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada:

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of Representatives of the one Hundredth General Assembly, Second Extraordinary Session, hereby have no faith in the validity of the results of the 2020 presidential election reported by the states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if a full and fair investigation is not completed, that the United States Congress sitting in joint session refuse to accept electoral votes for the office of President of the United States from the states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for each house of the United States Congress.

These people really are that stupid.

Uh, Robert Barnes (whatever non-entity he is) is not the arbiter of any election in this country.

Uh, Matt Braynard (whatever non-entity he is) is not the arbiter of any election in this country.

Previously:

Uh, the job description says Missouri (December 9, 2020)

A party in disarray (December 10, 2020)

HR 2: Special Investigative Committee on Oversight – the process for impeachment

22 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate

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Reported Do Pass by the House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight:

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2 [pdf]

WHEREAS, on February 27, 2018, the Speaker of the House of Representatives appointed the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight; and
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2018, the House of Representatives4 unanimously adopted House Resolution 5565, which authorized the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight to investigate allegations against Governor Eric R. Greitens and report back to the House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS, on April 11, 2018, the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight submitted a report of its findings relating to such investigation. On April 30, 2018, such committee submitted a supplement to its first report. On May 2, 2018, such committee submitted a second report of its findings relating to such investigation; and
WHEREAS, under the authority given in Section 18, Article III of the Constitution of Missouri, the House of Representatives adopted rules of procedure for the hearings and investigations of the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight in House Resolution 5565:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the Missouri House of Representatives, Ninety-ninth General Assembly, First Special Session of the Second Regular Session, pursuant to House Rule 64(3), hereby authorize the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight to recommend disciplinary actions including, but not limited to, remonstrance or censure or introduce upon report articles of impeachment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight shall consist of ten members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, not more than seven members being from the same political party; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Rules of the House of Representatives, Ninety-ninth General Assembly, and the following rules shall apply during the second regular session and any special session of the Ninety-ninth General Assembly, as appropriate:

RULE 1
Any hearings upon such issue shall be commenced at such time and place as determined by the chair. A recess may be requested by any member of the committee. Adjournments shall be determined by the chair. The special committee shall be allowed to meet or conduct hearings during the session of the House of Representatives without requesting leave of the House of Representatives.
RULE 2
Any hearings shall be open to the public and press, except that the committee, upon a majority vote, may close all or a portion of such hearings to hear the testimony of certain witnesses, review evidence, or for purposes of meeting with committee counsel. Counsel for the Governor shall be allowed to attend any closed hearings involving the testimony of witnesses. At the conclusion of the investigation, the committee shall prepare a transcript of the hearings, except that the committee, upon a majority vote, may order that the identity of certain witnesses, certain testimony, or certain evidence be redacted, blurred, or obfuscated in a manner to protect the identity or privacy of any witness. At the conclusion of the investigation, the committee shall make a copy of all committee records available to any member of the House of Representatives, except that the committee, upon a majority vote, may order that the identity of certain witnesses, certain testimony, or certain evidence be redacted, blurred, or obfuscated in a manner to protect the identity or privacy of any witness. All public hearings shall be recorded and live-streamed on the website of the House of Representatives. The chair shall determine the extent and the manner in which cameras or other audio or visual recording devices and ancillary lighting and electrical equipment shall be allowed at such hearings.
RULE 3
Only appointed members of the special committee may question witnesses.
RULE 4
Only persons called as witnesses by the special committee may testify as witnesses. Any person called as a witness, or his or her legal counsel, may file a sworn written statement relevant to the purpose, subject matter, and scope of the committee’s proceedings. Any other person desiring to testify as a witness may petition the committee for permission to testify by presenting a written statement of the substance of the proposed testimony to the chair at least twenty-four hours prior to the testimony. The committee, upon a majority vote, shall have discretion of whether to allow such person to testify as a witness.
RULE 5
All witnesses shall testify under the following oath, which shall be administered by the chair:
“Do you solemnly swear (or affirm) that the testimony you shall give in the hearing now pending before this committee shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”.
RULE 6
Formal rules of evidence shall not apply to the hearings. The committee may compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of any paper or document, enforce obedience of its orders, preserve11 order, and punish in a summary way contempt of and disobedience to its authority. The sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives, under direction of the committee, shall execute the lawful orders of the committee and may employ such aid and assistance as may be necessary to carry out and enforce such orders.
RULE 7
Subpoenas for the appearance of witnesses and subpoenas duces tecum for the production of any paper or document shall be issued by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, upon request of the committee, in the manner prescribed by law. A subpoena or subpoena duces tecum may be enforced by statutory or common law, or by applying to a judge of the circuit court of Cole County for an order to show cause why the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum should not be enforced.
RULE 8
The chair shall preside over the hearings and shall rule on all questions regarding decorum and procedure. The committee, upon a majority vote, shall rule on all questions regarding the admission or rejection of testimony. The chair may request assistance from any law enforcement agency to maintain order at the hearings and in the hallways and spaces adjoining the hearing area. The chair shall rule on any appropriate matter not covered by these rules.
RULE 9
Each witness has the right to legal counsel and the right to be accompanied by such counsel. No witness or his or her counsel shall be admitted to the room in which the hearing is being conducted until such person is called by the committee for such person’s testimony.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that notice shall be provided to the public at least twenty-four hours in advance of all hearings of the committee and shall contain the time, location, and subject matter of the hearing. Such notice shall include the identity of any witness whose testimony may be offered. Under exigent circumstances and upon a majority vote of the committee, notice of the identity of a witness may be given less than twenty-four hours in advance; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if any documentary evidence is to be offered at any hearing, copies thereof shall be made available to the members of the committee at least twenty-four hours in advance of such hearing unless good cause is shown for later disclosure; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Rules of Civil Procedure and the Rules of Criminal Procedure shall not apply to hearings conducted by the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight or during the consideration of any findings and recommendations of the committee by the House of Representatives; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, after all evidence has been presented and all witnesses have been heard, in the discretion of the chairman, counsel for interested parties shall be allowed to make presentations, both orally or in writing, to the committee, subject to reasonable time limitations as determined by the chairman; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight recommends that disciplinary actions or articles of impeachment be considered, such committee shall hold at least one public hearing to consider disciplinary actions or articles of impeachment prior to introducing such upon report. A draft of any disciplinary actions or articles of impeachment shall be distributed by the chairman to all members of the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight at least twenty-four hours and one legislative day prior to such public hearing; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, pursuant to House Rule 64(3), any disciplinary actions or articles of impeachment introduced upon report by the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight shall be read by title on three separate days and may be considered by the House of Representatives without referral to committee. Any such disciplinary actions or articles shall lay on the calendar for one legislative day prior to being read a third time; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate two members of the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight as floor handlers, one from the majority party of the House of Representatives and one from the minority party of the House of Representatives, who shall present the results of the investigation of the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight and any disciplinary actions or articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives. Such presentation shall not count against the time limitations of either party; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that there shall be a ten-hour limitation on the total time of floor debate allowed for the purpose of discussing the findings of the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight and considering any disciplinary actions or articles of impeachment. Such time shall be divided equally between, and controlled by, the majority floor leader and the minority floor leader, or their designees. The majority party floor handler shall have the right to the final ten minutes of designated time. If time has been allocated and unused by either side after all disciplinary actions or articles of impeachment have been considered and no member from that side is seeking recognition to further discuss any disciplinary action or article of impeachment, the Speaker may declare additional time waived and recognize the members from the other side to complete the use of their time. No member, other than the floor handlers, shall be allowed to speak or inquire longer than the Rules of the House of Representatives otherwise allow. For speaking purposes, each disciplinary action or article shall be treated as a separate question; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no motion to recommit any disciplinary action or article of impeachment shall be in order; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the House of Representatives is satisfied that there is good cause to impeach or otherwise discipline Governor Eric R. Greitens, the disciplinary actions or articles of impeachment drafted by the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight shall be immediately considered, amended, and approved; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each disciplinary action or article of impeachment shall be considered and amended individually and shall be considered approved upon a vote of those members elected, pursuant to Section 27, Article III of the Constitution of Missouri; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any articles of impeachment approved by the House of Representatives shall be delivered by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Senate, pursuant to sections 106.040 and 106.080, RSMo, for consideration by the special commission of seven eminent jurists elected by the Senate pursuant to Section 2, Article VII of the Constitution of Missouri; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the House of Representatives adopts any articles of impeachment, the House of Representatives shall elect two managers to prosecute the impeachment pursuant to section 106.040, RSMo, one from the majority party and one from the minority party. The special counsel for the Special Investigative Committee on Oversight shall, under the direction of the managers, present and prosecute the articles of impeachment adopted by the House of Representatives before the jurists elected by the Senate to final conclusion.

That’s the process.