Tag Archives: Lauren Arthur

SB 59: Let there be voting

11 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

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No excuse absentee voting. Such a novel idea.

Lauren Arthur (D) [2018 file photo].

A bill, prefiled by Senator Lauren Arthur (D):

SB 59 Establishes no-excuse absentee voting
Sponsor: Arthur
LR Number: 0290S.01I Fiscal Notes
Committee:
Last Action: 12/1/2018 – Prefiled
[….]
Effective Date: August 28, 2019

Current Bill Summary

SB 59 – Under current law, a person may vote absentee for candidates and ballot issues in any election in which he or she is eligible to vote if such voter expects to be prevented from going to the polls for specified reasons. This act permits a person to vote absentee for any reason or no reason at all.

This act is substantially similar to HB 1283 (2018), a provision in HB 1550 (2018), HB 1814 (2018), HB 173 (2017), a provision in HB 501 (2017), HB 644 (2017), HB 1764 (2016), HB 1767 (2016), HB 2451 (2016), HB 287 (2015), a provision in HB 1449 (2014), HB 1604 (2014), HB 188 (2013), a provision in HB 848 (2013), HB 375 (2011), HB 382 (2011), HB 1836 (2010), HB 1839 (2010), and HB 2195 (2010).

What are the odds that this will get through the right wingnut controlled Missouri General Assembly and get the Governor’s signature? You know, making it easier for people to actually vote.

Lauren Arthur (D) wins in 17th Senate District special election

05 Tuesday Jun 2018

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

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It wasn’t even close. By over nineteen points.

There was a special election in the 17th Senate District today to fill the vacancy due to Ryan Silvey’s (R) gubernatorial appointment to the Missouri Public Service Commission. The candidates were Representative Lauren Arthur (D) and Representative Kevin Corlew (R).

The republican Missouri Senate Campaign Committee spent a significant amount of money running a contant deluge of nasty fear/immigrant televison ads in the Kansas City media market. Those ads obviously didn’t work in the manner they were intended.

Lauren Arthur (D) [2018 file photo].

The results from the Clay County Board of Election Commisioners:

Clay County – 17th Senate District Special Election – 100% reporting
Corlew – 9,917 40.28%
Arthur – 14,674 59.61%
Write In – 27 0.11%

From Senator Claire McCaskill (D), via Twitter:

Claire McCaskill @clairecmc
Congratulations Senator Arthur! It’s a flip…red to blue. Thanks to all the hard work of Lauren and many volunteers we have won a state senate seat that Trump won and was held by a Republican. By a lot!! Not even close….
8:37 PM – 5 Jun 2018

Well, yes. In the 2016 General Election:

County Results [Clay]
State of Missouri – State of Missouri – General Election, November 08, 2016
U.S. President and Vice President

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Timothy Michael Kaine Democratic 45,304 41.120%
Donald J. Trump, Michael R. Pence Republican 57,476 52.167%
[….]
Governor
Chris Koster Democratic 52,429 47.652%
Eric Greitens Republican 53,883 48.974%
[….]

My, oh my.

2018. There’s trouble brewing.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: About that June 5th special election? (May 28, 2018)

Lauren Arthur (D): in the 17th Senate District special election (May 29, 2018)

Campaign Finance: 8 day reports in the 17th Senate District special election (May 30, 2018)

Campaign Finance: they’re paying for it (June 2, 2018)

Campaign Finance: at the last minute (June 5, 2018)

Campaign Finance: at the last minute

05 Tuesday Jun 2018

Posted by in campaign finance, Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

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There is a special election in the 17th Senate District today to fill the vacancy due to Ryan Silvey’s (R) gubernatorial appointment to the Missouri Public Service Commission. The candidates are Representative Lauren Arthur (D) and Representative Kevin Corlew (R).

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission, for the republican state senate campaign committee:

C071094 06/05/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Eigel For Missouri PO Box 28 St Peters MO 63376 6/4/2018 $5,001.00

C071094 06/05/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Citizens for Hoskins PO Box 118 Warrensburg MO 64093 6/4/2018 $5,001.00

C071094 06/05/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Citizens for Ed Emery PO Box 123 Lamar MO 64759 6/4/2018
$18,000.00

And, they also filed a 24 hour expenditure report today:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
6/5/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE [pdf]

American Viewpoint Inc 1199 North Fairfax St Suite 808 Alexandria VA 22314 6/4/2018 Survey $9,300.00

[emphasis added]

For who?:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION DIRECT EXPENDITURE REPORT
6/5/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

Kevin Corlew PO Box 28443 Kansas City MO 64188 State Senate [support] 6/4/2018 $9,300.00

[emphasis added]

We’ll see tonight if all those nasty fear/immigrant attack ads worked.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: About that June 5th special election? (May 28, 2018)

Lauren Arthur (D): in the 17th Senate District special election (May 29, 2018)

Campaign Finance: 8 day reports in the 17th Senate District special election (May 30, 2018)

Campaign Finance: they’re paying for it (June 2, 2018)

Campaign Finance: they’re paying for it

02 Saturday Jun 2018

Posted by in campaign finance, Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

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The republican Missouri Senate Campaign Committee is paying for a run of fear/immigrant attack ads in the Kansas City media market with formulaic sinister voiceovers, dreary music, and dark images of the Democratic Party candidate in the 17th Senate District, Lauren Arthur. The republican candidate, and the beneficiary of the ads, is Kevin Corlew. The special election will take place on Tuesday, June 5th.

Who is helping pay for all that? Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C071094 06/01/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Friends of Sandy Crawford PO Box 332 Buffalo MO 65622 5/31/2018 $5,001.00

C071094 06/01/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Kansas City Missouri Republican Senate PAC PO Box 144 Jefferson City MO 65102 5/31/2018 $70,000.00

C071094 06/01/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Eastern Missouri Senate PAC 3220 West Edgewood Ste E Jefferson City MO 65109 5/31/2018 $95,000.00

C071094 06/01/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Friends of Mike Cunningham 515 Landslide Rd Rogersville MO 65742 6/1/2018 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

More on what they’re paying for, in a series of 24 hour expenditure reports from the republican Missouri Senate Campaign Committee:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM
5/30/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE [pdf]

Patrick Media PO Box 317 Marshfield MO 65703 5/29/2018 Media Placement $154,915.25
Axiom Strategies 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy Ste 85 Kansas City MO 64116 5/29/2018 Media Buy $25,000.00
Patrick Media PO Box 317 Marshfield MO 65703 5/29/2018 Media Placement $32,612.65
Remington Research Group 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy Suite 85 Kansas City MO 64116 5/29/2018 Survey $3,000.00

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
5/31/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE [pdf]

Patrick Media PO Box 317 Marshfield MO 65703 5/30/2018 Media Placement $37,649.25
Remington Research Group 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy Suite 85 Kansas City MO 64116 5/30/2018 Polling $7,200.00

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
6/1/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE [pdf]

Patrick Media PO Box 317 Marshfield MO 65703 5/31/2018 Media Placement $42,345.25
Patrick Media PO Box 317 Marshfield MO 65703 6/1/2018 Media Placement $91,990.00
Axiom Strategies 1251 NW Briarcliff Parkway Suite 85 Kansas City MO 64116 6/1/2018 Digital Advertising $6,120.00

Almost magically, these republican campaign committees seem to always have all the money they’ll ever need.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: About that June 5th special election? (May 28, 2018)

Lauren Arthur (D): in the 17th Senate District special election (May 29, 2018)

Campaign Finance: 8 day reports in the 17th Senate District special election (May 30, 2018)

Campaign Finance: 8 day reports in the 17th Senate District special election

30 Wednesday May 2018

Posted by in campaign finance, Missouri Senate

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There is a special election in the 17th Senate District on June 5th to fill the vacancy due to Ryan Silvey’s (R) gubernatorial appointment to the Missouri Public Service Commission. The candidates are Representative Lauren Arthur (D) and Representative Kevin Corlew (R).

The republican Missouri Senate Campaign Committee is running nasty attack ads (a mix of fear and dehumanizing immigrants) in the Kansas City media market.

C071094: Missouri Senate Campaign Committee
Committee Type: Political Action
Po Box 754
Jefferson City Mo 65102-0754
Established Date: 04/10/2007
[….]
Information Reported On: 2018 – 8 Day Before Special Election-6/5/2018
Beginning Money on Hand $104,257.44
Monetary Receipts + $205,001.00
Monetary Expenditures – $236,049.89
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $5,000.00
Subtotal ($36,048.89)
Ending Money On Hand $68,208.55

We know who gave them the money for that. And there are these entities, under the $5,000.00 forty-eight hour reporting limit:

FORM CD-1 SUPPLEMENTAL
MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL
5/29/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE [pdf]

T-Mobile USA Inc. 12920 SE 38th Street Bellevue WA 98006 4/6/2018 $3,000.00
BNSF Rail PAC PO Box 961039 Fort Worth TX 76161 4/12/2018 $2,500.00
Centurytel Inc. PO Box 4065 Monroe LA 71211 5/14/2018 $3,500.00

[emphasis added]

You get what you pay for.

Some of the committee’s spending:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM
5/29/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

American Viewpoint Inc. 1199 North Fairfax St Suite 808 Alexandria VA 22314 5/10/2018 Research $18,800.00
Capitol City Research 135 Jupiter St. Holts Summit MO 65043 5/10/2018 Research & Copies $5,076.80
Capitol Consulting LLC PO BOX 931 Jefferson City MO 65102 5/10/2018 Fundraising Fee & Reim. Exp $9,250.59
Husch Blackwell LLP PO Box 790379 Saint Louis MO 63179 5/10/2018 Legal Fees $5,000.00
Williams-Keepers LLC 3220 W. Edgewood Jefferson City MO 65109 5/10/2018 Accounting Fees $2,160.00
Vanguard Field Strategies 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy Suite 85 Kansas City MO 64116 5/15/2018 Field Operations $25,000.00
Axiom Strategies 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy Ste 85 Kansas City MO 64116 5/18/2018 Direct Mail $30,637.00
Patrick Media PO Box 317 Marshfield MO 65703 5/18/2018 Media Placement $61,001.25
Patrick Media PO Box 317 Marshfield MO 65703 5/21/2018 Media Placement $79,124.25
Axiom Strategies 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy Ste 85 Kansas City MO 64116 5/21/2018 Direct Mail $77,554.00
Axiom Strategies 1251 NW Briarcliff Pkwy Ste 85 Kansas City MO 64116 5/24/2018 Direct Mail $26,641.00

[emphasis added]

Yep, they’re paying for those television ads (among other things). The “direct expenditure” portion of the report shows substantial pending in opposition to Lauren Arthur (D) and in support of Kevin Corlew (r).

Representative Lauren Arthur (D) [2016 file photo].

For Lauren Arthur (D):

C131138: Committee To Elect Lauren Arthur
Committee Type: Candidate
4135 Nw Willow Drive
Kansas City Mo 64116
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Established Date: 09/26/2013
[….]
Information Reported On: 2018 – 8 Day Before Special Election-6/5/2018
Beginning Money on Hand $281,607.87
Monetary Receipts + $93,368.62
Monetary Expenditures – $343,304.19
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal ($249,935.57)
Ending Money On Hand $31,672.30

Some candidates do their own work.

Some of the expenditures:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM
5/29/2018 Committee To Elect Lauren Arthur [pdf]

AKPD Message & Media 730 N Franklin St Ste 404 Chicago IL 60654-7205 5/23/2018 Tv buy $130,000.00
Facebook 1 Hacker Way Menlo Park CA 94025-1456 5/24/2018 Digital advertising $685.44
Facebook 1 Hacker Way Menlo Park CA 94025-1456 5/16/2018 Digital advertising $725.15
AKPD Message & Media 730 N Franklin St Ste 404 Chicago IL 60654-7205 4/26/2018 Media $7,274.23
Facebook 1 Hacker Way Menlo Park CA 94025-1456 5/8/2018 Digital advertising $725.11
Facebook 1 Hacker Way Menlo Park CA 94025-1456 4/28/2018 Digital advertising $734.71
AKPD Message & Media 730 N Franklin St Ste 404 Chicago IL 60654-7205 5/18/2018 Tv buy $82,500.00
AKPD Message & Media 730 N Franklin St Ste 404 Chicago IL 60654-7205 5/8/2018 Tv buy $112,500.00

That’s a lot of television.

For Kevin Corlew (r):

C141105: Citizens For Kevin Corlew
Committee Type: Candidate
Po Box 28443
Kansas City Mo 64188
Party Affiliation: Republican
Established Date: 03/11/2014
[….]Information Reported On: 2018 – 8 Day Before Special Election-6/5/2018
Beginning Money on Hand $70,032.41
Monetary Receipts + $72,615.00
Monetary Expenditures – $99,784.62
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal ($27,169.62)
Ending Money On Hand $42,862.79

Some of the expenditures:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM
5/29/2018 Citizens For Kevin Corlew [pdf]

Thompson Communications 200 W. Jefferson St Marshfield MO 65706 5/15/2018 advertising 62,000.00
Thompson Communications 200 W Jefferson St Marshfield MO 65706 5/22/2018 advertising 30,000.00
Damar Printing 1230 Swift St Kansas City MO 64116 5/22/2018 advertising 991.70

Gee, those Missouri Senate Campaign Committee expenditures “insulate” Kevin Corlew (r) from any responsibility for the content of those attack ads, don’t you think?

We’ll see what happens on Tuesday.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: About that June 5th special election? (May 28, 2018)

Lauren Arthur (D): in the 17th Senate District special election (May 29, 2018)

Lauren Arthur (D): in the 17th Senate District special election

29 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

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There is a special election in the 17th Senate District on June 5th to fill the vacancy due to Ryan Silvey’s (R) gubernatorial appointment to the Missouri Public Service Commission. The candidates are Representative Lauren Arthur (D) and Representative Kevin Corlew (R).

Representative Lauren Arthur (D) [2018 file photo].

An excerpt fom Representative Arthur’s Missouri House of Representatives bio:

…Rep. Arthur returned home to Kansas City to join Teach for America. She worked as a middle school teacher. She taught English Language Arts at Urban Community Leadership Academy, a charter school in the urban core. During that time, Rep. Arthur earned her Masters in Education from University of Missouri – St. Louis…

An excerpt from Representative Corlew’s Missouri House of Representatives bio:

…In addition to his legislative duties, Representative Corlew is an attorney. His practice involves business litigation at a law firm in Kansas City…

Since we live in the Kansas City media market we’ve been seeing a lot of television ads for this race in rotation. Apparently someone thinks Representative Arthur is an evil person. Since she was a teacher that does seem to fit into the standard narrative of the right wingnut republican universe.

Today the Kansas City Star endorsed Lauren Arthur (D) in the June 5th special election:

…Arthur is the clear choice. She has a detailed, almost encyclopedic grasp of policy. And her stands on an array of issues align with positions this editorial board has taken, including opposition to tax cuts that favor corporations over workers, support for the Clean Missouri ethics reforms, full rights for LGBT citizens, allowing Kansas City and other cities to boost their minimum wage and common-sense gun legislation…

While also praising Kevin Corlew (faintly, and somewhat desperately, we might add) as a “moderating influence” on the republican super majority in the House the editorial can only come up with his support for increasing the state’s gas tax as a means for addressing transportation infrastructure needs as one of his significant public policy virtues. Think about that for a second. A regressive tax.

There’s a lot of money flowing into this race.

Welcome to Missouri and America in the era of Donald Trump.

We’ll see what happens next Tuesday.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: About that June 5th special election? (May 28, 2018)

Campaign Finance: About that June 5th special election?

28 Monday May 2018

Posted by in campaign finance, Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

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This month at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the republican senate campaign committee:

C071094 05/14/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Friends of Mike Cunningham 515 Landslide Rd Rogersville MO 65742 5/14/2018 $25,000.00

C071094 05/14/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Citizens to Elect Mike Kehoe PO Box 105527 Jefferson City MO 65110 5/14/2018 $25,000.00

C071094 05/14/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Committee to Elect Ron Richard PO Box 2523 Joplin MO 64803 5/14/2018 $25,000.00

C071094 05/16/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Missourians for Mike Cierpiot 214 NE Landings Cir Lees Summit MO 64064 5/15/2018 $5,001.00

071094 05/17/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Romine for Senate 322 E Karsch Blvd Farmington MO 63640 5/17/2018 $35,000.00

071094 05/18/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Onder for Missouri 2090 Key Harbour Drive Lake St Louis MO 63367 5/18/2018 $25,000.00

C071094 05/24/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Citizens for Schatz PO Box 92 Sullivan MO 63080 5/24/2018
$50,000.00

C071094 05/24/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Enterprise Holdings Inc. PAC 600 Corporate Park Drive St Louis MO 63105 5/24/2018 $6,000.00

C071094 05/25/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Citizens for Riddle PO Box 647 Holts Summit MO 65043 5/25/2018 $12,500.00

C071094 05/25/2018 MISSOURI SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Hegeman for Senate 16444 St Rt DD Savannah MO 64485 5/25/2018 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

That’s quite a lot of money this month. There is a special election in the 17th Senate District on June 5th.

The candidates:

C141105: Citizens For Kevin Corlew
Committee Type: Candidate
Party Affiliation: Republican
Po Box 28443
Kansas City Mo 64188
Established Date: 03/11/2014
[….]
Information Reported On: 2018 – 40 Day Before Special Election-6/5/2018
Beginning Money on Hand $68,455.51
Monetary Receipts + $14,513.00
Monetary Expenditures – $12,936.10
Contributions Made – $0.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal $1,576.90
Ending Money On Hand $70,032.41

Well, that was reported a while ago.

C131138: Committee To Elect Lauren Arthur
Committee Type: Candidate
Party Affiliation: Democrat
4135 Nw Willow Drive
Kansas City Mo 64116
Established Date:09/26/2013
[….]
Information Reported On: 2018 – 40 Day Before Special Election-6/5/2018
Beginning Money on Hand $170,702.94
Monetary Receipts + $124,535.00
Monetary Expenditures-$13,130.07
Contributions Made – $500.00
Other Disbursements – $0.00
Subtotal $110,904.93
Ending Money On Hand $281,607.87

Reported at the same time. Alrighty then. That explains a lot.

A review of the legislative session

13 Saturday May 2017

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly

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Representative Lauren Arthur (D) [2016 file photo].

Lauren Arthur – State Representative

I am disgusted. Republicans control Missouri government. They hold five of the six statewide offices, including the governorship. In the legislature, Republicans have supermajorities. They possess all of the power, yet they are beyond dysfunction. They cannot govern. They refuse to work collaboratively, even with other Republicans. And they disrespect the process.

While I take offense as legislator, I am disgusted on behalf of the millions of Missourians who will suffer as a result of the decisions made this year. Every person should ask him or herself, “Am I better off this year than last?” If you are a senior citizen, a person of color, LGBTQ, a student, a female, a union member, an entrepreneur, if you drive on roads, have a lower income, live in a rural area, suburban area, or an urban one, have experienced discrimination or suffered an injury caused by someone else — basically, if you live in this state — the answer is a resounding “no.”

That sums it up.

HB 559: equal pay for equal work

11 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

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Representative Lauren Arthur (D) [2016 file photo].

Representative Lauren Arthur (D) [2016 file photo].

A bill introduced yesterday:

HB 559  
Modifies provisions relating to employee wages
Sponsor: Arthur, Lauren (018)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2017
LR Number: 1213H.01I
Last Action: 01/11/2017 – Read Second Time (H)
Bill String: HB 559
Next Hearing: Hearing not scheduled
Calendar: Bill currently not on a House calendar
[….]

The bill text:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 559 [pdf]
99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ARTHUR.

1213H.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To repeal sections 290.400, 290.410, 290.440, and 290.450, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof three new sections relating to employment practices relating to gender.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 290.400, 290.410, 290.440, and 290.450, RSMo, are repealed and three new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 290.400, 290.410, and 3 290.440, to read as follows:
[….]
290.410. 1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no employer shall pay any employee wage rates less than the wage rates paid to of the opposite gender for comparable work, the performance of which requires equal skill, effort, and responsibility, and which is performed under similar working conditions.
[….]
3. An employer who is paying wages in violation of this section shall not, in order to comply with this section, reduce the wage of any employee.
4. No employer shall discharge, retaliate, take any adverse action, or otherwise discriminate against any individual because such individual has:
(1) Opposed any act or practice made unlawful by this section;
(2) Testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, hearing, or other proceeding to enforce this section.
5. No employer shall discharge, retaliate, take any adverse action, or otherwise discriminate against, coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any employee because such employee either inquired about, compared, or otherwise discussed the employee’s wages or the wages of another employee; or exercised, enjoyed, aided, or encouraged any other person to exercise or enjoy any right granted or protected by this section.
[….]

[emphasis in original]

The bill also removes some barriers to employees filing claims.

CCS HCS SB 656: hypocrisy

14 Saturday May 2016

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly

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The ceiling of the House chamber.

The ceiling of the House chamber.

Guns. More on guns, actually. Well, also, the ability to use your gun anywhere when you’re afraid. Anywhere. Without retreating. To “stand your ground”. Anywhere. Does anyone really think this is a good idea in a civil society? The republicans in the Missouri General Assembly certainly do.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 656 [pdf]

AN ACT

[….]
563.031. 1. A person may, subject to the provisions of subsection 2 of this section, use physical force upon another person when and to the extent he or she reasonably believes such force to be necessary to defend himself or herself or a third person from what he or she reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of unlawful force by such other person….
….2. A person shall not use deadly force upon another person under the circumstances specified in subsection 1 of this section unless:
(1) He or she reasonably believes that such deadly force is necessary to protect himself, or herself or her unborn child, or another against death, serious physical injury, or any forcible felony….
[….]
(3) If the person is in any other location such person has the right to be.
[….]
5. The defendant shall have the burden of injecting the issue of justification under this section. If a defendant asserts that his or her use of force is described under subdivision (2) of subsection 2 of this section, the burden shall then be on the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did not reasonably believe that the use of such force was necessary to defend against what he or she reasonably believed was the use or imminent use of unlawful force.
[….]

[emphasis added]

That is so-called “stand your ground”.

On Friday, toward the end of the session, Representative Eric Burlison (r) handled HB 656 on the floor of the House.

Representative Eric Burlison (r) - May 13, 2016.

Representative Eric Burlison (r) – May 13, 2016.

Quite a few Democratic members of the House spoke out against the bill and its open season provision.

Representative Michael Butler (D) - May 13, 2016.

Representative Michael Butler (D) – May 13, 2016.

Representative Brandon Ellington (D) - May 13, 2016.

Representative Brandon Ellington (D) – May 13, 2016.

Representative Lauren Arthur (D) - May 13, 2016.

Representative Lauren Arthur (D) – May 13, 2016.

Representative Joe Adams (D) - May 13, 2016.

Representative Joe Adams (D) – May 13, 2016.

Some supported the bill:

Representative Denny Hoskins (r) - May 13, 2016.

Representative Denny Hoskins (r) – May 13, 2016.

Representative Hoskins (r) spoke in support of the bill because he was concerned that his children’s grandparents otherwise wouldn’t be able to defend his family in his home in his stead if he were away and an intruder threatened them.

You’d think that a significant percentage of county prosecutors have been going after people who have used a weapon to defend another family member’s home against armed (or not) intruders.

Still others spoke against the bill:

Representative Kimberly Gardner (D) - May 13, 2016.

Representative Kimberly Gardner (D) – May 13, 2016.

Representative Alan Green (D) - May 13, 2016.

Representative Alan Green (D) – May 13, 2016.

Representative Burlison (r) closed with “…[we] wouldn’t want people to pay fees to exercise their right to vote…”. This in defense of a gun bill after this same republican controlled General Assembly pushed for voter photo ID.

The bill was truly agreed to and finally passed.

Later the House brought up SCR 50 which designates the month of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

Representative Tracy McCreery (D) - May 13, 2016.

Representative Tracy McCreery (D) – May 13, 2016.

Representative Tracy McCreery (D) was recognized to speak about the resolution. After she started speaking the Speaker admonished her to not address the previous bill. Representative McCreery continued, noting that guns are used quite a lot in suicides and also noting the hypocrisy of a body which had just passed a bill making it easier for people to use guns.

Previously:

HA 4 to HCS SS SCS SB 663: open season (May 12, 2016)

Missouri House – May 12, 2016 (May 12, 2016)

The end of the legislative session – May 13, 2016 (May 13, 2016)