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DEF is a non-partisan, independent political blog based in the
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State Senator Rita Days, a Democrat from north St. Louis County, and State Rep. Timothy Jones, a Republican from Eureka ("The home of Six Flags," he reminded us.), have been elected to chair and vice-chair, respectively, the St. Louis Regional Delegation (formerly, the St. Louis Regional Caucus) in the state legislature.
The mission of the bicameral, bi-partisan group is to promote and collectively push legislation to advance the St. Louis region.
A group of local elected officials gathered in front of City Hall today to call attention to a bill in the Missouri legislature which seeks to give the City of St. Louis control over its police department—control which was taken away over 100 years ago during the time of the Civil War.
Those in attendance included: State Senator Maida Coleman, State Reps Talibdin El-Amin, Rodney Hubbard, and Jeanette Mott Oxford, Aldermen Terry Kennedy, Jeffrey Boyd, and Frank Williamson.
The second Regular Session of Missouri's 94th General Assembly will convene at noon today. State representatives and senators have made their way across the state back to the Capitol in Jefferson City for this election year session of the state legislature.
MOPNS.com has published the contents of an email it says was written by Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton, a Republican, about the news that his former chief of staff, Chris Benjamin, will be running for the state senate — as a Democrat.
From the email:
This is shocking news because I feel Chris is a pro-life & pro-gun Republican, not a Democrat. Even if Chris was frustrated at times with the party I find it so difficult to believe he would choose to join the ranks of extreme liberals whose policies we have fought, and beaten with Chris’s help. However, as time has passed the rumors have stepped up and unfortunately; our understanding is that Chris is going to run as a Democrat.
I can’t explain my disappointment, shock, and confusion over this news and have even talked to Chris personally to try and convince him not to run, but haven’t been successful. I am sure we all have friends who are Democrats and maybe Chris will be one of those friends.
Robin Harris will officially announce his candidacy for the State House District 86 seat tomorrow night. The campaign kickoff and fundraiser will be held tomorrow at 7:00 pm at 1813 Loehr Estate Drive in Ballwin.
Harris, a retired Naval officer and current Northwest Airlines Captain has not run for public office before.
To RSVP or for more information, call (636) 519-7173
Another State House candidate, Deb Lavender of Kirkwood just launched her website, www.lavenderforstaterep.com.
The Associated Press is reporting that Missouri House Republicans have chosen Ron Richard to take over the chamber's top position in 2009 — assuming he wins re-election to the House, Republicans hold onto power, and new lawmakers abide by the wishes of their predecessors.
From the AP:
Those numerous assumptions highlight the novelty of the House Republicans' decision to elect a speaker-designee.
Richard will serve in training for the next 16 months under House Speaker Rod Jetton, then still would have to officially be elected by the full House in January 2009.
Richard, of Joplin, defeated suburban St. Louis Representative Allen Icet in a secret vote by House Republicans.
The GOP currently holds a 90-70 majority over House Democrats, with three vacancies.
UPDATE: The other new leaders are:
Senate Assistant Floor Leader - Sen. Jack Goodman Senate Caucus Leader - Sen. Luann Ridgeway House Floor Leader - Rep. Steven Tilley House Pro Tem - Rep. Brian Pratt
UPDATE 2: A statement from Gov. Matt Blunt:
“I congratulate Sen. Jack Goodman, Sen. Luann Ridgeway, Rep. Bryan Pratt and Rep. Steven Tilley on their new leadership positions in their respective chambers. I also congratulate Rep. Ron Richards and wish him well in his leadership role.
“I look forward to working with the new leaders in both chambers in the coming year to continue to build on our commitment to increasing funding for education, enforcing the laws against illegal immigration, protecting Missouri children from Internet predators and building on a strong economic climate that has helped Missourians create nearly 85,000 new jobs since January 2005. I believe that every Missourian deserves the opportunity to have a good job, raise a family, and to pursue their dreams.
“Again I look forward to working with the House and Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle to put the Missourians’ best interests ahead of partisan politics and to put Missouri’s families first.”
The Missouri Legislature has passed GovernorBlunt’s Economic Development Package, including the Distressed Area Land Assemblage Tax Credit. By a vote of 125 to 19, the House today passed the Senate version of House Bill 1.
Among those voting in favor of the bill were St. Louis State Representatives T.D. El-Amin, Rodney Hubbard, Rachel Storch, Tom Villa and Robin Wright-Jones.
Those voting against included Mike Daus, Jamilah Nasheed and Jeanette Mott Oxford.
As the Missouri State Senate continues to debate House Bill 1, the economic development package, PubDef is hitting the road.
Hopefully, we'll catch tonight's senate vote. But we'll definitely be in Jefferson City tomorrow when the bill comes back to the House and heads to conference.
At yesterday's committee hearing on Governor Matt Blunt's economic development package, which includes the controversial Land Assemblage Tax Credit, State Rep. Rodney Hubbard* offered an amendment to require any redevelopment plan to be approved by the the Board of Aldermen. The committee passed the amendment 11-0.
Hubbard also offered an amendment to shrink the amount of land a developer needed to qualify for the credit from the current 50 acres down to just two. Committee Chair Ron Richard (R-Joplin) said he felt that amounted to "gutting the bill" and recommended the committee members vote against it, which they did.
Hubbard also attempted to add language that would require three public meetings be held before any redevelopment plan is approved. Committee members said they felt the local control amendment put in the hands of the Board of Aldermen the power to conduct as many meetings as they choose before they approve the redevelopment plan.
St. Louis Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe, a longtime critic of the city's Land Reutilization Authority's land-banking policy, testified today in Jefferson City that the proposed Land Assemblage Tax Credit would be good for north St. Louis — but only if it was amended to require any redevelopment plan eligible for the credit to first be approved by the Board of Aldermen.
Troupe said St. Louis has suffered over the years from "corrupt and backwards and sometimes outright stupid" policies. He pointed to the twenty-year-old LRA policy of acquiring thousands of properties, mostly in north St. Louis, and routinely denying independent rehabbers a chance to purchase one or two properties at a time.
With the protection of local control, Troupe said he supports this tax credit bill and sees it as promising for much needed investment.
Following Troupe's testimony, State Rep. Rodney Hubbard* offered an amendment, which was approved by the committee, to require any redevelopment plan to be approved by the the Board of Aldermen. *Hubbard is a client of A.D. French & Associates
Supporters of the proposed Land Assemblage Tax Credit bill testified today before the House Special Committee on Job Creation and Economic Development in support of the legislation.
St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay's chief of staff Jeff Rainford; Rev. James Morris; John Cross of SEIU Local 2000; and Robert Tillman, a 19th Ward homeowner, were among those who said the proposal will allow for much needed and much delayed development to begin in north St. Louis.
The Missouri House and Senate both came back into session today to revisit the economic development package (HB 327) previously vetoed by Governor Matt Blunt. Of course, included in that package is the controversial Land Assemblage Tax Credit.
There was not much action today. In fact, the House was only in session long enough to first and second read the bill and refer it to committee for a hearing.
That hearing is scheduled for noon tomorrow. Check PubDef.net tomorrow afternoon for video from the hearing.
The Supreme Court of Missouri today issued an order directing attorney and former State Representative Nathan Cooper, who last week pleaded guilty to two federal felonies for immigration fraud, to show cause before 5:00 p.m. tomorrow why his law license should not be suspended.
When state legislators convene in Jefferson City for a special session next Monday, August 20, they will have a new version of the controversial Economic Development Bill, House Bill 327, to review. HB 327 was vetoed last month by Governor Matt Blunt because of the overall size and cost of the final bill.
According to House Speaker Rod Jetton, the "Son of 327" will be sent to committee on Tuesday, August 21. Numerous programs, including the Neighborhood Assistance Program, the Small Business Tax Credit and the Youth Opportunity Program, have been removed from the bill to lower its overall cost. But the bill's most controversial part, the Land Assemblage Tax Credit, remains — although it has been reduced from $12 million allowed annually and $100 million cumulatively to $10 million annually and $95 million cumulatively.
The cut is estimated at $70 million, bringing the total cost of the bill to $51 million, not counting the "New Markets" program that begins in two years.
On Thursday, August 16, at 10:00 a.m., State Representatives Jamilah Nasheed and Jeanette Mott Oxford will host a bus tour of the properties owned by developer Paul McKee. McKee, whose companies own more than 500 properties in northern St. Louis, is seen by many as the developer who would most benefit from the passage of HB 327 as it is written.
PubDef will be reporting from the special session in Jefferson City next week and following the negotiations as legislators, lobbyists and residents try to reach a compromise that allows north St. Louis to benefit from needed investment, while not cutting all but just one or two would-be developers out of the project.
Click here to view a spreadsheet of all of the changes to HB 327.
Click here for more information on McKee's Blairmont properties.
Click here to watch PubDef's special report on Blairmont.
The Post-Dispatch reports today that Representative Nathan Cooper (R-Cape Girardeau) will resign from the legislature within weeks. The resignation comes after Cooper pleaded guilty to visa fraud and making a false statement to the Department of Labor.
Cooper used his power as an immigration lawyer to obtain and falsely extend visas for foreign truck drivers, most of whom came from New Zealand.
The Post-Dispatch further reports that Cooper committed the crimes “With no connection to his elected duties or his close association with Governor Matt Blunt.”
Cooper is now facing 30 to 37 months in jail.
Governor Blunt said he will set a special election for Cooper’s seat.
State Representatives Jeanette Mott Oxford (whose birthday is today, according to the Arch City Chronicle) and Jamilah Nasheed recently appeared on a "A Nation Deceived," a podcast dedicated to discussing the impeachment of President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
Listen to the entire show right here...
This year, Nasheed sponsored, and Oxford co-sponsored, HCR 46 calling for Congress to impeach Bush and Cheney. The resolution never got a hearing.
In Congress, St. Louis Congressman Lacy Clay is a co-sponsor of House Resolution 333, calling for the impeachment of the Vice President. Last year, Clay was one of 33 Democrats to co-sponsor a resolution seeking to investigate grounds for impeaching President Bush.
CLINTON ON TRUMAN — Former President Bill Clinton... Ahhhh, remember the Clinton Years? Stock market through the roof, no American cities destroyed by terrorism or flood, general peace and prosperity — The Good Ol' Days. Oh how we miss thee... Anyway, back to my thought... Clinton is going to be in Independence, MO today speaking on the legacy of Missouri's only U.S. President, Harry Truman.
If you're contemplating the four-hour drive, don't bother. Tickets are sold out. Hey, it's Bill.
WANTED: MINORITY LEADER — Earlier this week, it broke that State Rep. Jeff Harris (D-Columbia) was stepping down as House Minority Leader. MissouriPolitics.net and Jason Rosenbaum think current Asst. Leader Paul LeVota (D-Jackson County) is the leading figure to replace Harris.
THE "I WISH..." LAW — Governor Matt Blunt has been zig-zagging across the state in recent weeks signing bills into law. As a matter of fact, the Gov will be in Maplewood and St. Charles later today to sign two more. But last week, Blunt signed one of the more popular new laws — at least among the fellas in the barbershops.
Called the "Castle Doctrine" by supporters, the new law allows people to use deadly force on intruders to their homes or carjackers. In addition to shielding people against lawsuits, the bill also removes the requirement that a person flee from an attacker.
In the barbershops, it's being called the "I Wish a Muthafucka Would" law after Cedric the Entertainer'spopular comedy routine (video clip NSFW).
According to an email obtained by PubDef.net, written from St. Louis City Elections Director Scott Leiendecker to the Governor's Office, Kratky resigned "on or about Friday, June 29."
We reported last week that Kratky, who resides in the City of St. Louis, had been making moves to try to ensure his wife, Michele, received the nomination to succeed him.
Leiendecker is concerned about the timing of the required special election and any additional cost to city taxpayers.
"I am asking at the request of the Chairman of the Board [of Elections] Carol Ann Wilson that if a special election is to be called prior to the August 2008 Election that it would be called on February 5, 2008," wrote Leiendecker.
"At that time the City of St. Louis as well as the State of Missouri will already be holding an election set for the Presidential Preferential Primary. This combination will in fact save time and cost for the City of St. Louis Election Board as well as the city taxpayers," he wrote.
Leiendecker estimates calling a special election anytime before that date could cost taxpayers approximately $50,000.
THOSE MISSING EMAILS - Congressman Lacy Clay may have a lot of work headed his way very soon.
A report released Monday by the House Oversight Committee found that the GOP email server used by White House Officials has not retained all of the emails sent through it. As some of the missing emails cover official business, the failure to retain those messages constitutes a breach of the Presidential Records Act.
The Information Policy, Census and National Archives Subcommittee, of which Clay is the chairman, oversees the Presidential Records Act.
VYING FOR VILLA'S SEAT - St. Louis Young Democrat Jake Hummel has announced that he will run for the 108th district seat of Rep. Tom Villa, who must vacate his seat due to term limits.
Hummel is an electrician with IBEW Local 1 and the Vice President of the St. Louis City Labor Legislative Club. His campaign's kick-off is at 5:30 PM this evening at the IBEW Local 1 Hall, 5850 Elizabeth Street.
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY - State Rep. Fred Kratky has announced that he will step down from his seat in the State House early, and that he wants his wife, Michele Kratky, to take his place.
His departing wish isn't necessarily a sure-thing, however, as Michele Kratky still needs to win the nomination of the Democratic party in order to have a chance to take her husband's former legislative position and finish his current term.
Gov. Matt Blunt opened the three-day Southern Growth Conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at Union Station yesterday with a presentation on Southern workforce challenges. Blunt is the current chairman of the Southern Growth Policies Board.
That begs the question, "When did Missouri become a Southern state?"
According to the organization's website, there are 13 state members -- Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia — plus the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (which is convenient since nearly 50 state legislators are heading there next week on the the state's dime, but more on that later).
Call it taking care of their own. Or perhaps, an investment in their own futures. Whatever you call it, state legislators buried a nest egg in the controversial MoHELA bill signed into law last week.
Stuck in the center of the 52-page Senate Bill 389, which, among other things, took $350 million from the state's college loan fund and put it towards new construction projects on campuses around the state, there is also a provision that makes it much easier for legislators to get a job after they are term-limited out of office.
SB 389 also states that "no public college or university... shall reject an applicant for a faculty position based solely on the applicant having not earned a graduate degree, provided that the applicant has earned an undergraduate baccalaureate degree and has served for at least eight years in the general assembly."
So a bachelor's degree and four terms in the State House now makes you as qualified to teach in a Missouri college as a Ph.D. or a master's degree in the particular field.
Term-limits is now the tune to which self-preservation and special interests dance to in the State Capitol.
This session of the Missouri Legislature wrapped up today at 6:00 in much the same way as it was conducted, with hard ball tactics by the majority and cries of foul from the minority.
After only being used a handful of times in the entire history of the Missouri Senate, the infamous "previous question" (or "PQ") motion was used twice in the last 24 hours to bring an end to debate and force a vote on two controversial bills — anti-abortion legislation and a largely irrelevant bill to make English the state's official language in all proceedings (was this ever a problem before?).
But even with the Republicans' control of both houses — not to mention the Governor's mansion — the legislature was still unable to wrap up all of its loose ends and a special session is expected to be called over the summer. UPDATE: Things got a little testy in the final hours. From Jason Rosenbaum of the Columbia Tribune:
The sour relations between Senate members of both parties were evident in remarks by Senate Minority Leader Maida Coleman of St. Louis, who called the GOP leadership "punks … because I couldn’t use my other word that starts with a ‘P.’ "
The right to defend your home with lethal force is an established part of Missouri law. This term, however, some lawmakers are seeking to extend the authorization of defensive lethal force to cover Missouri's drivers as well.
There are two similar bills in the legislature right now that address this issue, Senate Bill 62 (sponsored by Sen. Jack Goodman)and House Bill 189 (sponsored by State Rep. Kenny Jones). Both bills authorize the use of deadly force against intruders into a home, residence, or motor vehicle.
The bills also provide exemptions to the "intruder" definition for persons removing their children, persons that have a right to be on the property, and law enforcement personnel.
Most lawmakers PubDef spoke to seemed fairly comfortable with the bills. "It's basically a minor extension of the existing law," said Sen. Jeff Smith.
The bills' sponsors could not be reached for comment, as they were in session.
This week, PubDef.net turns its eye towards the State Legislature. In the final days of the 2007 session, all the rhetoric and flowery phrases begin to fall to the ground and the true character of Missouri's 94th General Assembly reveals itself — and we'll be there to snap the picture!
Stay with us this week as we bring you stories, interviews, photos, and videos of what our state senators and state reps are doing, and what the consequences will be.
Governor Matt Blunt's brother, Andy Blunt, has been busy in Jefferson City this week. Blunt is a lobbyist for ticketing giant Ticketmaster, and apparently quite a successful one.
Blunt has been seeking a bill that would make ticket scalping legal statewide. With the current legislative session drawing to a close, his desired scalping bill was attached as a rider to an economic development measure, along with 28 other such bills whose sponsors had the same idea.
Efforts to clean up the legislation and remove a few of the staggering 29 amendments attached to it were abandoned when House and Senate negotiators were unable to come to an agreement on various tax credits that were part of the main bill. As a result, all 29 remained attached to the legislation as it passed and was sent to Gov. Blunt's desk.
In the wake of the collapse of the Taum Sauk Dam in December 2005, and in the midst of spring flooding throughout the state of Missouri, the State Senate approved a bill yesterday that would toughen operating and inspection procedures for dams throughout the state.
Sponsored by Senator Kevin Engler (R-3), the bill passed through the senate with only a few opposing votes.Despite the overwhelming support received in the Senate, however, Engler did not seem optimistic about the bill's chances in the House.
"It will either be attacked and lessened or it will die," said Engler. He cited representatives with strong farming constituencies as the most prominent opponents of his bill, commenting that farmers worry about the bill impacting their own small irrigation dams.
Engler also indicated that he feels a lack of significant pressure on legislators to pass the bill, despite the events at Taum Sauk in late 2005. "As long as people don't call them on it, it's gonna be a tough paddle," he said.
After long months of debate, the Missouri House passed Governor Matt Blunt's controversial MoHELA plan yesterday. The vote was 91-64, with voting mostly along party lines.
Under the passed plan, $350 million of the assets of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority will be sold off to third parties, such as Sally Mae. The money from the sale will then be used to pay for facility upgrades and construction projects at public Missouri colleges.
Democrats have opposed the plan, claiming that it will reduce the availability of low-cost student loans. "We still have not gotten adequate documentation that this won't harm Missouri students," State Rep. Rachel Storch (D-St. Louis) told PubDef.
Storch also noted that the $350 million in public assets will be sold to private loan firms, many of which (including Sally Mae) are currently being investigated. "Why should we sell our successful loan program to third party firms that are under Congressional investigation?" Storch asked.
State Rep. Clint Zweifel (D-Florissant) is currently leading an effort to oppose the bill by gathering the 87,000 signatures needed to put the plan on the 2008 ballot in order for the public to decide.
Under the Missouri Constitution, individuals with the requisite number of signatures may file referendum petitions that place bills passed by the General Assembly on the statewide ballot. Zwiefel and his allies have until August 28 to acquire enough signatures.
A couple of weeks ago, State Rep. Sam Page (who is rumored as a possible candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2008) talked to Pub Def about his bill (HB 802) to add the new vaccine for the human papilloma virus (HPV) to the list of required immunizations for Missouri's school-aged children.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year.
Approximately 10 of the 30 identified genital HPV types can lead, in rare cases, to development of cervical cancer. Research has shown that for most women (90 percent), cervical HPV infection becomes undetectable within two years. Although only a small proportion of women have persistent infection, persistent infection with "high-risk" types of HPV is the main risk factor for cervical cancer.
The Missouri State Legislature right now is considering several bills on capital punishment. Some, like House Bill 258 and Senate Bill 354, seek to abolish the death penalty all together. Others, like HB 445 and SB 439, seek to put a moratorium on all executions so that the process can be examined.
Last week, the House Committee on Crime Prevention and Public Safety held a public hearing on HB 445, sponsored by State Rep. Bill Deeken (R-Cole County). The committee heard moving testimony detailing some of the injustices and inconsistencies that exist in the current system.
State Rep. Connie Johnson (D-St. Louis City) was the last to testify before the committee. She briefly described the circumstances around the trial of her cousin, Marlin Gray, who was executed on October 26, 2005. She said that cases have recently been ordered to be retried for reasons that also existed in Gray's case, but now it is too late.
"Before you execute somebody we need to make sure all the I's are dotted and all the T's are crossed," said Johnson. "Because once you pull that trigger you cannot bring that person back to life."
During our last trip to Jefferson City, State Rep. Rodney Hubbard talked to Pub Def about his latest education proposal, the "Missouri 4 For More Program". House Bill 259 creates the new program, which would allow parents of K-12 school children to receive four hours of paid leave per month to work with their children in their children's school. In exchange for giving the parents time off work, employers would receive a state tax credit.
Pub Def regrets not covering State Rep. Talibdin El-Amin's admirable bike ride this weekend from St. Louis 143 miles to the State Capitol in Jefferson City. The City Hall sit-in kept us busy (can't wait for those interns).
El-Amin and his brother, Larry Bastain, Jr., made the three-day ride along the Katy Trail to bring attention to Kidney disease, a disease that almost took the life of their father six years ago. El-Amin saved his dad's life by donating one of his own kidneys.
"He added six years on my life by donating one of his kidneys," father Larry Bastain, Sr. told TV station KOMU. "For them to ride 140, 150 miles, for such a great cause, this is a day to be proud of."
Pub Def will be reporting from the State Capitol today. Check back tonight for interviews with senators and representatives from St. Louis - and maybe the Governor.
The Senate has taken a break from their now 19 hour filibuster on Gov. Matt Blunt's MOHELA plan. They will resume at 2 o'clock.
State Rep. Talibdin El-Amin is preparing to introduce a bill aimed at crack cocaine. It would put a primary ingredient in the drug's production, baking soda, behind the counter, similar to what was done to the ingredients in Meth.
BILL INTRODUCED TO RETURN LOCAL CONTROL OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Monday, February 12, 2007 at 5:42 PM
State Senator Maida Coleman and State Representative Robin Wright-Jones have introduced legislation that would return control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to the people of the City of St. Louis, ending nearly 150 years of state control.
"We think the local representative democracy, the Board of Alderman, should decide how the police department should be managed," said Coleman in a press release today. "St. Louis would be one of the last cities to return to local control of the police department of the cities where the state took control of the police during the Civil War era."
During the early days of the Civil War, the State of Missouri, like many other states, took control of its major city's police department. By the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, local control of police departments returned to most cities like Baltimore, Atlanta, and others, but the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department remains governed by a board appointed by the Governor to this day, just as when the state took control in 1861.
Senate Bill 486, proposed by Coleman and Wright-Jones, gives authority to create a police department to the St. Louis Board of Alderman. It would be up to the Board of Alderman to decide how the police department is managed. The legislation also preserves the salary and rank structure of the current police department to ensure a smooth transition.
"There is no reason why people from Joplin to St. Joseph have a say in how we run our police department," said Wright-Jones.
Freshman State Rep. Talibdin El-Amin has a knack for introducing headline-grabbing legislation that gets people talking.
One month after introducing a bill to strip steroids-linked slugger Mark McGwire's name off a stretch of Interstate 70 which runs through north St. Louis, El-Amin has now sponsored a bill to have the State of Missouri formally apologize for enslaving blacks in the state for more than 140 years.
House Resolution 26 outlines the state's history of slavery, beginning in the year 1720 when "Philippe Francois Renault introduced Negro slavery to Missouri when he brought 500 Negroes with him from Santa Domingo to work the lead mines in the Des Peres River section of what is now St. Louis and Jefferson Counties".
The timing of the bill coincides with next month's 150th anniversary of the historic Dred Scott decision, in which the United States Supreme Court declared that all blacks -- slave as well as free -- were not and could never become American citizens.
"Why apologize after these 142 years? Because we haven’t apologized in 142 years," El-Amin told the AP.
El-Amin is also sponsoring or co-sponsoring legislation to repeal the death penalty, make it illegal to driving while using a cell phone, prohibits the possession or consumption of alcohol in the State Capitol or on the State Capitol grounds.
House Speaker Rod Jetton last week appointed St. Louis Democrat State Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford to serve as the ranking minority party member on the House Special Committee on Energy and Environment, which handles bills relating to sustainable energy sources in Missouri and their impact on the environment.
"It is crucial that we become less dependent on fossil fuels for the sake of both homeland security and addressing global warming," said Oxford in a press release. "Our committee will tackle the diverse needs of urban, suburban, and rural Missourians, with a goal of protecting the environment and promoting a vibrant economy."
Oxford also will serve on the House Ethics Committee and the House Special Committee on Family Services.
More elected officials are joining calling on state education officials to conduct public hearings before any action on St. Louis Public Schools is taken.
State Representatives Jamilah Nasheed, Jeanette Mott Oxford, Robin Wright Jones, school board members Bill Purdy and Donna Jones, Committeemen Jesse Todd and Jay Ozier, Rev. James T. Morris, activists Percy Green and Jamala Rogers, school board and aldermanic candidate Bill Haas, and representatives of the unions representing teachers and admin istrators joined with parents this morning for a press conference outside the downtown headquarters of SLPS.
Nasheed, who was the first to call for public hearings, said there should be no takeover of the school district at this time.
"We're demanding that the Missouri Department of Education hold public hearings here in the City of St. Louis before they make any decision to take over the public schools and take away the people's right to vote," said Nasheed.
Also this morning, Comptroller Darlene Green and state senators Maida Coleman and Jeff Smith issued statements in support of public hearings.
"Public input will be essential to forming a consensus about the direction of our schools in the important weeks and months ahead," said the joint statement from Coleman and Smith.
"Ultimately, we all want the same thing, which is for our children to have a safe environment to gain a quality education. To help achieve this goal, the public should feel it has been involved in the process."
Continuing to hold State Senator-elect Jeff Smith as the elected official all black officials should strive to be like, the St. Louis American today labeled State Rep-elect Jamilah Nasheed the "un-Jeff" for requesting public hearings on the issue of state takeover of St. Louis Public Schools.
The still anonymous authors of the "Political Eye" said that Nasheed's suggestion "overlooks the fact that the Special Advisory Committee has been doing its business in public, as required by the Sunshine Law. Also, if the powers in play wanted the fate of the pubic schools decided by the folks who show up at school board meetings, then it would never have appointed this committee in the first place."
Of course the "Eye" fails to mention that Donald Suggs, publisher of the American and former campaign treasurer for the original 2003 slate of school board candidates backed by Mayor Francis Slay, was one of the members of that Special Advisory Committee.
And they also fail to mention that while most of the committee's meetings took place in public, those meetings never allowed time for public comment.
Nasheed's suggestion is a good one and, quite frankly, is the least the state should do before acting to disenfranchise 300,000 people.
Bio Dampens First Impressions for a St. Louis Freshman Legislator
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Thursday, December 07, 2006 at 8:04 AM
As the new crop of freshman legislators were being orientated last week in Jefferson City, they were learning as much about each other as they were about the rules of the Capitol. But at least one state rep may not like what his colleagues were told about him.
A six-page booklet handed out to new legislators listed photos and quick facts about the freshmen -- age, marital status, education, what they've done politically, etc. But in State Rep.-elect Talibdin El-Amin's biography, there was a little bit more than the getting-to-know-you fodder that you'd expect.
"During the election the media said that as Mark Bastain he has 2 teens by an ex-girlfriend & owes over $7000 in back child support," it stated.
"It's extremely offensive," said El-Amin. "It was unprofessional and malicious."
El-Amin said that he's sure false charges were made against other legislators during their campaigns, but were not included in any of his colleague's biographies. Instead only his was littered with false, negative information.
"There was nothing like 'here's a guy who donated a kidney' or 'here's a guy that works with kids'," he said.
El-Amin said that he does see it as a racist act -- especially when taken along with the biography of his fellow African-American and fellow Muslim freshman legislator, Jamilah Nasheed.
Nasheed's bio discribes her as a "classic juvenile delinquent drop-out" whose life was turned around by the religion of Islam. [Click here to see the biographies in question.]
The woman who is credited with compiling the information in the packet, lobbyist and former State Rep. Lana Ladd Baker, has not replied to email requests for comment.
El-Amin said Baker has not offered him an apology, but even if she did, the damage has already been done. After all, you don't get a second chance to make a first impression.
When asked what he thought about Baker, El-Amin said simply, "She needs to be fired."
State Rep. Rachel Storch (D-64) will host a town hall meeting next week on the topic voting changes ahead of the November 7 election.
Secretary of State Robin Carnahan will be on hand to answer questions regarding the state's controversial Voter ID requirement and the elimination of so-called "straight party" voting.
The meeting will be at the McCormack House, 4575 Cadet (at the corner of Manchester and Kingshighway), on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 7:00 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend.
In the petition for a temporary restraining order filed yesterday by then-State Senate candidate Yaphett El-Amin, she alleged that one of her opponents, Amber Boykins, and State Rep candidates Joe Palm (who was running against her husband) and Shaun Simms (who was running against her political ally, Jamilah Nasheed) were distributing sample ballots in the 1st, 4th, 18th and 27th wards that were "false, misleading, and illegal."
Her complaint held that by using the terms "Democratic Sample Ballot" those campaigns were misleading voters into thinking that they had been endorsed by the respective Democratic ward organizations, which they had not.
Judge Lisa Van Amburg agreed with El-Amin and at 3:25 p.m. she issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting them from being further distributed.
Election Board officials say they instructed their roaming judges to inform the campaigns' poll workers to stop passing out the illegal ballots.
A hearing in this matter has been set for Friday, August 18, at 9:00 a.m. -- long after the polls have closed and winners have been decided in the affected races.
IN THE 4TH - More mysterious automated calls are being placed around the district. After calls were made telling voters to vote for anyone but Jeff Smith, the finger was quickly pointed at Derio Gambaro's campaign, mostly due to the exchange of negative mailers he and Smith engaged in recent days.
But now calls are going north attacking Amber Boykins' legislative record and closing with "so vote for Jeff Smith." Both Smith and Gambaro have denied having anything to do with these calls. And considering who they attack and who they may effectively help, fingers are now pointing at the campaign of Yaphett El-Amin. She has also denied involvement.
We also have unconfirmed reports of pro-El-Amin robo calls being made with personal messages from former Mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr. (which makes sense seeing as he is a vocal supporter of El-Amin) and another one with the voice of former U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan (which is harder to believe, but then again maybe she saw Jeff Smith's movie in which her son is basically characterized as a lazy mama's boy).
[UPDATE: Congressman Russ Carnahan has issued a statement on his website which says that neither he nor any member of his family is supporting any candidate in this race. Click here to read the full statement.]
IN THE 60TH - Things are getting downright nasty in this state rep race. Sharon Tyus has dropped two attack pieces on Jamilah Nasheed contrasting, among other things, her Christian background with Nasheed's Islamic faith.
Nasheed is also drawing criticism from some for yard signs asking voters in the district to punch #38 Tuesday if they support livable wages. That is of course her punch number, but -- except for a tiny "paid for by" disclaimer -- her name is not visible on the sign.
Meanwhile, Shaun Simms dropped a piece listing U.S. Senate Candidate Claire McCaskill among his supporters. It even has a picture of Simms with McCaskill along with Sen. Barack Obama and Simms' wife, the current 60th Rep, Amber Boykins. The photo appears to have been taken when Obama was in town in support of McCaskill.
A quick call to McCaskill's headquarters confirms what most would expect, the State Auditor is staying as far out of these Democratic primary fights as possible. She has endorsed no one.
UPDATE 2:IN THE 72ND - The state rep rematch between incumbent Maria Chappelle Nadal and Sandra Colquitt is among the nastiest in the region. Count this one among the races mostly likely to get physical Tuesday. A mysterious and unaccredited website (www.colquittunfit.com) has popped up attacking Colquitt using clips from The Lizz Brown Show, The Arch City Chronicle and The Post-Dispatch.
State Rep. Sherman Parker, who is running against Congressman Todd Akin in Tuesday's Republican primary, was arrested this week for failing to appear in court for two tickets. Parker was released on $100 bond.
Read Jake Wagman's arresting story in tomorrow's Post-Dispatch.
UPDATE: Parker has posted a statement regarding this incident in the comments section of this post. Sounds like this might be a double case of DWB (Driving While Black) in St. Charles and ridin' dirty (in this case, driving with an outstanding warrant).
It's hot all over, but it might be getting even hotter in the 60th State Rep District. Jamilah Nasheed's campaign today mailed out a piece that asks voters if they want to go "backwards" or move "forward." The mailer slams Nasheed's opponent, Sharon Tyus, on her record as the former alderman of the 20th Ward.
"Improved her home and block while the rest of the ward decayed," Nasheed's piece charges. "Refused to join the Aldermanic Black Caucus," "Fought against the city's first black mayor," and "Arrogant to the core," it says.
Sharon Tyus has loaned her campaign another $10,000. Add that to the $15,000 that she previously loaned her campaign and the former 20th Ward alderman has quite a bit of cash in the bank in this final week of her run for state rep.
But while some see her almost entirely self-financed campaign as a sign that she's willing to put her money where her mouth is, others point to the less than $900 raised in contributions as a sign of weak support among a former constituency that has long washed their hands of the former "Mouth of the North."
Tyus' $17,000 war chest is more than double her main rival's remaining bank account. But most political watchers agree that she still has to do a lot to catch up with Jamilah Nasheed, whose campaign hit the streets early and hard starting months ago.
While Nasheed's yard signs and bumper stickers can be seen all over the 60th District, support for the former 20th Ward alderman is much less visible.
But the apparent lack of support didn't stop the Post-Dispatch from endorsing Tyus, who as an alderman was so divisive that her colleagues voted to move her ward to the other side of the city, effectively kicking her out of the legislative body.
With just six days left, only time will tell if Tyus is committed enough to her comeback campaign to actually spend the money she's loaned herself and if the people of the 60th will choose old drama or new blood.
The Organization for Black Struggle has thrown its support behind Jamilah Nasheed in the race for the next state representative of the 60th District.
"Nasheed has made positive contributions to this community as a young businesswoman, a dedicated political activist and a concerned citizen," said the organization in release issued early this morning.
The OBS pointed to Nasheed's involvement with protests such as the Highway 70 shutdown and the MetroLink lay-in, her support of raising the minimum wage, and her work with anti-gang and drug programs in the St. Louis Public Schools as reasons for supporting the northside activist.
Nasheed is running for the seat being vacated by the term-limited State Rep Amber Boykins. Also running are Shaun Simms, Boykins' husband; Sharon Tyus, former 20th Ward Alderman; and Bob Bartlett, who held the seat before for a brief time.
LATE STARTER BUILDING STEAM? Former Ald. Sharon Tyus announced over the weekend that she had accumulated several endorsements in her bid to re-enter politics as State Rep from the 60th District. Third Ward Committeepeople Lucinda Frazier and Johnny Saddler; 4th Ward Committeepeople Norma Leggett and James Clayborne; 18th Ward Committeepeople Ernestine Hill and Jessie Todd; and 21st Ward Committeeman Arthur "Chink" Washington, according to Tyus, have all backed her campaign against activist and frontrunner Jamilah Nasheed, former State Rep. Bob Bartlett, and Shaun Simms, husband to the current state rep, Amber Boykins.
DEM YUNGSTAS The College Democrats of America (CDA) are holding their national convention at Saint Louis University starting this Thursday. There will be speeches given by DNC Chairman Howard Dean, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, retired General Wesley Clark, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, Congressman Russ Carnahan, Congressman William Lacy Clay, and CDA's national leaders. This is the first time the College Democrats will have their stand alone convention outside of Washington DC.
OFF THE HOOK? The last vestiges of Mayor Slay's three-year control of St. Louis Public Schools went out the door with the exit of former Superintendent Creg Williams last week. For many, the manner of Williams' departure lets both him and the mayor off the hook when the consequences of their and the Darnetta Clinkscale-led school board's decisions start to show. Williams leaves smelling like a rose with a quarter million dollar parachute and Slay gets to say all the coming problems are the fault of the new board majority. Game, set, match. Nicely played, Mr. Mayor.
EXCUSE OUR SLACKING Campaign finance reports will be rolling in today and in the coming days. Click here to look up how much a Missouri candidate is raising and who's giving money to who. We're a little distracted by this schools stuff and probably won't get a chance to analyze the reports until later in the week. If you spot something fishy, or at least interesting, post a comment about it here or shoot us an email at editor@pubdef.net.
Sharon Tyus' campaign for state rep from the 60th district has been pretty quiet since she filed for the office back in March. But it looks like she's been conserving her cash and energy for the final weeks of the campaign.
Tyus yard signs were spotted for the first time last week is a few areas in the northside district. And yesterday, voters received a two-color mailer from the former alderman.
The campaign piece highlights her legislative experience as a 12-year veteran of the Board of Aldermen. "Tyus was 7th in seniority and chairwoman of the Public Safety committee when the illegal redistricting bill stopped her from seeking re-election in 2003," says the mailer.
A majority of the Board of Aldermen, including several northside aldermen, voted in 2002 to move Tyus' 20th Ward to south St. Louis. That move upset a lot of people who, whether or not they liked Tyus or her tactics, saw that as an act of illegal gerrymandering which harmed black political power by dismantling the largest black voting ward in the city.
Many rallied in support of Tyus, who is a lawyer, and supported her call for a lawsuit against the City of St. Louis, even raising money for the cause. But a lawsuit was never filed.
At a press conference this morning, 1st Ward Committeeman Talibdin El-Amin said he will be staying in his 57th District State Representative race until the end.
"After having conversations with my family, friends, and many people in the community, I am convinced more than ever today that I will not waiver in my pursuit to become the next state representative in the 57th District," said El-Amin with his wife, Yaphett El-Amin (the current representative of the district), by his side.
Some wondered if El-Amin would withdraw from the race after reports in The Evening Whirl and on KSDK Channel 5 earlier this week called him a "deadbeat dad." El-Amin once again said these allegations are false. He told the room of supporters and just two members of the media that these were "trivial matters disguised as news."
Meanwhile, someone identifying themself as Antonnia Washington, El-Amin's "baby's mama," posted a lengthy comment to one of our earlier stories on this subject. "I don't know how Mr. El-Amin could even begin to think that Yaphett takes better care of my children that I do," she wrote.
"I have never taken a hit at the way she raises her children and I feel that I should be given that same respect because I am a good, hard-working mother. The St. Louis Family Court thought so too, that is why they are with me," the person wrote.
Editor's Note: Unless something big happens, this will be our last story on this subject.
State rep candidate Talibdin El-Amin calls the charges that he is a "deadbeat dad" ridiculous. But he said that these recent allegations have taken a toll on him, his wife, and his children.
El-Amin, the 1st Ward Committeeman and husband to State Rep. Yaphett El-Amin, told PUB DEF that he has been involved in every stage of his children's emotional, mental, physical, and educational development. He said allegations to the contrary by the mother of his two eldest children are the result of a personal vendetta.
"Never have I had to be 'forced' to tend to my fatherly responsibilities," said El-Amin. He said it was him who in 1996 initiated child support payments which were taken directly from his paycheck.
El-Amin said he has records that show that he has paid more than $88,000 in child support from 1997 to May 2006. "I am on record for providing over $80,000 in child support, this in spite of being denied my right to see my children per our custody agreement."
He said that there have been short periods when he was unable to make his payments: after surgery in 1996, after he donated a kidney to his father in 2000, and after being laid-off from his job at General Motors in 2000.
"In the fall of 2005, I initiated custody proceedings, seeking greater involvement than previously afforded," said El-Amin. He said the court rolled his missed payments into a new monthly payment amount, which he has been current on ever since.
"More troubling than the accusation of being an absentee father, is the attack on my wife, whose love, and nurturing of the children outside of our marriage, has transcended the atypical stereotype of a detached stepmother," El-Amin wrote in an email to PUB DEF.
"Her involvement in school events, planning of activities and trips, and overall development has often times superseded that of the biological mother, Ms. Washington," he said.
The character of El-Amin's "baby's mama" was something that sources in his campaign wanted to talk a great deal about. They provided documents which they say show that she has gambled $107,054.56 at a local riverboat casino between January 2004 to May 2005.
Sources tell PUB DEF that, maybe as soon as tomorrow, El-Amin is considering dropping out of the race to prevent possible further damage to his children caused by the "dirty politics" of the past week.
They point to the fact that an employee of Sheriff Jim Murphy, who has endorsed State Rep. Amber Boykins in her campaign against Yaphett El-Amin for State Senate, coincidentally showed up at their campaign office at the same time as a KSDK cameraman and reporter Mike Owens, who is married to Ald. Lyda Krewson, who has ties to Luther Boykins, Amber's father.
"This whole thing stinks to high heaven," said the insider. "It would be a shame to allow this kind of personal character assassination."
Several people told PUB DEF the real story here is that KSDK allows Mike Owens to do political stories. Imagine if Jo Mannies of the Post-Dispatch was Francis Slay's sister. Or if Jake Wagman was Jim Shrewsbury's son. Imagine if people working for the mayor were allowed to lobby for firms with city contracts -- oh, wait.
Karla May is kicking off her campaign for 57th District State Rep. with a fundraiser at Maggie O'Brien's restaurant and pub next week.
May, the daughter of City Register and former 1st Ward Alderman Parrie L. May, is seeking the State House seat being vacated by State Rep. Yaphett El-Amin as she looks to move to the State Senate. Karla ran against El-Amin for 1st Ward Committeewoman in 2000.
The two other candidates running in the August primary election are 26th Ward Committeeman Joe Palm and 1st Ward Committeeman Talibdin El-Amin (Yaphett's husband).
May's fundraiser is on Friday, May 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Maggie O'Brien's is at 2000 Market Street downtown.
The candidates seeking to replace State Rep. Yaphett El-Amin, who is running for state senate, are Joe Palm, Karla May and Talibdin El-Amin (husband). Their campaign finance reports for this quarter were due April 15. Over the course of the day, the reports will be made available by the state Ethics Commission.
Joe Palm loaned his campaign $5,000. He raised just $750 over the last three months (including $325 from a committee formed by State Rep. Rachel Storch when she was mulling a run for state senate). At the end of March, Palm's committee had $3,400 in the bank.
UPDATE: Talibdin El-Amin has $8500 in the bank after raising $10,625 since January. Contributors included State Rep. Rodney Hubbard's campaign committee, AT&T's political action committee, and Ald. Jeffrey Boyd.
State Rep. Maria Chappelle Nadal raised $1,475 during the first quarter of 2006. After spending over $1,800, her campaign had nearly $4,800 in the bank.
University City Councilwoman Sandi Colquitt, who is challenging Nadal after losing to her by less than 200 votes in 2004, has not yet filed her campaign report.
The Missouri House of Representatives is expected to take up House Bill 1944 today. The bill makes changes to the use of eminent domain in the state. Some supporters of reform say the bill doesn't go far enough. While opponents, including the City of St. Louis and several utility companies, say it goes too far.
Several amendments to the bill are expected to be offered today.
UPDATE: The House has perfected the bill with several amendments. Click here to read the summary of the perfected bill. Click here to read the full bill.
