Your $7.00 monthly contribution will go a long way to helping us expand the coverage and services you enjoy.
GET THE LATEST PUBDEF NEWS 24/7:
ABOUT PUB DEF
PUB
DEF is a non-partisan, independent political blog based in the
City of St. Louis, Missouri. Our goal is to cast a critical eye
on lawmakers, their policies, and those that have influence upon
them, and to educate our readers about legislation and the political
processes that affect our daily lives.
CONTACT US
Do you have
a press release, news tip or rumor to share?
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."
