Showing the bi-partisan love, St. Louis Democrat Senator Jeff Smith today announced the Senate approval of Gov. Matt Blunt’s appointment of Republican and former St. Louis School Board member James Buford to the state Human Rights Commission.

Jefferson City — Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, today announced that the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee and the full Senate have approved the nomination of James H. Buford of St. Louis to the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.

Buford, the president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis since 1985, joins the seven-member commission, which develops, recommends and implements ways to prevent and eliminate discrimination in employment, public accommodations and housing.

“I cannot think of a better candidate than James Buford for the Missouri Commission on Human Rights,” Sen. Smith said. “He is a longtime advocate for social and economic parity and has demonstrated remarkable skill as a force for racial unity in the St. Louis metropolitan region.”

Buford currently chairs the St. Louis Connectcare Board and serves on the executive board of the St. Louis Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the board of Downtown St. Louis Partnership, Fair St. Louis, and the St. Louis Science Center.

On the state level, Buford was appointed to the St. Louis Public School Board in 2005. He also was previously appointed as secretary of the St. Louis County Board of Elections by the late Governor Mel Carnahan. His numerous awards and honors include the 2005 Mentor St. Louis Award, the Whitney M. Young Award from the Boy Scouts, the St. Louis Community College Distinguished Alumni Award and the Brotherhood-Sisterhood Award presented by the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

A graduate of Elizabeth College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, with a degree in human services administration, Buford also holds honorary doctorate of humane letters degrees from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Webster University and Harris-Stowe State University, both in St. Louis.

“James Buford works tirelessly to promote the St. Louis community, to provide hope and opportunities for young people and is a wonderful public servant whom I greatly admire,” Sen. Smith said. “I look forward to his service on the commission and know the citizens of Missouri will benefit from his knowledge and experience.”

State Senator Jeff Smith (D-St. Louis) is asking residents of his 4th District to submit the names of Missourians from the private sector who have achieved, accomplished or overcome something remarkable in their lives. Some of these remarkable Missourians from throughout the state may be featured in the Missouri Senate’s 2009 Calendar.

“There are so many members of the community who put their time and effort towards a good cause without any recognition,” said Sen. Smith. “This is a way to show these important members of our community that we appreciate their efforts.”

The Missouri Senate produces a themed calendar each year highlighting some aspect of Missouri’s history or culture. This year will be the first to include submitted entries from the public. Sen. Smith will select two nominees from the 4th District, and these two individuals, families, or groups will be submitted to a panel of volunteer judges who will select 12 finalists for the calendar.

A nomination form can be found online at www.senate.mo.gov by clicking on the “Know a Hero?” link. Submissions need to be received by Sen. Smith’s office by April 30, 2008.

“I encourage anyone who knows a candidate to please submit their name for this project,” said Sen. Smith. “I look forward to reviewing these stories and learning about the many people making a difference in the 4th District.”

The state Senate passed a bill yesterday that seeks to make Missouri less attractive for people living and working in America without the correct paperwork.

Gov. Matt Blunt praised the passage of Senate Bill 858.

“Illegal immigration is a serious problem in our country and state,” said Blunt in a written statement. “It is not only an assault on the sanctity of our laws but a potential threat to the safety and security of Missouri families.”

St. Louis Senator Harry Kennedy disagrees.

“I’m worried that this bill amounts to an unfunded mandate on our city and county governments, especially our courts and prison systems,” Kennedy said.

“The mandatory jailing of people whose identities cannot be immediately established will lead to overcrowding in our city and county jails and could lead to the release of offenders who have done much worse than overstayed their visa.”

SB 858, sponsored by Sen. Scott Rupp (R-Wentzville), prohibits the creation of so-called “sanctuary cities” in the state; requires verification of legal employment status of every public employee; allows for cancellation of state contracts for contractors if they hire illegal immigrants; requires public agencies to verify the legal status of applicants before providing welfare benefits; further criminalizes the transportation of illegal immigrants for purposes of human trafficking, drug trafficking, prostitution or illegal labor; and prohibits illegal immigrants from obtaining driver licenses.

The bill also prohibits employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.

“I am very opposed to illegal immigration, but with the current economic downturn, I’m worried about imposing another unfunded mandate on our businesses and local governments,” Sen. Kennedy said.

On Monday, the Missouri Senate Financial, Governmental Organizations, and Elections Committee heard testimony on several measures. Senate Bill 1245, sponsored by Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, would bar a felon from holding public office in the state.

The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 1310, sponsored by Rep. Theodore Hoskins (D-Berkeley). The legislation would require independent candidates to file declarations of candidacy and petitions for nomination by the same deadlines established for other candidates.

Committee chairman Sen. Delbert Scott (R-Lowry City) said the bill would help make the playing field more level and help prevent political “games” commonly played by both Democrats and Republicans.

Sen. Harry Kennedy (D-St. Louis) said the bill would help prevent “shenanigans” and people trying to “skirt the system.”

The committee also heard testimony on Senate Bill 1231, a proposal to implement instant runoff voting in Missouri, a system where voters rank the candidates in order of preference using one ballot.

Sen. Jeff Smith (D-St. Louis) presented the bill on behalf of sponsor Sen. John Loudon (R-Chesterfield).

Under the system, if no candidate has a majority, the lowest ranked candidate drops out and the next highest rankings on the ballots are attributed to the other candidates accordingly, until a candidate achieves a majority.

It’s through the first round, State Senator Jeff Smith’s (D-St. Louis) measure that would increase access to early childhood programs at licensed child care facilities.

Smith’s legislation creating the Missouri Preschool Plus Grant Program, a pilot program within the Missouri Preschool Project, has gotten through its first hurdle on its way to become law.

This measure would benefit some of the state’s most stressed schools, said Smith’s office.

“These are critical years in a child’s life,” said Sen. Smith in a recent press release. “More neurological development occurs by the age of 4 than in the rest of a person’s life – and impoverished children are at great risk of not receiving the early brain stimulation that can never be recaptured. This bill will help our most vulnerable kids whose families could not otherwise access early childhood education.

Senate Bill 726 would create a five-star rating system, helping parents pick a child care center. About 1,250 children whose family income falls below 130 percent of the poverty level and live in school districts not accredited by the state Board of Education.

Districts that would benefit include St. Louis Public Schools in St. Louis City and Riverview Gardens and Wellston in St. Louis County.

The measure would also help the Wyaconda district in northeast Missouri.

The grant program, if created, would target children who are one to two years from starting kindergarten. It would be administered by Department of Elementary and Secondary Education along with the Coordinating Board of Early Childhood.

Children of active duty military parents would be given preference and at least 50 percent of the enrollment must be offered through non-sectarian community-based organizations.

Also, all learning centers participating in the program must adhere to current early childhood standards and must keep records of short-term and long-term data to measure the project’s success.

The grants will be available for three years and are renewable.

A Washington University fraternity will be hosting a panel of state legislators this week as part of their student political awareness campaign.

As part of their yearlong “I Will…” awareness project, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will welcome State Senator Jeff Smith (who is actually a Wash. U. professor) and State Representatives Margaret Donnelly, Talibdin El-Amin, Jamilah Nasheed, and Clint Zweifel on Thursday at 7:00 PM in Room 100 of the Brown building.