Gov. Nixon calls for comprehensive ethics reform during 2010 legislative session
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – In a letter sent to every member of the Missouri General Assembly, Gov. Jay Nixon today called on legislators to pass comprehensive ethics reform in 2010 “to strengthen the credibility of Missouri’s elected officials and the confidence of those they serve.”
The Governor detailed four key elements that he believes should be the foundation of meaningful and comprehensive ethics reform. In doing so, Gov. Nixon stated clearly that while additional ethics-reform ideas merit discussion and consideration, real reform should be built around these key elements:
Enacting strict campaign contribution limits, as mandated by 74 percent of Missouri voters through a ballot initiative in 1994 and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court;
Eliminating committee-to-committee transfers, which undermine transparency and weaken contribution limits;
Prohibiting an officeholder from taking money under the guise of “political consulting,” political advice or similar services, during their time in office and for a reasonable period after leaving office; and
Closing the revolving door between the legislature and lobbying, by prohibiting legislators from serving as registered lobbyists of the legislative branch for a reasonable period after they leave office.
“Missourians expect and deserve a government that is transparent, accountable and responsive,” Gov. Nixon said. “Meaningful ethics reform will help make sure that each of us who holds the public trust lives up to that clear standard. That’s why we must enact strict campaign contribution limits, eliminate shady committee-to-committee transfers, and prohibit officeholders from working as paid political consultants and lobbyists. I look forward to working with a bipartisan coalition to turn these key pillars into strong, comprehensive ethics reform that is worthy of the people of the Show-Me State.”
Throughout his career in public service, Gov. Nixon has been a strong proponent of transparent and accountable government, including strict campaign contribution limits. In 1999, Gov. Nixon successfully argued the landmark Nixon vs. Shrink Missouri Government PAC case before the U.S. Supreme Court [No. 98-963, 10/5/1999], which upheld Missouri’s system of contribution limits.
Many important issues confront the state of Missouri in 2010, but I believe that we can more effectively address every issue if we make needed reforms to our political system.
In September, I wrote a thirteen-page memo to my colleagues on this topic. A few weeks later, the Kansas City Star ran a feature story about loopholes in the system.
On December 14th, I joined with Rep. Tim Flook (R-Liberty) in announcing House Bill 1434 which, should it pass, will substantially change Missouri politics.
2. Help to pass agile job creation tools and preserve important programs in a very difficult budget year.
In a previous newsletter, I wrote about the need for new economic development tools to help Missouri compete internationally. It is, obviously, one of my new year’s resolutions – and I know the majority of my colleagues share this same priority.
While we work on creative ways to increase state revenue through job creation, I will work to preserve vital state services in one of the most difficult budget years in a long time. I trust that I won’t be the only member of the budget committee to work toward this goal.
3. Strengthen or preserve laws that protect Missourians at home and in court.
I am currently working with other lawmakers to draft Sam and Lindsay’s law, named in honor of Sam and Lindsay Porter, who died by their father’s hand in 2004. Their mother, Tina Porter, approached Jackson County Prosecutor Jim Kanatzar about changes she felt were needed to protect Missouri’s children from parental kidnappings. Jim then approached me, Sen. Victor Callahan (D-Independence) and Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharpe about the legislation. We announced the proposed changes last Wednesday during a press conference at the Jackson County Courthouse.
Also, I will re-file bipartisan legislation in 2010 that I first pushed in 2009 to strengthen domestic violence laws, and I will once again co-sponsor bipartisan efforts to mandate insurance coverage of autism treatments. Next, although I was the only Democratic co-sponsor of the False Claims Act last year, I’m hopeful that it will receive support on both sides of the aisle in 2010.
Finally, I will continue to fight for the preservation of the Missouri non-partisan court plan.
4. Do the impossible: stay fit while living in Jefferson City.
This is a pretty big goal. Thanks to the ongoing requirements of the Army National Guard, I do manage to stay in pretty decent shape year-round, but the legislative session in Jeff City from January to May really presents a challenge. These last two months, Diana and I have been getting up early for some pretty serious “extreme” morning workouts and we feel pretty good about it. She can do A LOT of pull ups. It’s pretty impressive actually.
But my schedule in Jeff City is so insane and the junk food is so quick and easy . . . it’s going to be a real test.
(The picture on the right is from a charity eating contest and is not to be taken as an accurate reflection of my normal diet.)
Heading back to Jeff City, I feel kind of like those contestants on “The Biggest Loser” who have to “leave the ranch” for a few weeks and try to do it without their trainers or their helpful dieticians.
So if you’re reading this and you’re one of the people who works with me in Jefferson City, here’s how you can help me with this resolution. If you see me about to eat pizza or some other quick and unhealthy snack, please do your best to shame me and, if necessary, attempt to physically steal the food. If nothing else, I’ll burn some calories fighting for my junk food.
So those are my resolutions. As always, thanks for reading and I look forward to hearing from you. Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Jason
P.S. I almost forgot new year’s resolution #5: WIN RE-ELECTION! Wanna help?
It’s hard to believe we’ve been at it for almost a full year now. Whether you were with Robin Carnahan the day she launched her U. S. Senate campaign on February 3rd or joined her team in the following months, we’ve come a long way working together for Robin!
Now as we approach the end of a year, it’s time to take stock and reflect upon some of our accomplishments. To that end, here are the 2009 Robin Carnahan for Senate highlights, by the numbers:
7 — the number of publicly released independent polls conducted statewide in 2009 that show Robin ahead of her likely Republican opponent, Congressman Roy Blunt, by an average of 47% to 44%.
109 — the number of counties in Missouri (out of 114 total counties) in which Robin Carnahan has received donations from grassroots supporters this year who agree with her positive message of reform, accountability, and getting things done for Missouri families!
402 — the number of volunteers who attended a House Party for Robin Carnahan last month pledging their time and effort to electing Robin Carnahan to the U.S. Senate.
732 — the number of members so far who have joined “Team 2010″ with a generous donation to Robin’s campaign. But we’ve got a long way to go.
Since we’re about halfway through this campaign, to keep on pace, we need to hit the halfway mark (which is 1,005) on our Team 2010 goal of 2,010 members. Which means we need to enlist another 273 more members of Team 2010 by midnight on December 31st — just 4 days are remaining.
Will you be our 1,005th Team 2010 donor?If you are the one, Robin Carnahan looks forward to calling you on New Year’s Day with thanks and well wishes for the new year!
Sincerely,
Emily Elbert
Finance Director, Robin Carnahan for Senate
P.S. New Year’s Eve marks our last quarterly fundraising deadline for 2009. Will you help us hit 1,005 members of our Team 2010 by midnight on December 31st? Contribute today www.RobinCarnahan.com/year-one.
This video makes me sad. God is not a Democrat or a Republican. If you think God is always on your side of a political fight, then maybe you have made God into your image, not the other way around. God does not strike down Republican or Democratic Senators for their votes on health care reform. The efforts by Republicans to stir up people of faith may indeed “backfire,” as the caller referenced, but it won’t be from God. As we near the celebration of Christmas, my faith tradition tells me to love my neighbor (Republican and Democrat). It is my prayer that on this Christmas that we all can pause from trying to fit God into our politics and that the entire world (Jewish, Muslim or Christian) can experience a little more peace.
Another year is coming to an end and the holidays are here. Therefore, on behalf of the Missouri Democratic Party, I would like to wish you and your family, friends and loved ones the best this holiday season.
Many of us have so much to be thankful for because we are blessed to have wonderful people around us. However, the holidays are also about looking out for those in need.
You might find yourself donating some clothes to a thrift store or taking some of your extra canned goods to a local food pantry. Whatever you chose to do, remember that this time of year is all about giving, whether it is to an individual or an entire community.
For those of you interested, there are service projects going on in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas. We encourage people in those areas to go to the following link and sign up to attend a service project: http://my.barackobama.com/ServiceMO.
People in other areas of the state should also feel free to organize service projects, and let us know what impact they have on the community.
All of us have to work together to improve our communities, our state and this country. 2010 is a new year that brings more hope and opportunity. Thanks again for all your support.
Sincerely,
Craig Hosmer
Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party
Paid for by the Missouri Democratic Party
Rod Anderson, Treasurer
Not authorized by an candidate or candidate committee
208 Madison Street, Jefferson City, MO 65102 www.MissouriDems.org | (573) 636-5241
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Congressman Blunt is so obviously responding to a political ad from the League of Conservation voters, which would make this a political response. Chairman Craig Hosmer & the Missouri Democratic Party released a statement and held a news conference in Springfield. The statement is below.
“TAXPAYER MONEY USED BY CONGRESSMAN BLUNT TO DIRECTLY RESPOND TO CAMPAIGN QUESTIONS Filed on December 18, 2009
For Immediate Release: December 18, 2009
Contact: Ryan Hobart (573) 636-5241 Ext. 125
“TAXPAYER MONEY USED BY CONGRESSMAN BLUNT TO DIRECTLY RESPOND TO CAMPAIGN QUESTIONS
MDP to file ethics complaints; calls on Cong. Blunt to disclose cost of so-called “official” mailing and reimburse Missourians for campaign literature
Hosmer: “It was bad enough when corporate special interests and lobbyists were funding Congressman Blunt’s campaign, but now Missouri taxpayers are footing the bill.”
Springfield, MO – After many Missourians in the 7th District received a mailing from Congressman Roy Blunt’s Washington, DC Congressional office, Missouri Democratic Party Chairman, Craig Hosmer, held a news conference today calling on Congressman Blunt to reimburse Missouri taxpayers for what amounts to campaign literature being sent out by his Congressional office.
Hosmer announced that the Missouri Democratic Party plans to file complaints with the House Franking Commission, House Ethics Committee and is also looking at possible FEC violations to see if a federal investigation is necessary.
“It was bad enough when corporate special interests and lobbyists were funding Congressman Blunt’s campaign, but now Missouri taxpayers are footing the bill,” said Craig Hosmer, Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party. “Taxpayers deserve to know how many people Congressman Blunt sent this mailer to and how much it cost Missourians. We are calling on Congressman Blunt to reimburse taxpayers for the cost of his campaign literature – his campaign should pay for this kind of political mailing, not Missouri taxpayers.”
Recently the League of Conservation Voters had put out TV and radio ads stating the fact that Congressman Blunt has taken over $1 million from big oil and energy interests [click here to view], and the Missouri Democratic Party has also put out this video news release [click here to view] to set the record straight on Congressman Blunt’s 12 year voting record with big oil companies and energy corporate special interests, making Blunt’s mailer a direct response to a campaign matter, and a clear violation of Congressional Rules.
The franking privilege may only be used for matters of public concern or public service. (39 U.S.C. § 3210(3)(a).) It may not be used to solicit votes or contributions, to send mail regarding political campaigns or political parties, or to mail autobiographical or holiday greeting materials.”
What do you think should taxpayers be forced to foot the bill for Roy Blunt’s senate campaign?
As Chair of the Missouri Housing Development Commission, I am very excited to announce that moments ago we passed a $35 million economic development initiative. This initiative, first unveiled by Governor Jay Nixon and myself on November 24, will provide property tax relief to thousands of qualified middle- and low-income Missouri homebuyers, create and protect potentially thousands of good-paying jobs and help improve energy-efficiency in Missouri housing.
The $35 million package was approved at today’s MHDC meeting, which was webcast live for the first time ever in an effort to bring increased transparency to the housing agency. The package provides:
1. $15 million to pay the first year of property taxes for qualified homebuyers who purchase a new or existing home after January 1, 2010. This has the opportunity to help between 9,000 and 11,000 Missouri families making less than $100,000 a year.
2. $15 million to finance and begin construction on affordable multi-family housing. This will create and save thousands of jobs at a time when Missouri unemployment is over 9% and allow us to continue to make quality affordable housing available to all Missourians.
3. $5 million in assistance to qualified homebuyers to help with down payments and closing costs. This helps potential homebuyers overcome the obstacle of coming up with enough cash for a down payment and closing costs. MHDC has been a national leader on this front
.
4. Additional assistance to homebuyers who purchase an energy-efficient home or purchase energy-saving appliances. This is an opportunity to raise energy-efficiency standards in Missouri, making a positive impact on both the economy and the environment. It’s a win-win.
This economic development package provides property tax relief to thousands of Missourians at a crucial time in our economy without spending Missouri tax dollars. This will be paid for entirely out of MHDC’s reserve fund and federal recovery funds already in our possession. This comes in addition to more than $100 million in recovery funds and more than $19 million in reserves already allocated to boost Missouri’s economy and put Missourians back to work.
My goal as Chair is to ensure MHDC is playing a pivotal role in Missouri’s economic recovery and I believe we are doing that. The agency already offers competitive interest rates on home loans for qualified borrowers and a cash assistance loan plan for first-time homebuyers to help with down payments and closing costs. MHDC has also been a national leader in allowing Missourians to use the $8,000 federal first-time homebuyer tax credit up front for a down payment or closing costs. This program has been a success and will continue until at least April of 2010.
At a time when economic resources are scarce, it is important for you to know that I am constantly looking for new and innovative ways to get our economy moving again as well as ways to better marshal the tools and resources that are available.
One of those tools is the Missouri Linked Deposit Program, which provides low-interest loans to qualified small businesses and family farms. On November 23, I announced the largest-ever small business loan issued through the program. A small agricultural company in Marshall qualified for a $3.4 million loan, which will save the business more than $300,000 over five years compared to the cost of a regular loan. In addition, the loan will allow the company to add jobs and expand its customer base.
Thanks to changes made earlier this year to the Missouri Linked Deposit Program through my Invest in Missouri legislation, I am able to issue these kinds of loans to more small businesses with less turnaround time, allowing them to receive much-needed capital quickly.
Again, this costs Missouri taxpayers nothing. The Missouri Linked Deposit Program allows us to invest right here in Missouri to help small businesses that need it the most and who are playing a pivotal role in our economic recovery.
We have about $200 million in loans already out to small business throughout Missouri and we still have another $520 million available. To find out more about the Missouri Linked Deposit Program, click here.
As always, thank you for your interest and feel free to contact me with any ideas, feedback, or questions at clint@clintformissouri.com or 314-645-0555.
Robin Carnahan and Jackson County Committeewoman Dutch Newman
Rasmussen has new polling data out this morning which pretty much reflects what we in Jackson County have know for a long time, this is going to be a close race. This is going to be one of the most watched races in the nation. Missouri reflects the American sentiment more accurately than just about any other state, so once again the nation will be watching us. You can read about the polling data here and here.
There will be lots of opportunities to get involved in this race in 2010. Let’s make Missouri the 4th state by having 2 great women Senators that represent real Missouri common sense values.
Will you join with Team Robin today? I did, it’s worth $20.10 to me, because the worst present in the world in 2010 would be Senator Blunt.
“Tea Party” Republican candidates Purgason, Martin, Hartzler and Davis have already tread on us by cutting needed services and wasting taxpayer dollars
Jefferson City, Mo. — On this day in 1773, colonists in Boston protested not having elected representation by destroying tea imported from Great Britain. More than 200 years later, America has come a long way, now a great example of democracy in the world.
Despite that, and still angry from embarrassing political defeats in 2006 and 2008, a bunch of Republicans now are re-branding themselves as “Tea Party Patriots.” And the so-called new leaders of the ultra-conservative Tea Party Republican group in Missouri seem to be the same old folks who already had their shot at serving the people – but were miserable failures when it came to looking out for Missouri families.
Here are a selected few of the Tea Party Republicans, aided by the megaphones of Tea Party Republican activists such as Dana Loesch and Bill Hennessy:
State Senator Chuck Purgason
US Senate candidate
and Hater of Health Care
In his bid for US Senate, Sen. Purgason
has spent months travelling to tea parties around the state touting his belief in responsible government that works for the people. However, Senator Purgason championed the 2005 legislation that ultimately
cut 100,000 Missourians from their Medicaid and reduced health benefits for another 200,000 – many of whom were elderly, low-income and disabled. [St Louis Beacon 7/23/09]. This year, Purgason showed his true colors again by signing on to Sen. Jane Cunningham’s proposal to opt Missouri out of health care reform – regardless of what it might offer Missouri families.
Ed Martin
Congressional candidate – MO-03
and Abuser of Tax Dollars
While Chief of Staff to former Governor Matt Blunt,
Tea Party Republican Martin was caught doing political business on the state’s dime, misusing his state email address to rally political allies to attack then-Attorney General Jay Nixon and to attack the process by which Missouri chooses its judges. [Springfield News-Leader, 9/9/07; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 3/3/09]. The ensuing cover-up spawned a wrongful termination lawsuit and also suits for access to destroyed public records. All together, the fiasco ended up costing the state of Missouri
more than $2.1 million in legal fees and costs.
Frmr. State Rep. Vicky Hartzler
Congressional Candidate – MO-04
and Fringe Extremist
Former State Rep. Vicky Hartzler has a tough primary for the Republican nomination for the 4th CD, so she’s been speaking at every Tea Party Republican rally she can find to re-brand herself as a fiscal conservative. In fact, a couple months ago she said: “I never voted for a tax increase while I was in Jefferson City. I won’t vote for one in Washington, D.C. Unlike my opponents, I believe Americans need lower taxes, not higher taxes.” (KY3 Political Notebook, 9/29/09) But in her 1996 re-election fight against Democrat Monte Lee Olsen, Hartzler admitted that she had voted for legislation that required fee and tax increases. Olsen said Hartlzer voted for seven tax and fee increases totaling $9.6 million. According to the Kansas City Star, Hartzler said she did vote for some legislation that required fee and tax increases, such as new Missouri license plates. “There is certainly, unfortunately, a cost of government,” Hartzler said. [Kansas City Star, 10/31/96]
State Rep. Cynthia Davis
Candidate for __?__ in 2010
and Sarah Palin Wanna-Be
Rep. Davis hasn’t announced yet what office
she is seeking in 2010, but folks around the state are abuzz about what this favorite Tea Party Republican will do next. Famous for her position on child hunger: ‘Hunger can be a positive motivator,’ Davis repeatedly takes extreme stands that hurt Missouri children and families. And she’s not without ethical baggage too: Rep. Davis also has a repeated habit of using campaign funds for personal use. [St. Louis Post Dispatch, 2/15/06]
“Samuel Adams must be rolling over in his grave with this group of so-called Tea Partiers,” said Ryan Hobart, spokesperson for the Missouri Democratic Party. “Tea Party Republicans like Purgason, Martin, Hartzler and Davis have had their chance at public service and, quite frankly, they’ve let Missouri families down by wasting taxpayer money and refusing to help the least among us.”
UPDATE from Democratic Leader Paul LeVota (Independence)
“Improving integrity and accountability in state government has been a centerpiece of House Democrats’ legislative agenda for several years, and it is encouraging that House Republican leaders finally appear to be joining the cause. We are particularly pleased that the House majority leader has embraced some Democratic proposals, including banning lawmakers from simultaneously serving as paid political consultants.
“A key omission from his plan, however, is the restoration of campaign contribution limits, which were repealed in 2008 despite being first imposed by nearly three-quarters of Missouri voters. Prohibiting lawmakers from accepting a plate of chicken wings or a slice of pizza from a lobbyist is admirable but does little to negate the perception of a legislature for sale if lobbyists and other wealthy donors can still give massive amounts of money – such as the $100,000 donation the majority leader received from a single contributor earlier this year – to candidates for elected office.”
Majority “Leader” Steve Tilley unveils ethics legislation, but dont worry about his ethics because according to his dad, he is fine.
“I’m not afraid to use the power of my position to make sure this bill gets done.”
It has not been that long since Tilley’s name was regularly featured in Turner Report posts abput Missouri politicians accepting gifts from lobbyists Previous posts about Tilley can be found at this link.
Tilley says he read the posts and did not like what he was reading. “I knew that no lobbyist gift was going to buy my vote, but I printed a couple of the stories out and showed them to my dad. He told me he knew I hadn’t done anything wrong, but he said it sure looks bad.”
It all started in the spring with news of the FBI investigating “pay for play” in Jefferson City, and slowly but surely a disturbing pattern is emerging.
In the November 3rd editorial published in the Lees Summit Journal Rep. Yates clearly outlined his frustration with the status quo in Jefferson City, by calling out his own colleagues.
He wrote “Jetton’s clients, including some from our area, have collected huge campaign donations, interestingly after supporting controversial legislation.
For example, after a vote that tried to alter Missouri’s Non-Partisan Court Plan, Jetton’s clients saw an extreme influx of donations to their campaign committees.
This is somewhat alarming, noting that many of Jetton’s clients are in leadership positions and oversee the prerogatives and goals of the entire House.
This bill in particular caught the eye of many in the Missouri General Assembly. Proposals to change Missouri’s selection of judges have come and gone for years, never usually making it out of committee. However, this last session, a bill to change the process came out of committee and ended up passing the Missouri House 85-72. I voted against this legislation.
Ironically, $250,000 in campaign contributions, all stemming from one Joplin family interested in changing the plan, were deposited in the next several weeks to House Leaders, including Jetton clients. “
Irony, thy name is Brian Yates. I am sure the former Representative meant well when he wrote about ethics in Jefferson City on November 3rd, I am sure he fully intended to file the ethics legislation he promised in January. So what made Rep. Yates resign suddenly 3 weeks later?
The GOP in Jackson County is right in the middle of this hot mess, with 3 key Jackson County Representatives fighting it out in a primary for the 8th senate district. Pratt, Deusenberg and Will Krause are all battling it out in what could be a very entertaining primary for the nomination next year. However, beneath the political smokescreen lies a bigger problem for the people of Missouri.
What Representative Yates was writing about in his piece is an effort that has been underway to undermine the process in which Justices for the Missouri Supreme Court are chosen. The group leading this fight is “Better Courts for Missouri” , a secretly funded organization. The sole purpose of this group is to turn the way we select justices in Missouri from one of Merit selection to an electoral process opening up the Supreme Court to the highest bidder.
What is wrong with that you say? Nothing if you happen to own a large manufacturing company that is facing the possibility of lawsuits stemming from asbestos. From the Kansas City Star:
“Within days of a controversial vote last April in the Missouri House, rumors flew that a reward was coming for the Republican leaders who pushed it through. And those rumors proved true. $25,000 poured in a week after the vote. Then $5,000. Then $50,000. Then $100,000, followed days later by another $25,000. And another $50,000. The campaign contributions – more than $250,000 in all – came from an influential family, the Humphreys family of Joplin. The family held strong feelings about the issue at hand: changing the state’s judicial selection process.Campaign cash flowed freely following legislative action this spring on how the state’s judges are picked, The Star’s investigation found.
Judicial nominees for the state supreme and appeals courts, along with some larger circuit courts, are vetted by commissions made up of lawyers, gubernatorial appointees and a sitting judge. But conservatives have assailed the process, arguing that it gives too much influence to trial attorneys.
At the forefront of the fight has been the Humphreys family, owners of Joplin-based Tamko Building Products Inc. Tamko makes roofing products and other building materials. The company has been named in numerous asbestos lawsuits and boasts of a “very aggressive” litigation strategy.
Some companies believe that, through the political process, they can put judges on the bench who are more conservative and sympathetic to corporations.
Jetton and other House leaders have courted the Humphreys family for years. According to a Jetton confidant, who asked not to be identified, Jetton set a goal at the start of his reign as speaker to cultivate the Humphreys family first as $50,000 donors and then elevate the family to $100,000.”
Allowing political donations from either side of the partisan divide to determine how our Supreme Court justices are chosen is bad for the law and for Missourians, but it seems to be great for the Missouri Republican Party.
There is a lot of money at stake here folks, not just in the political sphere that is Jefferson City, if the opponents of the Missouri Court plan get their way, look out. It will become harder and harder to advocate on behalf of the average Missourian. I don’t know about you but I can’t compete with $50,000 donations. I can’t buy my way into a meeting with my Representative or Senator. I depend on a non partial judiciary to do what is best for Missouri. This is not a John Grisham novel. This is real life.
It has happened in other states, don’t be fooled Missouri. Don’t be fooled in Ohio “In the weeks before the election, Justice O’Donnell’s campaign accepted thousands of dollars from the political action committees of three companies that were defendants in the suits. Two of the cases dealt with defective cars, and one involved a toxic substance. Weeks after winning his race, Justice O’Donnell joined majorities that handed the three companies significant victories.”
Is this what the Humphreys are hoping for in Missouri?
The Missouri GOP has a problem on their hands and they know it. A letter is circulating from an anonymous GOP Representative, Here’s the letter:
“To My Colleagues, (I am withholding my name today so you read what I say and not focus on who I am)
Our Missouri Republican House is full of hard-working, industrious legislators who are doing their best for Missouri.
But our attempts to build a better and stronger party are being held back by the waste and greed of select individuals who have directed the party’s resources to advance their own agendas. It began with Rod Jetton, and continues today with Steve Tilley.
Speaker Jetton’s exploits are well known to many of us. By “sharing” resources between his campaign committee and the HRCC, and later between his campaign committee and consulting practice, he has abused the trust of the party by directing funds from their intended purposes.
Seven out of ten dollars that Speaker Jetton’s leadership committee raised in 2007-2008 went to non-fundraising overhead: to paying for things such as his consulting firm’s staff, meals and lodging. Such a number is impossibly high if the real purpose of the committee is to get Republicans elected, but it’s much more believable if your objective is self-enrichment.
Speaker Jetton has blurred the lines between lobbying and consulting, deservedly attracting negative attention that unfortunately has fallen on our party as a whole. We owe each other loyalty but we should not allow our trust to be abused. It is our responsibility to disavow these actions, as well as the manner in which they continue today through the HRCC.
It seems that in the past unless you raised a certain amount of money or hired a particular consultant that you could not advance in our body. I completely support ethical efforts to raise money to elect ethical, conservative Republicans to fill our ranks to keep a pro-business, anti-tax majority. But it seems more and more that the money we are raising is not to elect ethical conservatives— but to support lavish lifestyles and to pay for appointments, committee assignments and leadership positions.
As we work hard to raise money in this economic climate, we must question how that money is spent.
Through their multiple political connections, Tilley and Jetton are inexorably connected. After Jetton left the HRCC, his leadership committee was given a jump-start of $15,922.00 by a PAC connected to Tilley. Tilley has directly employed Jetton’s consulting services, and their indirect relationships are too numerous to count here. Through them, Tilley has been linked to many of the same controversies that have embroiled Jetton.
I am unable to sympathize with them. They took an institution designed to help Republican candidates and used it to promote themselves. The Missouri Republican Party does not need and cannot afford the type of leadership that hides from the public view and operates in the shadows.
We need new leadership in the House.
For a member of the Missouri House to stand up and demand this change is unusual, but given the circumstances I see no other choice. I certainly never imagined myself doing this, but now I find myself disappointed for not doing it sooner.
We need to demand new leadership to retain our majority. Speaker Jetton was obviously corrupted by power. We are entrusted by the people to do what is right. As painful as it may be for some, we need to disavow Speaker Jetton and his associates. We are the party of values, not this disgusting behavior. We need to clean up our House before the Democrats attack us and take the majority.
Congrats to Steve Kraske and the Political team over at the KC Star, unfortunately I think this is just the beginning. We will continue to hold the GOP responsible in Jackson County and hope that you do the same.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today launched Training for Tomorrow, a $12 million initiative to educate Missourians in high-tech fields and get them working in growing industries. These grants will help Missouri community colleges create or expand training programs to serve additional students.
The Governor announced Training for Tomorrow during visits to Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield and Moberly Area Community College.
“Earlier this fall, I toured many of Missouri’s community colleges to hear directly about the needs of workers and businesses in their areas,” Gov. Nixon said. “In those conversations, it became clear that to turn this economy around, more Missourians need access to training programs in high-tech, high-demand fields. Especially in growing industries like health care, technical training beyond high school is absolutely vital, but many of our community colleges simply don’t have the equipment, instructors or resources to meet the needs of Missouri’s workers. Training for Tomorrow will expand these programs quickly and help get Missourians ready to work as soon as possible.”
Under Training for Tomorrow, member institutions of the Missouri Community College Association will partner with the government of the county in which they are located to apply for grant dollars to develop or expand programs to train Missourians in technical fields. Occupations specifically targeted by these funds could include veterinary and pharmacy technicians, nursing aides or skilled craftsmen.
Community colleges applying for competitive grants from Training for Tomorrow will be required to provide a detailed description of the programs they plan to develop or expand, including:
Outlining the specific actions they will take to expand the capacity of high-demand programs;
Detailing the market demand for the programs, both by students and employers;
Identifying partners from business and industry who can help design the programs;
Aligning the expansion of these programs with local economic-recovery efforts;
Showing that the expansion will create or add pathways to specific high-demand careers in the local market; and
Drafting an implementation plan for the programs.
The Missouri Department of Economic Development will administer Training for Tomorrow, review and evaluate the applications, and recommend awards. Funding for the grants will come from the Second Supplemental Disaster Recovery Community Development Block Grant, a federal program to assist with economic recovery efforts.
Training for Tomorrow funds can cover all costs related to developing or expanding high-demand programs, but the funds cannot be used to replace existing salaries, pay for existing overhead costs, or cover “bricks-and-mortar” projects.
“This program will provide new opportunities for Missouri workers, meet critical needs for our businesses, and help move our economy forward,” said Marcia Pfeiffer, president of St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley and chair of the Presidents and Chancellors Council of the Missouri Community College Association. “Our institutions play a vital role in preparing Missouri workers for the careers of tomorrow. This funding will help us expand our highest-demand programs, serve more students, and get Missourians working quickly. We appreciate Gov. Nixon’s support of Missouri’s community colleges and his strong leadership on this vital economic initiative.”
Application materials for community colleges and county governments are available online by visiting the state’s Web portal, www.mo.gov, and searching for Training for Tomorrow. Completed applications are due Feb. 15, 2010.
To view this news release on the Governor’s website click here.
Please do not reply to this email. Please email inquiries to: webmaster@mo.gov
Gov. Nixon announces details of bill to reform Missouri DWI laws, keep repeat drunken drivers off the road
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Gov. Jay Nixon today detailed legislation to overhaul the way Missouri deals with drunken-driving cases by eliminating loopholes that block prosecutions and ensuring that all DWI offenses are accurately recorded and tracked. Gov. Nixon announced the comprehensive approach during stops in Hannibal, St. Louis County and Cape Girardeau County.
“There are simply too many gaps in our current system,” Gov. Nixon said. “The way we handle drunken-driving cases in Missouri is broken. We must take bold and decisive steps to reform the way DWI cases are dealt with. We have a duty to protect Missouri families by improving every aspect of DWI enforcement, from the traffic stops that initiate cases to the sentences handed out by judges, and even the way records of offenders are kept.”
On Nov. 4, Gov. Nixon convened a DWI summit with more than 30 participants, including police chiefs, sheriffs, county and municipal prosecutors, judges, court clerks and victims’ advocates. The participants detailed their experiences with Missouri’s DWI system and offered suggestions to make improvements.
Requiring repeat DWI offenders, drivers with a blood-alcohol level of.15 or above, and drivers who refuse to submit to a blood-alcohol test to be charged in a state court, as opposed to a municipal court, to ensure that the most rigorous standards are applied in bringing offenders to justice and tracking cases to avoid repeat offenses.
Creating enhanced penalties for offenders with blood-alcohol levels of .15 and above. (Under Missouri law .08 is the presumed level of intoxication.)
Making it a crime for any driver to refuse to submit to a blood-alcohol test.
Expanding the use of ignition-interlock devices to include cases when the driver’s blood-alcohol level was.15 or above or when a driver refuses to submit to a blood-alcohol test; current law limits the required use of these devices to repeat offenders.
Eliminating the provision under current law that allows DWI offenders to have their records expunged after 10 years without another offense.
Requiring all jurisdictions to enter DWI arrest and case information into the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Driving While Intoxicated Tracking System (DWITS) to strengthen the tracking of DWI offenders. (Grant funding could be withheld from agencies that fail to report.)
Prohibiting a defendant from withdrawing a guilty plea for DWI when reaching the end of his probation under a suspended imposition of sentence (SIS).
These initiatives will be included in legislation that will be sponsored by Rep. Bryan Stevenson (R-Joplin), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and co-sponsored by Rep. Rachel Bringer (D-Palmyra), a former prosecutor.
“I look forward to working with Gov. Nixon and legislators to improve the safety on the highway, the accuracy of reporting DWI offenses, and the efficiency of the court system which will all result in improving the lives of Missouri citizens,” Rep. Stevenson said.
“I appreciate the leadership of the Governor to address public safety issues in Missouri, and I look forward to working with Gov. Nixon and Rep. Stevenson next legislative session on ways to improve the safety of all Missourians,” Rep. Bringer said.
Gov. Nixon said he is committed to working with legislators to pass these aggressive reforms to DWI laws, and he praised local stakeholders and legislators for working together to develop a quality bill that addresses the entire spectrum of problems with drunken-driving enforcement.
“Five weeks ago, I asked the Missouri Department of Public Safety to get input and ideas from the best minds in Missouri on this issue, and leaders from both parties have determined the best solution is a dramatic overhaul,” Gov. Nixon said. “With these changes, we have an opportunity to better protect innocent drivers and pedestrians. There’s a strong desire among members of both parties to close the gaps in our current law, provide tough consequences for offenders and make Missouri’s roads safer. This legislation will do just that.”
To view this news release on the Governor’s website click here.
Please do not reply to this email. Please email inquiries to: webmaster@mo.gov
As we head into the final stretch on health reform, big insurance company lobbyists and their partisan allies hope that their relentless attacks and millions of dollars can intimidate us into accepting the status quo.
So I have a message for them, from all of us: Not this time. We have come too far. We will not turn back. We will not back down.
But do not doubt — the opponents of reform will not rest. So I need you, the members of Organizing for America, to fight alongside me.
We must continue to build out our campaign — to spread the facts on the air and on the ground, and to bring in more volunteers and train them to join the fight. I urgently need your help to keep Organizing for America’s 50-state movement for reform going strong.
Can you donate $25 or whatever you can afford today?
Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee — 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Contributions or gifts to the Democratic National Committee are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.
Many important issues confront the state of Missouri in 2010, but I believe that we can more effectively address every issue if we make 
Missouri compete internationally. It is, obviously, one of my new year’s resolutions – and I know the majority of my colleagues share this same priority.
Porter, who died by their father’s hand in 2004. Their mother, Tina Porter, 
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