Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Stacey Newman: The sad priorities of the Missouri GOP

(In her latest report, Rep. Stacey Newman, D-St. Louis, talks about a GOP-dominated legislature that appears to be more interested in thumping its chest and sticking its tongue out at the federal government than it is in helping Missourians to get jobs.)
I'm onto their game.  You should be too.
Veto session begins Wednesday, Sept. 11th in Jefferson City when the legislature has the opportunity to override any of the governor's vetoes = 109 votes in the House are needed.  I will NOT be voting to override any bill.
On this solumn day commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr's epic speech, I am struck by the priorities of the MO majority party leadership.  For starters...
HB436, the Second Amendment Preservation Act, has been called the "most extreme gun bill in the nation".  It will be challenged in court by my husband, Burt Newman, via the St. Louis Lawyers Group, costing the state and money if the governor's veto is overriden and becomes law.
HB436 would nullify all federal gun laws, criminalize law enforcement who try to enforce them and allow certain teachers to bring guns into our schools.  Amendments to the bill include allowing open carry, lowering conceal & carry permits to age 19, criminalizing the press if names of gun owners are published and abolishing gun buyback programs.
Speaker Jones (a co-sponsor) and 115 other representatives who voted yes on HB436 do NOT care about the federal and state constitutions they swore to uphold or even the safety of citizens, including law enforcement.
Instead they walk hand in hand with the NRA.
The New York Times covered it today:  "Gun Bill in Missouri Would Test Limits in Nullifying U.S. Law".  As you might recall, Attorney General Eric Holder has already notified Kansas that their similiar nullification law is unconstitutional and will be challenged.  We know the Dept. of Justice is paying attention to Missouri's actions.
ST LOUIS AREA REPRESENTATIVES WHO VOTED YES:
House Speaker Tim Jones (R-Eurka) - Tim.Jones@House.mo.gov (attorney)
Floor Leader John Diehl (R-Town & Country) - John.Diehl@House.mo.gov (attorney)
Democrats
Linda Black (D- Desloge) - Linda.Black@house.mo.gov
Keith English (D-Florissant) - Keith.English@house.mo.gov
Michael Frame (D - Eureka) - Michael.Frame@house.mo.gov
Ben Harris (D-Hillsboro)  - Ben. Harris@house.mo.gov
T. J. McKenna (D-Festus) - TJ.McKenna@house.mo.gov
Penny Hubbard (D-St. Louis) - Penny.Hubbard@house.mo.gov
Jeff Roorda, D-Barnhart - Jeff.Roorda@house.mo.gov
Ed Schieffer (D-Troy) - Ed.Schieffer@house.mo.gov (also a co-sponsor of HB436)
Republicans:
Sue Allen, R-Town & Country - Sue.Allen@house.mo.gov  
Keith Engler, R-Farmington - Keith.Engler@house.mo.gov
Doug Funderburk, R-St. Charles - Doug.Funderburk@house.mo.gov (BILL SPONSOR)
Chuck Gatschenberger, R-Lake St. Louis - Chuck.Gatschenberger@house.mo.gov
Don Gosen, R-Chesterfield - Don.Gosen@house.mo.gov
Mike Leara, R- Sunset Hills - Mike.Leara@house.mo.gov
Mark Parkinson, R- St. Charles - Mark.Parkinson@house.mo.gov
Dwight Scharnhorst, R- Valley Park - Dwight@Scharnhorst@house.mo.gov
Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan - Dave.Schatz@house.mo.gov
Chrissy Sommer, R-St. Charles - Chrissy.Sommer@house.mo.gov
Bryan Spencer, R-Wentzville - Bryan.Spencer@house.mo.gov
Rick Stream, R-Kirkwood - Rick. Stream@house.mo.gov                          
Anne Zerr, R- St. Charles - Anne.Zerr@house.mo.gov
Marsha Haefner, R-Oakville - Marsha.Haefner.house.mo.gov (WAS ABSENT ON THE FINAL VOTE BUT EXPECTED TO OVERRIDE)
 Every House GOP member is expected to vote to override, except Rep. Jay Barnes of Jefferson City, who was the only GOP who previously voted NO.  An attorney, he has said publicly, "The Constitution is not a cheap Chinese buffet. We don’t get to pick the parts we like and discard the ones that we don’t.”   
Eleven Democrats voted YES previously on the bill.
This is the work of your state legislature.

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