Donnelly: Koster should be ashamed

Noting Sen. Chris Koster's filibuster of the Village Law, one of Koster's Democratic primary opponents for attorney general, Rep. Margaret Donnelly, ripped the Harrisonville Democrat today, with her campaign issuing the following release:

As the legislative session comes to a close, it is usually the final opportunity for lawmakers to pass bills helpful to their constituents. However, one tag team of lawmakers, Senators Chris Koster, D-Raymore and Senator Victor Callahan
D-Independence used the final hours of the legislative session to filibuster the "Village Law Repeal" bill in the State Senate. The legislation had two major provisions: the first repealed the "Village Law"; the second placed tougher restrictions on sex shops and pornography. After a long filibuster a compromise was reached. The bill passed, but without the emergency clause allowing it to become law immediately.

Numerous newspaper editorials have condemned the "Village Law" because of the proliferation of so called "villages" popping up in many areas of the state as a way for developers to avoid accountability to county government. The provision was inserted at the last minute last year and permits development to occur regardless of the impact on neighboring communities. This has been a pet project of Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton, a close friend of Koster's.

State Representative Margaret Donnelly commented on the filibuster saying, "It is outrageous that in the final days of session Senator Koster has made it a priority to filibuster a bill in order to help his friend Speaker Jetton. The repeal of the village law provision is essential to protecting the wishes of neighboring citizens from projects such as gaming or CAFOs. He must also be against putting regulations on sex shops, since his filibuster resulted in that portion being stripped from the bill. Although the repeal of the village law finally occurred, without the emergency clause it will be the "Wild West" for developers from now until August.

"I expect more from a candidate for Attorney General. He should be ashamed," said Donnelly. "This shows once again that Koster values his special interests and Republican friends over the best interests of all Missourians."