Tim Jones: Take my word for it; destroying unions is good for workers

In a portion of his weekly newsletter, Speaker of the House Tim Jones explains how legislation that hurts the people who are trying to make conditions and wages better for workers will actually help those workers. It's kind of hard to wrap my mind around this concept.

It is difficult enough to see such a large chunk of your paycheck disappear each month as the government takes its share, but even worse for union members who see their dues automatically deducted and then potentially used for causes they do not support.  One of the bills I support this year would provide a substantive level of “paycheck protection” to our union members that would put an end to the practice of a union utilizing member dues to support candidates and political causes not supported by its members.

 The paycheck protection bill was heard this week by the House Workforce Development and Workforce Safety Committee. The legislation would simply prohibit public employee unions from automatically deducting dues from a worker’s paycheck unless it obtains annual written authorization to obtain the fees. It also requires written consent from the worker before the union can spend the collected dues on political activities. This is a straightforward approach that gives workers the freedom and the power to decide how their dues are used.

 I should point out that we passed a similar bill last year that was vetoed by the governor. This year’s legislation seeks to avoid the governor by placing this proposed statutory change on the August ballot for voter approval.

Former GOP legislator's testimony: Right-to-work is not the way to go

A Progress Missouri video

Stacey Newman previews 2014 legislative session

In her latest report, Rep. Stacey Newman, D-St. Louis, previews the 2014 legislative session.

Speaker Tim Jones addressed the House Wednesday morning revealing his legislative priorities for 2014: 

• Renewed efforts for broad based tax cuts (vetoed by the governor last year)
• "Right to Work" legislation that would prohibit unions from collecting fees as a condition of employment (also known as attacks on workers via ALEC)
• Medical malpractice reform, which he referred to as "the true healthcare crisis in Missouri"
• Education reform
• Protecting Missouri values
• Sounding like a stump speech for his projected 2016 Attorney General race, Jones was very clear what bills he wants on the floor this session.  What was blaringly missing was ANY reference to:  expanding Medicaid/healthcare access for Missourians, addressing the crippling school transfer issue gripping St. Louis and Kansas City school districts OR any legislative attempt to increase jobs in the state.

 What does he mean by "protecting Missouri values"?  

 Jones is looking for co-sponsors for his Conscience bill which he intends to file shortly (see HB457 from 2013) = "anyone or any medical entity providing medical services may refuse services or treatment based on their conscience or principles".   He has pushed this same legislation since 2012.  Missouri values???

 What does he mean by "education reform"?  

 Jones' major education push last year, HB631 dealing with teacher tenure, was soundly defeated in several attempts. We anticipate he will push similiar bills after retaliation of his own caucus members who voted against him last year. Education reform???

 BILLS READY TO ROCK AND ROLL WHICH I'M MONITORING:

• SB519 (Sen. David Sater) - increasing the waiting period for an abortion from 24 hours to 72 hours
• HB11 (Rep. Ron Hicks) - requiring an ultrasound to be viewed prior to a waiting period of 24 hours for an abortion
• HB1132 (Rep. Kevin Engler) - increasing tax credits for pregnancy resource centers to $2.5 million (these centers have no medical oversight) 
• SB511 (Sen. Will Kraus) HB107 (Rep. Tony Duggar) SJR31 (Sen. Will Kraus) HJR47 (Rep. Stanley Cox) - requiring a state issued photo ID in order to vote - INCLUDES A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD GO STRAIGHT FROM THE LEGISLATURE ONTO THE NOV BALLOT
• SJR36 (Sen. Kurt Schaefer) - constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to bear arms
• HB1164 (Rep. Chrissy Sommers) - Firearms Freedom Act
• SB613 (Sen. Brian Nieves) - Second Amendment Preservation Act

If you have any interest in testifying on any bill this session, please let my office know. We'd be happy to keep you informed - which may involve last minute notice on public hearings (what we typically receive).

Stay tuned.  I guarantee you there will be plenty of fireworks this session inside the Dome. One of these days we just might get around to "responsible governing" on issues Missourians really care about.

2013 in Review: Ed Emery campaign contributors pay ALEC fees

(From July 2013)

Education has never been the strong suit of Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, at least not if it is public education.

His campaign contributors, however, are paying for Emery's education, according to his campaign disclosure form filed Wednesday with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Emery listed $475 for "education" being paid to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the shadowy right wing group that prepares ready-made bills for legislators on everything from public education (ALEC is a pro-voucher, anti-teacher organization) to guns (ALEC has been responsible for such cookie cutter bills as the unnecessary Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground bills that have opened the doors to frontier justice).

The payment to ALEC was made June 4, according to the report.

2013 in Review: Tim Jones, Jason Smith ALEC connections spelled out in campaign finance documents

(From February 2013)

For the most part, you won't see the wining and dining of Missouri GOP leaders by ALEC special interests spelled out in lobbying documents filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

The operation is much more sophisticated than that.

The expenses, and there are plenty, are buried in finance documents filed with the Commission.

Newly-minted Eighth District Congressional candidate Jason Smith, currently House Speaker Pro Tem, paid the $475 registration fee for the Nov. 28-30 ALEC States and Nation Policy Summit in Washington, D. C. out of his campaign account, according to his 30 days after election report.

2013 in Review- Transparency not important to Tim Jones when ALEC is involved

(This post was originally published in January 2013)

A video posted earlier today shows Missouri's Speaker of the House Tim Jones, R-Eureka, piously proclaiming that any bills that would reinstate campaign contribution limits are "non-starters" in this year's legislative session.

The most important thing with any ethics legislation, the speaker said, is "transparency." From Jones' way of thinking, it does not matter if someone contributes $100,000 to a politician as long as that contribution is recorded and openly available for the public to see.

Of course, that is assuming that the voting public has the time or the inclination to go to the Missouri Ethics Commission website and pore through the posted documents. It also assumes that there is a robust media willing to maintain their role of watchdog for the public and reveal these contributions from special interests and the gifts provided by lobbyists representing those special interests.

For the most part, those assumptions go unrealized and the wild west, give me the money and I'll take care of you attitude of the Missouri Legislature goes unabated.

But even Tim Jones and those who express the same attitudes about transparency do not seem to feel the same way about their association with the shadowy ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council). As I have noted in previous posts, Jones and other politicians have done a good job of hiding the influence the organization (which provides ready-made pro-business, pro-gun, anti-public school bills that are then submitted by legislators as their own) has in this state.

Transparency not that important to Speaker when it comes to ALEC

A video posted earlier today shows Missouri's Speaker of the House Tim Jones, R-Eureka, piously proclaiming that any bills that would reinstate campaign contribution limits are "non-starters" in this year's legislative session.

The most important thing with any ethics legislation, the speaker said, is "transparency." From Jones' way of thinking, it does not matter if someone contributes $100,000 to a politician as long as that contribution is recorded and openly available for the public to see.

Of course, that is assuming that the voting public has the time or the inclination to go to the Missouri Ethics Commission website and pore through the posted documents. It also assumes that there is a robust media willing to maintain their role of watchdog for the public and reveal these contributions from special interests and the gifts provided by lobbyists representing those special interests.

For the most part, those assumptions go unrealized and the wild west, give me the money and I'll take care of you attitude of the Missouri Legislature goes unabated.

But even Tim Jones and those who express the same attitudes about transparency do not seem to feel the same way about their association with the shadowy ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council). As I have noted in previous posts, Jones and other politicians have done a good job of hiding the influence the organization (which provides ready-made pro-business, pro-gun, anti-public school bills that are then submitted by legislators as their own) has in this state.

Lobbyists' filings for gifts to Republicans attending ALEC's national conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, in July, for instance, were credited to the entire general assembly, though as far as available records indicate not one Democrat from the Show-Me State was in attendance. Not only did that make it appear that both parties were receiving the gifts, which was not the case, but it also attributed to those gifts to the entire General Assembly, all 197 members, and prevented taxpayers from knowing just what gifts were accepted by the relatively small number of legislators who were in Salt Lake City.

Among those who credited their expenses to the General Assembly:
-CenturyLink lobbyist Doug Galloway reported $1,000 in meals and drinks
-AT&T's John R. Sondag, $550 in meals for "dinner" and $800 for the Missouri Night reception
-Bryan Cave LLC's Guy William Black, $800 for meals
-Ford Motor Company's Tony Reinholdt, $600 for meals
-Catalyst Group's Daniel Pfeifer, $800 for meals
-Cerner's Carrie Sherer, $800 for meals
-Missouri Chamber of Commerce's Tracy King, $800 for meals.
A total of $6,100 in lobbyists' gifts was credited to the Missouri General Assembly.  

Showing a little more accuracy, but not much, lobbyist Trey Davis, representing Missouri Energy Development Association, credited $1,371.84 to the House Majority Caucus.
Judging from the lobbyists' reports, it appears that those attending the conference included Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem; Rep. Chuck Gatschenberger, R-Lake St. Louis; Rep. Shelley Keeney, R-Marble Hill.

And undeniably, Speaker of the House Jones also attended the conference, especially considering that his "transparency" includes campaign disclosure reports that show three "contributions" from ALEC during 2012, totaling $2,673.49, and a $450 "sponsorship."

Transparency, it appears, is a double-edged sword when wielded by politicians like Tim Jones. It enables him to accept a $100,000 contribution from retired billionaire and public education opponent Rex Sinquefield, while proclaiming nothing is wrong with it as long as everyone knows he received it, while at the same time, transparency concerning connections with a group like ALEC is a much harder sell even in this state where we have become accustomed to politicians arriving in Jefferson City with their hands fully extended.