Stacey Newman: Tax veto override was not a victory for Missouri

(In her latest newsletter, Rep. Stacey Newman, D-St. Louis, describes the way the tax bill override was accomplished in the House.)

The big news this week was the veto override of the tax cut bill with lots of drama.

One lone House Democrat, Rep. Keith English (D-Florissant) crossed over to be the final deciding vote for the required two-thirds majority to override Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto ofSB509. All 108 House Republicans voted yes and 46 House Democrats voted no (all but one). The Senate voted Monday 23-8 along partyline votes to override.

Speaker Tim Jones left the vote board conspicuously open for some time while Rep. English was summoned from a collegue's locked office and was escorted into the chamber by Rep. Ron Hicks (R-St. Peters). After the final vote was cast, the House Republicans broke decorum, stood and cheered.

It was not a victory for Missouri.

Newman: Why no comments from GOP legislators on Michael Sam?

In her latest report, Rep. Stacey Newman, D-St. Louis, not only tells us what is going on in Jefferson City, but also details some of the tactics being used by GOP leadership.

Plenty of fireworks hit the State House this past week.  I'm amazed the Capitol Dome is still standing but we've only finished the 6th week of session with more to go. Almost everything is under attack including several attempts to impeach the Governor.  It's Election Year, remember?

I'm eating my Wheaties as fast as I can.

However, our University of Missouri Tigers gave us a lesson in maturity this week.  Mizzou is standing strong behind Michael Sam, their recent graduate & football star who announced last week he was gay.  MU Chancellor Bowen Loftin issued a statement of support as did President and First Lady Obama, Vice President Biden, Governor Jay Nixon and many more athletes and celebrities throughout the country. Noticeably absent has been ANY comment from GOP legislators, who are normally quite exuberant Mizzou sports fans.

Stacey Newman keeps watchful eye on the nuts the squirrels missed

(From Rep. Stacey Newman, D-St. Louis)

It didn't take the GOP leadership long to reveal their real "pre-election" agenda: Voter Suppression, Nullification of Federal Gun Laws - version 2.0. and Attacks on Women's Reproductive Health (so much for smaller government). I sat in on the following hearings this past week:

VOTER SUPPRESSION - SENATE HEARING MON, JAN 27th

Voter ID bills, back again for the 8th year, were heard in a Senate committee - SB511 and SJR31 both sponsored by Sen. Will Kraus (who is rumored to be considering a run for Secretary of State). No one in the full hearing room testified in FAVOR of changing laws to require a state issued photo voter identification.

Many testified AGAINST including Missouri's own voter rights expert, Denise Lieberman, senior attorney with the national Advancement Project.

Requiring a Voter ID to vote would mean Missouri would FIRST need to change the state constitution because the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that Voter ID proposals were unconstitutional. SJR31, if passed by the legislature, would place a Voter ID constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot in November 2014.

Missouri Voter ID bills are a partisan effort throughout the country widely known to suppress current eligible women, elderly, minority, student and disabled voters. I anticipate these bills will move quickly.

See the recent feature in the Washington Post - Missouri Likely to Pass Voter ID This Year.

GUN LAW NULLIFICATION (2014 VERSION) - SENATE HEARING TUES, JAN 28th

Sen. Brian Nieves, chair of the Senate General Laws Committee heard his SB613for the 2nd week in a row in a standing room only hearing room accompanied by an overflow room. SB613 is similiar to the gun law nullification bill which Governor Nixon vetoed last September.

Members of the St. Louis chapter of Moms Demand Action and Dr. Robert Flood of Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital/St. Louis University Dept. of Pediatrics testified against the bill, emphasizing the gun violence epidemic and how SB613 does nothing to save lives. Following the 1 1/2 hour hearing, it was voted out 6-1 and is now on the Senate Formal Calendar for Perfection. Sen. Nieves prevented any cameras not on a tripod in the hearing room and forbid any media from attending the executive session.

WOMEN'S HEALTH ATTACK - HOUSE HEARING WED, JAN 29th

For the 3rd year in a row, Speaker Tim Jones introduced his "Conscience Bill"HB1430: "Specifies that anyone including any healthcare institution providing medical services cannot be required to perform or participate in activities that violate his or her conscience or principles".

His bill narrows medical procedures liable to: abortion, abortion-inducing drugs, contraception, sterilization which is not medically necessary, assisted reproduction, human cloning, human embryonic stem-cell research, human somatic cell nuclear transfer, fetal tissue research and nontherapeutic fetal experimentation.

Speaker Jones left the hearing immediately after introducing his bill to the committee citing his need "to return to the long line of those waiting outside his office". Dr. Ed Weisbart of St. Louis, former chief medical officer with Express Scripts, was among those testifying in opposition to the bill citing the narrowed scope of principle exemptions that would conflict with a physician's medical oath "to do no harm". The Missouri Hospital Association also testified against HB1430. No executive action was taken following the hearing.

UPDATE ON SCHOOL SECURITY BILL RE KIRKWOOD/KSDK SITUATION

The chair of the House Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee has agreed to hear HB1522, making it a crime to purposely interfere with security procedures in a public school or building. This is great news! We estimate that the hearing will be held Monday, February 17th at 5pm in the Capitol.

If you or your school administration/school board would like to testify in favor of HB1522 - please let my office know right away - 573.751.0100 or stacey.newman@house.mo.gov.

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.

St. Louis Democrat plans to file background check bill

(From Rep. Stacey Newman, D-St. Louis)

State Representative Stacey Newman (D- Richmond Heights) is announcing continued efforts by legislators in eleven states to pass legislation requiring universal background checks on all firearms sales.

 Even though universal background checks are supported by over 90% of Americans, legislation has stalled in Congress.  However in 2013, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland and New York legislatures toughened their gun laws to prevent criminals and the mentally ill from easy access to firearms.

 “We refuse to stand idly by as children and families are held hostage by gun violence. We know background checks work so we are combining our efforts this year,” said State Rep. Stacey Newman.

 “Pro-gun legislators fear losing their next election and do nothing while constituents continue to grieve the loss of loved ones.  We will not be silenced by the gun lobby as we work even harder to save lives,” she said.

 Rep. Newman is joined by Arizona House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, Michigan State Rep. Jim Townsend, Minnesota State Rep. Michael Paymar, Nevada State Sen. Justin Jones, Ohio State Rep. Alicia Reece, Texas State Sen. Rodney Ellis, Virginia Del. Patrick Hope, Vermont State Rep. Linda Waite-Simpson, Washington State Sen. Adam Kline, Washington State Rep. Jamie Pedersen, Wisconsin State Rep. Jon Richards and Wisconsin State Sen. Nikiya Harris.  Each has committed to re-introducing their background check bills, keeping current legislation alive or working to pass related state ballot initiatives.

 Rep. Newman plans to re-file her background check bill (identical to HB187-2013) shortly after the Missouri legislature convenes on January 8^th, 2014.

 Already Colorado data shows that of the 4,792 background checks on private sales that were performed since their 2013 law went into effect, 72 sales were blocked because the would-be buyer was convicted of or charged with a serious crime, or was under a domestic restraining order.