La-Z-Boy stock still below $1

The once-fabled La-Z-Boy company has seen its stock dip below the $1 mark in recent days and even a 12 cent increase during trading Monday left it only at 95 cents per share.

La-Z-Boy, one of the biggest employers in the Neosho/Newton County area, had a stock price of $11.76 per share in 2008.

Robinson trial scheduled to start today

The felony trial date of former Rep. Bradley Robinson, D-Bonne Terre, who is charged with leaving the scene of an accident is scheduled to begin today in St. Louis County, where it is being heard on a change of venue.

Robinson, 42, was allegedly driving his pickup on Jan. 1, 2008, when he struck a man, severely injuring him. Surveillance video purportedly shows Robinson and his wife changing places to make it appear that Robinson's wife Tara was driving, and then leaving the scene. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, five passengers in the pickup have been granted immunity in exchange for their testimony against the Robinsons.

Robinson is represented by one of St. Louis' most powerful defense lawyers, Travis Noble, a former policeman and drug agent, who has earned a reputation for winning DWI cases (the Robinson cases involves no DWI allegations).

Richard: I put who I want on the committee

As evidenced from the headline for this post, you can see Speaker of the House Ron Richard, R-Joplin. is a little tired of questions about why he did not appoint Rep. Jeannette Mott Oxford to the Children and Families Committee.

Rep. Oxford claims she was denied the seat because she is a lesbian and Richard was "offended" by her.

Jason Rosenbaum has Richard's responses to questions posted on YouTube:

Representative's educational background a bit shaky

As I was writing about the bill filed this week by Rep. Don Wells, R-Cabool, that would require random drug testing for Missouri teachers, I made the unfortunate error, a reflex action in my case, of automatically going for the jugular.

Obviously, as a teacher and as a strong believer in the United States Constitution and its Fourth Amendment guarantees, I am firmly against Wells' bill, but I certainly cannot fault Rep. Wells for his efforts to improve education.

After all, this is a man who went back late in life to get his bachelor's degree in political science from Cambridge University, according to his page on the Missouri House of Representatives website.

I have been unable to find a Cambridge University in the United States, but there is a Cambridge State University, which has no affiliation with any of the reputable accrediting groups, and which has quite a reputation as a purported diploma mill.

The following information on Cambridge State University is featured on the Better Business Bureau page:

The company provided this office with a booklet about Cambridge State University which tells about this company's programs. This was postmarked from Santa Anna, CA. On page 3 of this booklet it states CSU is a member of the World Association of Universities and Colleges with accreditation pending. At this time we have no information on World Association of Universities.

855 Pierremont is a shopping center. The first three numbers of the dept. number for Cambridge University is 128, which is Mail Boxes, ETC. which means the last three numbers 189 is a box number where mail is received and picked up or forwarded.

Cambridge University has no physical presence at 855 Pierrmont Shopping Center.

On August 18, 1998, Caddo District Judge John Mosely of Shreveport, issued a temporary restraining order against CSU and it's owner and president, Allan Park,citing unfair and deceptive trade practices. A hearing was held October 26, 1998. The state presented arguments for a permanent injunction. A permanent injunction against Cambridge University was granted October 26, 1998.

Court orders were issued in Louisiana keeping Cambridge State University from operating in that state.

I don't know how long it took Rep. Wells to obtain his degree, but perhaps he had the same kind of expedited education touted in Cambridge State University brochures that was noted in a complaint with the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection, which led to a permanent injunction against the "university":

"You may earn a legal,government-approved college degree in a short time without quitting you (sic) job or attending classes!"

"But they, and you who are already involved in earning a living and raising a family and trying to better your position, can earn a legal Bachelor's Degree--a real degree--in as little as 90 days! And you may earn an advanced degree (Masters or Doctorate) that same way, with added work and Study."

The brochure also featured this information:

A man had been responsible for trimming street trees for a large mid-western city for more than 20 years. He had proved himself a competent and reliable department head. But a new city personnel policy decreed that all department heads must have Bachelor's degrees within two years or lose their jobs. He knows his work. He manages his department efficiently, and communicates well both up and down the line of responsibility. He's taken a couple of computer application courses in his local
community college, plus a statistics course. The city has sent him to a couple of seminars and an industry convention. He's always looking ahead for the next thing he will have to learn to do his job well."

"Here's the good news. He could earn his Bachelor's degree in just a few weeks without taking time off work or driving through the city to evening classes. he can learn, and be testes (sic) and receive his Bachelor's degree from Cambridge State University, all
through correspondence and home study. Then, if he has his eye on a higher position, he can earn a Master's degree, then a Doctorate, all from Cambridge State University. All this without interrupting his career or spending tens-of-thousands of dollars."

Don't be casting stones at Rep. Wells. it takes real cojones to be testes.

Another non-issue: drug testing for teachers

Will someone tell our elected officials at Jefferson City that serious issues do exist.

While people are worried about whether they will have their jobs this time next year (or this time next week), some of our representatives keep veering off in one direction after another.

As usual, public education continues to be a whipping boy. This time, the legislator who is veering off course is Don Wells, R-Cabool, who has submitted a bill which would require random drug testing for teachers.

The bill would require random drug testing of about 12.5 percent of teachers per year. The cost of the testing would fall on individual school districts and not on the state. Teachers would be fired if a drug test returned positive.

Where is the epidemic of teacher drug usage that would even cause anyone to consider filing such a bill as this? I don't know of any teacher who would advocate keeping someone on staff who uses illegal drugs, but again, just as I have consistently said about drug testing of students- Why should we lump all teachers, or all students, in the category of suspects and why should we waste taxpayers' money on an unnecessary program.

I don't expect this bill is going to go far, but the fact that it has even been proposed means it has gone too far already.

Bringer bills would restore contribution limits, ban lobbyists' gifts

Two bills introduced today in the House of Representatives by Rachel Bringer, D-Palmyra, if enacted, would go a long way toward restoring Missourians' faith in government.

HB 687 would restore campaign contribution limits, while HB 688 prohibits legislators from accepting gifts from lobbyists.

Missouri's newest lobbyist: Steve Hunter enters the revolving door

Former 127th District State Representative Steve Hunter registered as a lobbyist Tuesday, according to documents filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Hunter is merely the latest in a long line of term-limited legislators to cash in on their years "representing" the people, a list that has also grown to include former Sen. Mike Gibbons and former Rep. Shannon Cooper in recent weeks.

Hunter, of course, has a long familiarity with how lobbyists work since he has accepted thousands of dollars in gifts from lobbyists during the past three years, especially from casino interests, and has worked for the lobbying organization Associated Industries of Missouri, sponsoring its legislation...legislation, I might add, in which Hunter never showed an interest until he began working for the organization.

The ranks of registered lobbyists in Missouri is liberally sprinkled with former legislators who waste no time after leaving office in representing special interests before their former colleagues.

It is time that an ethics bill, such as the bipartisan legislation offered by Rep. Bryan Yates, R-Lee's Summit, and Rep. Jake Zimmerman, D-Olivette, pass and stop the special interests from extending their stranglehold on the Missouri General Assembly.

Accusation: No lesbians for Ron Richard

A legislator who was denied a committee assignment continues to hint that Speaker of the House Ron Richard, R-Joplin, kept her off the committee because she is a lesbian:

While not directly charging sexual orientation bias, Rep. Jeanette Oxford, D-St. Louis City, said she had heard some members of the committee found her "offensive."

Oxford has served on the Special Standing Committee on Children and Families for four years but said she has not been given a satisfactory answer on why House Speaker Ron Richard, R-Joplin, denied her a position on the committee.

The power to appoint representatives to committees rests solely with the House speaker, but the minority leader is able to make recommendations.

Stevenson: I'm an Indian, Indians aren't prejudiced

Following his remarks comparing a proposed federal abortion law to the "War on Northern Aggression," a term for the Civil War normally used by those who think the wrong side won, Rep. Bryan "Big Gun" Stevenson R-Webb City, offered evidence to offended colleagues that he did not intend his remarks to be racist:

Stevenson immediately retracted his statement, assuring he meant no ill will toward anyone and raising his own Cherokee Indian heritage as proof of his sensitivity to slavery.

That statement should clear everything up.

Globe Editorial Board favors ethics bill

In an editorial in today's edition, the Joplin Globe says it favors the bipartisan ethics bill outlined by representatives Brian Yates, R-Lee's Summit, and Jake Zimmerman, D-Olivette this week:

We elect our lawmakers for one specific job: representing us — especially in the writing of laws.

We want our representatives and senators to concentrate on the business of the people. They shouldn’t be preparing for their next career in the business of slathering politicians with gifts, or getting paid to help another politician run a campaign.

When we hear about how quickly lawmakers dive into a new career as lobbyists, it makes us wonder what they were really doing up there.

Additionally, a lawmaker who term-limits out and jumps into a new lobbying career has influence and relationships with other legislators that most lobbyists don’t have. It’s a smelly situation that shouldn’t exist.