Schools apply to join Spring River Valley Conference

Spring River Valley Conference schools are scheduled to vote sometime this month on applications from McAuley Regional and College Heights Christian School for membership.

Novak: Why Blunt lost

Columnist Robert Novak offers a behind-the-scenes look on why Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt lost his fight to become majority leader.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

Don't expect new Majority Leader John Boehner, who rode into office on a reform wave, to do anything about the cozy lobbyist culture that exists in Washington. An article in today's Washington Post indicates he is not seeking major changes in the way business is done. Even worse, yesterday on "Meet the Press," he indicated that if Tom DeLay beats the charges against him in Texas, that he would talk with DeLay about returning to his former post.

News-Leader editorial: Bill is just silly

Now that Governor Matt Blunt seems to be backing off his 65 percent education solution, a bill has been submitted that would "encourage" schools to reach the 66 percent threshold. Those that do, would be labeled a "Governor's Education First," school or some such nonsense.
Today's Springfield News-Leader features an editorial strongly criticizing this approach. The editorial rightly notes that just because a school district earmarks 66 percent of its funding the way the governor wants does not mean it is a better school district than one that does not.

The case of the disappearing story

The third annual Trivia Night was held Friday at St. Paul's Church in Joplin to help the Joplin High School Band make its spring break trip to perform in California. For the second straight year, the South Middle School team, consisting of SMS staff members Rocky Biggers, Karensue Hensley, Kim Rhea, Bonnie Turner, Jason Weaver and me, took first place, and as we did last year, we donated the prize money to the South Middle School Band.
A story of the event written by editor John Hacker briefly turned up on the Joplin Daily website Saturday, and just as quickly vanished. A thorough check of the site, including using the search field, turned up nothing. A photo of the event taken by Hacker also disappeared.
Hopefully, this was just a glitch with the website, or more information is being sought for the story. I don't really need any publicity; I have had enough in recent months, but I would like to see my South teammates get some well-deserved recognition and, after all, there were 20 other teams competing, all from Joplin; funds were being raised for a Joplin High School Band trip; heck, even Joplin television personality Gary Bandy was serving as master of ceremonies.
That would seem to make it a perfect fit for an all-Joplin daily newspaper.
(Update: John Hacker left a comment after this post. It was just a technical glitch. The story, and unfortunately the photo, have resurfaced on Joplin Daily. Thanks, John.)

Bill calls for drug testing of legislators

There have been times I have wondered what drugs the Missouri General Assembly is on when I see some of the bills that are passed each year. Apparently, I am not alone in that thought.
House Bill 1646 calls for state legislators to submit to drug tests every two years. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City.
The bill reads:

105.007. 1. Prior to taking office and once every two years thereafter, all state elected officials, state executive branch managerial staff, and all officers and leadership staff of the Missouri house of representatives and senate shall be subject to chemical testing of their blood or urine for the purpose of determining the drug content of the blood. The costs of such testing shall be paid by official, officer, or staff member. Prior to such chemical testing, each official, officer, or staff member shall be informed that the results of such testing may be made available to the public upon request. Any official, officer, or staff member who agrees to such chemical testing shall be deemed to have consented to the release of the results of such testing to the public upon request as authorized in subsection 3 of this section and no cause of action shall arise under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act with regard to such release of the testing results.

2. Chemical tests of the person's blood, or urine to be considered valid shall be performed according to methods and devices approved by the state department of health and senior services and shall be performed by licensed medical personnel or by a person possessing a valid permit issued by the state department of health and senior services for this purpose. A blood test shall not be performed if the medical personnel, in good faith medical judgment, believe such procedure would endanger the health of the person.

3. Upon request of the person tested, full information concerning the test shall be made available to such person. The results of any chemical test performed under this section shall be made available to the public upon request.

4. No person administering a chemical test under this section or any other person, firm or corporation with whom such person is associated shall be civilly liable for damages to the person tested except for negligence or by willful or wanton act or omission.
***
As tempting as it is to say this is something that should have been done a long time ago, I will say the same thing that I have said about drug testing of students; this is a bad idea. Of course, it stands little chance of success in a Republican-dominated legislature. It appears Ms. Chappelle-Nadal is seeking publicity.

Jasper County jury to hear fascinating case

A Jasper County journey will be impaneled Monday to go to Kansas City to hear the kidnapping case of an Independence man whose ex-wife and children disappeared 20 months ago.
The chilling story is detailed in Judy Thomas' article in today's Kansas City Star.

ConAgra stock on the upswing after sale announcement

Shares of ConAgra are at the highest they have been in four months following this week's announcement that the company will sell its meat brands, including the Butterball plant in Carthage.
The stock closed Friday up 41 cents or two percent to $21.15, the biggest increase since Sept. 28, according to an article in today's Chicago Sun-Times.

State Republicans shower praise on top gift recipient

Last month, The Turner Report Wall of Shame for the Missouri State Senate was announced and at the top of that list was Sen. David Klindt, R-Bethany. Klindt not only received more gifts from lobbyists than any other member of the Senate or House, but his total, $7,262.68, was more than double the amount received by any other legislator.
When State Republicans gathered Saturday in Kansas City for the annual Lincoln Days festivities, even at the height of the controversy surrounding the role lobbyists play in our government, Klindt was showered with praise by the top members of the Missouri GOP.
In her blog, St. Louis Post-Dispatch political columnist Jo Mannies notes that Klindt and his fellow senator John Cauthorn of Mexico, with their victories in special elections in 2001 helped turn control of the Senate over to the Republicans. Both men are barred by term limit laws from running for re-election.
"As a parting gift," Ms. Mannies writes, "Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder (who was made state Senate President Pro Tem by those 2001 wins) and current President Pro Tem Mike Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, gave both men framed and autographed maps of the state’s red-blue (GOP-Dem) Senate split in November 2000 and the red-blue split now."
Let me repeat some of the 2005 accomplishments of the man who received such honor from a statewide gathering of Republicans:

On March 15, Klindt accepted gifts of "meals, food and beverage" from five lobbyists: $18.75 from Datra Herzog of the lobbying firm of Herzog & Rhoads; $46.05 from her partner, Mark Rhoads; $76.33 from Mary Strate of the Missouri Beer Wholesalers Association; $46.20 from Richard Wiles of the Missouri Soft Drink Association; $30 from Guy William Black, representing Transcanada Corporation.
During a three-day period when the Senate was not in session, Aug. 16-18, Klindt received more $2,100 in gifts. The spree began Aug. 16 with Klindt receiving $421.77 for meals, food and beverage, $589.56 for travel, another $681.90 for travel, and $21.34 for a gift from William Shoehigh, lobbyist for the Microsoft Corporation, for a total of $1714.57.
In addition to the meal that was paid for by Shoehigh, even with all of that traveling, Klindt managed to have four more meals paid for by lobbyists: $141.27 from David Christian, lobbyist for Kansas City Power & Light; $11.69 from Drue Duncan, Ameren UE, $10 from Black, and another $20 from Black, for a total of five meals, costing $604.73.
On Aug. 17, Klindt had meals, food and beverage from four more lobbyists, totaling $158.06, and on Aug. 18, he had meals, food and beverage from three more lobbyists totaling $64.45.
Klindt, who serves on the House's Energy and Environment Committee also received $157.70 for travel on Sept. 12 from Barry Hart, lobbyist for the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives; $60 for entertainment and $37.30 for meals, food and beverage from Drue Duncan of Ameren on Sept. 17, the same day he received an additional $60 for entertainment and $37.30 for meals, food and beverage from Larry Pleus of Ameren.
In October, Klindt picked up $102.47 for entertainment from Steven Bledsoe, lobbyist for Blue Cross Blue Shield and $220 for entertainment from Stephen Knorr of the University of Missouri.
The Missouri Ethics Commission documents also show $315.32 for meals, food and beverage on June 3, split evenly between Duncan and Charles Caisley of the Missouri Energy Development Association.
Though the other honoree, Cauthorn, did not come anywhere near Klindt's totals, he still accepted enough gifts to make the Turner Report Hall of Shame, coming in at number five with $2,167.21.

When great minds think alike

At first, you would think the Joplin Daily should be commended for offering space to each of our local legislators for their weekly columns. The Daily does not have the budget to send a reporter to Jefferson City (though its owner, Liberty Group Publishing, does have enough money and enough newspapers in the state to make it worthwhile). The Globe has only recently began increasing its state coverage with articles by staff writer Sadie Gurman. Our local television stations do not have anyone in Jefferson City. Last time I looked, KSNF and KODE do not even subscribe to Associated Press, which would give them access to some state information.
So it would seem that having reports from such legislators as Ron Richard, Marilyn Ruestman, and Bryan Stevenson, all of whom were featured during this past week, would provide some idea of what is going on in the state capital.
Stevenson's article mentioned the closing of International Paper in Joplin and offered the services of his office to those who have lost their jobs. His column did speak to his constituents.
On the other hand, a remarkable coincidence occurred in the columns offered by Richard and Ms. Ruestman. The Ruestman report begins, "No one should ever have to go hungry in this land of plenty. Our food pantries are on the front lines fighting to make sure no one has to go hungry again. That is why I am very enthusiastic about legislation that will be passed this year to benefit food pantries all over the state."
The third paragraph of Ron Richard's report reads, "No one should ever go hungry in this land of plenty and our food pantries are on the front lines fighting to make sure no one does. That's why I am very enthusiastic about legislation that will be passed this year to benefit food pantries all over the state."
Now, obviously they don't think exactly alike. Examine the subtle differences. When Richard came up with this thought, his mind processed the first part of it into a compound sentence, rather than into two sentences as Ms. Ruestman envisioned it."
Later when Ms. Ruestman allegedly writes, "That is why I am very enthusiastic," she is obviously thinking much differently than Richard, who phrased it with a contraction, "That's why I am very enthusiastic."
Otherwise, the columns are strikingly similar. Ms. Ruestman begins her fourth paragraph by saying, "A Local Food Pantry Tax Credit Program will offer a 50 percent tax credit to individuals or businesses that wish to make a donation to food pantries."
Richard begins his fourth paragraph with a different article, writing, "The Local Food Pantry Tax Credit Program will offer at 50 percent tax credit to individuals or businesses who wish to make a donation to food pantries."
Richard's column does localize the issue noting, "The Southwest Missouri Office on Aging operates 40 senior centers in a 17-county area. With community support, they have been able to keep all sites operational; however, to stay within our funding, they have had to close two kitchens this year. These locations are now catered from other locations."
Ms. Ruestman's column makes no attempt to put a local face on the issue.
The Richard and Ruestman columns come during the same week that Speaker of the House Rod Jetton addressed the issue.
And though Richard and Ms. Ruestman do not appear to have lifted any large portions of Jetton's column, Jetton's column does contain this passage:
"The Local Food Pantry Tax Credit Program will offer a 50 percent tax credit to individuals or businesses that make a donation to food pantries."
Jetton's next line reads: "There will be a $2,500 donation cap, and the program will be administered through the Department of Revenue."
Ms.Ruestman's next line reads, "There will be a $2,500 donation camp, and the program will be administered through the Department of Revenue."
Richard's next line reads, "There will be a $2,500 donation cap and the program will be administered through the Department of Revenue."
Great minds do think alike.
***
Some suggestions to the Joplin Daily and other area newspapers that run these capitol reports:
-Either remove these reports the second someone files to run against these legislators or offer their opponents an equal amount of space.
-Require the legislators to write their own columns and eliminate those columns the second you run into any traces of plagiarism.
-Remove the columns and set up regular interviews with the legislators. This could be done with conference calls to enable all media in the area to participate. Obviously, this would not apply to newspapers or other media outlets that are pursuing particular stories and need information or comments.
These columns have become popular, especially in smaller newspapers that cannot afford to hire Jefferson City correspondents. When it comes right down to it, however, the columns, even when actually written by the legislators themselves, are becoming more and more just an outlet for whatever talking point the prevailing political party is pushing. Their news value is highly suspect.