Billy Long: Big tech helped Biden in 2020 election, tramples on our First Amendment rights

 

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

If you know who Jeff Foxworthy is... you might be a Redneck. You remember comedian Jeff Foxworthy's old 'You Might Be A Redneck' bit don't you? 

Well with apologies to Jeff, here goes: If you have censored a sitting President of the United States... you might be Big Tech. 

If you have prevented dissemination of a damning New York Post story about Hunter Biden’s antics... you might be Big Tech. 

If you have suppressed vital information regarding the origins of COVID-19... you might be Big Tech. 

If you have gained an outsized influence on everyday life in the United States... you are Big Tech. 

Big Tech has thus far been allowed to wield unbelievable power to influence our political discourse and shut down conservative viewpoints. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives, I am at the forefront of regulating Big Tech.

Let’s start by talking about how Big Tech censors opinions they don’t agree with. When a “once in a century” pandemic struck the world, many people wanted to know how it started. It’s a reasonable question, but one that Big Tech answered with 'nothing to see here, move along.' 

Big Tech instead joined the mainstream media in simply accepting the Chinese Communist Party's assertion that the virus came from a wet market that just so happened to be located in close proximity to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. 

They of course completely ignored ample circumstantial evidence that the virus somehow escaped a Chinese lab specifically studying rare coronaviruses. The math was simple for Big Tech, 1 + 1 = 0. Big Tech and their partners in the mainstream media blasted Republicans in Congress who dared to ask questions. Now, more evidence has emerged that the lab leak theory is very plausible. Will Big Tech continue to toe the Chinese Communist Party line?

Big Tech also used its power to influence the 2020 election. Around this time last year, the New York Post published a series of damning stories showing that Hunter Biden was a deeply corrupt individual, who, despite his father’s denials, had indeed been aided by the future President Biden, A.K.A. 'The Big Guy.' 

Big Tech wasted no time in preventing the articles from being shared on social media and even locked the New York Post out of their own Twitter account, all to the benefit of the Biden Campaign. Read that last sentence again, I'll wait here until you're back. It's as plain as the nose on your face that Big Tech favors liberal opinions, but the actions of late last year left no doubt that they might as well be a messaging arm for the Democrat party.

So, what are we going to do about it? Republicans on both the Energy & Commerce and the Judiciary Committees have proposed a reform of Section 230, a law that grants these companies liability protections and gives free rein for them to remove content they deem to be “objectionable” in any way. 

Essentially, our plan would remove liability protections for Big Tech companies that violate constitutionally protected speech without proper transparency or appeals processes. There are also proposals to remove Section 230 protections from companies that partner with China, or knowingly facilitate illicit activities such as sex trafficking. 

Removing these protections from companies that have long abused them would go a long way to reforming Big Tech’s inordinate power over the American people. It's essential that we have open platforms like Twitter and Facebook to promote freedom of speech, but we cannot allow them to trample on the first amendment rights of Americans. It’s time to stop the insanity.

Greitens returns to Arizona to tout conspiracies, says full audit of 2020 Missouri election needed

By Jason Hancock

Missouri Independent

The so-called “audit” of Arizona’s presidential election results wound up adding to Joe Biden’s margin of victory there.

But that doesn’t matter to Eric Greitens.

The former governor is once again taking his campaign for Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat to Arizona, chasing the ghosts of election fraud conspiracies that have been discredited time and again.

In doing so, he’s casting his lot with the purveyors of the “Big Lie” that seek to undermine confidence in the outcome of the 2020 election and foment the grievances that fueled the Jan. 6 insurrection.

He’s also signaling his allegiance to the former president whose endorsement is seen as key to victory in Missouri’s crowded GOP Senate primary.

“We need to have audits across the country,” Greitens said in a recent campaign video, “because we must get election integrity back.”

After six months of work on the audit — including inspecting ballots for traces of bamboo to determine if they were imported from Asia and reportedly scanning them with UV lights to look for secret watermarks — a company called Cyber Ninjas released a report that failed to show that Donald Trump was cheated of victory.

But Greitens has rejected that outcome, focusing instead on allegations that have been disproven by local election officials and outside experts that 50,000 votes were cast illegally.

On Tuesday, Greitens announced he was traveling to Arizona to meet with elected officials to discuss the “need to decertify the Arizona election results and to ensure safe and secure voting happens in subsequent elections across the country.”

The trip marks the second time Greitens has campaigned for a Missouri Senate seat in Arizona.

In June, he skipped out on one of the year’s largest gatherings of Missouri Republicans — the annual Lincoln Days in Kansas City — in order to travel to Arizona to witness the audit up close.

More recently, Greitens asked Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers to Missouri to endorse him and tout his support for the audit.

While every candidate in the crowded GOP Senate primary has embraced the “Big Lie” to some degree — from Attorney General Eric Schmitt waging an unsuccessful legal fight to overturn results in battleground states won by Biden to members of Congress voting against certifying Biden’s electoral college victory — none have gone as far as Greitens.

Largely shunned by Missouri’s GOP establishment, which helped run him out of office in 2018, Greitens has adopted the grievances of the former president and made them his overarching campaign message.

Missouri Scout, a political newsletter in the Show-Me State, recently published a poll of likely 2022 Republican primary voters that showed Trump with an 83% approval rating.

Greitens approval rating in the poll stood at 34%.

Yet despite the low approval, Missouri Scout’s polls have consistently shown Greitens leading the five-way primary.

Given the fact that Greitens’ tenure as governor ended after only 18 months when an avalanche of scandals forced him to resign to avoid impeachment by the GOP-led legislature and to settle felony charges, GOP leaders fear he could cost the party a U.S. Senate seat if he is the nominee.

At one point, lawmakers even considered creating a run-off system that would lessen the chances of Greitens emerging from a splintered primary.

For Greitens, the calculus has worked before. He became governor in 2016 after squeaking out a win in a four-way GOP primary with only 34.5% of the vote.

Now, he is counting on the “Big Lie” to help him make a comeback.

“We need to get answers,” Greitens said recently in a television interview. “Not just in Arizona, but also in Michigan and Wisconsin and Georgia, and also, a full audit here in Missouri.”

Trump won Missouri in 2020 by 15 percentage points.

Jasper County reports three COVID-19 deaths

(From the Jasper County Health Department)

The Jasper County Health Department is saddened to report three deaths of Jasper County residents due to COVID-19.

This brings the total deaths to 222.

The residents include three females with one each in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

Our condolences go out to the family members.

Greene County reports first pediatric death from COVID-19

(From the Springfield-Greene County Health Department)

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department is saddened to announce Greene County’s first pediatric death from COVID-19. This death is a tragedy that no family should have to endure, and an unfortunate reminder that COVID-19 can have terrible consequences on people of all ages.

This death occurred in August, bringing the total number of COVID-19 deaths to 61 in August and 17 in September.

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 Missouri children ages 0 through 17 have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Across the U.S., more than 587 children have died from this virus. In September, cases among those age 0 to 17 made up 20.64% of total positives in Greene County, up from 14.75% in August.

The COVID-19 vaccine continues to be the best tool available for preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Children 12 to 17 are currently eligible to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration is meeting later this month to assess the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine in children age 5 to 11. Parents with questions or concerns should talk to their child’s health care provider now to address them so they are ready once authorization for this age group is issued.

For those 12 and older who are already eligible, now is the time to get vaccinated. A full list of vaccine opportunities can be found at vaccine417.com or by calling the COVID-19 call center at (417) 874-1211. Private appointments can also be scheduled by calling this number.

Data for September 1 - 30

Number of new COVID-19 cases:
1,754 cases compared to 3,457 in August

 

Difference in seven-day average:
The seven- day average on September 30 was 43 cases per day, down from 76 cases per day on August 31.

Difference in hospitalizations:
81 individuals were treated for COVID-19 in Springfield hospitals on September 30, down from 144 on August 31.

COVID-19 deaths:

*This number represents confirmed COVID-19 deaths that occurred in September. This number could change based on delayed reports.
17 deaths occurred in the month of September compared to 61 in August

Average age of death:
61 years in September compared to 62 years in August

Number of vaccine doses administered among Greene County residents:
11,216 doses compared to 19,095 in August

Current data

Number of hospitalizations:
74 hospitalizations
33 are Greene County residents

Number of Greene County residents unvaccinated:
49.51% of Greene County residents 12 and older are not fully vaccinated
According to the CDC, 34.6% of Americans 12+ are not fully vaccinated.

Cases by vaccination status (among cases where the vaccination status is known):
Since January, 92% of individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 were not vaccinated.

Additional information, including daily updates, can be found on the Health Department’s COVID-19 dashboard at http://health.springfieldmo.gov/coronavirus

Joplin R-8 hires seven teachers, 43 support staff, 21 substitutes, accepts one resignation

During a closed session September 28, the Joplin R-8 Board of Education hired seven teachers, accepted one resignation and hired 43 classified employees and 21 substitutes.

Certified Employments: Justin Larsen, Elizabeth Stevens, Don Turnbull, Patricia Murray, Sabrina Buzzard, Bailey Wallace, and Leslie Williams

Certified Resignation: Micah Hashman

Classified Employments: Kailee Anderson, Louise Barrett, Shahida Birkhead, Jacquelyn Bradley, Billy Bresee, Lauren Bridges, Charlie Brown, Beth Chamness, Morgan Cravens, Grace Dailing, Deanna Davis, Maghen Dresslaer, Zachary Goad, Madison Gray, Meghan Gray, Meghan Haggard, Gracie Hall, Haylee Heidlage, Loretta Hettinger, Samuel Hopper, Claudia Horn-Jones, Kyle Jones, Jamie Knutson, Lynita Leggett, Melissa Leonard, Margaret Letner, Kristy Long, Sherri Mason, Angela McPhail, Amanda Moody, Dana Newman, Sarah Nothnagel, Jennifer, Parker, Levi Randolph, Michael Richardson, Andrea Sanchez, Kassie Schwarting, Debra Smith, Annie Stover, Melissa Strubberg, Jarren Tupper, LaDonna Ybarra and Heather Pugh.

Substitutes: Jacey Adams, Samantha Myers, Julia Linder, Chaney Long, Jamarion Eldridge, Alexa Stauffer, Chaney Rhoads, Terryle Pullum, Steven Seeley, Megan Hibbard, Ashley Smith, Mark Ramsour, Richard Brown, Meagan Martin, Carmen Borup, Elizabeth Sanders, Shelby Riggs, Tiffaney Drinkwitz, Taylor Geary, Maggie Wampler, and Sherry Spaeth

Jasper County reports two COVID-19 deaths, 23 new cases confirmed

(From the Jasper County Health Department)

The Jasper County Health Department is saddened to report two deaths of Jasper County residents due to COVID-19.

This brings the total deaths to 219.

The residents include one female in her 80s and one male in his 40s. Our condolences go out to the family members.

COVID Update 10-5-2021
23 new positive cases

<1 year 0
1-4 yrs 1
5-11 yrs 5
12-19yrs 2
20-29yrs 1
30-39yrs 1
40-49yrs 2
50-59yrs 4
60-69yrs 2
70-79yrs 1
80-89yrs 3
90+yrs 1
Vaccinated = 3
Reinfection = 0

Deadline set for intervention on Liberty Utilities fuel adjustment increase request

(From the Missouri Public Service Commission)

The Empire District Electric Company d/b/a Liberty (Empire) has filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission to adjust the fuel adjustment charge (FAC) on the bills of its electric customers.

Empire made two filings. In its first filing (Case No. ER-2022-0095), Empire proposes to adjust the FAC to reflect actual energy costs incurred by the Company during the six-month period March 2021 through August 2021, less an adjustment for what Empire states are “extraordinary costs” associated with the February 2021 cold weather event (Storm Uri). Empire states in its application that it is seeking to defer a significant portion of the Storm Uri extraordinary fuel costs to a future proceeding to determine a different approach to recovery that will benefit Empire’s Missouri customers. The second filing is Empire’s true-up filing (EO-2022-0096).

 

For a residential customer using 1,000 kWh (kilowatt-hours) of electricity a month, the current FAC is $0.00 a month. Under this filing, the FAC will increase to approximately $7.15 a month. The proposed change would take effect on December 1, 2021.

Applications to intervene and participate in these cases must be filed no later than October 21, 2021, with the Secretary of the Missouri Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0360, or by using the Commission’s Electronic Filing and Information System (EFIS) at www.psc.mo.gov .

Individual citizens wishing to comment should contact either the Office of the Public Counsel (Governor Office Building, 200 Madison Street, Suite 650, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-2230, telephone (866) 922-2959, email opcservice@opc.mo.gov) or the Public Service Commission Staff (P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, telephone 1-800-392-4211, email pscinfo@psc.mo.gov). The Office of the Public Counsel is a separate state agency that represents the general public in matters before the Commission.

Empire serves approximately 155,400 electric customers in the Missouri counties of Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Polk, St. Clair, Stone and Taney.

Freeman names Dr. David Baker chief medical officer

(From Freeman Health)

Freeman Health System named a new chief medical officer (CMO) in David Baker, DO. Dr. Baker currently serves as President of Freeman Medical Staff, is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery and specializes in general and bariatric surgery.

“Dr. David Baker’s vast understanding of healthcare and his tremendous skill in developing relationships with colleagues are attributes that will serve us well as he assumes the role of Chief Medical Officer at Freeman,” said Paula F. Baker, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer. “An exceptional and personable physician and surgeon, Dr. Baker also has an innate capacity for leadership. This is a critical time as we continue to deal with the pandemic and its associated challenges, and we’re excited about everything Dr. Baker brings to the table.”

Dr. Baker joined Freeman as a surgeon in 2009 and works with Freeman General and Vascular Surgical Group. A native of the area, he was born at Freeman, graduated from Galena High School and received his undergraduate degree from Pittsburg State University. He attended medical school at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, Missouri, did an internship at Freeman, then residency at Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and fellowship at University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

“I want to be an approachable leader who builds trust and facilitates a strong collaboration between clinical and non-clinical departments,” said Dr. Baker, “so that we can all further the Freeman mission to our maximum potential.”

The Freeman CMO provides oversight and direction of the medical care provided by Freeman and also provides leadership to the Freeman medical staff and Medical Staff Governance. The chief medical officer works to ensure that Freeman has a high-performing medical staff with engaged and loyal physicians. As a member of the Senior Executive leadership team, the CMO is responsible for providing necessary healthcare information to enable informed decision making.

Dr. Baker steps into the CMO role previously held by Dr. Dennis Estep, who will assume the pivotal role of Medical Director at Freeman OccuMed which coordinates healthcare for area companies and industries. Dr. Estep has more than 25 years of experience working with business leaders and will continue to lead in an area with opportunity for growth.

“A proven leader with steadfast resolve, Dr. Dennis Estep has played a crucial role in guiding us through this pandemic and helping us protect the communities we serve,” said Baker. “He never wavered as he led our medical staff through extraordinarily difficult times, and we truly appreciate all he has accomplished. I’m thrilled Freeman will continue to benefit from Dr. Estep’s expertise and determination as he resumes his position at the helm of Freeman OccuMed, the occupational health program he helped establish at Freeman many years ago. I genuinely enjoy working alongside Dr. Estep and look forward to our future successes.”

Dr. Baker assumes the role of CMO on October 1, 2021.

Billy Long: When Harry met Biden

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

Harry Truman said it best 'when you first get to Congress you spend your first six months thinking - wow - how did I ever get here? But then you spend the rest of your career thinking - how in the world did some of these other people get here?' And if you've watched the boondoggle of trying to get a $3.5 trillion liberal and progressive wish list of a bill to the floor this week you know exactly what old Harry was talking about. 

As Ted Cruz says "I sure hope they don't find out what comes after a trillion." Both of these are cute sayings but there's nothing cute about the real consequences of this radical tax and spend spree that's already having severe consequences on all Americans. Been to the gas station or grocery store lately? Whether it’s inflation, wage stagnation, or a depressed job market, this proposal will kill our economy and bankrupt future generations.

What's the topline number you ask? Good question, but no one knows the answer. Earlier this week, Speaker Pelosi said on national television that we shouldn’t talk about the actual numbers, but really, she is trying to hide the reality of this proposal from the American people. The Speaker is afraid that the price tag will scare them into voting Democrats out of office next year. So, if the Congressional leadership won’t tell us the cost of the proposal, who will? Many estimates place the final price tag between $3.5 trillion and $4.3 trillion. If that sounds like a lot to you, don’t worry, you’re not alone.

The question arises - how will we pay for this massive spending bill? The President's answer is through record tax increases, $2.1 trillion worth to be exact, along with deputizing your banker to give the IRS access to your deposits and withdrawals if you have over $600 in a scheme to raise $480 billion. This would result in the most unbelievable invasion of your privacy ever. This bill amounts to the largest tax increase in American history. When combined with existing state taxes, the burden on America’s small businesses would be one of the highest in the world. The result of these ridiculously high tax burdens would be reduced competition on the world stage. How can the United States compete for business on this unfair playing field? Obviously, it cannot.

After Democrats raise taxes and balloon the deficit, what exactly would happen? Businesses would not be able to support their employees with added tax burdens, so they would reduce wages and increase prices. I’m sure you’ve noticed that the price of everything is on the rise. If the Democrats pass this radical tax and spend bill, inflation will only increase, while wages are decreasing, which means the cost of living would continue to rise. President Biden says that no one making less than $400,000 a year will see a tax increase, but that is not true. Gas is up 74% alone since January 20th. Anytime you increase taxes on small businesses, everyone feels the impact.

This will be the largest tax increase in American history. They've never tried to raise corporate and individual tax rates at the same time before but they are now and the results will be disastrous. And it is being done in the most partisan way possible. Candidate Biden ran on being a deal maker and working in a bipartisan fashion. President Biden’s actions show otherwise. If Democrats successfully pass this balderdash spending bill, our country’s debt will balloon even further, small businesses will suffer, and the price of goods will increase across the board. Oh yeah, one more thing. That's not an earthquake you feel - it's just old Harry spinning in his grave.

Joplin official wins highest honor from Missouri Public Health Association

(From the City of Joplin)

City of Joplin’s Assistant City Manager Dan Pekarek recently received the highest honor given by the Missouri Public Health Association and was named W. Scott Johnson Award. According to the MPHA website, this is the most prestigious award presented by MPHA to an individual for distinguished service in the field of public health in Missouri. The award is given in commemoration of the skills, integrity, devotion to duty and constructive leadership which characterized the life of W. Scott Johnson.

Pekarek recently announced he will retire on October 4 of this year. He has worked for the City for 35 years. During this time, he served as the Public Health Director for 23 years and was appointed Interim City Manager in March 2019 through March 2020. He was named Assistant City Manager in June 2020.

 

Pekarek began his career with the City in 1986 as an Environmental Sanitarian (now known as Environmental Health Specialist) and worked in that position for about eight years when he was promoted to Lead Sanitarian of the Joplin Health Department. In 1996 he was named Director of the Health Department and served in that position for 23 years. During his tenure, he provided oversight and direction of the department’s operations and championed many public health issues through advocacy and education. Some of these issues include community water fluoridation, improved ordinances for the City’s Animal Control division, the City’s Tobacco 21 passage, and Joplin’s prescription drug monitoring ordinance approval in recent years.

He promoted healthy diets and active lifestyles for citizens, along with Community Health Needs Assessments conducted with affiliated health organizations. He led the Health Department’s response to the national disaster in 2011 when Joplin was struck by and EF-5 tornado, and assisted staff during the outbreak and management of the Coronavirus pandemic in early 2020. He served as the Interim City Manager from March 2019 to March 2020. He was named Assistant City Manager in June 2020 with administration and oversight responsibilities of City departments. In this role, he worked with the City’s management team to develop programs and processes to address Council’s recent goals to benefit the Joplin community. He worked closely with City Manager Edwards to keep him apprised of ongoing projects, financial status, employee relation issues and other progress relating to legislation, economic development, City operations and governmental activities.

Pekarek has served as chairman of several health-related boards in the community, including Jasper and Newton Counties Community Health Collaborative and Joplin, Jasper and Newton Counties Emergency Healthcare Coalition. He also is a member of the One Joplin Steering team. He is a charter member of the Environmental Task Force of Jasper and Newton Counties and is chairman of the Four State Clean Air Alliance. Pekarek has also served on numerous other local and state committees over his 35-year career.

Pekarek enjoys camping, fishing and being outdoors. He has been involved with Joplin Area Catholic Schools in multiple ways over the years as a parent and as a supporter in other capacities. He is an alumnus of Missouri Southern State University. He has two daughters, Emily and Abby, and is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church