Missouri GOP criticizes Nixon's use of state plane

In a news releease issued today, The Missouri GOP harshly criticized Gov. Jay Nixon's use of the state airplane:

Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party, released the following statement regarding Jay Nixon’s excessive use of the state airplane:

“Over the past two years, Jay Nixon has refused to stand up for Missourians or fight for good jobs. Instead, he has remained on the sidelines—spending too much time and wasting too many taxpayer dollars flying around on the state airplane to attend sporting events and photo ops. As Missouri faces an economic and fiscal crisis, Nixon has squandered more than $400,000 of YOUR money flying across the state and the nation. More and more, Missourians are realizing that Jay Nixon is only interested in being governor for the perks—but when it comes to addressing the most pressing issues facing our state, Nixon is nowhere to be found. We applaud the bipartisan efforts of Missouri’s elected officials who are working together to hold Nixon accountable.”

Background information:

According to KMOX, which broke the story this afternoon, Nixon has spent more than $400,000 in taxpayer dollars on the state plane. That amounts to more than 250 flights, or an average of one every three days. What’s worse: the cost of Nixon’s flights are being incurred not by the Governor’s office, but by various state agencies—which diverts precious taxpayer resources from the missions of these agencies in order to chauffer the Governor around the state.

In January, then-Auditor Susan Montee released an audit criticizing the diversion of funds from state agencies to pay for the Governor’s travel.

In 2009, the Associated Press reported that the Governor had even billed taxpayers almost $1,300 to fly to a college basketball game—a trip which had absolutely no public purpose.

Now, Auditor Tom Schweich has announced that his audit of the Governor’s office will include a review of his travel expenses. And there is an effort underway in the General Assembly to prevent Nixon from forcing state agencies to waste their limited resources on his travel.

Steelman cheers Wisconsin governor

In a tweet a few moments ago, Republican U. S. Senate candidate Sarah Steelman cheered the stance taken in Wisconsin against public employee unions:

Kudos Wisc leadership standing up for taxpayers against union demands. Wisc shows problem with collective bargaining for public employees.

Jane Cunningham: A child's place is in the sweatshop

If anyone has ever wondered why many of the bills sponsored by Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, have no co-sponsors, her latest should answer all questions.

SB 222, which would strike down most Missouri child labor laws, has come under fire in Missouri and nationally, all of which leaves Mrs. Cunningham unfazed. She defended the bill

to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

"In no way are we trying to get rid of the child labor laws," Cunningham said in an interview. "There is every intention to protect children and make sure they get what they need."

Apparently, Mrs. Cunningham has a strange idea of what children need.

She says the bill is just to protect those children who babysit, walk dogs, or wash cars. I am sure she will be able to provide documentation of the hundreds of Missouri children who have been arrested because they violated work laws by staying with a baby one hour too long or washing one extra car.

To Mrs. Cunningham, who year after years sponsors legislation that would allow government to micromanage teachers and students in public school systems, her bill is an attempt to ger government out of our lives.

"Right now the present law puts a government official in charge of our children. I think it's important for us to make sure that parents are in charge."
Of cases wherein parents might not have their children's best interest in mind, Cunningham said, "I think you cannot write a law for every extreme situation. We just have to write the best law we can that has common sense in it."

Mrs. Cunningham does have a point. You cannot write a law for every extreme situation, but it's a perversion to have a state senator who writes an extreme law for every situation.

Engler: Jane Cunningham child labor bill makes no sense

Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, is definitely not on board with the bill sponsored by Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, which would tear apart child labor laws. From his weekly report:

A bill that has been getting a lot of attention is Senate Bill 222, which would eliminate some of the state’s child labor laws. I believe the measure is short-sided and makes no sense.

Following is the description of the bill from the Missouri Senate website:

This act modifies the child labor laws. It eliminates the prohibition on employment of children under age fourteen. Restrictions on the number of hours and restrictions on when a child may work during the day are also removed. It also repeals the requirement that a child ages fourteen or fifteen obtain a work certificate or work permit in order to be employed. Children under sixteen will also be allowed to work in any capacity in a motel, resort or hotel where sleeping accommodations are furnished. It also removes the authority of the director of the Division of Labor Standards to inspect employers who employ children and to require them to keep certain records for children they employ. It also repeals the presumption that the presence of a child in a workplace is evidence of employment.

This bill, of course, comes from the same woman who has targeted public schools and especially public schoolteachers for the past several years and made it appear as if they are public enemy number one as far as children are concerned.

KOAM: Accused Rowan Ford killer Collings allegedy sexually violated another chld

KOAM reports that at a court hearing today it was revealed that Chris Collings, one of the two men accused of raping and murdering nine-year-old Rowan Ford of Stella, allegedly engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with another child:

Rowan's step-father, David Spears, and his friend, Christopher Collings, are charged with the child's rape and murder.

Prosecutors say the men killed Rowan to cover up her abduction and rape.

On Thursday prosecutors filed information regarding circumstances that would allow a jury to recommend the death penalty. In the motion prosecutors allege Rowan was not Christopher Collings' only victim.

According to court documents Collings also engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with another girl.

Trials for both men are set for this year.

Pujols arrives in camp, talks to reporters

Richard: We must get Missourians back to work

In his weekly report, Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, addresses job creation:

Our number one priority this year in the Senate is job creation. As we work on legislation to encourage economic development in our state, it is important to remember that there is not just one answer to stimulating the economy in our state—we have to take a multi-tiered approach. Whether targeting fast-growing areas of industry, ending lawsuit abuses that cost businesses money, or encouraging companies to expand by freezing corporate franchise taxes, we need to be open to the many ways we can help get Missourians back to work.

I serve as vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government. In this committee, we review much of the legislation proposed to help create jobs and encourage economic growth in our state. In the committee this week, we reviewed several bills designed to target specific areas of business and encourage them to establish and grow in our state.

One of these bills, Senate Bill 217, which I am sponsoring, would create a state and local sales and use tax exemption for data storage centers looking to establish or relocate to our state. Even with a lot of construction of new facilities stalling due to the sluggish economy, these centers are popping up throughout the country because of the growing need for digital storage. Companies including credit card providers, retailers, and Internet search engines all need data storage, and if we can position our state to be a desirable site for these businesses, it is sure to attract quality jobs. The legislation would provide tax breaks for new data centers for the purchase of all machinery, equipment, computers, electrical energy, gas, water and other utilities, including telecommunication services used, as well as purchases of tangible personal property for the construction, repair, or remodeling of a new data storage center.

We also discussed Senate Bill 246 in committee, which would create tax incentives to encourage investment in technology-based early-stage Missouri companies. One way that entrepreneurs can grow their business is through “angel investments”—a type on investment from an individual who provides capital for a business start-up. These are often high-risk investments, so the legislation would provide a tax credit for investors who contribute the first $500,000 in equity investment for a qualified business, if the business is unsuccessful.

Senate Bill 252 is legislation that would extend tax incentives available to those researching and developing agricultural biotechnology and plant genome products, and prescription pharmaceuticals consumed by animals. Under current law, no new tax credits could be approved, awarded or issued after Jan. 1, 2005. The bill would extend these credits and allow qualifying researchers to apply and receive them, encouraging this type of research in our state.

The bills discussed in committee each address a specific economic development issue, but together, they can work to encourage business growth and development in the state. We are also continuing to work on the issues that the Senate President Pro Tem announced as legislative priorities on the first day of session. Senate Bill 19, which would freeze the corporate franchise tax and allow businesses to continue to invest in our state was approved by the Senate and sent to the House for debate this week. We must remain open to ideas on how to best improve our state’s economic environment so that we can encourage job growth and get Missourians back to work.

Blunt's TSA amendment passes Senate

McCaskill questions Secretary of Defense Gates on sexual assault problem in military

Obama: Stan Musial is an icon, an unblemished pillar of the community

Some great Stan Musial harmonica playing in this video: