Billy Long: I am proud to fight alongside President Trump to protect Americans at all stages of life

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

Quick, quick - what happened in 1973? I graduated high school, of course. It also happened to be the year that the Supreme Court determined that the Constitution protects a woman’s right to have an abortion.

As a high school senior, I was perplexed that it was suddenly perfectly acceptable to stop the beating heart of an innocent unborn child. 

Last week, tens of thousands of people traveled to our nation’s capital to participate in the annual March for Life; I was especially encouraged to see the huge number of young people that turned out to show their support to protect the innocent unborn. 

United in their cause to fight for the unborn, pro-life advocates gathered on the National Mall where, for the first time in U.S. history, a sitting president addressed the crowd, a stark contrast from President Obama becoming the first sitting president to address Planned Parenthood a few years ago. 

In his speech, President Trump reaffirmed his commitment to protecting Americans at all stages of life, and I am proud to stand with him in his effort to protect and preserve the rights of the unborn.

On the 47th Anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade ruling, March for Life participants gathered outside of the Supreme Court to speak up for the millions of lives lost as a result of that landmark decision. 

Not only did this ruling completely ignore the rights of the unborn child, but it created the perfect opportunity for states to exploit the vague terms in order to promote their own anti-life agendas. Recently, New York passed a law allowing women to receive third-trimester abortions; Virginia took it one step further, proposing a law that would allow infants to be aborted until the moment of birth. 

These policies extend well beyond the health of the mother and teeter dangerously on the brink of infanticide. It is unfathomable that states could blatantly disregard the rights of the unborn under the guise that it is medically necessary.

From 2007-2016, statistics show that we have seen abortion rates decrease by 24 and 26 percent respectively. Additionally, the rate of teen pregnancy—the majority of which are unplanned—has steadily decreased over the last quarter-century, contributing to the lowest rates of abortions among teens since it was legalized. 

While this is encouraging, there is still much to be done in terms of fighting for the rights of the unborn. 

President Trump understands the importance of protecting Americans at all stages of life, which is why he chose to break from tradition and address this movement last week. During his address, the president assured the crowd that he is working to dispel the notion that abortion is a fundamental human right, and twenty-four nations have joined him in this cause. 

The president recognizes that as long as abortions are legal, the United States will remain one of only seven countries that permit elective abortions after twenty weeks (along with China, North Korea, and Vietnam). This is something that needs to change, and I fully support the President in his efforts to do so.

As states continue to pass laws that allow late-term abortions, it is more critical than ever that we pass laws on the federal level to protect the unborn from suffering such a cruel fate. I acknowledge that abortion is a deeply personal issue; however, I personally believe that life begins at conception and will continue to vote my conscience on abortion-related issues. 

As long as I serve Missouri’s Seventh Congressional District, I will continue to fight legislative measures that allow taxpayer dollars to fund abortions and will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect the rights of the unborn. I am proud to be pro-life, and I am proud to have a president who is unafraid to be the voice for life at its most vulnerable stage.

Ed Emery: Here's my reason for overturning the will of the voters

(From Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar)

Compared to other states, it’s remarkably easy to place issues before voters in Missouri. To change the constitution it is only necessary to submit a proposed question to the secretary of state and then gather a sufficient number of signatures in support – eight percent of legal voters in any six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts.

This is exactly what happened in 2018. A group claiming to want to take the money out of politics submitted a measure and begin collecting signatures.

Exactly who backed the measure, and how they raised the money for their campaign remains something of a mystery. Ironically, many of the signatures were gathered by paid employees and most of the money to fund this campaign came from out-of-state sources.

Amendment 1 appealed to voters. Even the name, “Clean Missouri,” sounded wonderful. The measure placed limits on campaign contributions, capped the value of gifts legislators could accept and required former office holders to wait two years before becoming a lobbyist. The measure also promised to ensure “fairness” when legislative district boundaries are drawn.

Amendment 1 passed by a wide margin. The supporters of Amendment 1 that I’ve spoken to said they liked the ethics reforms. Most of them weren’t particularly interested in the legislative redistricting portions of the measure. I believe that’s exactly what the backers of the amendment intended. Like a Trojan horse, ethics reform was just a way of sneaking a new legislative redistricting plan – one that favored a party that has not found much success at Missouri polls – past the guard of voters.

Legislative districts are vitally important. Where the lines are drawn determines whether communities and cultures are represented, or whether the influence of neighbors is divvied up and diluted. Depending on where you live relative to the boundary line, your representative may share your interests or better reflect a community other than your own.

Prior to the passage of Amendment 1, legislative districts were crafted by a bipartisan citizen commission, with the two major parties equally represented. Due to the passage of Amendment 1, legislative districts will now be determined by a single government employee, a state demographer. The criteria for how districts are crafted has changed, too. Previously, the commissions sought to create districts that were compact and contiguous. Senatorial District 31, which I represent, is an example of this. It is made up of five neighboring counties – Barton, Bates, Cass, Henry and Vernon – with similar demographics, interests and economics.

Amendment 1 imposed a new criteria. Legislative districts now must reflect “partisan fairness.” The state demographer will look at how Missourians voted in the past three elections for governor, U.S. senator and president and each new legislative district must mirror those political results. The problem with this approach should be obvious. I believe people in the cities tend to vote one way, while those in rural areas vote another. How do you create legislative districts in rural areas that reflect the overall political divisions of the state?

In the future, legislative districts may no longer consist of neighboring communities. To achieve “partisan fairness,” the state demographer may have to group urban areas with unconnected rural areas. Residents of Vernon County, for example, may be represented in the Missouri Senate by a lawmaker from Jackson County. There is a genuine concern that the passage of Amendment 1 represents the end to local representation in Missouri.

There is a measure before the Missouri Senate this year that will put redistricting back before the voters. Senate Joint Resolution 38 would restore the bipartisan citizen commissions and reorder the redistricting priorities to again favor compact and contiguous districts. This resolution came before the Senate this week and opponents staged a filibuster. It seems that some members of the Legislature are determined to prevent voters from revisiting the redistricting portions of Amendment 1. It’s possible that once the issue is presented to voters clearly and “cleanly,” they may again choose the state demographer system and partisan fairness over compact districts that represent local communities. Or, what is more likely, they may decide that traditional methods are best. Either way, voters should be given the opportunity.

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The Buck Starts Here: Harry S. Truman and the City of Lamar by Randy Turner is available at the Lamar Democrat office, Harry S. Truman Birthplace and Barton County Chamber of Commerce in Lamar and at Always Buying Books, Changing Hands Book Shoppe and The Book Guy in Joplin and in paperback and e-book formats from Amazon.

Committee approves Bill White's Missouri Water and Sewer Infrastructure Act

Josh Hawley: Impeachment of President Trump is charade- send me money

In his latest pitch for more campaign cash, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO, surprises no one with his use of the ongoing impeachment trial of President Donald Trump:

At some point, Democrats will have to admit that this charade was ill advised, and that it's really just a partisan attempt to overturn an election. 

Democrats don’t like President Trump. They have never liked him and they wanted to impeach him from day one. They were hell bent on doing it.

Democrats are putting the whole country through this, and that’s why it’s time to bring this to an end. Let’s vote on impeachment and get back to work. If you agree that the U.S. Senate needs to focus on the real issues, make your voice heard and donate to my team today.

The Democrats don't have a case. Let's vote. It's time to let the Senate get back to work on issues that matter.

***

Available now: 

The Buck Starts Here: Harry S. Truman and the City of Lamar is available in paperback and e-book formats at the Amazon links below.

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Missouri's 2019-2020 Blue Book available online

(From Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft)

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft unveiled the online 2019-2020 Official Manual, also called the “Blue Book,” today.

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote, Ashcroft sought out female legislators to provide their thoughts on the significance of the amendment. These quotes appear throughout the book, which can be found online at https://www.sos.mo.gov/bluebook/2019-2020.

The 1,444-page book was compiled, proofed and designed by the Communications/Publications division of the Secretary’s office which includes Julie Stegeman, Alyssa Harker, Jacob Schloss, Nick Omland and Randy Wright. 

The feature story on the 19th amendment was researched and written by staff members of the Missouri State Archives, including Amy Dinkins, Mary Stansfield, Kelsey Berryhill, Christina Miller, John Dougan, Sarah Norris, Brian Rogers, Rebecca Pursley, Tracy Wegman and Shelly Croteau.

The 2019-2020 Official Manual will be published at a later date and made available for purchase.

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FREE PREVIEW

Get a free 12-chapter PDF e-book preview of Randy Turner's book, The Buck Starts Here: Harry S Truman and the City of Lamar by sending an e-mail to rturner229@hotmail.com

After five weeks of good behavior. judge allows therapist charged with sex with autistic student to remove ankle monitor

A former behavioral therapist charged with two felony counts of having sexual contact with a student no longer has to wear an ankle monitor.

During a bond reduction hearing this morning in Jasper County Circuit Court, Judge Joseph Hensley granted portions of the motion filed by the attorney for Victoria West, 28, Joplin, a former therapist at the Leffen Center for Autism.

Under Hensley's ruling, West will also be allowed to move to Pittsburg, Kansas, to care for her ailing grandmother. She will remain on house arrest, but only between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. each day.

In the bond reduction motion, West's attorney had argued her client should have the GPS monitor removed and no longer to have to be under house arrest because she had behaved well during the five weeks since the conditions were imposed.







West will be permitted to look for a job, as long as she does not take one that requires her to work overnight hours.

Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, February 20.

According to the probable cause statement, West provided oral sex to a 17-year-old autistic student November 20 and November 29 at Schifferdecker Park.

Former Neosho businessman pleads guilty to $26 million fraud schemes, money laundering

Russell Grundy, a former Neosho businessman who owned Innovative Objects in Joplin, pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in fraud schemes that netted him $26 million.

Grundy, 50, who now lives in Hilton Head, South Carolina, admitted to two counts of wire fraud, one count of making a false statement on a loan application and one count of money laundering.


From the news release issued by the U. S. Attorney from the Western District of Missouri:

Grundy was the owner of several companies that focused on advanced technologies, ranging from software development to computer security to addressing the software and hardware technological needs of its clientele. Grundy’s companies included Innovative Objects, LLC, PILR Technology, LLC, Choice Technologies, LLC, Wyerless, LLC, and Audio Input, LLC.

Land O’Lakes/Nutra Blend Fraud Scheme

Grundy (through his company Innovative Objects) was contracted by Land O’Lakes, Inc., and its subsidiary, Nutra Blend, LLC, from January 2004 to Sept. 27, 2015, to create propriety software to inventory, track, and coordinate the disbursement of products. Grundy also contracted with Land O’Lakes and Nutra Blend to provide equipment and technical support for the use, upkeep, and maintenance of the software.

Grundy falsely told Land O’Lakes and Nutra Blend that third party software programs were built into that proprietary software and were essential to the successful operation of the software. Grundy claimed that some of the payments made to Innovative Objects were remitted to third party license holders. In reality, there were no third party licensee fees; instead, Grundy kept those payments for his personal or unrelated expenses.

Land O’Lakes and Nutra Blend paid more than $1.3 million in fraudulent license fees between 2012 and 2015.

Miami Nations Enterprise Fraud Scheme

Grundy engaged Miami Nations Enterprise, a subsidiary company of the Miami Nations Tribe, in negotiations to provide loans and to purchase a controlling interest in all of Grundy’s technology-based companies.

Grundy falsely told Miami Nations Enterprise that his companies had been awarded a $3.5 million contract from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., to develop and provide information technology services. Grundy presented numerous e-mails, invoices, conditional award letters, and other documents to support his false claims. Miami Nations Enterprise loaned Grundy the money to cover the costs associated with software and hardware purchases and training necessary to obtain the $3.5 million Wal-Mart contract. Grundy admitted today that he instead used those funds for his own personal expenses, including building a new home in Charleston, South Carolina.

On Aug. 24, 2014, Miami Nations Enterprise paid an additional $2 million to purchase a 70 percent interest in Grundy’s companies.

Officials with Miami Nations Enterprise later discovered that neither Grundy nor any of his companies had been awarded any contract with Wal-Mart, and determined that the e-mails, conditional contract award, invoices, and bank deposits Grundy had used to support his claims were fraudulently created.

False Information on Loan Application

Grundy applied for three loans from UMB Bank on Oct. 17, 2014. Grundy specifically admitted that he fraudulently obtained a $5,440,800 loan by providing false information in the loan application.

Grundy falsely claimed that Land O’Lakes had agreed to a 20-year lease for warehouse space that he wanted to build using the loans he sought from the bank. Based on lease agreements provided to UMB Bank officials, Grundy claimed he would receive $18 million in future income.

Grundy admitted that he grossly exaggerated the amount of money to be paid by Land O’Lakes in order to obtain the loans from UMB. Rather than one lease agreement between Grundy and Land O’Lakes to rent the warehouses, there were two lease agreements. One lease agreement was for three years at an amount far less than claimed by Grundy. The second lease agreement was a “month-to-month” lease agreement at an even smaller amount. In reality, the true and accurate leases signed and approved by Land O’Lakes only guaranteed Grundy $540,000 in income.

Under federal statutes, Grundy is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole on each of the wire fraud counts, up to 30 years on the false statements count, and up to 10 years on the money laundering count. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Carney and Casey Clark. It was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.

Graves: Navigable Waters Protection Rule offers common sense

(From Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves)

Since it was first announced in 2011, the Waters of the U.S. rule—as envisioned by President Obama—has hung like a millstone around the neck of rural America. Better known as WOTUS, the rule drew the ire of farmers, small business owners, and many living in the heart of the country—and rightfully so.

President Obama’s WOTUS rule turned empty ditches, farm ponds and small streams into navigable bodies of water and placed them under the jurisdiction of the federal government.

Something as simple as a puddle could have been regulated by the EPA under the wide-reaching definition! The onerous rule was put forward as the best way to protect our water; in reality, it was designed to give the federal government domain over every family farm and parcel of land in rural America.

Thankfully, President Trump announced last year that the rule had finally been ditched. He also announced that he would be replacing it with a common-sense rule that would protect our water while not infringing on the private property rights of folks in rural America.

Last week, the Navigable Waters Protection Rule was signed, providing much-needed clarity to farmers and landowners. This rule provides consistency and predictability. No one wants the EPA or Corps of Engineers wandering onto their land to pick and choose what to regulate. The rules need to be clear, concise, fair, and effective—that’s exactly what we got with this new rule.

To that end, what constitutes federally-regulated “waters of the US” is finally defined. What constitutes a ditch will now be in writing, and most of them won’t be regulated. The meaning of prior-converted cropland will now be clear for farmers. Finally, state and local authorities will be given far more flexibility to determine how to manage their water resources.

Critics have alleged that the new rule is just another example of Republicans wanting dirty water. That couldn’t be further from the truth. We just want to make sure that the regulations that folks must abide by are based in logic and reality.

That’s what this new rule accomplishes—ensuring we maintain a clean water supply while not overextending the reach of the federal government into places it doesn’t belong, like the empty ditch running through your back forty.

It is possible to have clean water and less bureaucracy; it just takes common sense and folks looking out for rural America to make that happen. The Navigable Waters Protection Rule is a perfect example of listening to the folks who fire the engine that drives America and implementing their ideas. I look forward to President Trump finalizing this rule and removing a major threat to our rural way of life.

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