State Representative Peter Merideth, accompanied by his adorable daughter, discussed the accomplishments (and frustrations) of the Missouri Democratic caucus during the most recently completed legislative session. The presentation and interchange with West County Democrats was spirited, lively and full of good information. One apparent difference between the Democratic caucus and the party that now controls the legislature in Missouri is their earnest efforts to make Missouri more prosperous and our government more effective for all citizens. Despite the poor governance and political infighting of the Republican party, Democrats actually made some progress in addressing funding for education, public health and infrastructure. You can read more about these accomplishments at the Missouri House Democratic Caucus website.
We should be bragging to every one we know about the practical, common sense and effective leadership that Democrats bring to our legislature. Our state needs more of this, and if you agree, YOU can be involved and make a difference. We have perhaps the best slate of new Democratic candidates we’ve had in a long time, and you can help them win office, through the Missouri House Democrats website.
Some of the candidates for office presented themselves at today’s meeting including Trish Gunby who is running to unseat deadwood Ann Wagner in the 2nd Congressional District, Colin Lovett running for State Representative in District 100 and Melissa Greenstein running for State Representative in District 101.
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These are good, capable folks, hoping to bring positive change for all of us. All they need now is your support, and you can engage with them fully through their websites.
If you would like to meet more Democratic candidates, join us at next month’s WCD meeting. We’re planning an open forum for all candidates and expect it will be well attended. Stay tuned for details.
Glenn Koenen’s Legislative Report for June 13, 2022
Federal Items:
“Spending $40 billion on Ukraine aid – more than three times what all of Europe has spent combined – is not in America’s interests…It neglects priorities at home (the border), allows Europe to freeload, short changes critical interests abroad and comes w/ no meaningful oversight.” Missouri Senator Josh Hawley 5/20/22 New York Times
Please sit down and remember to breath…
Reputable political forecasters and news organizations list Josh Hawley as one of the top ten (in some cases top five or six) possible Republican candidates for President in 2024.
Hawley belongs to a growing group of Republican theocrats who take more inspiration from the Ayatollah Khomeini than from James Madison. For example, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) claims part of the blame for school shootings comes from a lack of prayer in schools. And, Illinois’s Congresswoman Mary Miller states that “Our country must be guided by our Judeo-Christian faith.” For every problem, only the Christian God has the answer.
Meanwhile, Republican dogma remains that the January 6, 2021 insurrection was simply a bit of horseplay by overzealous tourists – egged on by leftist Antifa members. After last week’s prime time session by the House committee looking at the events, former President Donald Trump even threw his daughter Ivanka under the Bus of Lies by claiming she’d “checked out” on January 6th and wasn’t paying attention to events in the White House and around Washington.
Despite the epidemic of mass shootings, the Republican Senate leadership refuses to allow debate or serious discussion on efforts to restrict access to assault rifles, large capacity magazines or large amounts of ammunition. Remember, Missouri’s Roy Blunt has received $4.6 million from the NRA, Hawley $1.4 million and Mitch McConnell $1.3 million, among others. [NY Times 5/27/22]
In fact, many Capitol Hill sentries expect no significant legislation to emerge before the election despite pressing needs for immigration reform, an increase to the federal minimum wage (still $7.25 per hour), support for local election authorities, measures to lessen the impact of a probable recession, environmental issues and other critical items.
Many senior Republicans are planning the series of investigations into the Biden and Obama administrations they plan to launch if they regain control of Congress. Leadership has already promised that all activities looking into 1/6/21 will immediately cease – and the Democratic investigators will be investigated!
Across the street from the Capitol, the Supreme Court still has a number of major cases on which to issue rulings and opinions. Besides the leaked abortion decision, the court’s docket includes…
A challenge to New York state’s restrictive concealed carry laws;
Affirmation or destruction of Obama era rules to states to limit greenhouse gasses;
A decision on the Texas and Missouri suit to force would be asylum seekers to wait in Mexico;
A refinement on the church – state relationship (including can a high school coach lead
a prayer service on the football after a game); and,
A clarification on the application of the death penalty where trial mistakes have
been acknowledged (as in the Boston Marathon bomber trial).
Not likely to be a question in the future: whether the involvement of Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife, Ginni, in planning the January 6 ‘rally’ and “Stop The Steal” efforts ought to disqualify the justice from involvement in resulting cases. (Thomas has refused to step away from abortion cases despite his wife’s long involvement with anti-abortion groups – including some which refuse to condemn violence.)
State Items:
This year the Missouri legislature began their December Holiday celebrations early, enacting a series of “Christmas Tree” bills with scores of amendments which were themselves complete bills.
Two examples:
1) House Bill 1878 on elections includes parts of almost two dozen proposed bills. The items would give the Secretary of State unprecedented control over every election authority in the state, including the power to audit voter rolls of counties up to four times each year.
2) The original Senate Bill 710 was five pages long. The bill which finally passed is 100 pages long.
At the close of business this past Friday, June 10, 2022, Missouri had received $11.9 billion in General Revenue – 13% more than on the same date in 2021. State revenue continues to exceed the projections made during the formation of the budget.
All images Copyright 2022 – West County Democrats