A report out today discloses that 70 priests working in the Archdiocese of St. Louis have been accused of sexually abusing 148 children since 1950. Accusers withdrew their claims against four of the priests. Slightly more than 1,200 priests served in the St. Louis Archdiocese during that period. The St. Louis report is part of a national report being released by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.
AG To Work With Lawmakers To Address Hancock Concerns In Gun Law
February 27, 2004 By
Attorney General Jay Nixon is ready to act to deal with the State Supreme Court ruling on the conceal-and-carry gun law. He’s vowing to work with the Legislature to quickly address the Court’s concerns. The Supreme Court’s 5-to-2 ruling upholds the constitutional right of eligible Missourians to carry concealed weapons. But the Court agrees with plaintiffs in four counties – Jackson, Greene, Camden, and Cape Girardeau – that the paperwork associated with conceal and carry might present an unfunded mandateand violate the Hancock Amendment. Nixon says sheriffs in all other counties could conceivably start issuing permits, but that’s probably not wise, because it would likely open the litigation floodgates. Nixon says he’ll work with the Legislature over the next few days to craft language that will address the funding concerns. Conceal and carry became law when the Legislature overrode Governor Bob Holden’s veto. Holden’s office has issued a statement saying the Governor remains opposed to conceal and carry.
Lawmakers Plan Strategy In Wake Of Concealed Weapons Ruling
February 27, 2004 By
State lawmakers say they will evalutate the State Supreme Court ruling to decide what changes must be made to fully enact the conceal and carry law. The ruling questions whether the Legislature violated the Hancock Amendment’s prohibition against unfunded mandates. Under the law, county sheriffs would charge a $100 permit feeto be deposited in the sheriff’s revolving fund that pays for equipment and training. Four counties, in particular Kansas City’s Jackson County, asserted that wouldn’t allow the money to cover processing costs, creating an unfunded mandate. House sponsor Larry Crawford of California says he be will talking with colleagues about addressing the court’s concern. Senate Leader Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau sponsored the legislation in that chamber. He says study will proceed action. Kinder though says he’s delighted with the ruling, noting that it found nothing in the state constitution to prohibit the legislature from enacting a conceal and carry law.
Secretary Of State Refusing To Publish Union Fee Deduction Rule
February 27, 2004 By
A Governor’s veto keeps alive the possibility of service fees deducted from state workers’ paychecks, although the Secretary of State says he won’t let it happen.Governor Bob Holden vetoed legislation that would have stopped the part of his executive order that allowed the collection of union dues – so-called service fees – from non-union state workers. When asked whether he now expected a problem from Secretary of State Matt Blunt, who has to publish the rule to put it into effect and who hassaid in the past he would not publish it, Holden said that would be for the Secretary of State to determine. He says it shouldn’t be a problem. Blunt doesn’t expect a problem, either. He says regardless of what the Legislature did this year regarding the service fees, he still could not publish the Governor’s executive order calling for the fees because it broke laws already on the books. A spokesman for the Governor was non-committal as to what the next move might be in the case.
House Completes Work On Unemployment Comp Bill
February 27, 2004 By
The House has given final approval to a bill aimed at reforming the unemployment compensation system. Following several hours of debate, the bill was passed and now moves to the Senate. One of the sticking points in the debate was whether unemployment benefits should be paid to those who use illegal drugs.
