Maybe some dirt is being dug up on the Chiefs new head coach Todd Haley. Chief offensive guard Brian Waters, after multiple conversations with Haley says he wants out of KC and Haley is telling him no way.
In a story that appears in the Kansas City Star , according to the paper’s source, Waters said he thought Haley was arrogant. Waters said after several phone conversation with Haley, it confirmed the negative reports he heard about Haley from Arizona Cardinals players while at the Pro Bowl, that he was arrogant, condescending, and was ignored by veteran players.
The three Cardinals who were at the Pro Bowl were Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Waters flew to Kansas City to meet with Haley and GM Scott Pioli and Pioli told Waters there was no reason for the two of them to meet.
The Stars’ sources said of the meeting with Waters and Haley, that "Haley began his hallway conversation with Waters by proclaiming that 22 players off the street could win two games." That’s hilarious.
When I read the article, I got the impression Waters was being a cry baby. Consider the players Haley has had runs in with. When he was with Dallas, he got into with Terrell Owens, no shocker there. In the NFC Championship game, Boldin was jawing at Haley on the sideline for not being on the field and Haley was giving it right back. That was a game that Boldin wasn’t 100% (hamstring strain) so I can see Haley not having confidence in Boldin at that point.
This guy is exactly what the Chiefs need. Did Waters get used to the laid back approach of Herm Edwards and now that a guy wants to come in and shake things up, and won’t let things slide, Waters wants out? The article also mentions Tony Gonzalez wants to have a wait and see approach with Haley, because he was disappointed the Chiefs let Edwards go…why? You won two games last year Tony! You want a shot at the playoffs. You’ve got a head coach now who knows he could win two games with street players and has confidence he can turn things around and you want to bail?
Alright, so Haley may be arrogant, condescending, etc. so what? You don’t think Bill Belichick is a bit arrogant? What about Bill Parcells? Or Jimmy Johnson? This Chiefs team withered away in the 4 th quarter and didn’t have the toughness to finish games off. Haley has the makeup of a coach who can give them the mental toughness they need.
Chiefs OG Waters wants out of KC
Grain elevator fraud case could prompt changes to state law
An emerging investigation into whether a central-Missouri grain elevator defrauded hundreds of farmers prompts a leader in the House to propose changes to state law.
Losses to area farmers have been estimated at $15 million, but Rep. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown) says no one can be certain on the total loss, because many farmers operated with the T. J. Gieseker Farms and Trucking on a handshake. Munzlinger says farmers cannot claim grain without a ticket, which many don’t have.
Farmers might eventually receive only pennies on the dollar. The State Agriculture Department has seized Gieseker’s assets, which seems to total only about $100,000 worth of grain and a bit more than half a million dollars in the bank. A routine audit first hinted at trouble with the grain elevator located east of Mexico. It disclosed that the elevator owed more than $1.3 million for grain allegedly stored in its bins.
An informal meeting arranged by the State Agriculture Department was held on Wednesday. About 250 farmers attended. Department officials are trying to assure farmers the grain elevator will be subjected to a thorough investigation.
Munzlinger says the case worries him. He points out the financial crisis this will cause won’t be confined to farmers. Munzlinger says implement dealers have told of contracts for new equipment being cancelled, because farmers had relied on the sale of grain stored in Martinsburg to pay for the tractors, combines and other equipment ordered.
The case discloses weakness in state law, says Munzlinger. He would like to see the bond requirements from grain elevators raised. He adds that Missouri needs to consider creation of an indemnity fund to make farmers whole when grain elevators fold. Munzlinger says such funds have worked in other states.
Both the Audrain County prosecutor and the State Attorney General are considering criminal charges.
Chris Newbrough, KXEO contributed to this report.
Property assessment reform returns
An effort to stop regular reassessment of homes is being renewed in the legislature.
Senator Jane Cunningham of Chesterfield could not get enough interest in this idea last year to even get a hearing on it when she was in the House. She’s renewing her effort to freeze all real property at its 2006 assessed value or at the purchase price paid if this proposal becomes law.
She calls Missouri’s present property assessment system "predatory," and says escalating property assessments and taxes, if not controlled, can turn the dream of homeownership into a nightmare.
Cunningham and her supporters would let taxing district such as school systems increase property valuations by two percent or the cost of living, whichever is less. She says school districts that would fall behind if the cost of living is more than two percent would have to get voter approval to keep from falling behind.
Cunningham is already a little ahead of last year. Her bill will get a Senate hearing next week.
House and Senate supporters claim to have bipartisan support although the only lawmakers discussing the plan at a Capitol news conference were Republicans.
A similar bill has been introduced in the House, but it’s been introduced late and the main hope for supporters will be with Cunningham’s proposal.
Here are links to the bills:
http://www.senate.mo.gov/09info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=513345
http://www.house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills091/bills/hb888.htm
Missouri tourism ad budget scaled back
Most states are cutting tourism funding in the face of budget shortfalls, and Missouri’s no exception. Governor Nixon is calling for a $3.5 million decrease for the Division of Tourism.
The State Tourism Director told a joint hearing of the House and Senate tourism committees that marketing efforts will be scaled back. The June issue of Midwest Living would be dropped. Advertising in Chicago would be cut by nearly a million dollars. Magazine inserts and TV ads would be reduced.
Rep. Dennis Wood (R-Kimberling City), who represents the Branson area, says he’s not happy about the cuts, but is optimistic that tourism numbers will hold strong.
Wood is urging the Governor to restore the cuts since marketing is vital to bringing in tourism dollars, but says he does not want the state to go into debt and he understands cuts have to be made to balance the budget.
Wood says Missouri’s tourism industry supports more than 300,000 employees. Wood says it’s important to remember that we’ll still be spending more to market tourism this year than ever before — about $20 million.
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Senate committee considers state EITC
A Senate committee is considering a SB 105 proposal to create a state version of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, which would provide funds for low income Missouri workers.
Senator Jolie Justus (D-Kansas City) sponsors the EITC idea, which has been in existence at the federal level since 1975. To qualify for the program, a recipient must work for a refundable credit at 20 percent of the federal EITC. Justus acknowledges this idea comes with a huge price tag – a fiscal note of $171-million, but she is interested in working with other Senators to bring down that number.
During the hearing, Senator Chuck Purgason (R-Caulfield) expressed concerns that this is little more than redistribution of wealth.
“You’re basically taxing people at a rate,” asked Purgason. “And redistributing it back to people that don’t pay taxes, is that correct?”
He was assured, by Justus, that recipients must work and do pay taxes.
Purgason then narrowed his question: “They would apply for taxes, but they would actually receive back from the state more than they paid in.”
Justus responded, “That could happen. Yes.”
The hearing ended with the panel taking no vote on the legislation.
