The number of initiative petitions filed for state reviews before their circulation has increased by more than 600 percent since 2004. The legislature being asked to control that growth. [Read more...]
Missouri House leaders defend resolutions aimed at Congress
February 15, 2010 By
Leaders in the Missouri House defend their decision to spend a lot of time this session sending messages to Washington.
One resolution, HCR 34&35, urges Congress to send to the states a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. Another, HCR 38, calls on Congress to end unfunded mandates.
House Budget Committee Chairman Allen Icet, a Republican from Wildwood, sponsors both, saying he pushed the measures after his constituents complained to him about spending in Washington.
“If we do not communicate what our constituents feel strongly about, then I think we could be accused of not doing our job,” Icet says. “This is a chance for us, elected officials in the state of Missouri, to communicate to our federal colleagues that inside the Beltway you may not hear this message loud and clear, but back home we do.”
Another resolution, HCR 18, passed earlier by the House, asks the Missouri Congressional delegation to vote against the federal health care overhaul bill.
Democrats in the Missouri House have harshly criticized the Republican majority for spending a lot of time this legislative session on measures that will have no effect. They say the House should be focused on more pressing issues that have a direct impact on the state. In addition, Democrats point out the political nature of the resolutions. Republicans control Jefferson City. Democrats control Washington. Democrats see the Republican concentration on resolutions aimed at Congress as purely political potshots.
House Majority Floor Leader Steven Tilley, a Republican from Perryville, dismisses such criticism as well as the charge that Republicans in the Missouri House weren’t as anxious to tell Washington what to do with a fellow Republican, President Bush, resided in the White House. Tilley says conservative Republicans displayed their displeasure with Congressional Republicans at the ballot box in November.
Tilley has been gracious in his allotment of House floor time to debate and pass the measures; measures that even he admits likely won’t have an impact.
“You know, as far as them listening, they probably won’t listen. They’re probably arrogant enough to think that they know what’s best and I think they’ll do that at their own peril come November,” Tilley says.
Mizzou softball makes history at Alabama
February 15, 2010 By
The 9th ranked Missouri Tiger softball team became the first team ever to run rule the Alabama Crimson Tide on their home field when the Tigers beat the 2nd ranked Tide 9-0 on Sunday afternoon to take two of three in their opening weekend of the season.
McMurray wins Daytona 500
February 15, 2010 By
If anyone would know how to drive around potholes you figure it would be someone from Missouri right? Joplin native Jamie McMurray won the Daytona 500, holding off Dale Earnhardt Jr. who tried to make a late charge in a wild two lap finish. A pothole delayed the race twice for over two hours that slowed the race, but didn’t ruin a thrilling finish.
There was a hole in turn two that was about a foot and a half wide that forced NASCAR officials to stop the race at lap 122. At the time Clint Bowyer was in the lead. They started racing again, but the patch fell apart and the race was stopped again at lap 161. Because the drivers weren’t sure if the patch would hold on, the drivers became aggressive jockeying for position should NASCAR call the race with less than 30 laps remaining. NASCAR tweaked their rules a bit and had three, two lap finishes to help determine the winner. After McMurry held off Junior, he ran to the infield logo with tears in his eyes celebrating his victory.
Afterwards, he told ESPN, “I looked in my mirror and saw the 88 — I’ll be honest, I was like, ‘Crap, this guy has won a lot of races here. His family has an incredible history here. I believe everything happens for a reason. I just was like, ‘I hope this isn’t his turn to win the Daytona 500, I hope this is mine.’”
This is McMurray’s first ride back with Chip Ganassi who gave McMurray his start in NASCAR. McMurray left to join Roush-Fenway racing for four years, but struggled before getting another chance with Ganassi this season.
The other native Missourian, Carl Edwards from Columbia, finished 9th.
McMurray’s post race comments.
Bears come up short at Wichita State
February 15, 2010 By
A pair of free throws by Kyle Weems with 4:30 left in the game gave Missouri State a 56-53 lead here in Missouri Valley Conference play on Sunday before the Shockers reeled off nine straight points in a 66-64 loss.
