May 22, 2012

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Obama, Nixon speak at Joplin High School graduation (VIDEO, AUDIO)

May 22, 2012 By

The Joplin High School Class of 2012 has graduated in a ceremony that took on a double meaning, as President Barack Obama and Governor Jay Nixon helped to celebrate the class and to mark the one year anniversary of the tornado that devastated the community.

The President greeted the 431 members of the Joplin Class of 2012 ahead of the ceremony. Then in his address, he recalled what happened nearly a year earlier only hours after the Class of 2011 graduated.

“The most powerful tornado in six decades tore a path of devastation through Joplin that was nearly a mile wide and thirteen long. In just 32 minutes it took thousands of homes and hundreds businesses and 161 of your neighbors, friends and family.”

Some of those killed were close to the graduates. “It took a classmate, Will Norton, who had just left this auditorium with a diploma in his hand. It took Lantz Hare, who should have received his diploma next year.”

 

The night was also marked with humor. Class President Chloe Hadley recalled how her senior year had been spent in makeshift facilities, including a local shopping center. “With all confidence I can say I am proud to be a member of the North Park Mall graduates of 2012.”

Superintendent C.J. Huff told the graduates he is proud of them. “If I could have picked a motto for this class, it would simply be this, ‘No excuses.’ Class of 2012, you have shown amazing leadership and character in the face of overwhelming adversity. You have shown the world not only that of which you are capable but also that of which you are made.”

AUDIO:   Hear Governor Nixon’s speech, 9:18

AUDIO:   Joplin School District Superintendent C.J. Huff, 7:13

Filed Under: Education, Fires/Accidents/Disasters, Human Interest, News, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , , ,

Renegades? Not in the senate, says Mayer (AUDIO)

May 21, 2012 By

Some people win and some people lose in the intense closing days of a legislative session. Each chamber pats itself on the back for the bills it passed, prefers not to talk about the bills it flubbed…and sometimes there is some venting.

House floor leader Tim Jones blamed “renegade senators” for killing some bills. Senate leaders refused to rise to the bait. President Pro Tem Rob Mayer maintained the outward appearance of calm he has displayed throughout the session although he did admit there were some tensions in the senate, particularly when a group dubbed by some senate members as the “Gang of Nine” dominated debate on some issues.

AUDIO: Mayer :31

Mayer says a difference in the way the House and Senate operates might be behind the remarks. The senate is sometimes accused by the House of taking too much time on bills. The House is sometimes accused by the Senate of rushing through legislation, often by cutting off debate.

It’s likely different people will be saying similar things a year from now.

Filed Under: Featured, Legislature, Politics & Government

House Republicans and Democrats assess the session (VIDEO)

May 21, 2012 By

As one might expect, Republicans and Democrats in the House see the 2012 legislative session two very different ways.

Representatives Tim Jones (left) and Mike Talboy (right) courtesy, Missouri House Communications

Republican Majority Floor Leader Tim Jones (R-Eureka) says the House kept the promises it made and had a successful session. “We are very proud of our session, we are very proud of our caucus. We were very proud to welcome our members across the aisle … along with our colleagues in the Senate.”

Jones touts accomplishments including a charter schools reform and accountability bill, a co-employee liability fix and narrowing the difference in sentencing between crack and powder cocaine-related offenses.

Democrats backed all of those proposals, but Minority Floor Leader Mike Talboy (D-Kansas City) says the two top priorities going into the session, a foundation formula fix and job creation, went undone.

“Regardless of whether it’s the House’s fault or it’s the Senate’s fault, when you have the majorities that were discussed at the beginning of this cycle, one of those two things should get done.”

One fundamental difference between the two parties’ positions going forward regards new revenue.

Democrats, like outgoing representative Sara Lampe (D-Springfield) say in order to keep meeting the state’s obligations to education, transportation and public safety, more money will be needed. “We’ve had them before this legislature. They’re out there. (Increasing) cigarette tax sales collection, internet sales collection and tax amnesty. All three of those could have gone through this year but didn’t.

Jones disagrees. “‘Raising revenue’ is simply code for raising taxes. Across this nation, across this great state that is not what the voters want. They spoke loud and clear on that in 2010 and I believe they will again this fall.”

View the House Republicans’ and Democrats’ end-of-session media conferences below, courtesy of Missouri House Communications:

Filed Under: Economy, Education, Elections, Featured, Legislature, News, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , , ,

Pseudoephedrine legislation added to public safety omnibus

May 18, 2012 By

A dispute between republican proposals in the House centers over which approach to take in getting pseudoephedrine out of the hands of meth-makers.

Representative Stanley Cox (photo courtesy; Missouri House Communications)

One would allow Missourians to possess about a ten-month supply of cold medications with pseudoephedrine, stiffen penalties for owning more and let Missouri share purchase information with other states. The other allows for about a three-month supply but exempts a new product that law enforcement says has so little pseudoephedrine, attempts to make methamphetamine with it fail.

Both pieces were offered as amendments to a massive law enforcement bill. In the end, the House chose Sedalia representative Stanley Cox’s plan, which allowed the greater supply.

In this last day of the session the package goes back to the Senate.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Health & Medicine, Law Enforcement, Legislature, News, Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

House-Senate committee to study abortion, birth control coverage (AUDIO)

May 17, 2012 By

A House-Senate Committee could be next to consider a package containing a number of measures related to religious objections to abortions and birth control.

Representatives Mike Colona and Jay Barnes (photos courtesy, Missouri House Communications)

The measure contains several proposals that have been heard earlier in the session. One would prevent employers or employees from being forced to provide or obtain insurance coverage for abortion, sterilization or birth control and would bar discrimination or penalty against those employers or employees. It also includes language to let health care workers and institutions opt out of procedures they have moral, ethical or religious objections to.

See the legislation, SB 749.

Majority Floor Leader Tim Jones (R-Eureka) says the package is in response to the Affordable Care Act, “To protect us from something that this nation has been struggling with for over two years and that’s the onerous mandates contained in the federal healthcare takeover. The bill that is currently under consideration in the Supreme Court.”

Several St. Louis Democrats spoke against the package. Representative Susan Carlson (D-St. Louis) says it accomplishes nothing. “This is a waste of our time, it’s a waste of this body’s energy and intelligence and the taxpayers money of this state. This is going to get resolved. It’s in court already. This is just a way for people to get more attention drawn to this issue.”

Representative Stacey Newman (D-St. Louis) calls the bill part of a “war on women.” She also says it could have a lot of unintended consequences. “It also will deny insurance coverage based on any procedures for sterilization … any kind of medical treatment leading to sterility could be denied under this. Medical professionals could even refuse to process bills, they can refuse to handle medical records, even set up an exam room if they have a medical objection to the procedure that a physician has required of me.”

An amendment added to the bill would let employees decline to pay into group insurance plans that offer coverage for elective abortions.

Representative Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City) sponsored the language. “My amendment says very simply that those people who find it morally, ethically, religiously appalling that they might have to pay for an abortion don’t have to pay for them.” He asked House democrats opposing the bill, “Your side says constantly we shouldn’t be imposing religious beliefs or such on others. Why should people who want abortions have to force people who are pro-life to pay for them?”

Representative Mike Colona (D-St. Louis) said the proposals will drive up insurance costs. “What we’re going to be doing, simply put, is pricing that coverage above what your average, ordinary, every day person can afford. I’d rather somebody look at me straight in the face and say we’re going to deny that to you because we think you’re wrong and we know better because we’re men than do it through the back door and jack up the price of coverage.”

The House and Senate have rejected one another’s versions of the legislation and could go to conference to try to hammer out differences. A committee would have to act quickly with the end of the legislative session coming tomorrow evening.

AUDIO:   Debate between Colona and Barnes about Barnes’ amendment becomes heated, 4:28

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Human Interest, Insurance, Legislature, News, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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