February 12, 2012

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Gov. Nixon keeps focus on Joplin even while eyeing northwest Missouri flooding (AUDIO)

June 14, 2011 By

Gov. Nixon meets with National Guard on northwest Missouri flooding/Gov's office

Governor Nixon says Missouri has had to sustain a series of blows from severe weather, with worries about summer flooding rising. Even as the governor keeps an eye on floodwaters in northwest Missouri, he remains focused on helping Joplin recover.

Nixon tells the Missourinet Missouri has had to absorb a series of blows from severe weather, with the biggest blow striking Joplin May 22nd.

“I think the most important thing we’re focused on here is making sure that the strength and the will of the people of Joplin stays upbeat the way it has over this last three and a half weeks,” says Nixon. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters, Weather Tagged With:

Gov. Nixon says state will aid in search for survivors in Joplin (AUDIO)

May 23, 2011 By

Governor Nixon says the state response to the deadly tornado that has devastated Joplin began last night and continues today as the search for survivors proceeds.

“We’ve got about 500 firefighters from around Missouri down here now searching the rubble with shelters open. And with the hospital hit, we had to move a number of patients out of there,” Nixon tells the Missourinet. “The bottom line is that it’s a very challenging situation in this weather, but we’re still actively working to search to find folks that have survived.”

The official death toll stands at 89, but city officials fear that will rise, perhaps considerably. More than one thousand Joplin residents sought treatment for injuries, from minor to serious. Rescue crews freed five families from rubble this morning. [Read more...]

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

Gov. Nixon signs farm nuisance lawsuit bill, after vetoing initial bill (AUDIO)

May 11, 2011 By

Governor Nixon has signed a bill limiting nuisance lawsuits against agricultural operations, after vetoing the legislature’s initial offering.

Sen. Brad Lager (R-Savannah) re-drafted HB 209 into SB 187, clarifying that punitive damages could be awarded and restricting the law only to farm settings, not the city.

“So, it was those two clarifications in 187 that gave the governor the comfort level necessary to sign the bill,” Lager told the Missourinet.

The governor’s office issued a written statement after Nixon signed the bill without ceremony.

“In my veto message on House Bill 209, I expressed my concerns about two provisions of the law: first, that it was too broad; and second, that it would have precluded the neighbors of nuisances relating to crop or animal production from obtaining punitive damages. Punitive damages are an important legal tool: they send a strong message to bad actors to clean up their act. Senate Bill 187 addresses both these concerns and as a result, has earned my signature.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Agriculture, Legislature Tagged With:

State legislators override Gov. Nixon’s veto of redistricting map (AUDIO)

May 5, 2011 By

Rep. John Diehl (left) talks with House Speaker Steven Tilley prior to override vote/House photo

State legislators have overridden Governor Nixon’s veto of the congressional redistricting map.

The Senate completed the legislative override, voting 28-to-6 to enact the bill containing the map over the objections of the governor. That vote came on the heels of a House vote that just met the two-thirds majority requirement; 109-to-44.

The House was the key. The Senate had earlier approved the map 27-7, more than enough votes to override a gubernatorial veto. Sen. Chuck Purgason, a Republican from Caulfield, voted against the bill earlier, but voted for the override. Sen. Bill Stouffer, a Republican from Napton, stuck with his opposition to the map and voted with five Senate Democrats against the override. No debate took place in the Senate prior to the vote.

House Speaker Steven Tilley, a Republican from Perryville, acknowledges he worried whether he had the votes needed when he brought the veto override before the body.

“Yeah, I mean, because we had 109. If one person flips on you, then you don’t quite get there,” Tilley tells the Missourinet, “but I’m thrilled with the result.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Elections, Legislature Tagged With: ,

General Assembly overrides Gov. Nixon’s veto of congressional redistricting map

May 4, 2011 By

The legislature has overridden Gov. Nixon’s veto of the congressional redistricting map.

The Senate follow action begun in the House this morning. The Senate voted 28-6 to complete the override. No senator spoke on the motion made by Sen. Scott Rupp, a Republican from Wentzville, who chaired the Senate redistricting committee. One Republican senator, Bill Stouffer of Napton, voted against the override motion. Stouffer has been critical of the 5th Congressional District, which incorporates Kansas City, but stretches out to take in three rural counties.

The Missouri House has voted 109-44 to override Nixon’s veto earlier. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Legislature Tagged With: ,
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