A half-empty state senate has given perfunctory approval to a resolution that one member criticizes as doing “absolutely nothing.”
The resolution sponsored by Sen. Jane Cunningham of St. Louis, asks Attorney General Chris Koster to join 25 other attorneys general challenging the federal healthcare overhaul law in court. The resolution has no authority.
Opponent Jolee Justus of Kansas City calls the resolution a waste of time and criticizes the senate for passing non-binding resolutions instead of seriously discussing jobs. She says any decisions in lawsuits filed by 25 other attorneys general will be binding on Missouri, meaning there’s no reason for Koster to spend time and resources filing more documents. .
But Senator Brian Nieves of Washington doesn’t care than 25 other Attorneys General are involved. Although he praised Koster as a “good attorney general,” he said he wanted “MY attorney general involved in this.”
Only about ten voices were heard voting “aye” in the senate…Three voices were heard saying “no” Most of the members had left the chamber before the vote was taken. The Senate has 33 members.
Koster has refused to get involved in any of the lawsuits and has had little to say about it. He released a statement after the Senate vote saying, “The Attorney General’s Office will consider Missouri’s unique issues and legal concerns, including the enactment of Proposition C and the resolutions passed by the General Assembly, in the coming days.”
Proposition C got 71% support last August.
Listen to highlights of discussion with Cunningham, Justus, Nieves 14:39 mp3
