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Groups sue Ashcroft for ‘robbing’ Missourians of vote on abortion regulations

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Two groups are suing Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for his handling of an attempt to block new abortion regulations. The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and the No Bans on Choice Committee say Ashcroft refused to issue the ballot language needed to start collecting signatures for a public vote. In a press call on Thursday, representatives of the groups say Ashcroft robbed Missourians of 78 days by giving abortion rights advocates 14 days to collect 100,000 signatures.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft

“We had to face reality and we know that we can’t ask our volunteers in good faith to go after this impossible task of getting this many signatures in time,” says Robin Utz with the No Bans on Choice Committee. “Missouri’s Constitution is clear on the right to referendum – the people have 90 days to the gather signatures to put any law passed by the legislature up to a vote.”

Utz says she has not been a politically involved person in Missouri, but the issue is deeply personal to her. She had been trying for four years to get pregnant. In July 2016, she and her husband successfully pulled off their plans to have a family.

At a 21-week routine anatomy scan, Utz says they found out that their daughter, Grace Pearl, had a fatal fetal anomaly that would not develop the baby’s kidneys and lungs.

“Our doctors showed us in ultrasounds that it would be 100% fatal for her. This (referendum effort) matters so much,” Utz says. “People like me, would not be able to carry out humane acts for their very wanted children in the future with this ban. I would not have been able to have had an abortion and spared my daughter agony under this ban. I am not one of the statistical probabilities of why people even get an abortion in this state in every reason.”

She and her husband began testifying on a variety of different bills, including House Bill 126. The legislation, with many of the provisions taking effect next week, would ban abortions around eight weeks of pregnancy. Some medical emergencies are exceptions but not rape or incest.

Under HB 126, physicians who violate the law would face five to fifteen years in prison. It would also forbid doctors from doing abortions if the baby would have Down syndrome or for sex or race-selective abortions. Additionally, the legislation requires both parents to be notified if a minor child wants an abortion.

Some Republicans in the Missouri Legislature have called the legislation the boldest and most comprehensive pro-life bill in the country.

Missourinet contacted Ashcroft’s office for a response but a comment has not been submitted by the time this article was finished. The article will be updated if a response is received.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Missouri Gaming Commission: illegal slot machines are impacting funding for education (AUDIO)

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The Missouri Gaming Commission testified Thursday in Jefferson City that the state needs a coordinated effort to stop illegal slot machines.

Missouri House Special Interim Committee on Gaming Chairman Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial, speaks on August 22, 2019 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Gaming Commission Executive Director David Grothaus testified before the House Special Interim Committee on Gaming. The issue of illegal slot machines dominated most of the two-hour hearing.

“We’re trying to coordinate efforts among law enforcement and prosecutors, trying to educate prosecutors on how to prosecute those cases,” Grothaus says.

Illegal slot machines are found in places like bars, restaurants, gas stations and convenience stores. Grothaus tells lawmakers that there’s one pending criminal case in western Missouri’s Platte County, in the Kansas City area.

Grothaus tells lawmakers that the Gaming Commission is providing assistance to law enforcement. He says what the state needs “is a very focused effort” on the illegal slot machines.

Mr. Grothaus testifies that any illegal gaming machines used in Missouri negatively impact casinos and the state Lottery, reducing taxes and funding for education and veterans. That grabbed the attention of committee chairman State Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial.

“These illegal (slot) machines, they’re everywhere,” Shaul tells Grothaus. “And I think it is probably hard to put a number on it, because they continue to grow everyday. I have several of them in my district.”

Shaul says the illegal machines “are everywhere” in the state and in his district in eastern Missouri’s Jefferson County. Chairman Shaul tells Grothaus it’s a problem.

“Because the people are very clear that they want regulated gaming,” says Shaul. “And they want to make sure when they go to take part in these games that they’re fair.”

Shaul tells Missourinet that he doesn’t want to hurt fraternal organizations, emphasizing that he’s a veteran.

Chairman Shaul emphasizes that no decisions have been made by the committee, and he describes the hearing as an “educational process.”

Meantime, a representative from Missouri’s 13 riverboat casinos also testified, urging the Gaming Commission to shut down all of the illegal slot machines in Missouri. That representative is also calling for criminal prosecutions.

The state’s 13 licensed riverboat casinos have a combined total of about 16,000 slot machines, Grothaus testifies.

Grothaus also testifies that the Gaming Commission has a memorandum of understanding with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. He says state troopers are stationed on the 13 casinos, and perform duties such as regulatory investigations.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with House Special Interim Committee on Gaming Chairman Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial, which was recorded on August 22, 2019 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City:

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Missouri Congressman says Mississippi River model for flood control

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Southeast Missouri Congressman Jason Smith says the Missouri River needs the infrastructure that the Mississippi River has to prevent severe flooding. Smith’s district includes more than 200 miles of the Mississippi River which he says was at flood stage for 150 days this year, between Cape Girardeau and Cairo, without activation of the levees.

Congressman Jason Smith (Photo courtesy of Brownfield Ag News)

“You look at the effects of the flooding that we had south of Cape Girardeau and it could have been SO much worse than it was but it was because of the infrastructure that was brought forward through the MRT project, the Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries project,” says Smith.

That project was authorized by the flood control act of 1928 after devastating flooding in 1927. Smith says Missouri’s Bootheel showed the country how to manage a river.

“We drained our swamps. And those seen Bootheel Counties, after we drained them, now produce more than a third of all the ag commodities of this entire state,” he says.

Smith, a Republican, says fixing the Missouri River will benefit Missouri farmers.

“If we have that on the MISSOURI River, you can see a phenomenal step in our navigation, in getting our richest commodities from Missouri to feed the world. And, to help our farmers, help our commodity prices,” he says.

Smith says the Missouri Congressional delegation will work to make sure the Missouri River management is about flood control, not about environmentalism. Gov. Mike Parson continues to meet alongside his fellow governors in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska with the Corps of Engineers officials with that very goal.

Smith made his comments at the Missouri Farm Bureau Building at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Butler County leads in number of Missouri Hepatitis A cases

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The Department of Health and Senior Services says Missouri has had 414 Hepatitis A cases in 35 Missouri counties over a nearly two-year period. Butler County in southeast Missouri leads in the number of Hepatitis A cases with 108, followed by Franklin County in southeast Missouri with 69 and Howell County in southern Missouri with 45. View the rest of the counties on the list.

Butler County leads in number of Missouri Hepatitis A cases

Of the cases, 233 people have been treated at a hospital and two people have died from the disease.

The state says the disease appears to be spreading through direct person-to-person contact, mostly among people who use illicit injection or non-injection drugs and their close contacts. Local public health agencies are working to vaccinate at-risk populations, including those who use recreational drugs, are homeless, men having sex with men, are in treatment or counseling for mishandling substances, work in a jail or detention center or have been jailed and have close contact with these groups.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver that can cause loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, fever, stomach pain, brown colored urine, and light-colored stools. Yellowing of the skin or eyes might also occur. People can become ill up to seven weeks after being exposed to the virus.
Hepatitis A usually spreads when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of stool (feces) from an infected person. In addition to vaccination, careful hand washing with soap and water, including under the fingernails, after using the bathroom or changing diapers and before preparing or eating food can help to prevent the spread of this disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 29 states have publicly reported the number of Hepatitis A cases since the outbreaks were first identified in 2016. More than 24,000 U.S. cases have been reported since then. View the nationwide information here.

Galloway wants armed officers in Missouri schools. How does she suggest paying for it?

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State Auditor Nicole Galloway says Gov. Mike Parson should call a special legislative session to fully fund putting armed officers in Missouri’s K-12 public schools. The legislature is meeting next month for the annual veto session anyway. To save money, Galloway suggests holding the special session during that time frame.

Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway (D)

She refers to Parson creating a school safety task force that recommends all Missouri elementary and secondary public schools have an armed officer. The group’s report says about 60% of Missouri’s public schools already have resource officers through local funding.

“In recent days, Missouri students have gone back to school and the issue of school safety is at the top of mind for parents and educators,” Galloway says. “This task force studied our schools’ current safety measures; received public input from parents, educators and law enforcement; and then arrived at concrete recommendations. Now it’s time to act and ensure their work is not collecting dust on a shelf. Teachers should be in charge of teaching our kids. Law enforcement should be in charge of protecting our children.”

Missouri Governor Mike Parson signs legislation on July 10, 2019 (photo courtesy of Governor Parson’s office)

If 60% of local jurisdictions are already funding these jobs, why does the state need to get involved?

“School budgets are strained and law enforcement agency budgets are strained,” she says.

Galloway says work is being done on cost estimates to fund the positions.

So how does she suggest paying for the jobs? By eliminating what she calls taxpayer dollar giveaways.

“Big businesses get to keep a portion of that sales tax for filing that with the state on time. It really doesn’t make sense that big businesses should get a discount for something they’re required to do by law anyway,” she says. “There are ways to pay for school safety without having to expand government programs or to have a tax increase. There are efficiencies that I find all the time in audits that can pay for this very important program.”

Parson’s office does not have a comment and says it is awaiting Galloway’s formal request.

Galloway, a Democrat, is running for governor and Parson, a Republican, is expected to announce next month his plans to run for the office. The General Election will be held in November 2020.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Lawmaker says World Cup would put Kansas City and Missouri on world stage (AUDIO)

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A state lawmaker from Kansas City says landing the World Cup in 2026 would provide a huge economic boost for Kansas City and for Missouri.

State Rep. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, speaks on the Missouri House floor on May 14, 2019 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The “Kansas City Star” notes Kansas City is one of 17 finalist U.S. cities to host 2026 World Cup matches.

State Rep. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, tells Missourinet that landing a World Cup would mean four to six games in Kansas City, which would involve four to six nations.

“If you think about the Super Bowl, which is the most-watched sporting event in the United States, there’s something like 150-million people that watch the Super Bowl,” Razer says. “There’s something to the effect of 3.5 billion who follow the World Cup.”

Razer says that would be a “lot of eyeballs and visitors,” adding it would put Kansas City and Missouri on the world stage.

“And then you get those four games, you get those four fan bases coming in from these countries from all over the world, it would be a huge economic boost initially plus putting Kansas City and the state of Missouri on the world stage,” says Razer.

He notes the impact on tourism and hotels as well. He’s praising the governors of Missouri and Kansas for ending the economic “border war,” and says both states and municipalities on both sides of the state line must work together on the World Cup.

The “Star” reports if Kansas City is awarded games, they would be played at Arrowhead Stadium.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with State Rep. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, which was recorded on August 9, 2019:

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Missouri governor calls special session on car sales; Quade blasts decision

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Missouri lawmakers will return to Jefferson City in September for a special session involving a complicated Missouri Supreme Court ruling about vehicle sales.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson briefs reporters at the State Fair in Sedalia on August 15, 2019 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

Governor Mike Parson (R) announced the special session today. Parson told Missourinet on Thursday at the State Fair that he was considering the special session over the Supreme Court’s “Kehlenbrink vs. Department of Revenue” case.

“After reviewing the court’s decision, we’ve decided to call a special session because it’s simply the right thing to do for the people of our state,” Parson announced today. “The enforcement of this decision would create a financial burden on Missouri taxpayers and unnecessary government red tape that we can proactively prevent.”

The Supreme Court case involves using the sale proceeds of a vehicle as a credit against the purchase price of a new vehicle when calculating sales tax. Essentially, the Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that state law unambiguously permits the sale proceeds of only one vehicle as a credit against the purchase price of a new car, for the purposes of calculating sales tax.

“And really, the simple version of it (the Supreme Court’s ruling) is when you trade cars in, for example if you trade two cars in, you get a credit back on those two cars or for that model if you’re buying another one. There was a ruling by the Supreme Court that says you can only do one,” Parson told Missourinet Thursday at the State Fair in Sedalia.

Parson said at the fair that the issue “needs to be fixed.” The governor says the ruling impacts about 2,000 to 3,000 Missourians, adding this is money out of their pocket.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, has issued a statement, saying Governor Parson is “putting taxpayers on the hook for unnecessary special session.”

“Roughly 100,000 Missouri children have lost their state health care coverage, but the Parson administration says there’s no problem. Missouri’s irresponsible and weak gun laws have contributed to a sharp spike in gun violence and recently enabled a heavily-armed man to cause a panic at a Springfield Wal-Mart, yet Governor Parson does nothing. There are several issues that demand immediate legislative attention and would justify the cost of a special session. Creating an unnecessary tax break for a handful of people isn’t one of them,” Quade’s statement says.

Governor Parson told Missourinet on Thursday that the special session would be technical, adding that “it would be a very limited special session.” The governor’s comments at the fair indicated that issues like Medicaid and guns were off-the-table for a special session.

Under the governor’s call, lawmakers will return to Jefferson City on September 9. The special session will run concurrently with the veto session, which begins on September 11.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Schmitt: Number of opioid overdose deaths should have urgency in U.S. and Missouri

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State Attorney General Eric Schmitt says 130 people die every day from opioid overdoses.

“That’s like a plane going down every day of every week of every month,” he says.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt

In Missouri, he says the opioid overdose death toll is one in every 65 deaths. Missouri is the only state in the nation without a statewide prescription drug monitor system to check for suspected cases of opioid misuse.

At the State Fair, Schmitt tells Missourinet the figures should have some national and statewide urgency – prompting his office to sue three opioid companies alleging they misrepresented the addictive nature of the drugs.

“We want to hold them accountable. That’s a big thing for our office. It’s probably one of the biggest lawsuits we’ve had in the Attorney General’s Office since the tobacco litigation of the 1990s,” says Schmitt. We’re one of about 30 states that has something like this happening. All of those things are kind of coming to a head now. We’re learning more about some of the tactics and the marketing tactics and some of the deception that took place to get people hooked.”

The parties are developing their cases and the lawsuit is expected to eventually go to trial.

Schmitt’s office has launched an initiative to help bolster the state’s lawsuit. The initiative, called Real Opioid Pain, asks Missourians impacted by the opioid crisis to share their stories on realopioidpain.com

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet