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How did Missouri’s U.S. House members vote on resolution to scold Trump for ‘squad’ tweet?

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The Democratic-led U.S. House has voted 240-187 to publicly discipline President Donald Trump for telling four Congresswomen of color to go back to their countries. Of the four members, three were born in the U.S. A resounding criticism of the president’s tweet is that the message was racist, even though Trump fired back on Twitter that he doesn’t have a racist bone in his body.

Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver

Tuesday evening’s House vote was mostly along party lines with four Republicans and one Independent from other states supporting the resolution. Democrats Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City and Lacy Clay of St. Louis supported the resolution and Missouri’s Republican members opposed it.

During debate, Cleaver stormed off and let a different member preside because he says the House would rather fight, instead of conduct themselves in a civil and respectful way.

“We don’t ever, ever want to pass up, it seems, an opportunity to escalate. That’s what this is,” says Cleaver. “We want to just fight. I abandon the chair.”

Cleaver, whose district is primarily Kansas City, also represents three GOP-leaning counties – Lafayette, Ray and Saline.

In a statement from U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, he does not condemn Trump’s comment, but says the focus should be about how destructive House Democrats’ policies would be for the economy, health care system and security. He says just because the so-called squad “constantly insults and attacks the president” is not a reason to adopt their “unacceptable tactics”.

According to national media reports, the resolution passed carries no legal consequences.

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Parson praises Bayer’s decision to bring 500 new jobs to Missouri

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Missouri’s governor announced Tuesday that Bayer will be relocating its North American Crop Science Division to the St. Louis suburb of Creve Coeur, bringing hundreds of new jobs.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson makes the Bayer announcement in Jefferson City on July 16, 2019, joined by Bayer’s Lisa Safarian (left), St. Louis County Executive Sam Page (right) and DED Director Rob Dixon (Brian Hauswirth photo)

Governor Mike Parson (R) briefed Capitol reporters at the Statehouse in Jefferson City, where he was joined by Bayer executives and other leaders.

“The salaries (for the new jobs) will average $110,000 a year, with a capital investment of over $164 million,” Parson says.

Parson also says Bayer has made a commitment to retain about 4,400 current jobs in Creve Coeur and Chesterfield, which are both in St. Louis County.

Bayer completed the acquisition of Monsanto in 2018.

The jobs announcement follows the governor’s recent trade mission to Europe. Parson says the new jobs will benefit the entire state, not just Creve Coeur.

“You know what it does, it benefits some kid in rural Missouri the opportunity to go to work for Bayer, gives them the opportunity to go to St. Louis County to be productive citizens up there,” says Parson.

Parson says it’s important for all of Missouri to do well, adding that this investment will enhance the state’s already successful ag-tech industry.

It’s unclear when the jobs will move to Creve Coeur. Bayer executives tell Missourinet some of the jobs will come from North Carolina, while others will be hired in Creve Coeur.

Parson was joined at the press conference by Bayer Commercial Operations North America President Lisa Safarian, State Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Rob Dixon and St. Louis County Executive Sam Page.

Director Dixon describes Bayer’s decision as a “monumental investment” in Missouri. Dixon tells reporters the decision also signifies Bayer’s confidence in Missouri as a place to do business.

“Missouri is the global ag-tech leader, undisputed global ag-tech leader,” Dixon says. “St. Louis County is the epicenter of our ag-tech economy.”

Dixon says Missouri is using about $37 million in incentives for the project.

Page, a former Democratic State Representative from Creve Coeur, also joined the GOP Governor, highlighting bipartisanship.

“Bayer’s investment here is a testament to St. Louis County’s talented workforce and our status as the global epicenter of plant science and agriculture technology,” says Page.

Ms. Safarian tells reporters Bayer also has a manufacturing plant in Kansas City, along with the headquarters in St. Louis.

Governor Parson says Missouri’s $88 billion agricultural industry employs more than 378,000 people.

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Missouri requests federal disaster declaration to include additional counties

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Today, the state of Missouri requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) expand last week’s federal disaster declaration for the state in two ways. In a press release from Governor Mike Parson’s office, it says the state wants FEMA to consider making assistance available to residents and businesses in 21 additional counties and provide help to public agencies in 68 counties with repairs to roads, bridges, and other damaged infrastructure.

A view of the flooding damage in northwest Missouri (March 15, 2019 photo courtesy of Governor Parson’s office)

In the request, SEMA said that joint FEMA, SEMA, and local damage assessment teams had identified more than $26 million in infrastructure damage and emergency response costs experienced by local jurisdictions. SEMA also said the state of Missouri had damage and expenses totaling more than $23 million due to the flooding and storms.

“Many Missouri communities have been hit hard this year by flooding and severe storms that have damaged and destroyed homes and businesses. Public agencies have also been impacted by severe damage to roads, bridges, and public buildings,” Parson said. “Expanding the disaster declaration is warranted due to the extent of the damage across these additional counties and the high cost of repairs.”

The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) today requested that FEMA consider extending President Trump’s July 9 individual assistance disaster declaration for Missouri to include residents and businesses in Adair, Barton, Callaway, Christian, Clark, Cooper, Dallas, Douglas, Gasconade, Grundy, Harrison, Hickory, Howard, Jefferson, Laclede, Lewis, Macon, Polk, Saline, St. Louis, and Ste. Genevieve counties.

SEMA said that while the 21 counties requested today were denied assistance in the July 9 federal disaster declaration, additional information gathered as floodwaters receded increased the need for support. SEMA said earlier assessments, conducted by helicopter due to the flooding, did not capture all of the damage to homes. SEMA asked that FEMA re-evaluate the new damage information and that damage assessors revisit Clark, Callaway, Cooper, Gasconade, Howard, Lewis, Saline, St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve counties.

SEMA also requested that joint damage assessments for individual assistance be conducted for the first time related to this disaster in four counties: Cape Girardeau, Marion, Newton and McDonald counties. According to Parson’s office, this move is being done with the expectation that SEMA will later request for these counties to also be included in the disaster declaration.

Individual assistance would allow eligible residents to seek federal help for temporary housing, housing repairs, replacement of damaged belongings, vehicles, and other qualifying expenses as a result of this year’s severe flooding and storms.

Also today, SEMA requested that FEMA expand the July 9 disaster declaration to provide public assistance for repairs to damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure along with emergency response costs in a total of 68 counties: Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Barry, Barton, Bates, Bollinger, Buchanan, Caldwell, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Clark, Cole, Dade, Dallas, Daviess, Douglas, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Holt, Howell, Jackson, Jasper, Knox, Laclede, Lewis, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Maries, Marion, McDonald, Mercer, Miller, Mississippi, Monroe, Montgomery, New Madrid, Newton, Nodaway, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Pike, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Ste. Genevieve, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Shannon, Shelby, Stoddard, Sullivan, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Wayne, Webster, and Wright.

The press release says additional counties may be considered for public help as floodwaters recede and more information is gathered locally.

President Trump’s July 9 disaster declaration was for flooding and severe storms and made the federal Individual Assistance program available to eligible residents in Andrew, Atchison, Boone, Buchanan, Carroll, Chariton, Cole, Greene, Holt, Jackson, Jasper, Lafayette, Lincoln, Livingston, Miller, Osage, Pike, Platte, Pulaski, and St. Charles counties.

As of July 15, FEMA has approved more than 300 households for individual assistance grants and provided more than $1.6 million directly to survivors to support with recovery.

FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program has paid more than $18 million to Missouri policyholders for flood claims filed since March.

To register for FEMA assistance, go to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or register by phone by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362). Telephone registration is available 7 a.m. – 10 p.m., seven days a week.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Missouri high court rules in high-profile child murder case

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Hailey Owens

The Missouri Supreme Court has upheld today a lower court’s decision in the death sentence of 51-year-old Craig Wood. In 2017, Wood was convicted of first-degree murder for the 2014 kidnapping, raping and killing of 10-year-old Hailey Owens.

Wood appealed his sentence and his public defender argued that Missouri’s death penalty system is unconstitutional. His attorney says it allows a judge to order a death sentence when the jury does not make a unanimous decision.

See earlier story:

https://www.missourinet.com/2019/04/09/missouri-supreme-court-hears-arguments-in-wood-death-penalty-case/

St. Louis ownership group makes pitch to MLS

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The ownership group vying to bring an MLS soccer team to St. Louis met with the MLS expansion committee on Monday at league headquarters in New York. The committee vets proposals before taking them to the league’s board of decision makers. MLS owners voted in April to expand the league to 30 teams. The league called the meeting productive and also met with boosters from Charlotte and will meet soon with a group from Sacramento.

With agreements currently in place with 27 total clubs, the league anticipates selecting the 28th and 29th expansion teams in the coming months with an expansion fee set at $200 million for both clubs. There are currently 24 clubs competing in the 2019 regular season in progress with expansion teams Inter Miami CF (2020), Nashville SC (2020) and Austin FC (2021) beginning play in the next two years, bringing the total of MLS clubs to 27.

“Hailey’s Law” to become law in Missouri

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Legislation requiring Missouri’s Amber Alert System Oversight Committee to meet at least annually has been signed into law by Governor Mike Parson.

State Rep. Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, speaks on the Missouri House floor on May 16, 2019 in Jefferson City (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, filed “Hailey’s Law” in response to the 2014 kidnapping, rape and killing of ten-year-old Hailey Owens in Springfield. Trent notes the oversight committee hasn’t met since 2015.

“And I think in the case of a very sensitive public safety issue like this there should be at least annual meetings to make sure we’re reviewing the Amber Alert System, that we’re identifying any new technologies,” Trent says.

51-year-old Craig Wood was convicted of first degree murder and has been sentenced to death, for killing Owens. Wood’s father, Jim, testified in April that Hailey’s life could have been saved if the Amber Alert was issued earlier.

Representative Trent tells Missourinet annual meetings will help identify any new procedures that should be used to ensure alerts are issued quickly.

“Because we know the statistics have shown, the data shows, that time is critical when you have a missing person,” says Trent.

The law, which takes effect in August, requires the Amber Alert System to be integrated into the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System (MULES).

Trent, who was first elected to the Missouri House in 2016, has sponsored the bill for three years. It has the support of both House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, and House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield. The murder happened in Quade’s district.

The bill also allows the oversight committee to include a representative from the outdoor advertising industry. Supporters say digital highway signs can be very effective.

Wood, who’s currently incarcerated in Potosi, is appealing his death sentence. The Missouri Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case in April. The court has not issued an opinion yet.

Jim Wood and Hailey’s father, Markus, testified together during April’s hearing. They sat together in the hearing room. Both men attended Thursday’s bill-signing in Governor Parson’s office in Jefferson City.

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Missouri outdoor cremation bill vetoed by Parson

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Legislation that would have allowed outdoor “Viking funerals” was vetoed by Missouri’s governor on Friday.

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

Governor Mike Parson (R) announced the veto in a letter to the Secretary of State’s office and to lawmakers.

State Sen. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City, sponsored the bill, which would have allowed funeral directors to perform cremations at an outdoor human cremation facility.

Under the bill, only a licensed funeral director could have performed a cremation at an outdoor facility.

Holsman told the “Kansas City Star” this summer that Viking funerals have “been around since the dawn of man.”

In his veto message, Governor Parson called on lawmakers to do more vetting on the issue.

“The burial of our loved ones or the disposal of their remains is deeply personal and should be treated with the utmost care and respect. Without more thorough vetting to ensure that outdoor cremations can be conducted in a manner that fully disposes of the entire remains while also addressing the health and safety concerns of individuals who may be impacted nearby, I am not comfortable with allowing these types of ceremonies to be conducted in our state,” Parson’s message reads, in part.

Lawmakers return to Jefferson City in September for the annual veto session, and could attempt an override at that time. It takes a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers to override a veto.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet

Red light given to bill that would let drivers turn left on red

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Drivers will not be allowed to turn left on a red light when turning onto a one-way street. Gov. Mike Parson has vetoed a bill with several components, including one that would grant the practice on Missouri’s roadways.

Gov. Mike Parson

Senate Bill 147 would allow for left turns during a red light when the vehicle is in the left-most lane on a one-way street turning onto another one-way street. The measure would still let local authorities ban left on red turns if safety conditions require it and would be subject to authorization from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).

What’s the reason for vetoing the bill? According to a veto message from the governor, it does not appear that he has a beef with the driving technique. Parson, a Republican, says he opposes another piece in the legislation involving the way drivers have their licenses taken away when they don’t pay minor traffic ticket fines.

Missouri is one of about a handful of states that doesn’t allow the traffic maneuver.

Senate Bill 147 is sponsored by Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville.

Lawmakers could try to override the governor’s veto during September’s annual veto session, but whether that’s going to happen is anyone’s guess.

Copyright © 2019 · Missourinet