Congress Archives - Missourinet

Missouri House Committee approves Presidential election resolution; Giuliani and Missouri Democrats clash

December 15, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A Missouri House committee approved a resolution Monday night in Jefferson City that declares the Missouri House’s lack of faith in the 2020 presidential election results.

Missouri House Special Committee on Government Oversight Chairman Robert Ross, R-Yukon, speaks at the Statehouse in Jefferson City on December 14, 2020 (photo courtesy of Ben Peters at House Communications)

The party line vote was 6-3, with Republicans on the House Special Committee on Government Oversight in favor and Democrats opposed. The hearing, which took more than two-and-a-half hours, was heated from the start, and featured testimony from former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who clashed with Democratic lawmakers on the committee.

The GOP chairman of the House Rules Committee announced Monday evening that he will not hold a hearing on the resolution, so the issue won’t be heading to the Missouri House floor.

State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, sponsored the resolution, saying future elections are at stake. His resolution names Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. The resolution says that if a full and fair investigation isn’t done, Congress should refuse to accept the electoral votes from those six states.

During the hearing, Hill testified that critics have called for him to be hanged for his resolution, and that he’s been called a seditionist. He says the fraud in other states is enough to change the election results. Hill read letters he’s received from Missourians and others supporting his effort.

“This obviously is perceived by the public nationwide as an election that there is very little confidence in the results of those six swing states,” Hill testifies.

During the hearing, State Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Lee’s Summit, questioned some information contained in Hill’s three-page resolution. She says the allegation that 20,000 nonresidents cast ballots in Georgia has been debunked. Hill says it has not been.

Former Mayor Giuliani, who’s leading the Trump campaign’s post-election legal challenges, testified via zoom before the committee. Giuliani describes Philadelphia as a “crooked Democratic machine,” and alleged fraud in Georgia as well. State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, clashed with Giuliani, with the two speaking over each other several times.

“I think we’re right to be upset about this action and about your spreading of misinformation and lies that are inflaming things across our country, at a time when we need to move on and accept the results of an election. Thank you,” Merideth tells Giuliani.

“Obviously, you have no interest in the truth. All you have an interest in is lecturing me,” Giuliani responds.

“I have no interest in more and more lies from you,” Merideth says. “I am tired of your lies. America is tired of your lies, and they are dangerous, sir. They are dangerous.”

“You are very dangerous, because you’re covering up a massive election fraud,” Giuliani responds.

The two continued to speak over each other, until committee chairman Robert Ross, R-Yukon, hit the gavel multiple times.

Veteran State Rep. Jon Carpenter, D-Gladstone, voted against Hill’s resolution. Carpenter and Hill note they are friends, despite being from different parties.

“We’ve just had a national election and what the current President of the United States and what a number of his supporters, including yourself, are doing is incredible divisive. I think it undermines faith in our democracy,” says Carpenter.

Giuliani and Carpenter also clashed during the hearing, saying the other has demeaned themselves.

Hill’s resolution alleges that 50,000 votes held on USB cards are missing in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It also says that 86,000 Pennsylvania absentee ballots are questionable.

66 Missouri GOP state representatives signed Hill’s resolution. They include House Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, who will be Speaker in January.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, participated in the hearing. While she’s not on the oversight committee, she is an ex-officio member of all House committees.

“The only evidence of fraud at tonight’s hearing was the litany of lies and debunked conspiracies House Republicans put forth in their dishonest attempt to steal the presidential election for Donald Trump,” Quade says, in a written statement.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) also testified at the hearing, for informational purposes. Republican and Democratic members on the committee requested that he appear, to answer questions about Missouri’s November election. Ashcroft answered about 20 minutes of questions from the committee.

Sen. Blunt urges Congress to pass mental health legislation by year’s end

December 18, 2013 By Jessica Machetta

Senator Roy Blunt is urging Congress to pass a bill that would expand treatment and services for people with mental illnesses. He says work continues to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, and hopes this bill will get people to start talking about the problems associated with mental health, as well as the solutions that are out there.

Blunt’s amendment to the so-called “doc-fix” legislation would set up programs to expand access to mental care.
Blunt says ending the stigma associated with mental care and have open discussions about mental illnesses needs to happen in order to get people the help they need. He says the legislation would also bolster 24-hour crisis care, pair mental and substance abuse treatment, and expand support for families of those with mental health issues.

“Approximately one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder each year nationwide, according to the National Institute of Mental Health,” Blunt said. “We’ve got a model that works to solve these important problems, and passing this bipartisan provision out of committee is an important step forward. Now is the time for Congress to act.”

Glenn Close said, “It is critical that people come out and talk about mental illness to reduce the stigma surrounding those living with mental illness. This legislation is so important in the effort to expand access to mental health services and improve the quality of treatment available. With reduced stigma and discrimination, and increased access to quality care, people living with mental illness can get the treatment they need.”

In addition to Blunt and Stabenow, the Excellence in Mental Health Act is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of Senators including U.S. Senators Mark Begich (Alaska), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Susan Collins (Maine), Chris Coons (Del.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Ed Markey (Mass.), Robert Menendez (N.J.), Barbara Mikulski (Md.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Chris Murphy (Conn.), Bill Nelson (Fla.), Jack Reed (R.I.), Jay Rockefeller (W.Va.), Marco Rubio (Fla.), Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), Jon Tester (Mont.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), and Ron Wyden (Ore.).

Blunt says more than 50 mental health organizations support the Excellence in Mental Health Act, as do veterans organizations and law enforcement organizations.

MO Food Bank Association fears impact of food stamp program reductions

September 24, 2013 By Mike Lear

The state’s Food Bank Association says possible cuts to food stamps could tip the balance for its members, already struggling to meet demand.

The Missouri Food Bank Association is concerned about meeting demand if Congress votes to cut the food stamp program.

U.S. House Republicans say the food stamp program has grown too large, outpacing other safety net programs, and led the House vote to cut it by $39-million. The Senate voted for a $4.5-million reduction.

Missouri Food Bank Association Director Scott Baker says a reduction now would come at a bad time, but he hopes the Senate position is adopted. He says the House position goes too far.

“The recession is such that it’s hard to find enough work, it’s hard to get enough income to meet the needs of your family … and especially that’s the case right now in Missouri.”

More than 437,000 Missouri households utilize food stamps. Baker says those who lose that support will have to look elsewhere.

“The first place they’ll look is the local food bank or food pantry, and the non-profit safety net is not in a position to absorb that additional demand at this point.”

Baker says Missouri food banks could feel the impact of food stamp cuts as hard as their counterparts anywhere else in the nation.

“USDA just issued a report just within the last couple of weeks that shows the increase in food insecurity in Missouri is the largest rate of growth over the last ten years … so the demand has not rescinded over the last couple of years.”

Baker says a $39-million dollar reduction would translate to several million meals lost in Missouri alone.

“You’re really talking about an extra strain on the food pantry safety net, and we just don’t know where that food is supposed to come from.”

The House position is not expected to advance through the Senate and President Obama has threatened a veto to any cuts larger than that proposed by the Senate.