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Democrats hope to build numbers for next General Assembly, expect Gov. Nixon’s help

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Democrats were in the vast minority of both chambers of the General Assembly whose last regular session wrapped Friday. They hope to gain more numbers in elections this year, and their leader in the House says they will have help.

House Minority Leader Jake Hummel (at podium) was one of 51 House Democrats at the end of the session that closed on Friday. (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

House Minority Leader Jake Hummel (at podium) was one of 51 House Democrats at the end of the session that closed on Friday. (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

“I’m very happy to say that all of our statewide elected officials are on board with helping us do that,” says Minority Leader Jake Hummel (D-St. Louis). “It’s very wonderful to have a renewed and strong Democratic party that’s soul interest is putting more members of the Democratic Party into the legislature.”

By “all of our statewide elected officials,” Hummel says that will include Governor Jay Nixon (D).

“I’ve had conversations with the governor, absolutely,” says Hummel, “and I’m very happy and grateful for his help in the future.”

Along with Governor Nixon, the Attorney General, Secretary of State and State Treasurer are all Democrats.

Hummel says the expansion of Medicaid eligibility will be a key issue in this year’s elections.

“Medicaid expansion polls extremely high,” says Hummel. “We will absolutely take it to the voters and let them know what their legislators are doing and what they’re not doing.”

Maj. Floor leader: Dems unlikely to get the Medicaid expansion vote they want

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The Majority Floor Leader in the House says the chamber’s Democrats have already had what they say they want, before they will vote for a transportation sales tax increase.

House Majority Floor Leader John Diehl (Photo courtesy; Tim Bommell, Missouri House Communications)

House Majority Floor Leader John Diehl (Photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

House Minority Leader Jake Hummel (D-St. Louis) told Missourinet that his caucus wants a vote on Medicaid expansion before any of its members would vote on the proposed three-quarters-of-one-cent sales tax increase to support transportation.

Democrat support is expected to be needed in order for the transportation tax proposal to pass.

See earlier story

Representative John Diehl (R-Town and Country) says they’ve already had one, during debate on the budget.

“We allowed the Democrats to offer a Medicaid expansion amendment,” says Diehl. That amendment was offered during debate of the Department of Social Services budget. It was defeated 50-98.

Diehl did not say whether that legislation would be brought to a vote in this final week of the session. The Senate changed the bill to the three-quarters-of-one-cent proposal from the one-cent proposal that the House previously passed. The House has not officially acknowledged the Senate vote.

Of the possibility of the House holding a vote on Medicaid expansion to meet Democrats’ demands, Diehl says he, “can’t see that happening.”

House Democrats want Medicaid expansion vote before they’ll vote for transportation sales tax hike

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The Missouri House Democrats’ leader says they’re angry about the veto override on a tax cut bill, so much so that they won’t vote for a proposed sales tax hike to support transportation if the Republican House Majority doesn’t bring Medicaid expansion up for a vote.

The situation raises doubt about the fate of the three-quarters-of-a-cent transportation tax that had seemed likely to pass.

The House on Tuesday completed a legislative override of Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) veto of the tax cut legislation, SB 509, that he and House Democrats said was unnecessary and “dangerous,” and puts funding for state programs and services like education in jeopardy. All 108 Republicans in the House voted for the override along with one Democrat, Keith English (Florissant).

“I think right now the caucus feels that it’s awfully hypocritical to be asking for a tax increase when we’ve just cut taxes,” says Minority Floor Leader Jake Hummel (D-St. Louis).

34 House Democrats voted for the transportation tax, HJR 68, when it cleared the House, while 38 Republicans voted against it.

“They have to have our votes to pass it,” says Hummel. “If they’d like to give us a vote on Medicaid maybe we can talk about that.”

Hummel says it is time for Medicaid expansion to be brought to a vote on the House Floor. Last year a bill was debated in the House but withdrawn without a vote.

“If the majority [Republicans want] to vote it down that’s fine, but give us the opportunity,” says Hummel. “This is such a huge coalition across the state. Just give us … give everybody … a chance. Give them a vote. What are [Republicans] worried about? That they don’t have enough people to vote it down?”

House Speaker Tim Jones (R-Eureka) says he had not heard of the Democrats drawing the connection between the transportation sales tax and Medicaid prior to speaking to Missourinet.

“I don’t really see the connectivity between the two,” says Jones, “My gut reaction would be the caucus would not be much interested in a deal of that sort.”

If Republican leadership decides to put Medicaid expansion to a vote, there are some bills that could be potential vehicles for it. Two Senate bills, SB 504 and SB 754, are on the list of Senate Bills ready to be passed out of the House that relate to health care or insurance coverage. Those could potentially have Medicaid language amended to them before a vote.

Another bill, SB 524, was amended in a House Committee to include Medicaid expansion language in an effort led by Representative Chris Molendorp (R-Belton), who has been supportive of expansion. His position has put him at odds with most of his fellow Republicans. Molendorp called the vote, “symbolic,” but the bill could be brought to the floor in the final week.

“It’s that time of year when there are a lot of issues that aren’t related at all that kind of get thrown into the same pot for people to start picking and choosing … they’ll support this if you’ll support that,” says Senator Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City), the sponsor of the transportation sales tax bill in the Senate. “It doesn’t surprise me that there are people trying to tie one thing to another.”

Kehoe says he will spend time this weekend talking to legislators about moving the transportation tax forward.  It also has labor support, including from the Laborers Union of Missouri and the United Transportation Union, who testified for it during a House hearing in February.

Hummel says he knows there is union support for the tax, and a need for funding for infrastructure improvements.

“I don’t think a lot of us are happy at what the funding mechanism is for this,” says Hummel. “I’d love to get some kind of compromise between the tax and Medicaid, but just have to see how it goes.”

The proposal was to raise the sales tax one percent for transportation when it left the House but the Senate changed it to the three-quarters-of-a-cent plan.  If it is passed by the legislature it would go to voters in November or at a special election to be called by the governor.

Nursing legislation fast-tracked to Governor to honor Rep. Ellinger

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House and Senate leadership have moved quickly to send legislation to Governor Jay Nixon (D) regarding mothers nursing children, in part to honor a House colleague battling liver cancer.

Representative Rory Ellinger (D-University City)

Representative Rory Ellinger (D-University City)

Representative Rory Ellinger’s (D-University City) bill completed a fast-track out of the legislature Monday and awaits action by the Governor, likely later this week.

Ellinger’s caucus leader, Minority Leader Jake Hummel (D-St. Louis), thanked lawmakers in both chambers for honoring Ellinger.

“It’s a testament to a gentlemen who is well liked on both sides of the aisle, and whether or not they agreed or disagreed with his political stances, they knew that he was very heartfelt and cared deeply about all of his issues.”

Ellinger’s bill includes language to allow nursing mothers to opt out of jury duty with a doctor’s note, and addresses when and where women can nurse and how much discretion they must show while doing it.

See an earlier story on the legislation

Hummel says he believes Governor Nixon will sign the legislation in Ellinger’s district on Thursday or Friday.

Governor’s office, state lawmakers react to impeachment effort

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Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) office has responded to the filing of articles of impeachment against Nixon.

Representative Nick Marshall (R-Parkville) filed 2 articles against Nixon, accusing him of misleading Missourians and violating the state Constitution when he instructed the Missouri Department of Revenue to accept joint tax returns filed by same-sex couples legally married in other states.

In an e-mail, Press Secretary Scott Holste dismisses the filing, calling it a “publicity stunt.”

Holste writes, “The Governor will continue to focus on the issues that matter to Missouri families: quality schools for our kids, good jobs in our communities and health care for working Missourians.”

The Minority Leader in the House, Representative Jake Hummel (D-St. Louis) called the articles of impeachment “bogus.”

In a statement, Hummel says the filing is, “further proof, as if any was needed, that the crazy wing has taken over the House Republican Caucus. There are many serious issues facing Missouri that will require serious people to solve. These aren’t serious people.

“If House Republicans insist on embarassing themselves with sham election-year proceedings, then, by all means, they should have at it,” writes Hummel. “When Missouri voters see how far down the path of extremism House Republicans have gone, there will be a lot fewer of them serving in the House of Representatives come November.”

House Speaker Tim Jones (R-Eureka) was asked in a conference with Capitol reporters about the issues raised by Marshall and Representative Mike Moon (R-Ash Grove), who has said he plans to file multiple articles of impeachment against Nixon alleging he hasn’t acted quickly enough in calling special elections to fill vacant House seats, and for not having called one to fill a vacant seat in the Senate.

Jones tells reporters, “They’re very serious charges, however the governor has made some very serious actions.”

“Impeachment is also a very serious remedy,” Jones continued. “I think we’re going to look at past history in the House … we’re going to back and examine that process … and move forward cautiously from there.”

Related stories:

Two Articles of Impeachment filed against Governor Nixon (AUDIO/COPY OF THE ARTICLES)

Articles of Impeachment filed against Governor Nixon over action on same-sex tax filing

Openly-gay lawmaker discusses impeachment effort over same-sex tax filing (AUDIO)

Lawmakers split on significance of school intervention bill

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Lawmakers disagree on how much impact an education bill that has been sent to the Governor will have.

House Speaker Tim Jones included the passage of SB 125 as one of the successes this session under his "Triple E" agenda. (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

House Speaker Tim Jones included the passage of SB 125 as one of the successes this session under his “Triple E” agenda. (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

The bill would lift the current two-year wait for the state to intervene in a school district that has become unaccredited. It would let the state replace the failed district’s school board, or allow it to keep operating under new rules and conditions.

The lack of a clause to make it effective before August 28 could mean it will have little impact in Kansas City, where public schools have been unaccredited since January 1, 2012. Since then the Normandy School District in St. Louis County has also become unaccredited.

Other provisions would let teachers in St. Louis be removed for incompetence 30 days after being notified of an accusation of incompetence or inefficiency and would repeal a last in, first out provision for removal of non-certificated teachers in metropolitan districts.

Representative Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City) carried the bill in the House. He says it gives the state some flexibility in how it responds to a failing district.

“You might have a situation where a school district is struggling but they don’t necessarily need that full-fledged intervention. The state board can decide to do an arm’s length intervention and help them get around the corner. At the same time we put a backstop in place that says if that struggling district is still unaccredited after three years, the state board has to come in.”

Some lawmakers are unimpressed, however. House Minority Leader Jake Hummel (D-St. Louis) noted that its passage followed two failures by the House to pass education reform legislation.

“Interesting that the majority party didn’t want to let us participate in education reform until their bill had died two times, and then stripped down to absolutely nothing. I don’t know if [Speaker of the House Tim Jones] is calling that education reform but I think that’s kind of a joke and we all know there was nothing left in that bill.”

House Speaker Tim Jones (R-Eureka) says was be convinced that the bill was significant by its Senate sponsor, Senator Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis).

“We talked, and she said to me, ‘Tim, you helped pass significant education reform for the City of St. Louis and for Kansas City and you should be proud of that.’ It was hard to come to that conclusion because I wanted more.”

Nasheed tells reporters the bill’s passage was not about satisfying a Republican agenda. She says it does do significant things for St. Louis.

“[St. Louis Schools Superintendent] Doctor [Kelvin] Adams brought the bill to me and asked me to sponsor it because he wanted the City of St. Louis to be on the same level playing field like every other 551 school districts in the state of Missouri. He shouldn’t have to wait 90 days to get rid of a bad teacher.”

One of the failed House votes on education had been on the addition of principal evaluations to that bill. During that debate, Representative Steve Webb (D-Florissant) gave an impassioned speech urging the legislature to act to pass meaningful reforms. He says he supported the bill that was finally sent to the Governor, but says it leaves a lot to be done.

“It was important for St. Louis City and the Kansas City areas. It still doesn’t address the overall need because those aren’t the only school districts in the state that are having problems … I still believe we missed the mark this year when it comes to education.”

Governor Jay Nixon has not yet acted on that proposal.

House Republican, Democrat leaders split on session value (VIDEO)

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The leaders of the two major parties in the House have opposite assessments of the 2013 legislative session.

House Speaker Tim Jones addresses the media at the close of the 2013 session (photo and videos courtesy: Missouri House Communications)

House Speaker Tim Jones addresses the media at the close of the 2013 session (photo and videos courtesy: Missouri House Communications)

Missouri’s Speaker of the House, Tim Jones (R-Eureka), calls the legislative session “historic,” and a success.

“We wanted to do more for the people so they would have more freedom and opportunity for themselves, and the more government you have the less freedom and opportunity the people have. This session, from beginning to end and everywhere in between, was about doing more for the people of Missouri.”

Jones highlights the passage proposals to cut individual and corporate income taxes and a fix to the state’s insolvent Second Injury Fund as key accomplishments. He also points to the House’s passage of tax credit reform legislation as a breakthrough, even though that bill didn’t reach the Governor.

“Remember, to this point the House was very adverse to doing major cuts to programs. I think we finally realized … if we have to be the body that has the stiff upper lip and is willing to sacrifice in order for the greater good, then we’ll do that.”

Jones has since before the session start touted a “Triple E” agenda that stressed economic development, energy policy and education. He says several key issues were passed falling under each of those categories.

House Minority Leader Jake Hummel (D-St. Louis) says he thinks those three “E’s” stood for “extremism,” and criticizes Republicans for passing legislation barring drone aircraft, the implementation of foreign laws in Missouri and making it a crime to enforce federal gun laws in Missouri.

He says the session was an “abject failure” because the legislature rejected Medicaid expansion.

“We failed to create 24,000 jobs under Medicaid, we failed to let billions of dollars of our taxpayer dollars come back from Washington to our state and we failed to put 300,000 Missourians back on healthcare … I considered it a failure three weeks ago.”

The session closed on Friday.

See the end-of-session media conferences from the House Republicans (top) and Democrats (bottom) below:

 

Legislature overwhelmingly approves fix to workplace injury issues

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The state legislature has passed a bill meant to cover two issues regarding workers hurt in the workplace.

Representative Todd Richardson (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

Representative Todd Richardson (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

The bill seeks to right the state’s Second Injury Fund, from which settlements are paid out to workers who have a disability and then sustain a work-related injury. Legislation passed and signed in 2005 capped at 3 percent the surcharge that supported the fund, paid by all businesses on their workers’ compensation insurance. Since then the fund had become insolvent by more than $20 million dollars, with more than 30,000 claims against it still pending.

The legislation proposes doubling that surcharge from 2014 to 2021, long enough to pay down pending and outstanding claims. It would also restrict the fund to cover only the most serious claims.

The House handler of the bill, Representative Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff) says that should keep the Fund from becoming unbalanced again.

“By limiting the number of claims that go into the Second Injury Fund, everybody that looks at it believes that current surcharge will be sufficient to cover the ongoing liability.”

Richardson says if the bill is signed, the first step will be for the increased surcharge collections to begin after January 1, 2014. Then the backlog of claims will begin to be paid down.

“It’ll start with the permanent total disability benefit cases first. Those are the people that have the most extensive injury. They’ll pay that money out as it becomes available.”

The bill also moves coverage for occupational disease back into the state’s workers’ compensation system. A court interpretation of a 2005 law had led to those cases being handled in the courts.

Richardson says the House and Senate recognized the need to include an enhanced benefit for specific diseases, and one specific to mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

“We’ve included what amounts to a $500,000 enhancement for mesothelioma cases, but we’ve also given employers the ability to choose to avail themselves of the workers’ comp system and that $500,000 remedy or continue to operate under the status quo and have those cases tried in civil court.”

Richardson says another mechanism guarantees a benefit to workers suffering diseases due to toxic exposure including berylliosis, coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, brochiolitis obliterans, silicosis, silicotuberculosis, manganism, acute myelogenous leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome.

House Minority Leader Jake Hummel (D-St. Louis) spoke against the legislation. Hummel has said on the House floor before that his grandfather died of poisoning due to exposure to asbestos.

“I don’t believe that when someone is suffering, that someone who is dying a slow, painful death should have a price tag put on their life. I think that needs to be done in the courts.”

House Speaker Tim Jones (R-Eureka) called the bill’s passage “historic,” and noted it passed out of the House with 135 votes.

“My entire caucus. I think the Governor’s going to sign that, for all indications, but if he does not for any reason I think we have an easy override on that.”

The proposal on Tuesday cleared the Senate 32-1.

Jones says Attorney General Chris Koster also sent him a text message on Thursday to thank him for the work he did on the Second Injury Fund issue. Koster has joined other politicians in saying the fund needed to be addressed.