Jeff Roorda Archives - Missourinet

Lone House Democrat to vote for tax cut still undecided on Nixon arguments

April 29, 2014 By Mike Lear

The only Democrat in the State House who voted for a proposed income tax cut says he still doesn’t know what he thinks of Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) concerns about the proposal.

Representative Jeff Roorda (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

Representative Jeff Roorda (D-Barnhart) has had a few days to review the contention of the Nixon Administration that the bill would wipe out $4.8-billion in state revenue by eliminating state taxes for all income beyond $9,000 a year. Republicans say that claim is “laughable.”

Nixon is expected to veto that legislation and legislative Republicans are expected to then attempt to overturn his veto. If all 108 House Republicans vote to overturn they would still need at least one Democrat to vote with them. Since Roorda voted for the bill initially, he is being asked whether he could be that one.

“I’d like to not be in this situation,” says Roorda. “I feel a bit in the spotlight and I certainly didn’t seek the spotlight in this case.”

Roorda says he still wants more information about what the bill would actually do.

“The danger is that because of [the Hancock Amendment] if the courts say [Nixon is] right, you’re eliminating the top bracket through the legislative language, statutory language, we couldn’t fix it over here. “We’d have to go back to the voters,” says Roorda. “Although the bill wouldn’t have taken effect yet with the cuts, it would be enacted and would be a tax increase.”

Roorda thinks the bill does too much for corporations and too little for working people, but says he voted for it because his options are limited as a member of the minority.

“It does do something for working families,” Roorda says.

Roorda says Governor Nixon’s office has been reaching out to him and House Speaker Tim Jones (R-Eureka) hasn’t.

“My vote’s very much in play,” says Roorda.

If Nixon is going to act on the bill he must do so this week. If he does veto it, the decision whether to vote to override might never fall to Roorda. Because it is a Senate bill, the Senate would first take it up to consider an override. 23 votes are needed in the Senate to override a veto. Republicans hold 23 seats in the Senate.

Heated debate precedes initial House passage of paycheck legislation (AUDIO)

March 31, 2014 By Mike Lear

The state House has given initial passage to legislation that is alternately called “paycheck protection” by its supporters and “paycheck deception” by its opponents.

Representative Holly Rehder (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

The bill, HB 1617 sponsored by Representative Holly Rehder (R-Sikeston), would let workers annually give or deny permission for union dues to be taken out of their paychecks.

Supporters include the Missouri Chamber who says current law, “allows thousands in taxpayers’ dollars to go political campaigns every year unchecked, siphoned off of public employees’ paychecks in the form of union dues.”

Opponents such as the Missouri AFL-CIO called supporters “extremists,” who seek, “to shut hardworking public workers out of the political process – and to take away their voice on the job.”

The legislation was the subject of two hours of contentious debate. In an exchange that drew an admonition from House Speaker Tim Jones (R-Eureka), Representative Jeff Roorda (D-Barnhardt) read Rehder a quote from Martin Niemoller dating back to World War II.

Listen to a portion of Roorda’s inquiry of Rehder

Niemoller famously wrote, “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.”

Roorda read the quote and then asked Rehder, “Who are you coming after next?”

When Roorda was challenged by another Republican for making reference to Nazi Germany, Rooda added, “Lady I never used the word ‘Nazi.’ I hope you don’t think I was comparing you to a 1939-era Nazi German just because you’re doing the same thing that they were.”

Democrats argue the bill is an attempt to limit political involvement by people who are commonly thought to vote for their party.

“We’re being very narrow, and we’re being very precise with this bill,” said Representative Kevin McManus (D-Kansas City). He says it isn’t clear why the bill does not apply to first responders or private corporations. “These are folks that we are silencing and the question is why. The answer is, ‘We don’t like what they’re saying. We don’t like the political speech that their exhibiting.”

Rehder says the bill protects individual workers.

“It gives them the ability to do with their money as they choose,” says Rehder. “This is simply individual freedom.”

The proposal needs another favorable vote to go to the Senate.

Effort to update synthetic pot listing being considered

February 13, 2014 By Mike Lear

The state legislature has for several years passed bills that add another round of chemical compounds to the list of controlled substances. These compounds are called “synthetic cannabinoids,” or more commonly, “K-2,” and are often sold as incense.

The reason such laws keep coming up is because once a new compound is added to Missouri law, says bill sponsor, Representative Shawn Rhoads (R-West Plains), makers change their products to a slightly different compound.

“I think what our problem is,” Rhoads theorizes, “is having a hard time of getting a good legal interpretation of what needs to be fixed [with the original law].”

Representative David Wood (D-Versailles) says lawmakers have long tried to find a permanent solution.

“We’ve been after that legal interpretation,” says Woods. “In fact we had Department of Public Safety, the Attorney General’s Office, the Highway Patrol Crime Lab all in our office, trying to discuss and come up with a way to come up with a language that would fit so we wouldn’t have to continually do these updates.”

Representative Jeff Roorda (D-Barnhart) offered a bill to let the Department of Health temporarily put compounds on that list until the legislature could take more permanent action. Roorda was frustrated when his proposal was defeated by Republicans who said they didn’t want to relinquish more of the legislature’s rule making power to a state agency.

“The gentleman who brought this bill forward is completely full of good intentions, but his bill accomplishes nothing because these drug dealers stay one step ahead of the process that we have right now, so let’s fix it with a process that works.”

The House needs one more favorable vote to send that bill to the Senate.

The legislation is HB 1051.

SPECIAL SESSION: Boeing incentive bill goes to Governor Nixon

December 6, 2013 By Mike Lear

The state legislature has sent Governor Jay Nixon everything he wants in an incentive package to try to get Boeing to build its 777X airliner.

Legislators discuss how to deal with a clerical error regarding the Boeing incentive bill. (Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

At least, that’s what House Speaker Tim Jones (R-Eureka) believes.

“It’s my understanding that Governor Nixon agrees that everything that he requested was placed into the Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1 that we have now truly agreed and finally passed to his desk.”

Jones has signed that bill and says Senate Leader Tom Dempsey (R-St. Charles) will be doing the same today. A staffer with Governor Nixon’s Office says it will review the bill as it would any other before offering comment or taking action.

“The ball is put back in his court to put Missouri’s best foot forward,” Jones says of Nixon.

The legislation extends for Boeing limits on four economic development programs, translating to an offer of up to 1.7-billion in tax incentives. Nixon hopes that, combined with local incentives and agreements by Union leaders and community colleges in the state, will get Boeing to create as many as 8,000 jobs in Missouri.

Missouri and at least 12 other states must submit offers to Boeing by Tuesday. Jones thinks Boeing will not make selections until some time in January.

While the House discussed that bill today, it was learned that part of an amendment offered by Senator Brad Lager (R-Savannah) was omitted in the copy it received from the Senate due to an error by Senate staff.

Majority Floor Leader John Diehl (R-Town and Country) explained to legislators how leadership intended to fix the problem in a way that it thought was transparent, starting with distributing to the representatives a copy that matched what was in the chamber’s journal.

“The journals are all correct … we’re going to ask the members to vote on a resolution acknowledging that everybody here understands that this is what we’re going to be voting on and third read in a few minutes.”

The fix was endorsed by Representative Jeff Roorda (D-Barnhart), who on the House floor told Diehl, “I think the record is clear that there is probably nobody in the room that is more likely to call you if you’ve got it wrong on procedural stuff (than me). I’m not here to do that today.”

Diehl says such problems are not uncommon, but leadership felt the resolution was necessary since lawmakers were dealing with only one bill in the special session, creating greater scrutiny on that one measure.

He says the Governor’s staff was involved in the discussion of that error and was comfortable with the fix.

A legislative staffer says there is also legal precedent establishing that an error by legislative staff can not impact the passage of legislation.

House debates funding cut to Division of Motor Services

May 10, 2013 By Mike Lear

Democrats in the state House have defended Governor Jay Nixon’s stance that the budget the legislature has sent him must results in cuts and layoffs, because it doesn’t fully fund the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Governor Jay Nixon.

That budget includes only enough funding for the Division for eight months. Republican budget makers want the Revenue Department to change its licensing procedures and, if it does, they say the rest of that Division’s annual budget can be appropriated in January.

Nixon issued a statement this week saying if that happens, he will make cuts to programs and lay off state workers to live within that two-thirds budget.

Representative Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) says the reduced funding ties the Governor’s hands.

“We have to expect that the Governor is going to assume what we have told him to assume, which is that we only have eight months’ worth of money in the budget. We have to be prepared to spend those eight months’ worth of dollars over the twelve month cycle of the budget.”

Representative Jeff Roorda (D-Barnhart) calls the reduction improper.

“This is bureaucratic euthanasia. We’re putting a pillow over the face of this department and trying to suffocate it in retaliation for some perceived wrongdoing that is still in question.”

Republicans defended the tactic, however, saying there is precedent for it and their intent to fund the rest of the Division’s annual budget in January has been made clear.

Representative Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City) called the Governor’s threat to make cuts and layoffs, “disgusting, it’s dishonest and it’s deplorable. It’s an insult to the intelligence of all Missourians. That Department is fully funded for long enough that we can come back next year and do a supplemental.

State Budget Director Linda Luebbering says there is no plan on where those cuts might be made or how many employees might lose their jobs, and Nixon has not taken questions on the matter from the media.

House Medicaid reform sponsor settles for ‘mini Medicaid’ proposal

May 2, 2013 By Mike Lear

The sponsor of a Medicaid reform proposal in the House says it wouldn’t get past the Senate this year, but what he calls his “mini-Medicaid” bill has reached the Senate.

Representative Jay Barnes (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

Representative Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City) brought up his Medicaid “transformation” proposal (HB 700) for about 40 minutes of discussion on the House floor before withdrawing it. He had offered it as an amendment to a smaller bill (HB 986), the main provision of which would create a House-Senate committee to study reform in the interim.

“It’s now my hope that … we can work together with leaders on this issue from the Missouri Senate. I think that there’s an interest in there in exploring paths forward.”

Barnes expressed frustration with the chamber on the opposite end of the Capitol when he withdrew the larger bill.

“Unfortunately the Missouri State Senate has indicate it does not have the stomach to pick up a Medicaid transformation bill this year. Rather than figure out how we can make the best out of a bad situation, they are seeding the field for another year.”

The smaller of the bills, 986, has been sent to the Senate. It includes an “emergency clause” attached to the provision that would create the interim committee, that would make that portion law immediately upon being signed by the Governor.

While debating that clause, Representative Jeff Roorda (D-Barnhart) was sarcastic in voicing his frustration that neither Medicaid expansion nor reform are advancing this year.

“Well what’s the gall darn hurry? 461 people die next year, 300,000 will go without health insurance, we’ll leave $941-million dollars on the table … I don’t see what the ’emergency’ is.” He added, “I’m going to support the emergency clause but I don’t want people to get the idea that [the House] is acting with any sense of urgency to address the biggest problem we have in our state right now.”

See our earlier stories on Medicaid this session

The proposed interim committee would be charged with creating a report by the end of this year that would cover: more efficient and cost-effective ways to provide coverage, how coverage can resemble commercially available coverage while meeting federal Medicaid requirements, possibilities for promoting healthy behavior and preventative care, the best way to provide incentives including a shared risk and savings to health plans and providers, and ways that a participant currently receiving coverage can transition to private sector coverage.

In addition to creating the interim committee, the legislation would extend the Ticket to Work program that helps people with disabilities get and keep jobs and increases Medicaid eligibility for foster children to age 26, the same age through which non-foster children are eligible to be covered by their parents’ insurance.

The bill would also change income eligibility determination standards to the individual’s modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) equivalent net income standard. Barnes says that will not increase eligibility, but would simplify the enrollment process.

House rejects attempt to let budget conferees adopt Medicaid expansion

April 30, 2013 By Mike Lear

House Democrats have made another attempt to get federal money for Medicaid built into the state budget.

Representative Jeff Roorda (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

Representative Jeff Roorda (D-Barnhart) offered a motion that would have allowed the House-Senate budget conference committee to consider adopting Medicaid expansion.

“To allow us to take about $900 million in federal funds, provide health insurance to 300,000 Missourians and put 25,000 Missourians back to work with our own tax money … the money we sent to Washington D.C. and Washington D.C. is trying to send that back here.”

Roorda says Medicaid expansion is the greatest job-creating proposal bill he’s ever seen as a legislator.

“If you cobble together every jobs bill, every economic development bill that has been filed … not passed, but filed … in the 7 years that I’ve served up here, they don’t even come close to creating the number of jobs that we create through Medicaid expansion. 25,000 jobs … we usually consider it swinging for the fences when we try to bring in an employer that creates 500 or even 1,000 jobs.”

Representative Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City) says it’s more of the same debate.

“This body has been down this road before … and what the gentlemen’s amendment does is it attempts to build a Medicaid mansion on a crumbling foundation. I think there’s a better solution out there … hopefully we can work on it over the summer.”

Roorda’s motion was defeated along party lines, 53-102.

The House has voted to send Barnes’ proposal that would create a joint interim committee to study Medicaid reform to the Senate.

House includes ‘right-to-work for cops’ in public safety bill

April 27, 2013 By Mike Lear

A House bill including more than 20 provisions related to public safety includes a proposal to make it illegal for union dues payment to be a condition of employment for law enforcement in the state.

Representative Rick Brattin (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

Called “right to work for cops” on the floor by an opponent, the language was offered in an amendment by Representative Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonville), who says it will protect officers.

“This just gives them the protection that our firefighters, our ambulance [drivers] and every other state employee has the right to choose to belong to any organization they want and pay into any organization that they so choose or opt out of choosing.”

Representative Jeff Roorda (D-Barnhart), a former police officer, says because police unions negotiate for issues including workplace safety, this could result in unsafe conditions for some of the state’s law enforcement officers.

“This amendment places your cops in harm’s way, it pulls away their ability to have any impact over their workplace safety, over their benefits, their horrible benefits … we’re one of the lowest paid states in the nation when it comes to how we compensate our law enforcement officers, and one of the most deadly states in the nation.”

House Speaker Tim Jones (R-Eureka) says the idea was brought to his caucus by police officers from Kansas City.

“I met with them, men and women on that police force of all different, diverse backgrounds, and they asked us to move that piece of legislation forward … They said they were being disenfranchised, their voices were not being heard, they had no choice in the matter and so these are folks who are rank-and-file union members who have asked us to promote worker freedom.”

That omnibus package, HB 335, has been sent to the Senate.

House passes surveillance drone ban critics call ‘overreaching’

April 5, 2013 By Mike Lear

The state House has narrowly passed legislation to keep the state of Missouri from surveilling its citizens using aircraft.

Representative Casey Guernsey (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

Representative Casey Guernsey (R-Bethany) says his bill stems from concern he has over events in two neighboring states.

“The federal government in conjunction with the state government in Iowa and Nebraska actually engaged in surveillance that brought about 50 different actions against farmers in Iowa alone.”

Guernsey suggests the charges against those farmers might be unfounded.

“The problem is that people who are interpreting a lot of this data don’t know anything about farming. They don’t understand anything about growing crops, they don’t understand anything about keeping cattle and if they’re looking at some image on a farm from a screen and they have no ag background, they’re the ones who are going to be allowed to start policing agriculture or business or homes or residential codes or, you know, whatever? The Conservation Department?”

Some lawmakers who didn’t oppose the original intent of the bill said amendments added on the floor made it go too far. One added the words, “Manned aircraft,” to the key provisions.

Representative Jeff Roorda (D-Barnhardt), a former police officer, says that will impair law enforcement use of aircraft.

“This grounds the air division of every law enforcement agency in the state. Not just planes, not drones, it includes helicopters.”

Roorda says it also adds a right to privacy where none exists.

“You have a right to privacy, to be free from unreasonable searches in your person, your home, your papers and your affects, right? Not in an open field, not in the highways and byways of our state.”

Another amendment would prevent news media from using drones to conduct surveillance of private property or individuals.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

Sunshine law proposal turns into forum on purchase of new plane by Highway Patrol

February 13, 2013 By Mike Lear

Debate in the House over legislation to extend exemptions to the state’s open records law on Tuesday turned into a discussion of the recent purchase of a new plane by the Highway Patrol, and the use of the patrol’s air fleet.

Representative Caleb Jones sponsored the original proposal, to extend certain exemptions to the state Sunshine Law. (Photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communciations)

The proposal, HBs 256, 33 and 305 would extend exemptions to what is commonly called the “Sunshine Law” for plans and policies for response to terror incidents or other emergencies by law enforcement, public safety officials, first responders and public health officials.

That includes school evacuation plans, which the sponsor, Representative Caleb Jones (R-California) was particularly concerned about.

“There have been seven requests for evacuation plans in schools here in Missouri. I think that should concern everybody in here, that people are trying to find the evacuation plans in schools here in Missouri potentially to do harm to them.”

An amendment offered by Representative Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg) was adopted that would make flights and requests for flights on state Highway Patrol planes public record. That amendment was changed to make that information available only after flights have occurred. It passed with 16 Democrat “yes” votes.

Representative Jeff Roorda (D-Barnhart) objected to the change.

He asked Jones, “Does it concern you at all that we’re taking the opportunity for a bipartisan piece of legislation that extends a very important sunset on school security and security in other public buildings and we’re turning it into a ‘pull the governor’s pants down’ bill?”

See our earlier story on the House Budget Committee discussion of the plane purchase.

Representative Mark Parkinson (R-St. Charles) offered an amendment that would have allowed use of highway patrol aircraft only by the Department of Public Safety. Representative Chris Kelly (D-Columbia) said that would have interfered with the work of several state agencies who use patrol planes.

“Look, I understand wanting to harass the governor about the plane. The governor abuses the plane, every governor in my 7 or 8 governors abuses the plane … every governor in the future will abuse the plane, but why screw up the entire government?”

Representative Kevin Engler (R-Farmington) didn’t want to take away the power of the governor to use a state plane.

“The only time that a governor, any governor, whether it was Bond, Ashcroft, Blunt, Carnahan that comes to Farmington, they use the airport there because they fly in with the state patrol rather than take the drive in … I would prefer to have the governor in town every once in a while.”

Parkinson withdrew the amendment, saying there wasn’t support for his proposal in the chamber.

“A lot of members in this body don’t have the stomach … to hold the executive on the second floor in this building accountable for his abuse of the budget process.”

Other amendments to the bill were to make public any footage from cameras outside the governor’s office in the capitol building and to exempt records that identify security systems or their access codes.

The legislation needs another favorable vote to advance to the Senate.