Lake St. Louis Archives

Proposed Missouri constitutional amendment is aimed at checkpoints and roadblocks

March 30, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

You’ll be voting next November on a proposed constitutional amendment involving checkpoints and roadblocks, if a veteran Missouri lawmaker has his way.

State Rep. Justin Hill (R-Lake St. Louis) speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on February 3, 2021 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Justin Hill (R-Lake St. Louis) will present his proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday at noon, before the Missouri House Downsizing State Government Committee in Jefferson City. The committee is chaired by State Rep. Ben Baker (R-Neosho).

Hill served 13 years with the O’Fallon Police Department. His one-page proposal, which is House Joint Resolution 11, would prohibit a roadside checkpoint or roadblock set up by law enforcement, except in emergency situations to prevent the escape of a fleeing felon, or in the case of civil unrest.

If Missouri lawmakers approve Hill’s proposal this session, it would be placed on the 2022 statewide ballot.

Missouri Nurses Association: it’s more dangerous to be a health care worker than a police or corrections officer

March 17, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri lawmakers in both parties are expressing frustration about the growing number of assaults against health care employees across the state. Numerous health-related associations are backing legislation that’s aimed at addressing it.

State Rep. Justin Hill (R-Lake St. Louis) speaks at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on March 9, 2021 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, who chairs the Missouri House Insurance Committee, presented his House Bill 1022 this month. The proposed bill creates the offense of interference with a health care facility and the offense of interference with an ambulance service.

While no one testified against the bill, numerous groups testified for the bill, which is aimed at protecting health care employees against assaults.

The 110,000 member Missouri Nurses Association testified for Hill’s bill, telling lawmakers that incidents are happening all the time.

“It is more dangerous to be a health care worker than it is to be a police officer or a prison guard,” Missouri Nurses Association state director Heidi Lucas testifies. “They are more likely to see violence than those folks.”

Ms. Lucas also testifies that her brother, who works in the health care field, has already suffered three concussions this year, from patients. She says he’s been head-butted, punched and bitten.

Several nurses also traveled to Jefferson City on March 2 to testify for Hill’s bill. One testified about an assault where a man allegedly kicked a pregnant nurse in the abdomen, trying to kill her baby.

St. Louis-based BJC Healthcare supports Representative Hill’s legislation, as does Springfield-based CoxHealth. CoxHealth’s Michael Grote testified in-detail about the hundreds of assaults that are happening on Cox premises.

“In this last year, CoxHealth has seen 649 assaults on our property resulting in 364 injuries. Unfortunately, that number is up every single year,” Grote testifies.

CoxHealth, which operates six hospitals and more than 80 clinics across southwest Missouri, also says that a number of health care employees choose not to file complaints because they fear retaliation and further actions by the attacker.

The Missouri State Medical Association and the Missouri Hospital Association (MHA) also support Hill’s legislation. MHA spokesman Dave Dillon tells Missourinet that maintaining a safe environment is required for state licensure, so patient, visitor and workplace safety is always a top priority. MHA is also focused on the COVID pandemic.

MHA released an eight-page report in 2019, which found that 48 percent of hospitals reported workplace violence or violent intruders as one of their top three internal risks.

Hill is currently working to tweak some of the language in HB 1022. It’s expected return to his Insurance Committee for a vote sometime after the legislative spring break.

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.

Missouri lawmakers to hear testimony Monday on 2020 presidential election resolution (AUDIO)

December 14, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A Missouri House committee will hear testimony Monday evening in Jefferson City on a proposed House resolution that declares that the House has no faith in presidential election results from six key states.

State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on November 10, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, filed the resolution, which names Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. Hill represents St. Charles County in the Legislature.

“Many of my constituents through all forms of media reached out to me, asking me to do something. And it’s not just me, it’s all representatives throughout the state,” Hill says.

66 GOP state representatives have signed Hill’s resolution. They include House Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, who will be Speaker in January. Outgoing Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, and Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, did not sign the resolution.

State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, is critical of Hill’s resolution, saying President Trump lost the election. Aldridge describes Hill’s resolution as meaningless, and says it “will do nothing of substance.” In a statement, Aldridge says Missourians want lawmakers to come together to work on issues like COVID.

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.

“We’re seeing in key states where we have razor-thin margins, lots of evidence of fraud, and most of it is not being investigated. So, we as a state have to make a statement,” says Hill.

Hill’s three-page resolution alleges that 50,000 votes held on USB cards are missing in one Pennsylvania county, and that more than 20,000 nonresidents cast ballots in Georgia. It also says that absentee ballot and mail-in ballot laws passed in the six states were likely ignored and violated.

“Future elections are at stake,” Hill says. “If we don’t do anything now, even though we’re Missouri and we did it right, if we don’t do anything now, if we don’t file our grievances, then we have no argument later.”

The House Special Committee on Government Oversight will hold Monday’s hearing at 5 p.m.

The oversight committee’s ranking Democrat, State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, wants Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (R) to appear before the committee on Monday, regarding his decision to join the Texas federal litigation.

The U-S Supreme Court on Friday rejected the Texas lawsuit. The “New York Times” reports the lawsuit sought to bar Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin from casting their electoral votes for former Vice President Joe Biden (D).

Representative Merideth says Schmitt’s recent decision is directly relevant to the resolution that will be heard on Monday.

“To be clear, you did not simply join in the Texas federal litigation. You led a group of 17 attorneys general in backing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s baseless legal theories,” Merideth writes, in part.

Merideth also says there is no evidence of alleged widespread election fraud.

If the oversight committee approves Hill’s symbolic resolution, it would then head to the Missouri House floor for debate this month.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview with State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, which was recorded on December 10, 2020:

Rehder urges Missourians to get involved to pass PDMP legislation (AUDIO)

December 2, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A veteran southeast Missouri lawmaker who is heading to the Senate in January has filed prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) legislation for the ninth consecutive year.

State Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Scott City, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on May 11, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Sen.-Elect Holly Rehder, R-Scott City, has filed a compromise bill that she says had the support of the majority of Senate and House members in 2020.

“Just the main PDMP bill with that compromise on the board that directs the database,” Rehder says.

A PDMP is an electronic database that collects data on controlled substance prescriptions within a state.

While both the Missouri House and Senate approved PDMP this spring, they passed different versions. Missouri is the only state in the nation without a PDMP.

Rehder disagrees with privacy concerns from fellow State Rep. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, who was also elected to the Missouri Senate in November. Moon has expressed concern about potential data breaches involving your prescription information.

“The data breaches that we see across the U.S. are those dealing with credit cards or those dealing with financial services,” says Rehder.

State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, has also expressed privacy concerns about PDMP.

As for Representative Rehder, she’s urged the Legislature not to judge people “unless you’ve walked a mile in their moccasins.” During an emotional May House floor speech, Rehder revealed to colleagues that her late mother and late sister were both sexually assaulted multiple times, and turned to prescription drugs for their pain.

She says she’s thankful that God has given her the ability to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. Rehder also says Missouri’s medical professionals must have the knowledge of what their patients are on, prior to prescribing more medication.

“The more that the public gets involved, the more that those who are dealing with this epidemic reach out to their representatives and senators, tell their stories, that’s what moves the needle,” Rehder says.

December 1 is the first day that Missouri lawmakers can pre-file legislation for the 2021 session, which begins January 6 in Jefferson City.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and State Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Scott City, which was recorded on December 1, 2020:

Missouri PDMP debate personal for Rehder: Don’t judge “unless you’ve walked a mile in their moccasins”

May 11, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Legislation that would create a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) is now heading to a Missouri House-Senate conference committee in Jefferson City, for negotiations.

State Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Scott City, speaks about her PDMP legislation on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on May 11, 2020 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Missouri is the only state in the nation without a PDMP, which is an electronic database that collects data on controlled substance prescriptions within a state.

While both chambers have approved PDMP this session, they’ve approved different versions. The Senate version contains a provision about fentanyl that isn’t in the House bill.

Monday’s House floor debate was emotional, as the bill sponsor delivered a passionate speech on why she believes PDMP is needed. State Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Scott City, urged colleagues to not judge people “unless you’ve walked a mile in their moccasins.”

“Many demeaning things have been said on this (House) floor over the years about those who are addicted,” Rehder says. “Things like, an addict will always get their fix, regardless of what we try to do to help.”

Rehder revealed to colleagues on Monday that her late mother and late sister were both sexually assaulted multiple times, and turned to prescription drugs for their pain.

She also says that many homeless veterans are addicted to some drugs, for their pain.

Not everyone in the House supported Rehder’s call to send the bill to a conference committee for negotiations.

State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, has privacy and other concerns about the bill. Hill, who’s been a vocal PDMP opponent, says House Republicans are divided 50-50 on the issue.

The Missouri House approved the bill in February by a bipartisan 95-56 vote, with every House Democrat voting for it. All 56 “no” votes came from Rehder’s fellow Republicans.

Hill opposes sending it to conference.

“And now we (the full House) are going to give our power to a select few to decide if this bill is going to be the bill that we pass this year,” says Hill.

State Rep. Tony Lovasco, R-O’Fallon, also urged against sending the bill to conference. He says 87 percent of Missouri is already covered by PDMP.

“Let’s have this discussion next year,” Lovasco says.

In the end, the House voted 110-33 on Monday to send Rehder’s bill to conference.

Time is the biggest factor now, and could be the biggest obstacle to the bill. The Legislature must adjourn by Friday evening at 6, under the state Constitution.

Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, tells Missourinet he’s optimistic.

“It’s always a coin toss on any bill this time in session. Any Senator can easily stop a piece of legislation,” Schatz says. “But I do think any bill that is still moving could potentially pass. We put a lot of effort into this early in session, and it would be disappointing if it fails.”

Pro Tem Schatz supports PDMP, as does Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, and House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield.

Missouri lawmaker unhappy with MoDOT response to winter storm this month

November 27, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A state lawmaker from eastern Missouri is criticizing what he calls the state Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT’s) incompetence, for its handling of the Veterans Day winter storm.

State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, speaks on the Missouri House floor on May 17, 2019 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, says his vehicle struck black ice in St. Charles County during the storm and that he had to use his emergency brake to stop.

Schroer says he almost crashed and saw another vehicle flip over on I-70 in Lake St. Louis.

He wants MoDOT to examine how other states handle snow, including the chemicals they’re using. Schroer says the agency wasn’t ready for the storm.

“Is what we (Missouri) are doing to prepare in these types of situations, in these snowstorms, these ice storms, is that adequate,” Schroer asks. “Is that enough? Look to other states, see what they’re doing.”

Schroer says it took him more than 90 minutes to get home that evening, a trip that normally takes 15 minutes.

“It’s just ridiculous to me because now I have two young girls that I had to go get (that evening) and slid in the black ice and I’m trying to get them home,” says Schroer.

There were hundreds of crashes across the state during the Veterans Day winter storm. One woman who was stuck by a vehicle in St. Charles County, after the “St. Louis Post-Dispatch” reports her car had problems in the weather. And state troopers say a 61-year-old man from Chilhowee died when he lost control of his vehicle on an ice-covered road and overturned near western Missouri’s Centerview.

As for MoDOT, they tell Missourinet that although forecasts said it would end midday on Veterans Day, an additional wave of snow came through that afternoon after the first snow melted and washed off the salt. They say their trucks were treating roads all day. They also note their trucks were blocked by significant crashes that day on I-70 in Schroer’s St. Charles County district.

MoDOT also says safety is their top priority and that they have hundreds of dedicated employees who work hard to keep St. Louis-area roads safe during winter storms.

Schroer, who serves as the vice chairman of the House Special Committee on Government Oversight, tells Missourinet that if the scenario happens again, he’ll want MoDOT to testify before the committee.

MoDOT helds its annual winter operations drill on November 7, four days before the storm. They reacted to a simulated forecast of significant snow for the entire state and inspected every piece of equipment.

The agency spent more than $64 million on winter operations last year and used more than 180,000 tons of salt, 100,000 gallons of liquid calcium chloride and about 700,000 gallons of beet juice. MoDOT says that during an average winter, its employees plow about six million miles of snow and ice.

Here is the full statement from MoDOT’s St. Louis District office, in response to the Missourinet interview with Representative Schroer:

Thank you for reaching out to MoDOT following your interview with State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, during which shared concerns with MoDOT’s response to last week’s winter storm.

Safety is our number 1 priority. MoDOT has hundreds of dedicated employees in St. Louis working hard to keep roads safe and passable. State employees were out all day Monday, November 11th, working the winter event including plowing and spreading salt. It is difficult to use salt in an effective way when storms start as rain/sleet and strike during times of heavy traffic volumes. The November 11th event had warm enough ground temperatures to melt all the snow that fell, washing off the salt that was applied early in the day. Although the weather forecasts said it would end midday, an additional wave of snow came around 2 p.m. after the first snow had melted and washed off the salt. When the winds brought a significant drop in temperature, all routes across St. Louis started freezing at the same time which coincided with the start of evening rush hour.

MoDOT’s trucks were treating roads all day. Winter events like Monday can present extreme challenges, especially when you have winter precipitation during rush hour. Specific to Representative Schroer’s area in St. Charles County, there were a couple significant crashes on I-70 and Rte 364 that MoDOT trucks were caught in. When MoDOT trucks are stuck in traffic, it limits our ability to continue treating roads and getting to all the state owned roads.