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Transportation panel appointment is a return to public work for Jetton (AUDIO)

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A 21-member committee will hold meetings across the state this spring and summer looking into the future of transportation in Missouri. It also marks a return to public service for a former House Speaker a year after pleading guilty to assault.

Former House Speaker Rod Jetton (photo courtesy: Missouri House Communications)

The Blue Ribbon Citizens Committee on Missouri Transportation Needs has been appointed by House Speaker Steven Tilley (R-Perryville), who wants it to look at the state’s transportation needs and look for solutions.

It is co-chaired by a fellow Republican and former House Speaker, Rod Jetton, who says his history of attacking infrastructure issues in Missouri is likely why he got the nod. “I did a walk to Jeff City back then after I was elected, my first year as a new state rep. I fought any new taxes for MODOT … there were some initiatives that year to put some more money there … and then when I was in office we dealed with some bills to reform the Highway Commission, approved some different funding mechanisms … bonding … for MODOT, and then in 2007 as Speaker I did a big statewide tour on transportation.”

Self-described as once being one of the Transportation Department’s strongest critics, Jetton says the agency has come a long way in improving its reputation since 2000, but he says the state has not made a new investment in transportation since Amendment 3.

“We spend more and more money on all kids of crazy programs and things and I don’t know if it really helps our state all that much, and yet there’s no doubt in my mind when we build a bridge or a highway, or even when you talk about a port or other modes of transportation, it’s something you can feel, see, touch and we know that it’s there and what it’s doing for our state.”

Jetton admits some hestitation at accepting the appointment and stepping back into the public spotlight. Last year, he pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor assault charge and was sentenced to probation and paying restitution. The case stemmed from a sexual encounter with a woman in 2009.

In the end, he says he decided to accept the position, calling it an opportunity to do work to benefit the state. “I’ve got children and hopefully will have grandchildren and I want them to travel our roads safely and have jobs.”

The Committee’s meeting schedule is:

Monday, May 14, 1:00 p.m.
MODOT – St. Louis District Transportation Mangement Center
14301 South Outer 40 Road
Chesterfield, MO 63017

Monday, May 21, 1:00 p.m.
MODOT – Northwest District
3602 North Belt Highway
St. Joseph, MO 64506

Monday, June 1, 1:00 p.m.
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
202 South John Q Hammons Pkwy
Springfield, MO 65806

Friday, June 29, 10:00 a.m.
Show-Me Center
1333 North Sprigg Street
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

Monday, July 9, 10:00 a.m.
Activity and Recreation Center (ARC)
1701 West Ash Street
Columbia, MO 65203

Monday, July 23, 10:00 a.m.
MODOT – Northeast District
1711 South Route 61
Hannibal, MO 63401

Monday, August 6, 10:00 a.m.
Gamber Center, Shenendoah Rum
4 SE Independence Avenue
Lee’s Summit, MO 64603

AUDIO:  Hear Mike Lear’s interview with Rod Jetton, 8:27

Top Missouri Republican says Palin has energized base

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A top Missouri Republican acknowledges the party was down only a few months ago, but says all that has changed because of the addition of Sarah Palin to the presidential ticket.

House Speaker Rod Jetton says he never would have believed the impact Palin has had on Missouri Republicans. Jetton says that six months ago things looked really bleak for Republicans in Missouri. He says the environment has changed dramatically since the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

That, of course, was when the nation was introduced to Republican John McCain’s choice for vice president:  Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Jetton says Palin’s speech at the convention touch a cord among Republicans, especially women. He says she has turned a once dispirited Republican party into an enthusiastic one. Jetton says his attitude reflected the attitude of many Republicans. He liked John McCain and knew McCain had a compelling personal story, but wasn’t enthusiastic about voting for McCain. He says that has changed.

Jetton cautions that he doesn’t know whether the enthusiasm can be sustained…or how long the coattails might be if McCain-Palin wins Missouri. 

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)

House Speaker Jetton defends his political consulting work

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Rod Jetton House Speaker Rod Jetton (R-Marble Hill) defends himself in the wake of recent attacks over his political consulting company, insisting his company has followed all state law. This follows criticism from Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (R-MO) who has put forward an ethics reform proposal that would prevent elected officials from working as political or fundraising consultants.

During his time at House Speaker, Jetton has been involved in campaigns and fundraising for fellow lawmakers, which he insists is completely legal and is in complete accordance with the rules of the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Jetton does express concerns over Kinder’s call for the ban on consulting work, saying when Kinder announced a run for Governor earlier this year, the Kinder campaign asked Jetton to come on board. But Jetton endorsed Kenny Hulshof and says that put a strain on his friendship with Kinder. Jetton says he doesn’t understand how Kinder could want to hire the Jetton consulting team in January, then says in July that Jetton should not be in the consulting business.

Download/Listen: House Speaker Rod Jetton news conference (29:00 MP3)
Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Quiet work behind the scenes killed Village Law

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It takes a lot of work and patience to kill a Village Law.

Rep. Jay Wasson (R-Nixa), who worked behind-the-scenes during the last week of the legislative session to guide the Village Law repeal through the House, gives credit to the other chamber for the success.

"Senate leadership giving us an opportunity for that filibuster to go awhile was a big key," Wasson tells reporters.

It was a big key for a number of reasons, with perhaps the biggest being that it signaled Senate leadership would call the bluff of House Speaker Rod Jetton (R-Marble Hill). Jetton had worked strenuously to keep the repeal from passing. In allowing the filibuster to occur on Thursday, Senate leadership demonstrated its willingness to block other legislation until the Village Law repeal was decided.

Another key came earlier in the last week. Various maneuvers kept the bill carrying the bill from being solely about the repeal. SB 765 came out of the House with language strengthening a county’s ability to enforce regulations on strip joints when representatives found it too difficult to vote against that amendment and return the bill to its original intent.

That led to a contentious House Republican Caucus meeting in which opponents of the law released pent up emotions about Jetton’s role in getting the law passed last year and his strenuous efforts to block the repeal.

Wasson worried about fallout.

"There were some moments where I felt like, ‘Are we tearing the caucus apart?’," Wasson says he also worried about whether his efforts would block other legislation, "You always concern yourself with that."

Wasson served on the conference committee of Senators and Representatives that handled the House version of the bill. The committee removed the strip club language, returned the bill to its original form and sent it back to the Senate.

In the end, Wasson credits steady pressure applied by opponents of the law with breaking a logjam that threatened the entire session. Once the House approved the repeal on the last day of the session, the floodgates opened for major legislation to win approval. 

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (1:15 MP3)

Village Law repeal approved, heads to the governor

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It appeared dead earlier in the week. It revived early this morning and sailed to passage.

Repeal of the controversial Village Law won approval in the House on a 131-7 vote. SB 765 became embroiled in controversy this final week of the legislative session, a focus of heated exchanges both on the floor of the Senate and behind closed doors in a House Republican Caucus meeting. The repeal now goes to the governor for his signature.

On Wednesday, the House failed to keep the bill clean of any amendments, thought at the time to have ended any chance of the bill making it through the process with the days of the session running out. The House sponsor, at the time, stated that the bill wasn’t dead, but was on life support.

The Village Law is controversial both for its content and for how it came into law. It allows a single landowner to declare his property a village, exempt from local county regulation. It was slipped into a much larger bill the waning days of the last session with the approval of House Speaker Rod Jetton (R-Marble Hill). Few lawmakers knew it was in the bill. Several lawmakers accused Jetton of helping campaign donor Robert Plaster, a Lebanon businessman who had been frustrated by Stone County officials who had blocked his development efforts at Table Rock Lake. The repeal doesn’t contain a clause to make it go into effect upon the signature of the governor, which could give Plaster enough time to incorporate his village.

Lawmakers further accused Jetton of manipulating the process during the last week to keep the bill from passing. In the end, though, Jetton agreed to allow the bill to come to the House floor where it easily won passage.

Efforts to repeal controversial "village law" appear dead

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It appears the controversial "village law" will stay on the books.

The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to repeal the measure, controversial both for its content and for the method used to get it through the legislature last year. That vote, likely, won’t mean much, because an amendment stayed on the bill that threatens its passage in the Senate.

Rep. Jay Wasson (R-Nixa) led the charge in the House to repeal the law. During lengthy House debate on HCS SCS SB 765 , Wasson made a motion to divide the question. He sought to separate the section repealing the village law from other amendments. Wasson got the vote he wanted on the repeal of the village law, but failed to defeat another measure, despite help from that measure’s sponsor.

Rep. Ed Emery (R-Lamar) was ready to sacrifice his amendment to increase regulations of strip joints so that the village law could be killed.

"A ‘yes’ vote here is a lose all the way around, I’m afraid," Emery told colleagues during House floor debate.

Emery explained that a senator had told both he and Wasson that he would filibuster the bill if it contained the strip club language. With two days left in the session, the mere threat of a filibuster can be fatal.

Despite Emery’s call to defeat his own measure, too many lawmakers found it too hard to vote against strip club regulations. That portion passed and remains on the bill.

Wasson of Nixa says that likely kills the legislation, "It’s not 100% dead. I would say it’s awfully close. It’s say it’s on a respirator right now."

Sen. Jack Goodman (R-Mt. Vernon), the original sponsor of the village law repeal, now has been handed a bill he didn’t want with two days left in the session to salvage something.

"I’m not ready to say ‘die’ yet," Goodman said, adding that he will attempt to move the bill through the process.

The village law has caused an unusual split in the House Republican caucus. The village law allows a single landowner to form a village to get around county regulations. Several House Republicans have complained that the measure was slipped into a much larger bill in the waning days of last year’s session without full disclosure to the entire House. A few Republicans have accused House Speaker Rod Jetton (R-Marble Hill) of maneuvering the measure to passage as a political favor for campaign donor Robert Plaster, a Lebanon businessman who had been frustrated by Stone County officials who had blocked his development efforts at Table Rock Lake. 

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)

House Speaker denies the session is moving slowly

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Two weeks are left for state lawmakers to wrap up work planned at the beginning of the year.  Republican leaders in the House reject suggestions that this has been a slow session.

That, even though House Speaker Rod Jetton (R-Marble Hill) tells reporters, "Things are still (moving at) somewhat slow pace, but we have been making some progress on some key things."

House Floor Leader Steven Tilley of Perryville agrees, "I think we’re on pace to have a decent session."

Jetton had told reporters at his previous weekly news conference that he didn’t mind if legislation died this session and had suggested that the Senate might do his "dirty work" and kill some legislation. Jetton now says those comments were fueled by frustration. He says the relationship between the House and Senate has improved. The Senate has started to work on House bills and the House has resolved a dispute with Sen. Chuck Purgason (R-Caulfield) who was furious with how the House had changed an animal identification bill of his.

Still, only 17 bills have been sent to the governor so far. Many of those are supplemental budget bills. Expectations aren’t high for the remaining two weeks.

Rep. Paul LeVota (D-Independence), who as House Minority Floor Leader is the top Democrat in the House, suspects the session is moving in accordance with the Speaker’s wishes.

"The pace is exactly what the Speaker wants," LeVota tells reporters, "I can understand why he says the pace is good for him; nothing is getting done."

The next two weeks will tell. 

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)

Pledge might come back to haunt House Republicans

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A no-tax pledge made by several House Republicans might come back to haunt them.

House Speaker Rod Jetton acknowledged reluctance on the part of his fellow Republicans to vote for a one-eighth cent sales tax for veterans’ services.

"I’ve spent my career since I came to Jeff City fighting tax increases, being against tax increases." Jetton told the body during House floor debate on HJR 71 , "I’m proud of the record we’ve got on turning around the state without a tax increase."

It is rare that the House Speaker comes to the floor to speak on a measure. Jetton took the unusual step to rally the troops and calm fears about voting in favor of a tax increase. Jetton acknowledged that a lot of representatives on both sides of the aisle worried about the vote, whether it would be used against them in a political campaign.

Rep. Terry Witte, a Democrat from Vandalia, expressed such concerns in a question to the sponsor during House floor debate, "So, in the upcoming election, if I get attacked for voting for a tax increase, can I get you to come out and defend me?"

The defense becoming popular is that representatives didn’t really vote to increase taxes, they voted to ask Missourians to decide whether to increase taxes to build six new veterans homes and up to 12 veterans service centers.

Democrat John Burnett, a state representative from Kansas City, agreed it’s a noble cause, "Simply because you tie a tax increase to a noble cause, does not make it something other than a tax increase."

Several Republicans made much the same point, stating they support veterans, but cannot support a tax increase. Democrats in the House were quick to point out that 11 House Republicans violated a campaign pledge they signed to oppose any efforts to increase taxes, including the sponsor of the resolution Rep. Barney Fisher (R-Richards).

The one-eighth of a cent sales tax generated $103 million dollars for the Conservation Commission during the last fiscal year. The increase for the Veterans Commission would sunset in eight years. It could be renewed by voters at a lower level, one-tenth of a cent. 

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (1:20 MP3)

Representative accuses Speaker of playing abortion politics

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An opponent of an anti-abortion bill working its way through the House accuses the Republican majority in general and the Speaker in particular of pushing the measure because of politics.

The House has given preliminary approval to HB 1831 that adds to the state’s informed consent law. Opponent Beth Low, a representative from Kansas City, sees politics behind the move to push the anti-abortion bill. First, she questions why the sponsor, Rep. Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis) has been allowed to move his bill rather than the sponsors of other similar bills.

Then, Low insinuates leadership has pulled strings, "Perhaps it’s because the Speaker is running his race."

Low was gaveled down after that statement and told to confine her remarks to the bill.

House Speaker Rod Jetton (R-Marble Hill) is also a political consultant. He has worked with Rep. Onder on his bid for Congress. Onder sponsors the bill and is among the Republicans who filed in the northeast Missouri district after incumbent Kenny Hulshof decided to run for governor.

Jetton says his professional relationship with Onder has nothing to do with the bill coming before the House for debate.

"That couldn’t be any further from the truth," Jetton tells the Missourinet when asked about Low’s accusations, "I’m disappointed Beth would say something like that."

Jetton denies politics is playing any role in the House action on the bill.

The bill would make it a crime to coerce a woman to have an abortion. It requires a woman seeking an abortion to be informed of alternatives and that a fetus can feel pain.

Another favorable vote sends it to the Senate. 

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (1:15 MP3)

Court plan derails in House

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A plan to quickly move a resolution to prohibit state courts from imposing taxes has derailed in the House. The measure, HCS HJR 41 , now must wait until the legislature returns from spring break.

Emotions remained raw during House floor debate, two days after majority Republicans had shut out Democrats during preliminary debate, when members can move to amend legislation. Democratic Representative John Burnett of Kansas City still smoldered over Republican leadership’s refusal to recognize Democrats during the amendment process.

"This issue has not had full and fair debate on this floor," Burnett told colleagues.

The move by Republicans on Tuesday limited debate to less than 11 minutes. House leadership brought the measure back before the body on Thursday for debate prior to a final vote. But as debate wore on, a few Republicans left for spring break early. The numbers of the majority party dwindled below the minimum needed to pass a bill. With it uncertain that any Democrats would vote for the measure, Republicans shelved the bill.

"We had a lot of people go home," House Speaker Rod Jetton (R-Marble Hill) told reporters afterward, "There were a number of people who had to leave and for one reason or another there just wasn’t enough people on the floor to get it passed."

It was a rare break of discipline for Republicans. Even during their time in the minority, Republicans were known for being in their seats, ready to vote.

Jetton’s counterpart on the Democratic side, Rep. Paul LeVota (D-Independence), hopes Republicans learned a lesson.

"Hindsight should tell them, allow debate during perfection to have people buy in to what’s going on and that makes the process go faster during third reading," LeVota told the Missourinet.

The turn of events made for a bit of tension in the House chamber and a touch of dramatics, but likely won’t have a long-term effect on the resolution. It should return to the floor for a final vote once the House returns from its spring break on Tuesday, March 25 th . It is expected to pass.

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)