State Sen. Bob Onder Archives

Missouri Senate passes five special session bills to fight crime

September 3, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri Senate passed five special session bills about crime in the wee hours of Thursday morning. Members spent more than 16 hours on the legislation with the most time being consumed by House Bill 2. It deals with the admissibility of certain witness statements. The slowdown came when Sen. Bob Onder, R- Lake St. Louis, worked to tack on a contentious component that would let the Missouri Attorney General get involved in some St. Louis murder cases.

Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis

After several hours of debate, the measure was tabled. It re-emerged late Wednesday night when Onder gained enough support to call for a procedural motion known as the previous question. The controversial tactic forces a vote on the bill. The Senate voted 22-8 in favor of the proposal.

The effort is expected to face strong resistance in the House. The lower chamber did not take up the measure last week.

During floor debate, Onder said Gardner’s office is severely understaffed and her conviction rate is low. Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, led the charge against the effort to intervene in Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s cases.

“Sometimes the evidence is just not there,” said Nasheed.

“But then when she prosecutes, she loses. How do you explain that, senator,” asked Onder.

Nasheed said Onder’s effort is politically motivated. Some Republicans have blasted Gardner for her handling of the criminal case involving former Gov. Eric Greitens and another one about Mark and Patricia McCloskey. The affluent St. Louis couple were charged with a felony over the summer for pointing guns on their property at protesters walking along their private street.

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed speaks at the Missouri Capitol on January 23, 2018 (file photo courtesy of Missouri Senate photographer Harrison Sweazea]

“She’s not doing her job. She’s too busy prosecuting the McCloskeys and the former governor while children are dying,” said Onder.

Nasheed told Onder the violent crime problem is not Gardner’s fault.

“This is bigger than her not prosecuting,” she said. “You know what this is about. This is about an African American woman.”

Onder fired back and said skin color has nothing to do with his beef with Gardner.

“It’s appalling to me that the sky falls and it’s Kim Gardner’s fault. You can call him the spin doctor if you’d like. He’s spinning the truth,” she said.

Nasheed told Sen. Andrew Koenig, R- Manchester, the state should not be getting involved in local cases.

“If I decide that I want to put a strip club all throughout your district – in the conservative district – or I want to put an abortion clinic in your district, do you know what you’re going to say to me, ‘I didn’t ask you to do that. Get out of here,’” said Nasheed.

“Yeah, well I’m definitely opposed to abortion,” said Koenig.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner

Nasheed questioned why Missourians are required to complete 40 hours to drive but no training is required to own a gun. She went on to blame Republican lawmakers relaxing gun laws for increased access to firearms in the inner cities.

Nasheed said lawmakers must fix the lack of funding for quality education in St. Louis and lack of job opportunities for vulnerable and poor people.

“We have to deal with the root cause and you cannot keep looking at an ugly tree in your backyard and hitting it from the top and thinking that it’s never going to grow again,” said Nasheed. “You have to pull it from its roots so it never grows again. And the root cause of our problems in the city of St. Louis is not Kim Gardner.”

The legislation passed:

*HB 2 would allow an otherwise inadmissible witness statement if a “preponderance” of evidence shows the defendant engaged in wrongdoing to cause the unavailability of the witness. It also lets the Missouri Attorney General intervene in some St. Louis murder cases.

*HB 66 would create a fund to protect witnesses, potential witnesses and their immediate family members during criminal proceedings or investigations.

*HB 46 would lift a requirement for St. Louis first responders to live within the city.

*HB 11 would criminalize adults who knowingly encourage, aid, or cause a child under 17 years old to commit a crime with a weapon.

*HB 16 would toughen the penalty for selling or giving a firearm to someone under 18 years old to avoid or interfere with an arrest, detention, or investigation of a crime.

Missouri’s governor signs major crime legislation into law

July 6, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Sweeping legislation aimed at cracking down on violent crime was signed into law late Monday afternoon by Missouri’s governor in Jefferson City.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on July 6, 2020 (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Governor Mike Parson (R) announced that he would sign Senate Bill 600 during his media briefing with Capitol reporters. He describes the bill as a large step toward safety and justice for communities.

Critics say it will cause Missouri to have to build two new prisons.

The bill updates Missouri’s law involving the offense of conspiracy, a point emphasized by the governor during today’s press conference. Parson says that under current law, a person cannot be convicted of an offense based upon a conspiracy to commit it unless the person committed an overt act.

“This allows law enforcement and prosecutors to hold individuals accountable that plan criminal enterprises. This bill also includes other key provisions to help address violent crime,” Parson tells reporters.

The bill creates mandatory prison sentences for several violent crimes, and creates a new offense of vehicle hijacking. That provision was a priority for State Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, and for Attorney General Eric Schmitt (R).

Onder testified before a legislative committee in February, saying there were 351 carjackings in St. Louis City in 2019.

“These are violent crimes in which Missourians are terrorized in what should be a safe sanctuary, their cars,” Onder testified that day.

He noted during his February testimony that there was no uniform sentencing in Missouri for carjacking. Some suspects are charged with robbery, while he said others are charged with stealing and are being sentenced to just four months in prison.

The bill also establishes the Missouri criminal street gangs prevention act, which Governor Parson says modernizes the approach to prosecuting criminal gangs.

State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, sponsored the House bill. Schroer tweeted Monday that the legislation is “a bipartisan approach that will help make Missouri safer.”

Critics of the bill include Americans for Prosperity-Missouri and the ACLU of Missouri.

“Governor Parson’s commitment to signing SB 600 is shortsighted. We know that crime bills like this one exacerbate racial inequalities and fuel mass incarceration with no actual improvement to public safety,” ACLU of Missouri policy director Sara Baker says, in a statement.

Baker says the bill “tears money away from public education and services proven to decrease crime.”

The bill is also opposed by Americans for Prosperity-Missouri (AFP-MO), which predicts the law will increase Missouri’s prison population by 2,500 and will cause two new prisons to be built.

“Locking up more people does not result in safer neighborhoods, but rather harms taxpayers and needlessly rips families and communities apart,” AFP-MO state director Jeremy Cady says, in a statement. Cady says it will cost $500 million to build the new prisons.

With the governor’s signature, the new law will take effect on August 28.

PDMP expected to hit Missouri Senate floor on Thursday; House floor debate gets heated

May 13, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Legislation creating a Missouri prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) is one step away from reaching the governor’s desk, after the House voted to give it final approval on Wednesday afternoon in Jefferson City.

Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, and State Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Scott City, speak at the dais following the May 13, 2020 House vote to give final approval to Rehder’s PDMP bill (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The bipartisan House vote was 94-59. During Wednesday’s heated House floor debate, State Rep. Warren Love, R-Osceola, blasted some of his colleagues, for dragging their feet on this and other issues.

“We (the Missouri House) didn’t want to have REAL ID, we’re one of the only ones that don’t have PDMP, we don’t have Wayfair internet, folks, what’s wrong with us?,” Love asks colleagues.

Love voted for PDMP, which is an electronic database that collects data on controlled substance prescriptions within a state. He’s been a co-sponsor of the PDMP legislation from State Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Scott City, for eight years.

They entered the House together, after being elected in November 2012.

While Wednesday’s vote was bipartisan, the debate exposed some tension inside the House GOP caucus. It happened when State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, publicly said on the floor that a deal was made with the Senate to kill the fentanyl, date rape and carjacking bills, to pass PDMP.

“To vote on this (PDMP) bill, you are killing all of those bills in a deal that was made with the Senate,” Schroer tells colleagues. “Keep that in mind, keep that in mind.”

Schroer also says the prison drone legislation was killed as well.

State Rep. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, voted against PDMP, warning about potential data breaches involving your prescription information.

“But it perhaps could be individuals looking for specific information on a particular person, and how could that be used to harm someone. Very possible,” says Moon.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where it needs one more favorable vote before Friday’s deadline. The Legislature must adjourn by Friday evening at 6, under the state Constitution.

Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, tells Missourinet he expects PDMP to be on the Senate floor on Thursday, adding that he is still optimistic.

“Now that we have it back in this chamber it only needs one more action, and I am sure we will try to give it that opportunity,” Schatz says.

State Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, tweeted at Missourinet on Wednesday, saying Representative Schroer’s House bill cracks down on carjacking, fentanyl traffickers and date rape drugs.

“It (the Schroer bill) must pass the Missouri Senate before PDMP,” Onder tweets.

Schmitt’s office and law enforcement groups say Missouri carjackings are an epidemic (AUDIO)

February 4, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A state senator from eastern Missouri’s St. Charles County outlined his proposed statewide carjacking statute on Monday in Jefferson City, saying carjackings are an epidemic in the state.

State Sen. Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis) speaks to Missouri Capitol reporters (2016 file photo)

State Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, testified Monday before the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. Onder tells fellow senators there were 351 carjackings in St. Louis City in 2019.

“These are violent crimes in which Missourians are terrorized in what should be a safe sanctuary, their cars,” Onder testifies.

Onder notes there is currently no uniform sentencing in Missouri for carjacking. Some suspects are being charged with robbery. Others are charged with stealing and are being sentenced to just four months in prison, according to testimony at Monday’s hearing.

During his testimony, Onder read a letter from a retired St. Louis Police lieutenant. The lieutenant’s niece was carjacked in Kansas City in 2018. During the incident, Onder says the suspect put a gun to the victim’s body and threatened to kill her. He then took her vehicle.

Onder says the suspect, who had two prior felony convictions, was released after serving 120 days in prison and was placed on probation.

“It looks like what happened in that case is that perpetrator was sentenced for stealing as opposed to the really vicious, dangerous crime of carjackings,” Onder tells Capitol reporters.

Under Onder’s Senate Bill 561, most carjackings would be a class A felony, with a minimum sentence of ten years in prison.

Instances would include causing serious physical injury to anyone in the vehicle, being armed with a deadly weapon and displaying or threatening the use of what appears to be a deadly weapon.

The Missouri Police Chiefs Association, Missouri Sheriffs’ Association, the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police and the St. Louis Police Officers Association testified for Onder’s bill.

The bill is also a top priority for Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (R). His office testified for the legislation as well.

Schmitt’s office is calling on Missouri to join 23 other states in passing a statewide carjacking statute. Deputy Attorney General Cristian Stevens testified before the committee, emphasizing carjackings in Missouri are an epidemic.

“With carjackings, very often the reason for the carjacking itself is to use that car then as a getaway car, because it can’t be connected to the person driving it,” Stevens testifies.

Stevens says some of the cars are then used in drive-by shootings.

Missouri’s neighboring states of Illinois, Kansas and Tennessee are three of the 23 states that have approved legislation backed by Schmitt’s office.

Onder says there were more than 550 carjackings in Missouri in 2018, including 248 in St. Louis and 227 in Kansas City. But Schmitt’s office believes those numbers are low, noting that St. Louis Police use crime analysts to review robbery and stealing charges to check for carjackings, since there’s no specific statute.

No one testified against Onder’s bill at the hearing. The committee is expected to vote at a later date.

Click here to listen to State Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, who was interviewed after the February 3, 2020 hearing at the Missouri Capitol by Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and KTVI’s Jeff Bernthal:

Missouri House expected to debate abortion bill on Friday

May 16, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri House Majority Leader’s office says the heartbeat abortion bill that has attracted national media attention is not expected to be debated in the House until Friday.

Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr speaks to Capitol reporters on February 27, 2019 in Jefferson City, as State Reps. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, Adam Schnelting and Nick Schroer look on (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The office of House Majority Leader Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, tells Missourinet debate is expected tomorrow.

Missouri’s 2019 legislative session ends tomorrow evening at 6, under the state Constitution.

The Missouri Senate voted early this morning to approve a bill that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. The Senate vote came after about 15 hours of filibustering and negotiations.

The bill includes exceptions for medical emergencies, but not for rape or incest cases.

The Senate debate became heated at times, with State Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, making a serious allegation about trafficking of fetal tissue.

“They removed the ban on fetal tissue trafficking. Right now, I’ve become very convinced for a number of reasons, that there is active trafficking of aborted fetal tissue from the abortion clinic on Forest Park Avenue in St. Louis to Washington University School of Medicine,” Onder said.

State Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Couer, disputes Onder’s claim.

“It’s already illegal and it’s simply untrue. It’s disappointing to hear the Senator speak that way,” Schupp says.

The House approved HB 126 in February by a 117-39 vote, with three Democratic lawmakers voting for the bill. They were State Reps. Steve Butz, D-St. Louis, Joe Runions, D-Grandview, and Rory Rowland, D-Independence.

The legislation, which is sponsored in the House by State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, would prohibit selective abortions due to sex, race or diagnosis of Down Syndrome.

Opponents include State Rep. Deb Lavander, D-Kirkwood, who has said that lawmakers should be focusing instead on Missouri’s high maternal mortality rate.

Missouri House approves second GM Wentzville bill; overnight Senate filibuster continues

May 14, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri House voted Monday afternoon in Jefferson City to approve a second piece of legislation aimed at attracting a $1 billion expansion at the General Motors plant in Wentzville, and one also aimed at ending a Senate filibuster.

State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, speaks on the Missouri House floor on May 13, 2019 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The House voted 114-31 to approve legislation from State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, which does not include the Fast Track provision. Fast Track is a top priority of Governor Mike Parson (R), which allows Missourians to receive advanced training in high-demand areas.

“We did discuss including a provision in here which would ultimately not allow the tax credits to go into effect if the company fails to retain 90 percent of the amount of employees employed on the date of the execution,” Schroer says.

Removing Fast Track is aimed at attracting support from State Sens. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, and Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring. Neither senator want Fast Track attached to the GM bill.

Schroer, who also voted for the first bill on Thursday, tells House Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, the second bill is aimed at giving the Senate another option.

“You know it’s something that I think, not only your (the Wiemann legislative) district, my district, but I think everybody in the state will benefit if not only GM invests $1 billion, but we have programs out there such as the underlying bill,” says Schroer.

The underlying bill Representative Schroer refers to is sponsored by State Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau. It would also allow the state Department of Economic Development (DED) to require a qualified business to repay benefits if the business fails to maintain the new or retained jobs, within five years of receiving approval of benefits.

Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann addresses House colleagues about GM on May 13, 2019 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Schroer and Pro Tem Wiemann’s revised GM version includes $50 million in tax credits for General Motors.

Schroer says the bill is an incentive package for anyone willing to invest in Missouri.

“Have them come talk to the Department of Economic Development, and I can guarantee you that they’re going to try to work something out. If you’re willing to invest $1 billion in our state, we’ll try to see what we can do to compete against these other states to ensure that’s here in the Show-Me,” Schroer says.

Meantime, a filibuster continues on this Tuesday morning in the Missouri Senate, after the House approved the second version, one that supporters hoped would prevent a filibuster.

Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, says GM supports the original version that was approved Thursday evening by the House by a 92-51 vote.

That version included a package that would give $5 million per year in tax credits over ten years to automakers that invest at least $750 million in plant upgrades, and would provide tax credits earlier in a business expansion. That version also includes Fast Track.

Pro Tem Schatz has refused to accept the second version, telling KMIZ Television in a Capitol hallway that “the Senate is not taking options at this point. We’re just not. No, we’re not taking options. We have the governor’s priorities (first version) and we’re not taking options at this point.”

DED Director Rob Dixon tweeted this weekend that he met with GM on April 25, and that the company asked for workforce and infrastructure support, and asked DED to advance the full legislative package, including Fast Track and what’s known as “Deal Closing.”

Dixon’s weekend tweets also note that no decision has been made by GM, and that Missouri can secure the long-term viability of the plant with the full legislation. Dixon also says the governor’s proposal benefits industries in all corners of Missouri.

Both House versions are aimed at landing the $1 billion expansion in Wentzville, one of Missouri’s fastest-growing cities.

The GM plant in Wentzville has about 4,600 employees.

According to documents provided by Governor Parson’s office, the upgrades to the plant would not immediately create new jobs but would ensure that production remains in Wentzville long-term. The documents also say GM has 178 suppliers across Missouri, with the broader impact of the plant supporting more than 12,200 jobs statewide.

The plant produces vehicles such as the GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado.

The 2019 legislative session ends on May 17.