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February 23, 2012Capitol Reports, Feb. 23, 2012

MPANewsBook: Statehouse News for MPA Members
Go to http://www.mdn.org/mpanews for the latest version.

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Headline:  St. Louis County senators lose in the latest Senate redistricting map [Entered: 02/23/2012]

By Jordan Shapiro and Andrew Weil

Two of the legislature's leading conservative voices are the losers in the new state Senate map released early Thursday morning, Feb. 23.

The maps released by a bipartisan commission appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon moved Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-St. Louis County, whose term expires this year, into a district where she could not run for re-election.

"I am not drawn anywhere. I am in nowhere land," Cunningham said.

Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis County, would still live within his current district, but he would be facing a more Democratic-leaning electorate. Like Cunningham, Lembke's term expires this year.

"I am very surprised and disappointed," Lembke said.

Senators are elected for four-year terms. Half of the seats go up for election every two years. This year, odd-numbered districts are up for election. Cunningham currently represents the 7th Senate district. Under the new map, Cunningham would live in ... continued

February 17, 2012Capitol Reports, Feb. 17, 2012

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Headline: Missouri's Supreme Court throws out a major section of Missouri's ethics laws [Entered: 02/17/2012]

In a unanimous decision, the state's high court threw out a package of ethics laws passed by the Missouri General Assembly in 2010.

The measure imposes penalties on lobbyists for filing false information, gives the Missouri Ethics Commission power to launch its own investigations, requires electronic filing of more campaign finance reports and restricts the transfer of funds between political committees.

The provisions had been passed after stories of a federal grand jury investigation into former House Speaker Rod Jetton and campaign contributions. Supporters argued the heightened exposure of campaign contributions would balance the legislature's earlier action that removed the cap on campaign contributions.

But Missouri's Supreme Court held Tuesday [Feb. 14] that the legislature had violated a state constitutional provision that prohibits expanding a bill beyond its original topic.

The original bill covered only state contract bidding and procurements.

"The multiple provisions relating to campaign finance, ethics and keys to the capitol dome are not logically connected ... continued

February 10, 2012Capitol Reports, Feb. 10, 2012

Headline:  Discrimination lawsuit restrictions pass the House and Senate [Entered: 02/10/2012]

Both Missouri's House and Senate approved legislation that would limit discrimination lawsuits by workers against their employers.

Gov. Jay Nixon had vetoed a similar bill last year, and Democrats predicted this year's version would meet a similar fate if it clears the legislature.

"This bill will go down in flames once it gets down to the governor's desk," Rep. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, said during the House debate.

Supporters argue the measure would bring state law into conformity with federal law by requiring that discrimination was a "motivating factor." The proposal also would impose a cap on monetary awards.

A filibuster that had been blocking a vote in the Senate ended when compromise language was drafted. Despite the agreement that ended the filibuster, Democrats voted against the proposal in both chambers.

The lawsuit restriction bill was one of the major issues cited by business organizations for their agenda at the start of the legislative session.

Either the House must pass the Senate bill or the Senate pass the House bill for the measure to move to the governor's desk.

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February 9, 2012Tax Debate at Capitol

The debate to replace the state's income tax with a sales tax was very interesting at MPA's Day at the Capitol.

You can access presentations from each side following the links below.

Anne Marie Moy

James R. Moody

OLDER NEWS