Rep. Mike Colona update
By Cara | May 10, 2010
Greetings!
I’d like to thank the voters of the 67th District-City of St. Louis for electing me as your Representative. We are in full swing in this Second Regular Session of the 95th General Assembly. Things are really getting heated, but outlined are some of the important issues that were discussed and voted on in the House.
I pay for this newsletter from my own funds, so I can feel free to express my political opinions. Please call or e-mail me with your thoughts on improving this newsletter or any issues or concerns.
In This Issue
Supporters Of Four Ballot Measures File Petitions
House Republicans Jam Throught Sham Ethics Reform Bill
Toursim Commission Won’t Fund Tour of Missouri
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SUPPORTERS OF FOUR BALLOT MEASURES FILE PETITIONS
Supporters of four unrelated ballot measures met the May 2 deadline for filing initiative petitions with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office in hopes of putting their proposals before voters. The secretary of state has until Aug. 3 to verify that each petition has the requisite number of valid signatures and certify those measures for the Nov. 2 ballot.
The measures include two statutory changes and two constitutional amendments. The statutory changes would enact regulations on dog breeders and allow voters in St. Louis and Kansas City to periodically determine if those cities can continue to levying incomes taxes. The constitutional amendments call for prohibiting the General Assembly from ever imposing a tax on real estate sales, which Missouri currently doesn’t do, and scrap the state’s nonpartisan system for appointing judges in favor of judicial elections.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS JAM THROUGH SHAM ETHICS REFORM BILL
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Republicans today jammed a sham ethic reform bill through the House of Representatives with little debate. After loading up an unrelated measure, Senate Bill 844, with dozens of provisions – including some astoundingly bad ones – Republicans moved the measure through two committees and to a straight party-line House vote of 88-71 in a matter of hours.
House Democrats have championed meaningful and legitimate ethics reform for several years. A top priority for Democrats has been to reinstate campaign contribution limits, which Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved in 1994 but that Republican lawmakers repealed in 2008. SB 844 would create a nearly meaningless cap of $20,000 per donation for candidates for statewide office, judge or local office but the limit wouldn’t apply to House or Senate candidates, who could still accept unlimited amounts.
“House Republicans have made a mockery of ethics reform,” said House Democrat Leaders. “Proposing a $20,000 contribution limit that doesn’t even apply to lawmakers provides the mere pretense of limits, not the meaningful campaign finance reform Missourians want.”
Some of the more onerous provisions of SB 844 would disenfranchise voters, interfere with union elections and require Missouri residents who attempt to contact lawmakers other than their own about legislation to register as lobbyists. The bill would also authorize Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder to pursue – at Missouri taxpayer expense — a frivolous lawsuit he is launching against the federal government.
House Democrats last week were forced to invoke their constitutional right to move the legitimate ethics reform bill, SB 577, to the House debate calendar after Republican leaders attempted to send the measure back to a committee so it could be gutted of meaningful provisions. House Minority Leader Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, has refused to bring that bill up for debate.
SB 844 originally was titled an act “relating to contracts for purchasing, printing, and services for statewide elected officials.” The title of the House version was changed to an act “relating to ethical administration of public institutions and officials.” The Missouri Constitution prohibits bills from being changed from their original purpose.
“If this bill becomes law, Steve Tilley has set it up for an easy court challenge by his wealthy donors, who oppose laws that would limit their influence over government,” said House Democrat Leaders. “From the beginning, House Republicans have maneuvered ethics reform in a way to guarantee failure. Unfortunately for the people of Missouri, they succeeded.”
TOURISM COMMISSION WON’T FUND TOUR OF MISSOURI
Missouri Tourism Commission Chairwoman Marci Bennett says state money won’t go to fund this year’s Tour of Missouri professional bicycle race, The Associated Press reported on May 6. The state budget for the upcoming year that lawmakers approved last week doesn’t earmark funding for the tour, but the race’s legislative supporters had hoped the Tourism Commission would authorize $1 million for it. With the Division of Tourism’s budget slashed from $23.7 million to $13.9 million, however, Bennett said the money will be needed to fund other priorities.
It is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of the 67th District in the House of Representatives. If you have any issue or concern, please don’t hesitate to contact me and feel free to forward this update to friends, family, and colleagues. Working together with your opinions and input will help me be a better legislator for our community.
Sincerely,
Mike Colona
Missouri House of Representatives
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