New ethics laws go into effect Saturday August 28
By Cara | September 16, 2010
The Missouri Ethics Commission is ready to institute some significant changes passed by the legislature this year.
Julie Allen, the Executive Director of the Missouri Ethics Commission, says change is not very common when it comes to state ethics and campaign finance laws.
“I’ve been at the commission for several years, and this is the first time that we’ve seen, I believe, any significant changes to the ethics laws in Missouri during that time frame,” Allen said.
The changes will do things such as preventing political action committees from contributing to other political action committees, and requiring legislators or legislative candidates to report contributions of more than $500 dollars within 48 hours. Those reports will then be available at the Commission’s website. Allen summarizes the impact of the many changes this way:
“Increasing transparency, improving accountability, and enhancing enforcement,” Allen said.
She says the enforcement aspect will be especially beneficial.
“As far as the commission, there’s (an enforcement) tool that says that if you obstruct a commission investigation or provide false information to the commission, it’s specifically defined as a Class A Misdemeanor,” Allen said.
The changes go into effect Saturday. Allen says the Commission is prepared for the changes, and has been communicating with the parties involved since the legislature passed the changes.
“I think, currently, committees and individuals are learning about Senate Bill 844’s requirements and we’re directly communicating with them. I think that will continue after August 28th. That’s part of the commission’s job; to communicate with them and answer questions about the laws,” Allen said.
Follow this link to the Missouri Ethics Commission’s website explaining the changes in more depth, and this link to the section of that site with information about campaign finance reports.
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The Coming Tax War: How Letting the Bush Tax Cuts Expire Could End the Economic Crisis
By Cara | August 16, 2010
The Democrats appear to be sitting on a golden ticket when it comes to ending the economic crisis. Furthermore, the solution to this country’s economic woes wouldn’t require them to do a thing, short of allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire (as required by law) and appropriating the money for renewed stimulus and in aiding states to cover their budget deficits. Whether the party has the courage to resist Republican and conservative dogmas framing tax cuts as the solution to the crisis remains to be seen.
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Can politics be removed from redistricting?
By Cara | August 16, 2010
For a few months next year, Ed Cook, a lawyer with the Iowa General Assembly’s bill-writing agency, will turn his attention from drafting legislation to drawing maps. Cook and a handful of his colleagues will hole themselves up in a hidden, locked room in the state’s Capitol complex. A few weeks later, they will emerge with a set of maps that will help determine the makeup of Congress and the state Legislature for the next decade.Iowa is the only state to give nonpartisan staff so much control over the legislative redistricting process. In most states, redistricting is a political bloodsport, with Democrats and Republicans fighting to jigger district lines for partisan advantages, as well as individual job security. In Iowa, the job is chiefly the responsibility of just three people, although many others contribute.
There are rules they must follow. Read the rest of this entry »
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Summer Break
By Cara | July 21, 2010
Hello all – Sorry for the lack of postings – I’m on summer break mode! My kids are home from school and we are vacationing, etc. I’m still keeping my fingers on the pulse of St. Louis tho – watch for updates beginning early August – enjoy your summer!
Cara
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St. Louis gets first female Postmaster
By Cara | June 7, 2010
via St. Louis Business Journal:
St. Louis’ first female Postmaster takes office Monday.
Nancy Fryrear will become the city’s 36th Postmaster when she is sworn in at 10 a.m. at the Main Post Office, 1720 Market St.
She will oversee the collection and delivery of mail to the 490,000 business and residential customers in the 631 ZIP code area. Her area of responsibility includes 28 stations and branches, 16 finance units and nearly 1,800 employees.
Fryrear began her career with the Postal Service in 1979 as a casual clerk. Most recently, she served as the Postmaster of Tampa, Fla.
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Electronics and Equipment Recycling Day
By Cara | June 7, 2010
Please join 8th Ward Committeewoman Cara Jensen
for an Electronics and Equipment Recycling Day
Sunday, June 13 from 10am – 2pm
Drop off at the corner of Klemm and Detonty
Call 314-773-2881 for more info
Acceptable Items –
Please call if you will be bringing any appliances larger than a microwave,
multiple TVs/monitors, or any freon-containing devices
Computers, monitors, printers, cables and peripherals (keyboards, mice, etc.).
Office equipment, business equipment and machinery including most furniture and operations equipment.
Networking equipment, server, telecommunications, phones, cell phones, clocks, etc.
TVs, VCR, stereos and audio/video equipment including cable/satellite.
Home electronics, blenders, toasters, irons etc.
White goods: washers, dryers, dishwashers, furnaces, etc.
Medical equipment and all types of diagnostic equipment.
Electrical, cabling, communication machinery and equipment.
Industrial machinery and equipment including power and gas equipment.
Lawn equipment, tools, old mowers, tillers, etc.
Air conditioners, refrigerators, humidifiers and other freon-containing devices
Old motors, transformers and other electrical equipment.
Car and household batteries and lead items.
CDs, VHS, DVD, Cassette, DAT and all types of data tapes.
Do not bring paint, tires, chemicals, or household furniture
This service provided by Web Innovations and Technology Services – www.witsinc.org.
WITS recycles/refurbishes electronics, computers and surplus equipment from local/national businesses and residents by fixing or replacing what may be broken and putting it back into the community for educational use. Anything that WITS cannot reuse is recycled appropriately at their recycling facility. WITS has a 0% landfill policy which has been followed since they began recycling.
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What if…
By Cara | June 7, 2010
St. Louis City Dems might get everything we hoped for this year…
IF you help out, we can win in November.
Look what we’ve done so far:
WIN! Helped St. Louis County to pass Proposition A, which provided much needed financial help to Metro and in many ways provided St. Louis with a big win.
WIN! St. Louis was selected for the DNC’s Summer Meeting in August with Chairman Tim Kaine and my fellow DNC members from all 50 states. This is huge opportunity to showcase our city to the entire nation.
And here’s what we have planned:
NEED YOUR HELP! With the help of Jack Coatar, our Executive Director, I’m leading the effort to attract the 2012 Democratic National Convention to St. Louis.
NEED YOUR HELP! City Dems are actively involved in engaging voters and turning out votes for candidates like Robin Carnahan and Susan Montee. In 2006, we elected Claire McCaskill with over 50,000 votes from St. Louis City. We CAN gain another Democratic Senator!
Please contribute NOW and help Democrats win in November!
Brian Wahby
Chairman, St. Louis City Democrats
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